Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Leeann Betts
Linda: Thanks for joining me again. I love series and
was excited to discover book #9, Silent Partner, in your By the Numbers series featuring Carly
Turnquist is being released. Where did you find your inspiration for this
story?
Leeann: I’ve
always wanted to take an Alaskan cruise, so several books ago, a grateful
friend who Carly saved from a philandering con man gifted her with a cruise. At
the time, I planned the next book would take place on a cruise, but plans had
to change. But it seemed a great setting: a captive population of suspects; a
short time to solve the murder; and everybody loves to cruise.
LM: Research is
an important part of writing any book. Have you ever stumbled on a fascinating
tidbit that you knew had to be included in your story?
Leeann: I did. I
learned about international law regarding cruise ships at the time the story is
set, 2005, was fairly lax, which meant nobody would be there to solve the
mystery, so it was all up to Carly.
LM: What is the
quirkiest thing you have ever done?
Leeann: I moved
from my home in Canada to the US to marry a man I’d only met over the phone and
through emails. That was 19 years ago.
LM: What is your
process for creating mysteries? Do you come up with the villain first, the
“terrible deed” or the title? Where do you get your ideas?
Leeann: I come up
with the terrible deed, match a cool title, develop the villain and the motive
and how, then work back and then forward from there.
LM: How do you
pick the location of your stories?
Leeann: Places
I’ve been. Or places I want to go, so I have to take a research trip there
first.
LM: What do you
find most difficult about writing mysteries?
Leeann: Editing.
I hate editing. But I’m learning to write really clean, depend on my critique
group, and then I’m left with a quick edit and timeline check at the end.
LM: Here are some
quickies:
Favorite Season: Summer
Favorite place to vacation: Anywhere warm
Favorite childhood author: Agatha Christie, Conan Doyle
LM: What is your
next project?
Leeann: Working on a contemporary romance set in
Loveland, Colorado. And then, of course, Carly’s next book which will come out
in June of 2019.
LM: Where can
folks find you on the web?
Leeann: Seems
like I’m everywhere these days
Website: http://www.LeeannBetts.com Receive a free ebook just for signing up for our quarterly newsletter.
Facebook: http://bit.ly/1pQSOqV
Twitter: http://bit.ly/1qmqvB6
Thank you, Linda, for having me on your blog today.
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