On this beautiful Wednesday in May we’re welcoming writer PJ MacLayne to the Coffee Chat with her featured mystery book, The Ranger’s Dog Tags.
Nice to have you here, PJ. What may I get you to drink?
PJ: I don’t drink coffee. I never learned to like it. When we first got married (years ago) I’d make a pot in the morning and have a cup with my husband before he went to work. One day, I realized I never finished my cup because I really didn’t like it. I’d still get up and make the coffee for him, but I’d have a cup of tea or a glass of orange juice instead. Orange juice is still my go-to morning drink. After that, I drink water most of the time, with an occasional cup of tea.
Ally: Orange Juice it is! All the more coffee left for me. 🙂 While I get our drinks, please introduce yourself to readers.
Born and raised among the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania, P.J. MacLayne still finds inspiration for her books in that landscape. She is a computer geek by day and a writer by night who currently lives in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. When she’s not in front of a computer screen, she might be found exploring the back roads of the nearby national forests and parks. In addition to the Harmony Duprie Mysteries, she is also the author of the Free Wolves adventures.
Something unique/unusual that isn’t in your regular bio: “In the first 20 years of our marriage, we moved 12 times. (And no, not military)”
P.J. MacLayne can be reached at:
Website: https://pjmaclayne.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/pjmaclayne
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pjmaclayne
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/p-j-maclayne
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cL73Cz
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/P.J.-MacLayne/e/B00HVE8WZI
Ally: What do you feel is the hardest part of writing?
PJM: Staying focused. Between my day job, keeping the house running, and writing, I often stretch myself too thin. I end up jumping from task to task. Then there’s the biggest distraction, the internet. I wrote The Ranger’s Dog Tags by hand, and I was able to concentrate better. (It took 14 pads of paper and 5 or so pens.)
Ally: Do you write from an outline?
PJM: I’m a pantster. I write from the seat of my pants. I usually have a beginning and end in mind, with everything in between up for negotiation. Although in my past few books, I’m finding those aren’t set in stone either. Once I get into the story, my characters let me know what I’ve done wrong and we have a discussion about what really happened.
Ally: What’s the best thing a reader has said about your book?
PJM: I love getting kind reviews from readers. This one made my day: “There is so much suspense/mystery in this story & I’m talking about a TON! The twists & turns are insane so I didn’t quite know the direction it was all going in, but I sure did love the eclectic group of people because they really made this book entertaining on top of the mystery that I was trying to solve along with Harmony.”
Then there was this one: This book is a great wrap up to a wonderful mystery series featuring a female Librarian sleuth. I have read this and every Harmony Duprie Mystery book and I highly recommend you do the same. You’ll love all of them.
Reviews make a difference to authors. I encourage everyone to leave reviews for authors they enjoy, even if it isn’t me.
Ally: How many drafts (revision passes) do you do on a typical book before submission to your editor/publisher?
PJM: As many as it needs? Until I’m satisfied? Actually, I don’t count. Typically three or four before I let it go to my editor, and then another three after I get it back. For my final edits, I let the computer read the book to me (in a very monotone voice) and I always end up finding small edits I want to make.
Ally: Have you co-authored a story or novel? How did it work? Would you do it again?
PJM: I haven’t co-authored a story. The closest I’ve come is being part of a collection of short stories tied to a theme, where we used characters from each others’ stories in ours. It was an interesting experience, but I was happy I wasn’t the one organizing it!
We tried a second collection of short stories with the a new theme but without involving characters from other author’s stories. It didn’t sell.
Would I do it again? Absolutely. Well, it depends. A few years back, I was invited to write for one of Amazon’s worlds. I had to turn down the offer, because I had too many of my own stories demanding to be written. Timing is important.
The bigger question is, would I co-author a book with one other person? I’d be open to the idea. It would depend on the genre, the other person, and of course, whether I could commit my time to the project.
Ally: Which of the trivia questions did you pick to answer?
PJM:
- favorite comfort food: Chicken and dumplings. I have an easy recipe and I cook it several times every winter. It’s perfect for days when it’s snowing outside and you want to feel warm inside.
- What type of music do you prefer? Classic rock. Or John Denver, depending upon my mood. And I’ve been getting into classic Irish music lately. Do I have to pick one?
- best place you’ve ever visited: The top of just about any mountain. If I have to pick one, the Beartooth Mountains on the Wyoming/Montana border. It’s where I first fell in love with the mountains.
- If you couldn’t write anymore, what would you want to do? I’d probably get back into needlepoint. I love the creative process of building a picture one stitch at a time. (But I’ve run out of room for needlepoint pieces in my home!)
- a supernatural ability you’d love to have: Healing. Too many people are hurting today and modern medicine can’t help them. I’d love to be able to take away some of the pain.
Ally: Thanks for chatting with us, PJ. Before you go, please show readers your featured mystery, The Ranger’s Dog Tags.
The Ranger’s Dog Tags
(Harmony Duprie Mysteries #6)
Genre: Mystery/Amateur female sleuth
Eli Hennessey has vanished.
His house in Oak Grove is in flames, his cell phone is out of commission, and friends in Florida can’t find him. It’s up to Harmony Duprie to track down her missing lover before her life shatters and his ends.
Harmony’s first discovery: Eli tricked her into signing paperwork putting her in charge of his company. Had he planned his disappearance?
The answers won’t be found in Oak Grove. Harmony hightails it to Florida in search of Eli and the truth.
The Ranger’s Dog Tags, Book 6 of the Harmony Duprie Mysteries, is the final book of the series, but can be read as a stand-alone.
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092YTWBX1
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1563561154
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w?ean=2940162511434
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-ranger-s-dog-tags
Books2Read: https://books2read.com/u/3R85NL
Series on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074C6CTKP?ref_=dbs_r_series&storeType=ebooks