I was thrilled to meet donalee virtually while a part of the Crime Writers of Canada Board of Directors. And now I get to feature her on my blog! I hope you enjoy meeting her!
donalee Moulton is an award-winning freelance journalist. She has written articles for print and online publications across North America including The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, Lawyer’s Daily, National Post, and Canadian Business.
Her first mystery book Hung out to Die was published this spring. Her short story “Swan Song” was one of 21 selected for publication in Cold Canadian Crime. A second short story, also featuring the Iqaluit-based chief of police Doug Brumal, was published this spring in Black Cat Weekly. Her literary short story “Moist” was published recently in After Dinner Conversation and The Antigonish Review. As well, she is the author of The Thong Principle: Saying What You Mean and Meaning What You Say and co-author of, Celebrity Court Cases: Trials of the Rich and Famous.
CONTACTS:
Website: donaleemoulton.com
Amazon Author URL:
amazon.com/author/donaleemoulton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donaleemoultonauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/donaleemoulton
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/donaleemoulton/
Twitter: @donaleeMoulton
Instagram: donaleemoulton
Tell
us about your life outside of writing.
Life is
good. It is filled with family, friends, and furry critters. There is yoga four
times a week; I wish it could be more. That is, I know, I wish I could fulfill.
There are wonderful times in the hot tub with the snow falling and bubble baths
in the other times when the weather says it’s wisest to stay inside and soak.
Professionally,
I’m transitioning from corporate writing and editing to doing more
developmental, copyediting, and proofreading for writers. That is a joy.
Do you have a work in progress?
I have two
works in progress. One is a new mystery with new characters. They meet in a
yoga studio and come together to catch a thief. I loved Riel Brava, the main
character in my first mystery, Hung Out to Die, but he was very much a
surprise. Not what I would have picked as a main character emanating from my
imagination. The next book, Bind, sounds and feels a little bit more
like me. That said, it’s always good to be taken outside your comfort zone.
My second
mystery-in-the-making does that. It’s an historical mystery, my first. It’s a
delicate balancing act: focusing on the fiction and ensuring upmost accuracy of
information.
What was the most difficult section/piece you ever wrote? What made it difficult?
That’s an
interesting question. As a freelance journalist, I wrote on everything from
intellectual property to the armoured truck industry to eel grass. Accuracy was
paramount as was engagement. However, the most difficult piece I ever wrote was
for “Lives Lived” in The Globe and Mail. It was a tribute to my mother
following her death in 2020. It was so difficult to write because it was so
personal. I had no perspective, and I feared I would not “get it right.” The
only thing I know for sure: Mama, would have told me not to worry. And there
would have been a hug.
What sort of research do you do for your work?
The
historical mystery dictates the era and, in this case, the crime and its
outcome. So, I am busy researching that, reading books, listening to
documentaries, and finding everything and anything online. For my other fiction
work, I research elements of the crime as a first step and, in the case of
Riel, psychopathy. Sometimes place is a key component and I immerse myself in
this new world. Usually, however, I find specific issues and questions arise as
I write, then I take the time to investigate.
Which books and authors do you read for pleasure? Is there an author who inspires you?
I relish
reading. I was a judge in the Crime Writers of Canada’s most recent Awards of Excellence,
and I got to dive into more than 40 fabulous – and very diverse – books that
kept me on my toes and my eyes glued to the page. When I was younger and I was
discovering the wonder and wow of the mystery genre, I devoured authors like
Tony Hillerman, Martha Grimes, Ruth Rendell. More recently I have discovered
writers like Richard Osman. And Delia Owens’s Where the Crawdads Sing
was nothing short of joyous.
Was there a person who encouraged you to write?
My mother taught me to love language – and to respect it.
She cared about words and getting the words right. She was my greatest
influence.
HUNG OUT TO DIE
Riel Brava, CEO of the Canadian Cannabis Corporation, just wants to be left alone to do his job and one day run for president of the United States. He has a plan. Murder keeps getting in his way. It isn’t easy being a psychopath.
THE THONG PRINCIPLE: SAYING WHAT YOU MEAN AND MEANING
WHAT YOU SAY
The Thong Principle has nothing to do with beachwear and everything to do with communication impact. The book explores why miscommunication occurs, where writers and speakers are most likely to muddy the waters, and why we put our heads in the sand when it comes to saying what we mean.
https://www.amazon.ca/Donalee-Moulton/e/B09WVR3K44/ref=aufs_dp_fta_dsk
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