Ask the Author: Nancy J. Cohen
Answered Questions (20)
Nancy J. Cohen
The hand beckoned to me from inside the door of the deserted mansion. I stepped across the threshold, my heart seizing as I noticed the hand disappeared into a vaporous mist where a body should have stood.
Nancy J. Cohen
If this includes fictional book worlds that are tie-ins to TV shows, I'd want to visit the Starship Enterprise during The Next Generation's rendition. Otherwise, I would travel to the Coalition of Sentient Planets capital city from Circle of Light, my first published book. I loved the worlds I'd created for the Light-Years trilogy. Watch for newly revised and reformatted editions coming soon.
Nancy J. Cohen
I'd like to read Murder Between the Lines by Radha Vatsal (historical mystery), new releases by M.D. Cooper (science fiction), and the third book in Baldacci's fantasy series. Plus the stack of mysteries I brought back from the Malice Domestic conference.
Nancy J. Cohen
I don't have many mysteries in my life. There aren't any family secrets that I know about or missing heirlooms. The only mystery is what I'm going to do with all the stuff in my house if I ever have to downsize. This is fodder for a plot. You can have a daughter going through her mother's things after she passes, and the daughter discovers...what? This may not be original, but a plot can spring from this tiny seed.
Nancy J. Cohen
I can't say I have a favorite in the mystery field. Most of the stories I read have a heroine sleuth who's dating a detective or reporter. I like it that way, especially when the story unfolds from the heroine's viewpoint.
Nancy J. Cohen
Considering the cost of postage, this probably won't change. However, I hold lots of contests where you can win a digital copy of my books or a free download code for an audiobook. Keep watch on this page for my giveaways: http://nancyjcohen.com/contest/
Nancy J. Cohen
Thanks so much, Jessica! I appreciate the feedback. It was fun writing a mystery set in a haunted house as a school project.
Nancy J. Cohen
Thanks for thinking of me, but I have too much to read. And I choose my own books for my to-be-read list.
Nancy J. Cohen
Sure, send me a question for your blog.
Nancy J. Cohen
Readers like cozies because they offer an escape from reality. Unlike the real world where criminals often go free and victims may lack justice, in a cozy the crook is always caught and the sleuth emerges unharmed. Any violence is off-scene. The focus is more on the puzzle of solving the mystery than the forensics. The sleuth's world and her relationships are just as important. We read these stories to learn about a new occupation or to vicariously explore a new locale. Hopefully, we can follow along with the sleuth's life in the personal arena, which is a prime attraction. So these books are popular for many reasons. Some contain humor, which is another draw. Others contain recipes or craft tips. Rather than being scary, often these stories are funny. Readers who don't like to be frightened know they will get a lighthearted story with a challenging puzzle, interesting characters, and a view of a world they might not experience otherwise.
Nancy J. Cohen
Thanks, I'll keep you in mind for my next release.
Nancy J. Cohen
Thank you for the title suggestion, Sherrie. I will add it to my list.
Regarding ideas, I have no lack of ideas for my work. The problem is finding the time to write them all. Many ideas spring from the characters or setting. Peril by Ponytail, for example, is a natural progression of Marla and Dalton's relationship. After ten books, they get married, move into a new neighborhood, and go on a honeymoon. An Arizona dude ranch is their destination in this story. Meanwhile, I've finished the book that takes place next and am now working on #14 in the series. Sometimes a title will provide inspiration, or an article I see in the newspaper, or a stranger I meet. Ideas are everywhere. Time is the limiting factor. Thank you for your interest in my work.
Regarding ideas, I have no lack of ideas for my work. The problem is finding the time to write them all. Many ideas spring from the characters or setting. Peril by Ponytail, for example, is a natural progression of Marla and Dalton's relationship. After ten books, they get married, move into a new neighborhood, and go on a honeymoon. An Arizona dude ranch is their destination in this story. Meanwhile, I've finished the book that takes place next and am now working on #14 in the series. Sometimes a title will provide inspiration, or an article I see in the newspaper, or a stranger I meet. Ideas are everywhere. Time is the limiting factor. Thank you for your interest in my work.
Nancy J. Cohen
I don't know that I can identify any one particular activity. I post general updates often. I review books that I read and add them to my book list. And every now and then, I'll pop over to my groups and respond to a discussion. So let me know if you find out how to get noticed more!
Nancy J. Cohen
Yes, they are places I visit. Sometimes, I'll have to change a name, depending on what happens there in the story. But the restaurants are usually places I frequent as well as parks and tourist attractions.
Nancy J. Cohen
I decide which series to work on next and then start plotting the story. I'll read through the newspaper looking for articles that inspire me. Often there's one element that will tie the threads together. Then I work on character development. Once I have enough of an idea where I'm going, I'll write the synopsis. Only then do I sit down to write the story. I don't wait for inspiration. I write a minimum of five pages a day or one chapter a week.
Nancy J. Cohen
My most recent title was Warrior Lord, #3 in the Drift Lords series. This is a sequel to books one and two, although you can read them independently. Lord Magnor is on a mission to find the sacred Book of Odin. Contained in the text is a clue to a weapon that can defeat his enemy. The story starts out in Las Vegas and moves around the world to various places I've visited.
Nancy J. Cohen
I have just started writing Bad Hair Day mystery #13. My series features hairstylist Marla Shore who solves crimes in sunny South Florida. The latest title and #11 in the series is Hanging by a Hair. In 2015 will come Peril by Ponytail. Meanwhile, I'm putting myself on my writing schedule of five pages a day and forging ahead.
Nancy J. Cohen
Never give up. Keep studying, keep improving your craft of writing. Treat your writing career as a business and learn all you can. Attend workshops and writers conferences and join your professional writing organizations. Plus be active on the social networks and establish a presence online. Be prepared for some hard work and have faith in yourself.
Nancy J. Cohen
I love to hear from readers, and the best part of being a writer is when they say things like, "I stayed up all night to finish your book" or "When is the next one coming out?" So feedback from fans has been the best part for me. I like to know that I've helped someone through a difficult time by giving them a few hours of escape and entertainment. And I save every letter, either via email or snail mail, that I receive. Sharing with other writers what I've learned also brings me immense satisfaction. I serve in my local writing organizations to help out. You make new friends and belong to a community with common interests.
Nancy J. Cohen
In my view, writer's block is caused by extraneous distractions, not by any problems in the work itself. If you've laid the proper groundwork and written a detailed synopsis, you should know where your plot is going. But when bad reviews, non-stop marketing, rejections or other life events get you down, that can put a damper on the muse. At those times, it helps to talk about how you feel to your writing buddies.
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