Indie Author Interview: Terry Odell

Interview with Terry Odell - Author of 20+ Romantic Suspense and Mystery Novels.

Terry Odell's published works include the Pine Hills Police Series, the Blackthorne, Inc. series as well as the Romantic Suspense novel, What's in a Name? and the first in the Mapleton Mystery series, Deadly Secrets. She's also published numerous short stories with The Wild Rose Press.

She loves getting into the minds of her characters, turning them loose in tight spots and seeing what they do. Too often, they surprise her.

She is an active member of Romance Writers of America, and its Kiss of Death chapter, as well as Mystery Writers of America. When she's not writing, or watching wildlife from her window, she's probably reading.

Interview with Author Terry Odell

Author Terry Odell

Alan Kealey (Indie Author News): What is your (writing) background?
Terry Odell: Unlike so many authors who wrote their first book in crayon, I was a card-carrying AARP member before I even thought about writing. I began having fun with fan fiction, then wanted to see if I could create original characters and settings. I hooked up with a local critique group (The Pregnant Pigs) and they insisted I keep at it and start submitting.

Who are your favorite writers, your favorite books, and who or what are your writing influences?
I think I have 2 kinds of writers who influenced me early on. There were the “I’ll never be able to write like that” group, and then the “If they can get published writing that stuff, so can I.” I have too many favorite authors to mention here—tip of the iceberg: JD Robb, Linda Castillo (whose books introduced me to romantic suspense, where I found I could combine my love of mystery with romance element), Suzanne Brockmann, Michael Connelly, Robert Crais…as I said, I could go on for pages, and would still leave some out.

When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?
When I started writing and found out that stopping would be like no longer breathing.

"I usually run full circle."

Tell us about your writing process. Do you have a writing routine?

I usually run full circle. I edit the previous day’s work, which I read (generally in hard copy in bed) the night before. That gives me a running start into the story, and I’ll work to a minimum word count goal (which can change depending on deadlines). When I finish a scene or chapter, I print it out, take it to bed, and the cycle begins again.

What do you find easiest about writing? What the hardest?
Easiest? Dialogue. I LOVE putting my characters into a room and listening to them. Hardest? Description. I’m very bare bones, and have to force myself to add the details so readers can see the scenes.

Terry, please tell us a little about your 2012 HOLT Medallion Best Romantic Suspense ‘Where Danger Hides’.
Where Danger Hides is the story of Dalton, who’s the charming scammer on the Blackthorne, Inc. covert ops team. His boss pulls him out of the field and forces him to work on an investigation of people gone missing from a homeless shelter, which he thinks is a waste of his time. He’d much rather be hunting down his nemesis, Rafael, the drug lord. But something about the woman he’s supposed to be helping breaks down his defenses, and he finds that he’s willing to put his own life on the line for her when she needs his help.

Click to Read an Excerpt

What inspired you to write the book?
I’d written When Danger Calls, about a covert ops team hiding behind the façade of a private security firm, and one of the secondary characters, Dalton, demanded his story be told. From there, it was a lot of fun discovering his back story, and putting him places I knew he didn’t want to be. In When Danger Calls, he didn’t even have a first name, so I had to find out what it was, and why he refused to let me use it in that first book.

"...enjoy a mystery with a hefty dose of relationship..."

Who do you see as your target audience and where can we buy the book?
I suppose readers who enjoy a mystery with a hefty dose of relationship will enjoy the book. It touches upon the homeless, on people trying to put their lives together, and the drug trade. You can buy the hard cover from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or direct from me. The digital version is available at almost every e-retailer. Buy links are on my website, at http://terryodell.com/blog1/where-danger-hides/

How would you describe the success of your book so far?
I’m thrilled with the response, especially since the book went digital. It’s the 2012 HOLT Medallion Best Romantic Suspense, and since the contest is judged by readers and booksellers, it means even more to attain that honor.

"About 9 months—just like a baby."

How long did it take it to write the book? 
About 9 months—just like a baby.

