Hello and welcome to my blog, Author Interviews. My name is Fiona Mcvie.

 

Let’s get you introduced to everyone, shall we? Tell us your name. What is your age?

I’m Linda Burson and I write fiction Novels.

Age? Hum, that’s always one of those questions we’re taught not to answer; let’s just say I’m younger than half of the people and older than the other half. J

 Fiona: Where are you from?

Originally, I’m from Pennsylvania. I was born and raised there. The majority of my life, however, I’ve lived in Connecticut.

 Fiona: A little about your self (ie,  your education, family life, etc.).

I went to college for a couple of years when I was a teenager, then quit so I could travel and spend time reading and enjoying life.  I’ve been married for thirty-six years, and have two gorgeous adult daughters who are now on their own. I had a sweet little dog for sixteen years, but he passed away in March of this year (2018). I miss him every day.

I worked mainly in an office environment for many years, until I started my own businesses. The last business I had, I ran for fifteen years, but after a serious illness, I decided it was time to write full-time instead of when I could fit it in, which wasn’t working too well.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

I have Book 7 of my MARCY SERIES, called TAKEN BY SURPRISE, due out in August 2018 with still six more books to go to complete this series.

I’m in the process of planning an Anthology with a few other writers  in the thriller/suspense genre. I also just started a new book which will take me back a few decades, so that should be interesting.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I was always more of a loner as a child. I liked to sit at the desk in my parent’s dining room and write. I spent many hours reading as well. It was a world, or I should say, many worlds where I enjoyed getting lost. I could travel anywhere I wanted without ever leaving my living room corner. It also made me a daydreamer; or maybe I always was a daydreamer. Maybe that’s why I loved reading so much. When I got older, I started writing stories because it was assigned in school. These were always my favorite assignments.

Eventually, I would write for my own pleasure.  I geared toward non-fiction writing for the most part. It wasn’t until I sat down six years ago to write full time that I decided to concentrate on fiction novels only. I felt I could be more creative writing fiction.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I’d have to say when a publishing company decided to publish my first book RAGE from my MARCY SERIES. That was the moment when I felt like a true writer since someone liked my book enough to publish it.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

After reading the Fifty Shades of Gray series I wasn’t as afraid to tackle writing full-time any more. I felt if those books, which I didn’t think were written well, could be popular, then maybe I might find people who would enjoy reading my novels. I didn’t think I could be rich or famous, that’s mostly pure luck; that’s not why a writer writes. We write because we can’t see us doing anything else. I write because it fills my heart with pure joy. It makes me fill complete, and I truly love doing it.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

The title of the first book I wrote, RAGE, seemed apropos. My protagonist had anger issues and couldn’t control it. That first one was probably the easiest to title. I also felt titles that weren’t too long or complicated may be easier to remember.

Coming up with the series title, MARCY SERIES, took me longer. I wasn’t sure if I should call it by my protagonist’s name. After going back and forth and asking a few people, it was decided that was the way to go. It sounds simple, but it wasn’t.

The other six books, so far, that I’ve named, were more difficult to decide. As of today, I still don’t have titles for the last three books in the series.

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style? Is there anything about your style or genre that you find particularly challenging?

My MARCY SERIES was written in first person. That style can be more difficult to write because you only have one view and that’s the protagonist. Also, many readers prefer to read a book written in third person. I did it in first person because I felt she was most important and I wanted her viewpoint and her life to completely shine through. I hope anyone who reads it, feels I accomplished this.

I don’t know if I find it particularly challenging. I enjoy doing it too much. The biggest challenge is trying to be accurate with some of the facts. If I was writing in a dystopian world, or maybe fantasy, no one would know if I was right or wrong because it’s my world. My fiction stories are contemporary and set in our everyday world. I can’t be too far off on my facts.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

There are always part of me and people I know in my novels, but just bits and pieces. There are no completed storylines that are written about someone I know, and definitely not about me. I’m too private to write too much about my own life. I may take a memory here or there and use it, but nothing in its’ entirety. There are some moments in some of my novels, where I’ve taken specific incidents of real events, and added them to my story. They are, however, not of anyone I personally know, but are of someone who knows someone who knows someone, kind of thing.

