 January 2012 |
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Pam Crooks| What made you say, “Hey, I want to be a published author”? | ||
| I wrote my first ‘love story’ when I was in sixth grade. My best friend and I would huddle in my bedroom after school and pencil our fantasies (very tame, I assure you) in spiral notebooks about a couple of boys we liked. So I suppose even then, I had an affinity for writing romance. But it wasn’t until I read THE FLAME AND THE FLOWER that I knew I wanted to be a published author. Kathleen Woodiwiss was my idol, and I wanted to write just like her. I read all her books in succession, then went on the hunt for others. Finally, my mind began to formulate my own stories, and once my husband bought me my first electric typewriter (ah, yes, I’m showing my age here), I was off and running. |
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| Writing can be a very solitary endeavor, and a crazy business. What do you do to keep your spirits up and keep you motivated day after day? | ||
For the past couple of decades, I’ve led a critique group, and the one I have now is awesome. Not only are we dedicated writers, we are best friends. We’ve been meeting at my house for geez, twelve years now? Every Tuesday night. Knowing I have to have pages for them is very motivating. |
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Which comes first for you—the characters, or the story? Honestly, I can’t say there’s one that always comes first. Every book is different, and sometimes I come up with a character that needs his own story. Conversely, when a plot point strikes me, I have to come up with characters to fit the story.
What inspires you to be the best writer you can be? I want to be rich. I’m grinning, but hey, don’t we all? Besides, I’m a perfectionist, and I really try to make the book as perfect as I’m capable of making it.
| If we were to get a glimpse of your bookshelf, what would we find there? | ||
You’d find lots of how-to books. I think I have just about all of the mostly popular ones. Always looking for that kernel of wisdom that will make writing books easier. You know, that secret formula. :-) And a big row of notebooks from writing classes I’ve taken online. Also, I’ve published 14 western romances, so until recently, I had shelf after shelf of books on the Old West. Currently, though, my shelves are filling with books on the Mafia and the 1920s. (See #9) |
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| When you’re not writing, what do you do for fun? | ||
I love being with my grandchildren. They’re such a delight for my husband and me. Some days, I wish they’d all move in with us so they didn’t have to go home.
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| You’ve made the switch from writing western historicals to romantic suspense. Why did you decide to switch sub-genres? And will we see westerns from you again someday? | ||
After 14 westerns, I was ready for a change. My publisher had begun releasing fewer titles set in the time period, so my books (and other western authors’) were being spaced farther apart. It was time to switch gears. Will I write another western? At this point, I have to say no. |
| Tell us all about your latest release, HER MOTHER’S KILLER. | ||
I’d originally written the book for Harlequin Intrigue. My editor liked it and sent it on to the senior ed, but alas, she passed on it. Since the book was a shorter page length, I knew it wouldn’t sell anywhere else, so I put the book in a drawer, promising myself I’d get back to it one day. Fast forward a few years, and the self-publishing revolution hit. I’d gotten the rights back to four of my earlier western romances and re-published them myself, so I had experience in the whole process. I was thrilled to be able to give HER MOTHER’S KILLER a fresh chance. A little polishing, a little formatting, a spiffy new cover, and voila!
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| You mentioned writing under a new pseudonym. Give us the full scoop! | ||
Available at |
I absolutely loved writing THE SPYGLASS PROJECT. The series idea for the Secret Six had been in my head for several years, and where HER MOTHER’S KILLER was a fun change from historical westerns, writing an historical suspense set in the 1920s was purely intoxicating. I’d never written in the first person before, and it was very free-ing. THE SPYGLASS PROJECT is Major Michael Malone’s quest to learn the truth about why his brother became a traitor to the United States. Throw in the Mafia, a few Nazi sympathizers, and Michael’s story takes off. This book is so-o different for me that I was compelled to take the pseudonym of Frankie Astuto. My editor for the book felt it was best-suited for a male audience. There’s a thread of a romance, but it’s not the typical romantic suspense. It’s a bit violent and the language is strong. I’m on pins and needles for what my readers will think of it. |
| What else is on tap for the near future? | ||
I’m about ready to start on a short story featuring a secondary character in Michael’s book, a double-agent named Agent Delilah. Her story will give us a glimpse into her relationship with Michael and his brother and what happened in the years before THE SPYGLASS PROJECT begins. After that, Book 2, of course! |
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| Thanks so much for being my guest this month, Pam! |
You’re very welcome. I’m delighted you asked! |
