TUESDAY TALKS

SPOTLIGHT AUTHOR:    M I S H A    C R E W S

Before we get started talking about your books, tell us a little about yourself.  Where are you from?  What is your occupation outside of writing? 

Well, I was born in Charlottesville, Virginia, and I've lived in and around DC all my life.  I'm a DC girl from way back!  Aside from writing, I work in the accounting field.  So I'm a book-keeper as well as a book-writer.

Would you describe yourself as an introvert or an extrovert?

Hmmm...I'm either an introverted extrovert or an extroverted inrovert, I'm not sure which, lol.  I defintely have my introverted moments, but I really like meeting new people and hearing their stories.  :-)

 What are your favorite books to read?

I love all genres of writing, although my favorites are probably mysteries and romance.  I usually have several books going at once; right now I'm reading a Harlequin romance called "Texas Trouble" and I'm reading the Harry Potter books.

Where is the most unique place you have traveled?

Well, to be honest I haven't traveled as much as I would have liked.  One of the most memorable places I've visited in the last 10 years was Venice Beach.  I loved seeing the mural of Jim Morrison, and walking along the beach, thinking of all the artists who have stared out at those very same ocean waves.

Aside from your successes in the writing industry, what in your life has given you the greatest sense of accomplishment?

The time I've spent working with children, working as a tutor and writing coach.  I really can't think of very many things that are more rewarding than teaching a child and watching his or her world open up.  It's a remarkable thing to experience!

How many books have you written and how many of those are published?  (Please list the names of your books here)

I've written three novels: Homesong (2008) and Still Waters (2010) were published by Vanilla Heart Publishing.  My third novel, Her Secret Bodyguard (2010) was self-published.

Do you have one particular genre that all your books fall under (i.e. suspense, romance, etc.)  or do you write in many different genres?

All of my books are definitely romance!  Homesong has historical elements to it; Still Waters and Her Secret Bodyguard are both romantic suspense.

How much character and plot detailing do you plan out before you begin writing a novel, or are you a “pantser” (fly by the seat of your pants) ?

I like to have a general sense of things before I start writing: main characters and the direction of the plot.  At some point during the writing process I usually do a full outline, but sometimes I'll have a large chunk of the actual writing done before I do the outlining.

Prior to becoming a published author, how many rejections did you receive?  How did you handle the rejections?

I was fortunate and got an acceptance pretty quickly.  The rejections that I did get were no fun, that's for sure!  I usually handled them with a liberal dose of commiseration from my fellow hopeful writers.  :-)

How and when do you write? Do you keep yourself on a schedule or do you work while the muse is with you?

I try to write on a schedule, and I try to write every day, even if it's only for ten minutes.  If the muse isn't around, I disconnect my "overthinking" mechanisms and throw words at the page until I feel I've accomplished something.  Re-writing is a wonderful thing, lol!

If you have a new release coming out, tell us about it.

I had two books come out this year, so if it's all right I'll tell you about both of them!

STILL WATERS (available in paperback and on Kindle)

A tragic death….

A disturbing photo that can't be explained….

A woman drowning in an ocean of secrets….

In 1950s Virginia, beautiful, serious Jenna Appleton seems to have found the life she's always wanted. But underneath the shallow gleam of her bright suburban world, murky truths are waiting to surface.

On the morning that her husband dies in a tragic accident, Jenna finds a shocking photograph of him in the arms of a beautiful woman. And before she can ask him about it, he's gone forever.

Five years later, Jenna has buried her questions and remade her life. But the reappearance of an old love stirs up guilty questions, and she realizes that some secrets weren't meant to be hidden. The deeper she dives for answers, the darker the water gets. How will she find happiness for herself and her family, when every step she takes towards the strange and awful truth seems to lead her right back to her own home shores?

HER SECRET BODYGUARD (on Kindle)

When a Special Forces veteran is hired to protect a Malibu playgirl, sparks fly faster than bullets. But will they live long enough to realize they're falling in love?

In an exciting twist on her timeless tales of heart and home, author Misha Crews sets her latest story in Los Angeles, playground of former model Blake Sera. Although she's not yet thirty, jaded Blake is sure she's seen it all. Until she discovers that the man she's been been living with is up to his neck in the murky underworld of crime. When Special Forces veteran Caleb McKenna is secretly hired to protect the glamour gal, he's sure that Blake is just another pretty face whose only interests are sunning, funning and shopping till she drops. But soon he realizes that there's more to her than big blue eyes and a killer smile. Can they survive their passion? Can they survive at all?

If you have many books already released, tell us which is your favorite and why. 

That's a toughie!  I think that HOMESONG, my first book, will always be my favorite.  I have a real soft spot for that book.  

Out of all the books you’ve written and the characters you’ve created, which is your favorite character and why?

Again, when you ask me that question I'm going back to HOMESONG, lol!  My two favorite characters in that book are Pleasance Fitzgerald and Billy Lewis.  Pleasance is the grandmother of Reed Fitzgerald, the hero of HOMESONG.  She had a tough life, and she made life tough on those around her, but she loved her grandson beyond measure, and everything she did was for him.  Billy Lewis was a traveling preacher, who happened to cross paths with the Fitzgerald family one summer, with interesting results.  :-)

If you could step into the world of anyone else’s novel or meet with any character, which/who would you choose?

Great question!  Do I have to choose just one, lol?  I would love to visit the Bennet family from Pride & Prejudice, and have Christmas dinner with Ebenezer Scrooge's nephew Fred and his wife and friends.  I'd also love to take a tour through the worlds of Roald Dahl - stop for a snack in the Chocolate Factory, go for a ride in the Great Glass Elevator, maybe even poach a few pheasants with Danny, Champion of the World!  And of course, I'd want to have tea with Jane Marple and hot chocolate with Hercule Poirot!

If you could give one piece of advice to writers trying to get published, what would that advice be?

Be persistent, and be patient.  Realize that rejection doesn't mean your writing is unworthy - ALL writers are rejected.  Keep writing!  (Okay, that's more than one piece, but I hope it's helpful!)

What's up next for you and your writing?

I am always working on my next project!  I have about three books that I want to write all at once, but I'm not sure yet which I'll finish first!

Where can we read more about you and your work?

You can read book excerpts and short stories on my website: www.MishaCrews.com , and I hope you'll also check out my blog: www.mishacrews.blogspot.com   

Thank you for stopping by Misha, and for letting us take a glimpse into your world as a writer!