Please, tell us where you self-published the book.
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance Ebooks, Smashwords (and via Smashwords, it’s at the iStore, Kobo, and Sony)

How smooth went the self-publishing process? Any issues? What are things to look for when self-publishing a book?
Since my first few books were published through an e-first publisher, I was familiar with most of the basics of creating digital manuscripts. My first three pieces of advice: get a respected editor; get a respected editor; get a respected editor. Then hire a good cover artist. You can hire out the formatting if you don’t want to learn it yourself. And you can learn things in increments and do more yourself as you learn more of the steps. The hardest part is that you have to be involved in the business side of things as well as the author side, and it’s important to remember that your BEST promotion is to write another great book.

Did you hire an editor and/or Cover Designer for your book?
Yes, I would never put anything out there that hasn’t been professionally published. The hard cover version of Where Danger Hides had already been edited, and they had produced a cover, but for the digital version, I asked my cover artist to design something that was very close to the print version, since I didn’t want anyone to think it was a different book.

"Just because you CAN do it fast doesn’t mean you should."

Can you give some tips for other Indie Authors regarding the writing and self-publishing process?
Don’t rush. Just because you CAN do it fast doesn’t mean you should. Make absolutely sure you’ve got a top quality product. If you’re getting rejections from agents and editors that say “great writing, but we don’t have a niche for it” I’d say you’re close to being ready. The beauty of indie publishing is that you CAN get things out there that don’t fit the narrow confines of what the NY publishers are acquiring.

Are you working on another book project? Can you tell us a little about it?
As a matter of fact, I have a new Mapleton Mystery, Deadly Bones, that’s the second in that mystery series. It should be available this week at most e-tailers. Since it’s set in a small town, I didn’t want to have another homicide so close on the heels of the one in Deadly Secrets, so Deadly Bones is centered around what happens when a dog discovers a human bone that’s been buried for decades.

"[...] I’m content to stay indie."

Are you planning to move forward as an Indie author or are you looking forward to have one of your next books to be traditionally published?
Right now, I doubt a traditional publisher would take my “between the cracks” stories, so I’m content to stay indie. Of course, should the right offer come along….

Where do you see the book market in 5 or 10 years? Will there be only eBooks and will book stores disappear like record stores disappeared?
Interesting question. I recently returned from the Novelists, Inc. conference and the future of publishing. The consensus was: It’s changing. Fast.” Brick and mortar bookstores are definitely in trouble, but there will always be print books. Readers might have to find more of them on line.

Do you write full-time or do you have a day job?
I write full time—I retired from a traditional “day job” several years ago.

How can readers connect with you?
Facebook, Twitter, my blog, Google+, my Newsletter, my website.
[See Links below].

Thank you very much for the Interview, Terry.

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About the Book Where Danger Hides

Who do you call when Uncle Sam can't help you? Blackthorne, Inc.
Behind the public façade of a private investigation firm–Blackthorne, Incorporated–lies a band of elite covert operatives.

Dalton (just Dalton—nobody dares call him Ambrose), is one of Blackthorne’s best. A charming Texan, he prides himself on blending in, and there’s no one he can’t scam. But his obsession with putting a Colombian drug lord out of the picture threatens to endanger his life and the lives of his team. When Dalton nearly blows a simple undercover assignment at a fundraising gala, it convinces his boss to tether him to a dog-and-pony-show case at a halfway house. Instead, Dalton finds death, drugs, and danger.

Street-smart Miri Chambers wants nothing more than to help everyone at the Galloway House shelter lead new and productive lives, but residents are disappearing without a trace. An unexpected meeting with Dalton at a gala turns into an assignment for him, but Miri doesn’t think he’s taking the job seriously. Trust doesn’t come easy to Miri. When the situation escalates into a combat zone, can she trust Dalton with her life … and her heart?

Click here to Read an Excerpt of Where Danger Hides

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Links to the Author and the Book

Link to the Author's Website

Link to the Author's Facebook Page

Connect with Terry Odell on Twitter: @authorterryo

Link to the eBook Where Danger Hides on Amazon with Excerpt

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