Tour: Closure

I'd like to welcome Rie McGaha to The Life and Lies today for her virtual tour for Closure!

 

1) Why and when did you begin writing?

I have been writing as long as I can remember. I made up stories before I could write and when I could write I wrote poetry, stories, etc. I wrote my first full length story in the 8th grade. It was about a lady from Boston who came to the wild, Wild West to teach school and fell in love with the local sheriff. I have no idea what happened to it or what the title was. I wish I had saved it though because I'd like to see how my 13 year old mind worked!

2) What inspired you to write Closure?  

I had a few issues in my past that I needed a little closure on. Since I couldn't kill anyone myself, I eviscerated them in fiction!

3) How did you come up with the title?

Once you read the story you'll see it's pretty self-explanatory. Closure was actually the only title that fits. 

4) What books or people influenced your writing? Was it positive influence, or negative?

I guess everything can be a positive or negative influence in one way or the other but as far as other authors go, it's always been positive. I love James Patterson, Stephen King, F. Scott Fitzgerald, John Steinbeck, Anne Rice, Karen Marie Moning, Sherrilyn Kenyon and many others. Each one has their own voice and style and each has been an influence in a different way but all positive. 

5) How do you go about researching for your books?

Thankfully we have this thing called the internet that is chock full of information on every subject. That's a lot different than the days when research was done in libraries using books, microfilm, magazines and newspapers.  

6) Did you base any of your characters on real people?

In Closure I did use real  people as characters, I also used some real events but I'll leave the readers to guess which is real and which is fiction. 

7) What’s the most exciting part about being a published author? What is the hardest part?

The most exciting part of course is getting a new contract. Every time I get a new one it's just like the first one. The hardest part for me is the promotions I have to do. It's not gotten easier at all and I still dread it! 

8) Do you have any other books planned in the future?

Absolutely. On Oct. 9th DEEP WITHIN MY HEART will be released from Silver Publishing. This one is an action adventure historical pirate romance! In March, ONE GOOD MAN  from eXcessica publishing will be released. This one is a bbw, contemporary romance set in Biloxi, MS. 

9) Which of your characters is your favorite? Do you dislike any of them?

I love all my characters. My favorite character though is in one of my early works called DEADLY DREAMS from Noble Romance Publishing. His name is Lucius McKenna and he's a really bad, bad man! 

10) What advice can you give to young writers who want to publish their books?

Don't let the rejection letters discourage you. Keep writing no matter what because eventually you are going to meet the right publisher at the right time who is going to get you in a way no other publisher did and you're going to get that first contract. 

Just for fun:

1) What are your ten most favorite things? 

1. Margarita Thursday's at our house...you never know what day it's going to show up

2. The smell of fresh coffee in the morning

3. Baking goodies for my family

4. Wine Wednesdays

5. My grandchildren

6. My children

7. My dogs

8. Riding the motorcycle with my husband

9. My husband

10. Life ( and these are in no particular order!)

2) What do you do when you’re not writing?

Usually taking care of grandkids, dogs, husband, baking, cooking, gardening, hunting, fishing, or crocheting or sewing....I guess it depends on my mood! 

3) Do you have any pets?

I do. 3 cats and 8 dogs. 

4) What are your favorite (and least favorite) foods?

I have a lot of favorite foods like tacos, pizza, lasagna, etc. but my absolute least favorite and won't eat it even if it was the last food on earth and I was starving is macaroni & cheese. I like macaroni and I like cheese, but put em together and yuk!! 

5) Is there a specific place in the house (or out of the house) that you like to write?

I write in bed with the TV on. 

6) Do you have a specific snack that you have with you when you write?

Not usually food, but I do like a cup of coffee or tea, or a margarita, depending on what I'm trying to write! 

7) If you could go anywhere in the whole world, either for a vacation or to live there, where would you go?

Scotland. 

8) What was your favorite and least favorite subject in school?

My favorite has always been English and I hate math with a passion.  [Note from Haley: I'm actually seeing that this is a pattern in many of the authors I've interviewed!]

9) What book are you reading right now?

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare [Great book, great series!!]

10) Tell us a random fact about you that we never would have guessed.

My 33rd grandchild is due in May. Thank you for having me on your blog, it's been great.

 

Thank you Rie! Here's a little more about Closure:

High in the hills above Albuquerque, New Mexico Detective Zachariah Ellison arrives at the scene of a murder, and not just any murder, but one that definitely falls into the “gruesome” category even for a seasoned cop like Zach. When another body is found murdered in much the same fashion, Zach knows he’s got a serial killer on his hands, and to top it off he’s got an assistant district attorney hounding him about the case. As Zach tries to investigate the crimes while sidestepping nosey Amy Logan, a third body is found and Zach hasn’t a clue as to whom the perpetrator might be.

Amy Logan has worked hard to put herself through school and pay for law school on her own and now that she’s secured a position as assistant district attorney in Albuquerque, she’s determined to do everything she can to be the best prosecutor this office has ever seen. And as if luck was following her, she’s been assigned to the biggest homicide case the city has ever seen. The only problem she’s having is the homicide detective who’s leading the investigation—Zach Ellison.