Interview with Gretchen Archer - Double Strike

Today I have yet another new to me author, Gretchen Archer who is chatting with me today about her just released and second in her Davis Way, Biloxi MS Casino mysteries, Double Strike.
Enjoy!

• ISBN-13: 9781940976334
• Publisher: Henery Press
• Publication date: 10/21/2014
• Pages: 270

 

Overview

Bellissimo Resort and Casino Super Spy Davis Way knows three things: Cooking isn't a prerequisite for a happy marriage, don't trust men who look like David Hasselhoff, and money doesn't grow on Christmas trees. None of which help when a storm hits the Gulf a week before the most anticipated event in Bellissimo history: the Strike It Rich Sweepstakes. Securing the guests, staff, and property might take a stray bullet. Or two.

Gretchen Hi. Welcome to The Reading Frenzy
First of all, thanks for having me, Reading Frenzy. I’m so happy to drop by and talk about Davis Way, the Bellissimo, and all things Double—Whammy, Dip, and Strike.

This is the third in your series that stars Davis Way and her role in the security team in a Biloxi casino.
Where did you come up with this series idea?

I have all my original Nancy Drew books, so it’s safe to say my love of the mystery series goes way back. When I started writing a series, my choices were cats, cupcakes, or casinos. I went casino, because I just don’t bake that often and I have a dog.

Are there a set number of novels coming?

A set number of novels. Yes, there are a set number of novels, but I don’t know the number. My guess is more than five but less than ten, which gives us a number. The series will be seven and a half books.

Should they be read in order?

For the capers, no. To keep Davis’s life chronological, yes.

Gretchen your bio says that you started writing after your daughters left for college.
Can you share your “road to authordom” with us please?

I wrote four stand-alone commercial fiction narrative manuscripts before I started the Davis Way series. I wrote and wrote and wrote until I figured out what I was doing. It took four manuscripts, four years, and several hundred rejections for me to get anywhere near publishable. (Is that a word?) It was only when I switched gears—first person and began a series, what I was always meant to write—that I was published. I wrote Double Whammy in four months (the number four keeps popping up here), had an agent within a week of querying, and signed with Henery Press that year.

Just in case there’s an author or two shopping for a publisher.
Tell us why you chose Henry Press?

Henery Press chose ME! It was my lucky day.

So it’s deadline time. I’ve had authors who’ve told horror stories about their stressed out deadline woes.
How do you handle deadlines?

I don’t write on deadlines. Well, I do and I don’t. It’s in my best interest to keep the manuscripts coming, so I don’t take six months off between books. (I take six hours here and there. If I’m lucky.) My editor, Kendel Flaum, is an angel, and publishing with a medium-sized press comes with incredible amenities, including flexibility. When I finish a draft we set deadlines—edits, advanced reader copies, publication. I don’t know if I could write on a clock.

What’s the hardest thing about putting those final edits and a finished book to bed?

I love final edits! It’s when I sprinkle the magic.

Along this same thought what’s the first fun you do when a book is finished?

I go through my house introducing myself to the people here, then I go buy a new purse.

Gretchen what a great place to live on scenic, beautiful Lookout Mountain TN.
Why doesn’t your series take place there?

Oh, good grief, they’d throw me off the top of the mountain. There’s too much material up and down these brow roads, and honestly, no one would believe it.

Gretchen you’ve gotten some nice editorial, reader and peer reviews on your novels.
Do you read your reviews?

I do. Every word of every review. I appreciate that people take the time, and I’m grateful for every review, good, bad or otherwise.

Gretchen thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.
Good luck with Double Strike!


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Check out Gretchen's other titles in the series

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