Good Morning, Booklovers!
Can you believe it’s July already? I hope all of you in the US had a great 4th with family and friends. It was somewhat back to normal for me…and wonderful to celebrate with loved ones. But today is for reading and writing, including a chat with this week’s guest author, DS Lang, who brought us her featured historical mystery, A Lingering Shadow.
Welcome to the blog, Debbie. How do you take your coffee?
DSL: Just black.
Ally: Couldn’t be easier. While I pour, tell readers something about yourself.
Can you believe it’s July already? I hope all of you in the US had a great 4th with family and friends. It was somewhat back to normal for me…and wonderful to celebrate with loved ones. But today is for reading and writing, including a chat with this week’s guest author, DS Lang, who brought us her featured historical mystery, A Lingering Shadow.
Welcome to the blog, Debbie. How do you take your coffee?
DSL: Just black.
Ally: Couldn’t be easier. While I pour, tell readers something about yourself.
BIO:
D.S. Lang, a native Ohioan, has been making up stories since she was a little girl, and she still is!
Along the way, she studied English and social studies as an undergrad. After graduate school, she went on to teach government and American history in high school. She also taught English at the junior high, high school, and college levels. In addition, she has worked as a program coordinator, golf shop manager, and online tutor.
Now, she spends much of her time reading, researching, and writing. Most recently, she has delved into the Great War era and the years immediately after it. Her Arabella Stewart Historical Mystery Series was inspired by her Great Uncle Brice who served in the American Expeditionary Force during World War One, and by her love of historical mysteries. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with family and friends, including her dog Izzy.
Something unique/unusual that isn’t in your regular bio: “My dad was a golf pro, and I started playing golf when I was four.”
Author Contacts:
Website: http://www.dslangbooks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DS-Lang-106722091331345
Email: dslangbooks@gmail.com
D.S. Lang, a native Ohioan, has been making up stories since she was a little girl, and she still is!
Along the way, she studied English and social studies as an undergrad. After graduate school, she went on to teach government and American history in high school. She also taught English at the junior high, high school, and college levels. In addition, she has worked as a program coordinator, golf shop manager, and online tutor.
Now, she spends much of her time reading, researching, and writing. Most recently, she has delved into the Great War era and the years immediately after it. Her Arabella Stewart Historical Mystery Series was inspired by her Great Uncle Brice who served in the American Expeditionary Force during World War One, and by her love of historical mysteries. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with family and friends, including her dog Izzy.
Something unique/unusual that isn’t in your regular bio: “My dad was a golf pro, and I started playing golf when I was four.”
Author Contacts:
Website: http://www.dslangbooks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DS-Lang-106722091331345
Email: dslangbooks@gmail.com
INTERVIEW:
Ally: Who or what inspired your featured book?
DSL: The entire Arabella Stewart Historical Mystery series is inspired by my Great Uncle Brice who fought in World War I. He died before I was born, but my grandmother told many stories about him. Also, I have a beautiful embroidered linen postcard that he sent home from Paris at the end of the war. The embroidery work consists of the flags of the Allies and says: “Greetings from France 1914-1918.”
Ally: Who or what inspired your featured book?
DSL: The entire Arabella Stewart Historical Mystery series is inspired by my Great Uncle Brice who fought in World War I. He died before I was born, but my grandmother told many stories about him. Also, I have a beautiful embroidered linen postcard that he sent home from Paris at the end of the war. The embroidery work consists of the flags of the Allies and says: “Greetings from France 1914-1918.”
Ally: Are you self-published or traditionally published? How did you make the decision?
DSL: Self-published. The turnaround time is so long for traditional publishers that I wanted to try the indie route.
Ally: What is the hardest part of writing?
DSL: Proofreading. Even with two additional proofreaders, I go over each book several times. I taught writing, and I always told my students to read their work out loud. I follow the advice, but it can get tedious with long books!
Ally: How many drafts (revision passes) do you do on a typical book before submission to your editor/publisher?
DSL: A ball park figure would be a half-dozen. I tend to want to fix, fix, fix.
Ally: What’s the best writing/marketing advice you’ve been given?
DSL: I read a book on writing by Phyllis Whitney, who wrote almost 100 books (mostly romantic suspense). I’m paraphrasing, but one of her comments was “It isn’t the writing that’s difficult; it’s the rewriting and rewriting and rewriting.”
Ally: If you could live in a fictional setting of your choosing for the next six months, where would it be?
