Wednesday's Writer with Lorrie Struiff

We’re here today with the fantastic, Lorrie Struiff. She’s here to answer a few of our questions.

Tell us about your latest book, including its genre. Does it cross over to other genres? If so, what are they?

A Heap of Trouble is a western romance/action/mystery/humor, so yes, I’d say it crosses over a few genres.

What can we expect from you in the future?

I’m working on a 10k word, each story, of a series titled The COD Club. (Call on the Dead.)  It’s a humor series of a woman who can talk to spirits. The first one is available now.

How do we find out about you and your books?

Go to my blog under published works.  http://lorriejuly.blogspot.com/

How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?

None, all come from my imagination. Well, except maybe forWinnie from the COD Club. I think she is my alter ego. Lol.

Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?

It depends on how much time I have to devote to the book. Usually a full book will take me under a year. A short story, about three months.

Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?

I definitely go with the flow of the time I have. I do write every day, but some days I may not be working on my story. I critique for others, research, comment on blogs and promo. Authors will know what I mean. Lol.

Where do you start when writing? Research, plotting, outline, or...?

I’m strictly a pantster. I mull the story over in my head for a week or so then hit the keyboard.

What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?

Go to dinner with friends, watch TV, read my Kindle books.

What truly motivates you in general? In your writing?

The story and the characters I’ve created in my head. When I feel I’m onto something “hot,” or something “different,” I can’t wait to hit the keyboard.

How do you come up with ideas?

Most times I think of characters first. I like to take a few unusal characters, throw them together, mix well, and see what sort of trouble I can get them into. In A Heap of Trouble, I threw a western sheriff and a monkey together. And of course a love interest for the handsome sheriff.

Do you feel humor is important in fiction and why?

Oh yes. No matter the tension of the story, we all need a giggle break. It makes your characters human.

What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels? Do you find them difficult to write?

I like romance scenes in novels. In Gypsy Blood I wrote a fairly graphic scene. In Heap of Trouble, I wrote for all ages. So, it depends on the story I’m writing at the time and where the characters lead me.

What do you think of critique groups in general?

If you find a good one, I think they are the best friends of an author. I take part in two. My home group and Critique Circle online. They have helped me beyond belief.

How many books have you written, how many have been published?

This is sort of weird. I started with short stories, received many rejections. When my first one was accepted, all that I wrote after the first have been accepted. Lucky, I guess, or I learned how to write better. Hmm. I think it’s probably the later.

After you've written your book and it's been published, do you ever buy it and/or read it?

Sure, I download it on my Kindle. I may not read it, but it makes me feel like an author.

List two authors we would find you reading when taking a break from your own writing.

Nelson DeMille and Nora Roberts. I have a wide reading range.

Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine?

Gypsy Blood is my favorite. Rita Muldova, my Roma police detective, is my favorite heroine.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?

If a reader enjoys the story it gives me great satisfaction.

What is the single most important part of writing for you?

The twists and turns of the plot.

If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?

I’d hate to find out. Lol. Writing keeps me off the street corners at night. Okay, I’m kidding. I’d probably be reading.

What do you hope readers take with them after reading your work?

Either a sigh of satisfaction or a bunch of giggles.

 Picture yourself as a store. Considering your personality and lifestyle, what type of products would be sold there?

Books of course,  food that make your taste buds tingle, and handbags. I have a thing for purses.

What is your secret guilty pleasure?

Snacking at night while watching TV. I’m bad.

How about answering a few quickies for us:

Black or red? Neither. I’m a jeans and sweatshirt person.

Ocean or mountains? Oh, give me the mountains. A little cabin and a computer. I’d be a happy camper.

City life or country life? Country life. I like to see the stars at night.

I'm always ready for liver and onions. Yum.

You'd never be able to tell, but I’m shy.

Dessert ~ Cheese  cake

City ~ Prescott, Arizona

Season ~ Spring

Type of hero ~ Intellectual hunk

Type of heroine ~ Sassy, bold

Where can your readers find you?

