Interview and Giveaway: Linda Wisdom

Please join me in welcoming Linda Wisdom to Debbie's Book Bag today. Linda is her to talk about her latest book, A Demon Does it Better. The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for two copies of Linda's book, see details at the end of the post.

DEB: Linda, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
LW: I’m a born and bred Californian who’s always wanted to write books. I celebrated my 32nd year in publishing this past December which was also my wedding anniversary. Married with two demented white mini-Schnauzers, a Yellow Nape Amazon parrot with attitude and a tortoise. My writing has taken a lot of twists and turns over the years. My sanity has probably been questioned more than once, but I can’t imagine doing anything else.
 
DEB: Tell us a little about your latest book, A Demon Does It Better? Is this a single title or part of a series?
LW: This is part of actually two series. The second in the Demon series but also the Hex series since Lili is one of the banished witches.
 
DEB: What was your inspiration for this book? Have you always been interested in the paranormal?
LW: One of my favorite movies is Boris Karloff’s Bedlam. With Lili being a doctor it was easy to conjure up a hospital that treats the supernatural creatures. I’ve always loved paranormal. Started out with fairy tales and went from there.
 
DEB: What type of research did you do for your book?
LW: I looked into the hospitals of 1700 and 1800s. Especially asylums. Bedlam was the template for Crying Souls Asylum.
 
DEB: What is your normal writing day like? Do you have things that have to be in place to write comfortably?
LW: Hm, I don’t know if I have a normal writing day. As long as I have my coffee in the morning and sparkling water in the afternoon and the TV on, I’m set. I tend to have a program or movie on that suits my mood that day.
 
DEB: What was it like when you got the word that your first novel would be published?
LW: I might have screamed the building down. Funny thing is, I’d just returned from lunch with a client and I told him about my writing and sending the two books to Silhouette Books. While I was taking him to lunch he insisted on treating me saying he hoped it would be good luck. I was only back at the office a few minutes when I got The Call. And yes, I let him know right away. A month later, I was fired for selling the books. My boss seemed to think I used office time to write them. Considering everything there was no way that could happen.  

DEB: Do have any advice for new writers?
LW: Realize there’s a lot of work involved. So many new writers still feel they can knock out a book and sell it for a lot of money. Yes, that can happen, but it’s still rare. Read, research. What type of book do you want to write. Read what’s out there now, look at what books are coming out in six months, even if a year if you can. Know the technical side. An editor wants to see a clean manuscript. And above all, be professional!
 
DEB: When you’re not writing, what kinds of books do you like to read? Do you have a favorite author?
LW: Urban fantasy and mysteries are my top must reads. So many favorite authors Yasmine Galenorn, Jennifer Estep, Faith Hunter, Nancy Haddock, Mark DelFranco, Anton Strout. My Nook is always demanding more books.
 
DEB: What are you working on right now?
LW: A variety of things. I received the rights back to almost all of my backlist books and I’ve been putting them up as ebooks at the usual book sites along with www.joyridebooks.com. I will be doing the same with witch Thea’s book which I titled Guns ‘N Hexes and a YA urban fantasy that while the editors loved, they didn’t buy. :{ It keeps me out of mischief.
 
DEB: Tell us one thing that people may not know about you?
LW:  Hm, but if I told you I’d have to kill you. :} Or a restraining order. I’d have to say the blue mark on my inner forearm is due to a boy stabbing me with a pencil when we were in the 4th grade.  

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for two copies of A Demon Does it Better by Linda Wisdom.

~ You must be a GFC follower or E-mail subscriber to participate.
~ US and Canadian Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST February 7th.

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