DSL: A coastal island with a small population and limited access (by boat only). I love Kiawah Island, SC. It is a busy resort island now, but I like to imagine it as it was before development began. At that time, about a dozen houses were there and access was by water.
DSL: Tell us about your reading habits. Current favorites?
DSL: I love historical mysteries, in particular. When I’m writing a lot, I don’t read others, though. Instead, I read history, biography, and the occasional romance. Right now, I’m reading Deepak Chopra’s book, Metahuman.
Ally: What three books in your genre would you recommend to readers?
DSL: There are three series that are particular favorites of mine: Maisie Dobbs, Bess Crawford, and Veronica Speedwell.
Ally: If you switched careers with the main character of the last book you read, what would it be?
DSL: I just finished My Hitch in Hell, which is about the Bataan Death March and American POWs held by the Japanese during World War II. Soldier would be the profession.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
DSL: The third book in my Arabella Stewart Historical Mystery series, A Lethal Arrogance, will be out in mid-September.
Ally: Which of the trivia questions did you select to answer?
DSL:
DSL: Self-published. The turnaround time is so long for traditional publishers that I wanted to try the indie route.
Ally: What is the hardest part of writing?
DSL: Proofreading. Even with two additional proofreaders, I go over each book several times. I taught writing, and I always told my students to read their work out loud. I follow the advice, but it can get tedious with long books!
Ally: How many drafts (revision passes) do you do on a typical book before submission to your editor/publisher?
DSL: A ball park figure would be a half-dozen. I tend to want to fix, fix, fix.
Ally: What’s the best writing/marketing advice you’ve been given?
DSL: I read a book on writing by Phyllis Whitney, who wrote almost 100 books (mostly romantic suspense). I’m paraphrasing, but one of her comments was “It isn’t the writing that’s difficult; it’s the rewriting and rewriting and rewriting.”
Ally: If you could live in a fictional setting of your choosing for the next six months, where would it be?
DSL: A coastal island with a small population and limited access (by boat only). I love Kiawah Island, SC. It is a busy resort island now, but I like to imagine it as it was before development began. At that time, about a dozen houses were there and access was by water.
DSL: Tell us about your reading habits. Current favorites?
DSL: I love historical mysteries, in particular. When I’m writing a lot, I don’t read others, though. Instead, I read history, biography, and the occasional romance. Right now, I’m reading Deepak Chopra’s book, Metahuman.
Ally: What three books in your genre would you recommend to readers?
DSL: There are three series that are particular favorites of mine: Maisie Dobbs, Bess Crawford, and Veronica Speedwell.
Ally: If you switched careers with the main character of the last book you read, what would it be?
DSL: I just finished My Hitch in Hell, which is about the Bataan Death March and American POWs held by the Japanese during World War II. Soldier would be the profession.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
DSL: The third book in my Arabella Stewart Historical Mystery series, A Lethal Arrogance, will be out in mid-September.
Ally: Which of the trivia questions did you select to answer?
DSL:
- memorable book you’ve read: The Distant Summer by Sarah Patterson. I first read it in grad school as an assignment in an adolescent literature course, and I reread it every two or three years. When I taught junior high reading and English, I had three copies in my room library. It was very popular with students, too.
- color of nail polish you have on: glitter gold
- most beloved comic book character: Superman and Lois Lane
- favorite quote: “When you label me, you negate me.” Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard
- the best thing a book fan has ever said to you: I sat up all night finishing your book.
- If you had to evacuate your house (your family, pets, and laptop are already safe), what one thing would you try to take with you? Old photo albums and my dad’s golf memorabilia.
Ally: Thanks for visiting on this very warm morning, Debbie. Before you take off for some place cool, please show us your featured book.
A Lingering Shadow-An Arabella Stewart Historical Mystery-Book Two
Genre: historical mystery
Rating: PG
Several months after arriving home from her service as a United States Army Signal Corps operator in the Great War, Arabella Stewart is focused on saving her family’s resort and boosting her hometown, both of which suffered during the war and flu pandemic. The first day of the summer season starts with excitement and anticipation but ends with a murdered guest.
Eager to solve the crime quickly, Bella once again finds herself helping Constable Jackson Hastings, her dead brother’s best friend and former comrade-in-arms, investigate. As Bella and Jax pursue the killer, they confront lingering shadows over the suspects, the victim, the resort, the town, and themselves.
https://books2read.com/u/md7x2y
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0964J2RYG