Ask the Author: Megan Edwards
Answered Questions (9)
Megan Edwards
Hi, George --
It's true that Full Service Blonde comes before Getting off on Frank Sinatra chronologically. It wasn't my intent, but in the publishing game, odd things can happen. Sinatra ended up getting picked up first, and then Blonde came along as a "prequel." I am glad they are both stand-alones, and that the timeline can progress normally now. Thanks for the question & all the best.
It's true that Full Service Blonde comes before Getting off on Frank Sinatra chronologically. It wasn't my intent, but in the publishing game, odd things can happen. Sinatra ended up getting picked up first, and then Blonde came along as a "prequel." I am glad they are both stand-alones, and that the timeline can progress normally now. Thanks for the question & all the best.
Megan Edwards
I have always loved mysteries, from traditional whodunits to creative new interpretations of the genre. But I've also always loved any novel that keeps me reading with great tension and hanging questions. When I decided to write Getting off on Frank Sinatra, I was as interested in telling a good story set in Las Vegas as I was in crafting a mystery. I also wanted to create a 20-something amateur sleuth with boyfriend, work, & family challenges -- in addition to finding a dead body!
Megan Edwards
I went on two ride-alongs with Las Vegas Metro Police. They took me to places I never would have seen on my own, and the potential for trouble definitely existed. During one ridealong, a domestic violence call took us to a volatile situation, and on the other, a suspected hostage situation at a fast-food restaurant was scary. One my own, I have never had a bad experience, and I've had some truly memorable ones, like the time a retired Ronald McDonald took me inside a nondescript warehouse that turned out to hold a world-class collection of circus memorabilia.
Megan Edwards
VERY occasionally, I feel inspired to write. It's a real treat when it happens, sort of like getting an unexpected check in the mail. Since that doesn't happen often enough, I have to make myself write anyway, even if I feel like I have nothing to say and no skill. I've come to realize that while inspiration is a lovely thing, it is not the most important ingredient for writing success. The important thing is doing it anyway, no matter what. Then, when inspiration shows up like a rare and beautiful bird, I appreciate it, knowing full well it will soon fly off again. I will say, those rare and beautiful birds show up a lot more often if I keep writing than if I wait for them to appear...
Megan Edwards
I'm working on a novel I began way back in 2000. I finished it back then, but it got shelved, and I went to work on other projects. While it was dormant, I decided to completely rewrite and expand the story. I should have a draft finished in a couple of months. It's about an experiment that brought Julius Caesar to the present for four days. Things did not go as planned...
Megan Edwards
The easy answer to this question is one you've probably heard before: WRITE. It's not a wrong answer, but it's usually not enough. If you haven't started writing, find a way to hang out with some people who do. Local writers' groups are an option, or look for writing classes at community colleges or libraries. When I was starting out, I looked for role models--successful authors who were writing what I wanted to write. I also found writers' conferences helpful, because, in addition to writers, I met editors, agents, and publishers. In the end, though, it always comes back to that first simplistic but accurate answer. If you want to be a writer, WRITE.
Megan Edwards
I love being out and about, listening and observing. Why? Because all the while I am thinking to myself how I can use what I see and hear in a story. It keeps me engaged with my surroundings, interested in all aspects of an event, and eager to meet and speak with people I have never met before. Writing connects me to the world, the unfamiliar, and the unexpected.
Megan Edwards
Ah, writer's block. I wish I could say I've never suffered from it, but to be honest, it has plagued me from time to time. The best remedy I've found is to switch to another writing project. Sometimes this breaks through the block, and I can get back to work on whatever was giving me the problem. Another thing that does the trick is having a deadline. When I know I must write to keep a commitment, I have less trouble with blockage. I do cherish those wonderful times when words flow like a babbling brook. It doesn't happen every day, but fortunately, neither does writer's block!
Megan Edwards
The inspiration for GETTING OFF ON FRANK SINATRA came from several sources, but mostly from reading Las Vegas news stories every day. There are several excellent independent schools in Las Vegas, and I liked the idea of building a mystery around such a school and its charismatic founder. Other characters are based on people I've read about or met. I like using some of the colorful jobs people have here, like wedding chapel owner and tortoise burrow builder.
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