Blog  

Facebook

Amazon Author Page       

Book Excerpt

            Saturday afternoon, the day of the social, Cole sat at his desk and cut his old leather belt with his Bowie knife to make a soft collar for Beggar. He glanced at the varmint perched near the window and shook his finger at him. “Don’t you go givin’ me that hangdog look. This one ain’t gonna hurt like the other. ‘Sides, all critters gotta be tied. Can’t go breakin’ my own rules and expect other folks to follow ‘em.” He tested the makeshift collar and the twelve-foot rawhide strip he had found to loop around his wrist and tied it to the small buckle. “Now get on over here. Let’s try this on.” 

            Beggar chattered and shook his head.

             “Well, I can shut you up in an empty room upstairs, close the windows and lock the door, leave you home. Cole stood and brushed off his white Sunday-go-to-meeting shirt. He checked his polished boots and smoothed his pants. Crossing his arms, he tapped a beat on the floorboards with the toe of his boot. “Well? What’s it gonna be?”

            Beggar looked up the stairs, back at Cole, then shuffled across the floor like a man going to his own hanging. He eased up on the desk.

            Cole held back a laugh and fastened the collar. “See, nice and soft.” He stared the critter in the eyes. “And if you wet on me again, I’ll drown you in the creek behind the church. Understand?” He slid his wrist through the rawhide loop. Beggar huffed and crawled up onto Cole’s shoulder.

            The Smithy had delivered a high-stepping filly hitched to a surrey with a shade top. It was three o’clock and near time to fetch Mattie. Spending the day with that pretty gal put a smile on his face, and his mouth watered at the thought of all the food she’d be packing in the basket.

            As they passed the hat peg, Beggar snatched the Stetson and rammed it backward onto Cole’s head. Cole plucked off his hat and set it on straight.

            He walked the filly the short distance to the mercantile. As he helped Mattie into the surrey, the hem of her yellow dress rode up a few inches and he caught another peek at her ankle and at least three inches of her leg. His heart fluttered. “Ah, you look mighty fetching today, Miss Mattie.” And she did in that frilly dress and her hair piled atop her head in them little curls. When she smiled at him, his stomach lurched along with his heart. 

            “Thank you, Cole, and don’t be so formal. Just Mattie will do.” Beggar, tied to the armrest of the backseat, crawled over the front seat and onto her lap.

            He hefted Mattie’s heavy picnic basket onto the back seat. “Get off her, Beggar.” Cole pulled at the rawhide. “You’ll get her all mussy.”

            “Oh, he’s fine.” Mattie laughed. “He just wants to snuggle, see?” Beggar curled on her lap. She ran her delicate fingers around the leather. “What a wonderful idea making this comfortable collar and rope for him. You can keep this cute little imp in check.”

            Beggar looked up at Mattie, blinked, then jumped off her lap and into the back. He flopped next to the huge picnic basket.

            Cole beamed at the compliment and snapped the reins.

            Once out of town and on the dirt trail, Cole had a hard time keeping his eyes forward. He wanted to count every freckle on her pretty face.

            The bright sun reflected off the smooth stones along the side of the trail. The steady clip-clop of the horse’s hoofs pounded the dirt and sent small puffs of dust in the air. Mattie’s rose scent tantalized his senses. Every so often, it would waft over to his side, caught on the hint of an intermittent breeze. The carriage springs creaked beneath them and birds warbled in the trees. He sighed and hoped this day with Mattie would be perfect.

Amazon Buy Link

Price:  Kindle price $5.50

Genre:  Western romance/action/mystery/humor

Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing

Lorrie's Bio: Lorrie lives in West Mifflin, PA, thirty minutes from downtown Pittsburgh. She lives at home with her favorite toy—a computer.

 Once a gold medalist teacher/manager for a big-name ballroom dance studio she has retired and now enjoys the quiet life of writing and watching TV. But she loves to have lunches with local writers to keep abreast of the challenging world of publishing.

Lorrie writes in many genres so you never know what she will come out with next. She never wants to bore her readers and enjoys the thrill of entertaining them by writing a good story.

She would love to hear from her fans at struiff@msn.com. Please put “reader” in the subject line. Thank you for choosing my book.