Welcome to New Zealand author Rodney Strong!
Facebook:
@rodneystrongauthor
Instagram:
rodneyswriter
What would you say are your strengths as an author?
I think one of my biggest strengths is the ability
to add a touch of humor to everything, without making everything funny. Often
it’s just a subtle word or action to stop everything sliding into heavy
territory. That and dialogue. I love writing dialogue.
How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?
I write Monday to Friday. I have two young children
so I write while they’re at school. I wouldn’t call it a strict routine, but I
try and get between 1,000-2,000 words out a day. Sometimes that can take me
half an hour and sometimes it doesn’t happen but if I can hit that target then
I consider it a satisfactory day.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?
Oh, that’s a tricky one. I’d like to be well
established as a cozy mystery writer who occasionally dabbles in something a
bit more emotional.
If you could offer one piece of advice to a novice writer, what would it be?
I think it would be don’t get caught up in the
pursuit of perfection on your first draft. Write your story, get it down from
start to finish, then worry about sculpting it in the re-writes.
What would you consider to be the best compliment a reader could give your book?
That it entertained them. At the end of the day I write with the hope that someone will laugh or cry or say wow, and if I can get one of those reactions then I’ve done my job well.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on the third book in my Silvermoon Retirement Village series. 98 year old Alice is a blast to write for and I always have fun with her. I’ve also started initial planning for a new series set in America (All my current series are set in New Zealand). My two cats are going to feature heavily in that one.
POKER CHIPS AND POISON
If old age doesn't get her…the murderer will.
97 year old Alice Atkinson should be comfortably living out her days at the Silvermoon Retirement Village. But she's bored. A lifetime of living in the grey area between right and wrong means that winning money off her friends at poker just isn't satisfying.
Then her friend is murdered, and she's the only
one who thinks it's foul play. And even she has her doubts.
With the help of Vanessa her newly appointed
and occasionally reluctant sidekick, Alice is determined to find out the truth.
One thing is for sure, Alice is going to need to dust off some old skills to
come through this in one piece.
Grab your copy of Poker Chips and Poison now to
see how age means nothing when it comes to investigating murder.
https://storyoriginapp.com/universalbooklinks/6b3b6dc8-f128-11e9-9fba-a335974692cb
MURDER
IN PAINT:
A Ghostly Hitchhiker cozy mystery
Oliver doesn't believe in ghosts. That's okay, they
don't believe in him either.
Oliver Atkinson, married father of two and would be
writer, has a woman on his mind. Literally. Violet Tumbleton died
in 1948, but now she's taken up residence in Oliver's head. Someone is using
her name and Violet wants it back.
Reluctantly Oliver agrees to help, and is soon
entangled in a plot involving a stolen painting, and murder. He's way out of
his depth as he teams up with Amanda, the con artist that started it all, to
investigate while staying one step ahead of the resolute police detective.
One thing's for
sure, he's going to need all his wits to avoid ending up a spirit like Violet.
Murder in Paint is a thrilling and humorous cozy
mystery full of twists and turns. Author Rodney Strong has crafted an
entertaining tale about ordinary people given the chance to do extraordinary
things.
https://storyoriginapp.com/universalbooklinks/fe4daedc-662c-11e9-8584-bf5c3a8b8132
Both books are $0.99 on Amazon for a short time.
