"QUEEN OF THE WEEK"
CELEBRITY AUTHOR
LINDA KOZAR
Welcome! Let me pour you a nice cup of Bengal Spice tea and well get started. Your desk teapot is so special that I just had to share it with our readers. Please help yourself to an herb biscuit with mushroom/basil/garlic pate, and for dessert, we have chocolate eclairs, filled with your favorite chocolate cream filling.
Where do you live? Tell us a little bit about
yourself.
I live north of Houston
in The Woodlands, Texas. Love it here. Love the people. And the food--barbecue,
tamales, salsa, pico de gallo. . .the list is long!
I’m originally from New
Orleans, but have lived here in Texas for 23 years (no-so-coincidentally how
long I’ve been married).
Are you a traditionally published or Indie author?
I am traditionally
published (so far).
What are your hobbies?
Besides writing, I like
oil painting, crafting, beading and mixed media.
Tell us about your current book. What was your
inspiration?
I have a series of
three ebooks--cozy mysteries coming out in May (20th, 27th)
and (June 3rd) “When The Fat Lady Sings Series” Spyglass Lane
Publishing. The inspiration came from my
own friends—outrageous, fun personalities—people who I considered to be perfect
characters. I just had to write storylines around them!
How did you become a writer? When did you start?
It
really started in second grade when I used to read everything I could get my
hands on (especially the entire collection of Nancy Drew books). But I also
read grown up books, everything from the classics to book club novels from our
home bookshelves. And there were times I didn’t like the way a certain story
ended, so I would rewrite them. I promised myself that someday I would grow up
to be an author and write books with the kind of endings I wanted.
Fast
forward to adulthood, I became a freelance journalist with hundreds of articles
published. But in 2003 I decided I was ready to move from newspapers to writing
books. Actually, I couldn’t think beyond one book. If I achieved just one, that
would have felt pert near perfect.
That
same year, a friend of mine approached and asked me to co-found a Christian
writers group. We named it “Words for The Journey Christian Writers Guild” and
it was a huge success. We eventually opened a Rocky Mountain Chapter in
Colorado as well. I began to learn the craft and grow from a news reporter to
novelist. I was blessed to meet some wonderful critique partners, who helped to
polish my work and really make it shine.
I’m
still in a critique group. I’ve lost count of how many I’ve been in over the
years, but I lovelovelove being involved with critique partners who tell me the
absolute truth in love.
How long did it take you to finish your first
book?
My first book, a
nonfiction I wrote in 2005, was never published. However, it went to committee
at three different publishing houses. The problem did not rest so much with the
book as with the fact that I had no platform or brand or name for myself. The
publishing houses were unwilling to take a risk on the book. But the good part
about that is that I can now dust that book off, self-publish it in digital
form and find out who was rightJ
My second book, a
fiction was written piecemeal. I wrote the first three chapters, not really
knowing what kind of book I was writing. I was just going where the characters
took me—a real seat of the pants experience. Then I skipped ahead and wrote two
more chapters at what I figured would be the middle of the book. Finally, I sat
down and wrote every day for two weeks straight and finished the book. That one
sold a couple days after I finished it, through a miraculous and bold decision
to query and editor by email.
Where do you like to write?
I struggle with that.
Proper ergonomic form is important, but to date, I haven’t found one particular
comfort zone. So, I write in different places and positions all over my house.
And yes, I write primarily in my home where I’m not distracted. Some people
like to write in public places—restaurants, hotel lobbies or malls, but not me.
I can’t concentrate with all the activity around. Even on a plane. And there’s
nothing more annoying than having the person next to you reading your work
while you’re writing. That’s happened to me on planes and in restaurants. I do
take notes when I travel, notice something interesting or hear an intriguing
conversation. But I write at home where it’s quiet and comfortable.
I have a chaise lounge
in my study I like to start off in. when I get tired of that, I move to a
leather Barco lounger in the living room. Then I move from my laptop to my PC
upstairs where I sit on a large exercise ball in front of the computer desk.
It’s supposed to ease tension on your lower back, and it does help.
Bottom line, I think
it’s important to move around a lot when you’re writing for long periods of
time.
Favorite author(s)?
Gosh, there are so
many! Usually my favorites are the ones I’m currently reading. I really enjoyed
reading “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.” And I have to say, one
of my all time favorite books is the novel, Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier.
I’m a
big fan of Victoria Holt. Those books were my favorite rainy day reads. Though
gothic stories fell in popular appeal years ago, I believe they are poised for
a comeback. II particularly love southern gothic romance. I have one written
and ready to go. It is by far, my favorite out of all the books I’ve written.
How many books have you written, so far? Do you
plan to write more?
I’m right at six now,
and my agent is shopping around a few as well. And yes, I plan to write more.
I’m in this writing thing for the long haul. I feel called by God to continue.
Would you like to share a link where we can
purchase your books?
They are available on
Amazon, Kindle, Nook, Smashwords, etc. My nonfiction book of devotions Babes
With A Beatitude—Devotions For Smart, Savvy Women of Faith is available in
bookstores like Barnes and Noble, Lifeway, etc.
Check my Amazon Author
Page. The latest books—the cozy mysteries release on Misfortune Cookies May
20th, A Tisket, A Casket
May27th and Dead As A Doornail June 3rd. A
hardcover mystery, Strands of Fate (Annie’s Attic Mysteries) will
release in October, 2012.
What about a link to your website?
It's been such a pleasure meeting you, Linda. It sounds like readers are in for some fun books coming our way! Thank you again for joining me for tea.
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Linda Kozar is the
co-author of Babes With A Beatitude—Devotions For Smart, Savvy Women of
Faith (Howard/Simon & Schuster) and author of Misfortune Cookies
(2008), (Barbour Publishing). Misfortune Cookies, A Tisket, A Casket,
and Dead As A Doornail will release as ebooks in “When The Fat Ladies
Sing Series” in May of 2012 (Spyglass Lane Mysteries). She received the ACFW
Mentor of the Year Award in 2007, founded and served as president of Writers On The Storm, a local ACFW
chapter for three years. In 2003, she co-founded, co-directed and later served
as Southwest Texas Director of Words For
The Journey Christian Writers Guild. She and her husband Michael, married
23 years, have two lovely daughters, Katie and Lauren and a Rat Terrier
princess named Patches.
Represented by: Wendy Lawton, Books & Such Literary Agency
Member of: CAN (Christian
Authors Network), RWA (Romance Writers of American), WHRWA (West Houston
Romance Writers of America), ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), Writers
On The Storm, The Woodlands, Texas Chapter of ACFW, Toastmasters (Area 56) The
Woodlands, Texas. WoodsEdge Community Church, The Woodlands, TX.