Fiona: To craft your works, do you have to travel? Before or during the process?

I don’t have to, but I would prefer to travel. Fortunately, with access to the world through computers, there’s a lot of information we can obtain without actually going to these places. I haven’t always travelled before the process, but I have visited a place or two afterward. I’m still considering visiting more places in my books that I haven’t, as of it.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

My publisher has graphic artists and cover designers on staff. They have done all the covers for my MARCY SERIES, so far.

For my last two single-title books, though, THE COLORS OF MY LIFE and MURDER AMONG FRIENDS, my PA Jessica Ozment of Magic Quill Graphics designed my covers. She did a fabulous job on them. I love them.

Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I always try to have a message in all my stories. The MARCY SERIES, specifically, has a message of realizing that even though we may believe in God and have faith, that doesn’t mean we always do the right thing. Sometimes, we do terrible things. We know they’re wrong, but we do them anyway. We make choices based on what we’re given, and we have to live with those choices. As long as we can live our lives, knowing one day, we’ll have to deal with God and the consequences at the end.

Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?  Who is your favorite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you?

I try to read books from Indie authors because I think we should try to support each other as much as possible. The big 5 plus publishing houses have a huge network and lots of money behind them to push their authors to great success. We small publishing house authors and Indie authors don’t have that available to us. We do everything mostly on our own. There are a couple Indie books out there that I thought were really good. I don’t have them in front of me right now, but if anyone is interested, I’d be happy to recommend a couple of them that have stories that were wonderful. Actually, I know I mentioned some of them in my newsletters I’ve sent out so far. I have a “recommended books” page.

I don’t have a “favorite” author. I like many. However, Robyn Carr is one I’ve always enjoyed reading. Her stories are real and full of heart. They actually remind me of my novels, which is probably why I like hers. I think we tend to write like the books we enjoy reading the most.

Fiona: Outside of family members, name one entity that supported your commitment to become a published author.

Unfortunately, I can’t name anyone that has given me that kind of support. Other than my husband and my two daughters and one son-in-law, no one has been that outspoken about my writing or about my books. I don’t even think most of my family or friends have read my books—not even most of my acquaintances have taken the effort to read them.

Other than my publisher, CLASS ACT BOOKS, who took me on and published my novels, I can’t think of anyone else. Now, that I’ve been published and been writing, I have my PA, Jessica who is always there to support me, and one of my friends named Pam S, who is always promoting my books and sharing them on her FB page. There are also a couple of other Indie Authors I’ve met on FB who always like my posts on FB, specifically Joe P. He’s one person you can always count on to “like” a post for you.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

Yes, it is my career. Just because I don’t make money at it, doesn’t mean it’s not a full-time career.

Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

No. I think the latest book is good and was done really well. I’ve been thrilled by the reviews I’ve been getting on it. This proves to me it was done well.

Fiona: Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?

Yes, that I feel I improve with each book. I hope I keep going in that direction. LOL

 Fiona: If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

Well, each book would have to have different people. The series, obviously, would have the same group all the way through, but I can’t think of anyone in particular, though. It may have to be an unknown. I have specific ideas about my characters and these roles wouldn’t fit just anyone.

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Do it for the love of it. You have to write because you CAN’T do anything else. You write because it’s the only thing that fills your heart. If you think for an instant you can make money or become famous, STOP now. Don’t bother. Don’t waste your time. A true writer doesn’t write for any reason other than they feel the calling. They feel whole and it’s the only thing that makes them feel successful.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

I hope you continue to read, and read often. Always do reviews, also. Many people don’t realize how important reviews are for an author. And remember, we all like different things. Yes, we all have our personal opinions about what we read, but try to look at the book as a whole and subjectively. Don’t trash it because it didn’t go the way you wanted it to go, or think because it’s never happened to you, it’s not possible. It’s okay not to love or even like a book, but think about why you didn’t like it.

