Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.
A. My husband Michael and I celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary this past April. We have two lovely daughters, Katie and Lauren, in college and a rat princess terrier named Patches at home. I love writing, mentoring other writers, and social networking. Movies—yes! Chinese food—yes! I love playing Rummikub too.
Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
A. I loved reading and writing early on—in second grade. I read everything in our house. My mom had a shelf full of books. After I read all the kiddie books, I moved on to the classics and the Reader’s Digest Condensed Books. And I spent a lot of time at the public library. I started writing because I realized I didn’t like the way some stories ended. So I wrote my own endings.
Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break?
A. I got my first big writing break from Susan Downs when she headed Heartsong Presents—Mysteries for Barbour Publishing. I will be forever grateful to her for taking a chance on a little green writer who didn’t know what she was doing. She contracted the first two books in my series “Misfortune Cookies,” and “A Tisket, A Casket,” in 2007, before the series was cancelled by Barbour. Afterward I had a nonfiction devotional book published by Howard/Simon & Schuster in 2009 “Babes With A Beatitude—Devotions For Smart, Savvy Women of Faith.” Then Spyglass Lane Mysteries came along thanks to Chip MacGregor, and epublished most of the original mystery author’s books.
Q: Would you tell us about your current book release Dead As A Doornail? Dead As A Doornail is the last book in the “When The Fat Ladies Sing” cozy mystery series. Here’s a short description:
With Lovita’s wedding to Hudson just months away, all Lovita and Sue Jan’s plans seem to be going awry. A new beauty shop in town is stealing their customers, a crooked politician is running for Mayor, and to top it off, the man who is building Sue Jan and Monroe’s dream home falls victim to a freak air hammer accident. All the girls have to do is save their beauty shop, rescue Wachita, and nail the real killer before Lovita walks down the aisle. Can two big bodaciously beautiful women do it? Piece of cake—wedding cake that is!
Q: Where did you get your inspiration for Dead As A Doornail?
A: Honestly, it just came to me—back in 2008 when I was working on titles for the books in the series. I’m a fanatic about titles. Most people don’t realize how important they are. I can fall in love with a book just based on the title. Sometimes I’m disappointed by what’s inside that book, but when everything comes together—the title is what hooked me first.
Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?
A: The importance of friendship, of doing what’s right no matter the circumstances, keeping your sense of humor, and tru
sting God.
Q: What is your favorite scene/chapter from the book?
A: The final scene in the book features a hot air balloon parade to the steps of the church—a surprise cooked up by Sue Jan, Lovita’s best friend. Lovita and Hudson are supposed to be married in a simple ceremony because they decided to sacrifice their big wedding in favor of donating the money to the high school band kids. The money originally set aside for the kids to march in the Macy’s Day parade was stolen. Anyway, Sue Jan enlists everyone in Wachita and the surrounding towns to loan her their lawn inflatables. She fills them with helium and attaches ropes and the high school band marches their small town version of the Macy’s Day parade right down the street to the steps of the church to honor the new couple.
Q: What inspires you to write?
A. I write what God puts in my heart. Whether that is the latest greatest genre selling is not important to me. What’s important is obedience to the call.
Q: How has being a published novelist differed from your expectations of the profession?
A: I thought it would be more glamorous (at least when I was a second grader). But it’s not. It’s a job. It’s lots and lots of hard work—but fun. Sort of a contradiction only a writer can understand.
Q: What advice o
r tips do you have for writers who are just getting started?
A: Rejection is never easy. Whether you are prepublished or published. Learn to deal with it now. Learn from it. Move on and never give up.
Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?
A. Just finished Strands of Fate, Book One in a new series for Annie’s Attic Mysteries. Now I’m working on a historical romance.
Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do?
A. Oil painting or mixed media art. I’m also starting harp lessons this summer.
Q: Where can readers find you on the internet?
A. www.lindakozar.com You can also hear me on the Gate Beautiful Radio Show. This month, we are featuring Tosca Lee. Check out showtimes: http://gatebeautifulradio.blogspot.com
Q: Anything else you’d like to tell or share with us?
A. Keep reading. Keep writing.