I hope you pick up my MARCY SERIES, or one of my single-title books. Right now there’s THE COLORS OF MY LIFE and MURDER AMONG FRIENDS. Hopefully, toward the end of this year, I’ll also have an anthology of thrillers with a couple other authors.

 Fiona: What book are you reading now?

At this moment, I am not reading anything. I have a book on my shelf I’m planning on reading, but since I just started my new story, I haven’t had time.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

I don’t, but I think it was either a Ramona story, or maybe a Nancy Drew, or it may have been Encyclopaedia Brown.

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

Well, there’s many things, but on average…Any well-done movie or a well-written book.

Fiona: Is there one person, past or present, you would love to meet? Why?

It wouldn’t be someone famous. I’d like to meet an ancestor of mine, maybe a great grandmother or even a great, great one. I’d love to see and learn more about my heritage and how and why the women in my family have the personalities we have.

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

Other than reading a good book? I love music. I play the piano a little. I love to sing (Wish I was really good LOL), I love to bake, and I love spending time with my daughters.

Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?

I love to laugh, so I love comedies. Recently, I watched Big Bang,Sheldon, Mom and Life In Pieces. An old favorite is Friends.

I enjoy watching old shows, like reruns from the sixties and seventies era. My favorite old-time show is the Dick Van Dyke Show from the early sixties. I have the entire five years on DVD.

I also love the classics…anyRom Com from the sixties is awesome, and the old movies from the 1940’s and some of the old comedic westerns. I love most of the old Humphrey Bogart films. One of my more modern favourite is Notting Hill.

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors,  music?

I love Italian food the most. I love all colors, especially colors of the rainbow and my favorite music is from mid-century, 50’s and 60’s. If you read the MARCY SERIES, this is quite obvious. That’s one thing like me – my protagonist LOVES my music.

Fiona: Imagine a future where you no longer write. What would you do?

I would spend a lot of time reading other people’s books.

Fiona: You only have 24 hours to live how would you spend that time?

Surrounded by my family because they are entertaining and they make me laugh as well as feel loved for who I am.

Fiona: What do you want written on your head stone?

Proud Mother of Amanda and Kayla.

A Loving partner.

A loyal and honest friend.

Fiona: Do you have a blog or website readers can visit for updates, events and special offers?

I do have a website. It is www.lindajburson.com

You can also follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Lbursonbooks,

On Twitter @lindaburson23

or

Instagram at www.instagram.com/lindajeanburson

All my books, so far, are also on Pinterest. You can follow me hereAtlindabursonwrites

ALL MY LINKS:My website is:      www.lindajburson.com

Link to Amazon:   https://www.amazon.com/Rage-Marcy-Book-Linda-Burson-ebook/dp/B016NBDF7Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486713506&sr=8-1&keywords=rage+by+Linda+Burson

Link to Amazon for Colors of My Life:  https://tinyurl.com/1161EWC

Link to Class Act Books:      http://www.classactbooks.com/general-fiction/women-s-fiction/results,10-9

Link to Barnes and Noble Rage:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rage-linda-burson/1122801716?ean=2940152411478

Link to Barnes and Noble The Colors Of My Life:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-colors-of-my-life-linda-burson/1126403194?ean=2940154372654

Link to Smashwords for Rage:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/585163

Link to Smashwords for The Colors of My Life:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/724385

Link to Author Page:   https://www.facebook.com/Lbursonbooks

Twitter: www.twitter.com/@lindaburson23

Instagram: www.instagram.com/lindajeanburson

Link to Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/burson1242/

Link to Murder Among Friends:  https://tinyurl.com/ya6r7az5

Amazon Author Page:  www.amazon.com/author/lindaburson