Spotlight Author with Judy McCoy

If you're a dog lover, if you love canine competitions, and you like a little mystery, Judi McCoy's your girl, and she's here with us today to tell us all about her latest release DEATH IN SHOW. The book will award bookstore shelves everywhere this month!

So tell us Judy, what do all of your fans have to look forward to in 2010?

My next release is DEATH IN SHOW and it will be coming out in June 2010. the mystery takes place at a huge dog show (like Westminster, but not) and someone dies while taking a dog around the ring.

The cause of death is very unusual and the doggie dialogue is great.

What are you working on now?

Book four has been handed in and that will be out in March 2011. I've just strated book five. It takes place n Long island in the Hamptns, and Sam isn't in the picture. Ellie, Rudy, Viv, and Mr.T are on their own with this one. But I will share a secret. there's a parrot in the book that steals the show.

What makes your writing unique?

I'm not sure I'd call my 'writing' unique, but my characters and plots are. there are hundreds of great writers out there, but not many can make the reader fell what the character is feeling and take that journey with them through the book. I think that I can. I've had several hundred readers write and tell me that when Rudy talks they can hear their own dogs saying the exact same thing.

Where does your inspiration come from?

My Rudy is the inspiration for these books. Even now, a year after I've lost him, I can hear him telling m what he wants to say and what I should do. If I could live my life over again, I'd be a dog walker in Manhattan, really. To me, it's the ideal profession.

If you had to pick one character in your books, who would be yur favorite? And why? Or if you don't want to pick a favorite... which one do you connect with the most? And why?

My favorite character, besides Rudy, is Ellie. She's a free spirit. She believes there's goodness in all people. She's trusting and loving, especially where dogs are concerned, and she would never let a friend down.

Do you have any tricks of the trade that you are willing to share with us?

I teach a 2 day aspiring author workshop at Romantic Times each year, and tell my class to write what they love. Don't try to write like their favorite author, write in their own voice, say what they want to say, because each of them is unique and very special.

When I write I have to listen to music. Does music or anything else influence your writing? If so what do you like to listen to while you are writing?

I love listening to music, but it can't have any words. If I hear words, I automatically start singing along. When I do that, I start typing the words and the next thing I know the pages are covered in song lyrics. I really like lite classical.

Does writing ever get easier?

The actual writing does get easier, and that means the self-editing is easier, which makes the time it takes to finish a book shorter. When I first started writing, it too me a year to finish a book. Now I can finish on in 5-6 months. I also find that sticking with a group of characters, like Ellie, Rudy, and Sam, makes things easier. you learn to walk in their shoes and your mind knows what they want to say as your writing.

What's the most important advice you can give to aspiring authors?

My motto: you can fix crap: you can't fix nothing.

That boils down to get the words on the page, no matter how bad you think they are. Once the idea is down, you can edit, fix, rearrange, delete, whatever you need to do to create a good story. A new author must put her but in the chair and write EVERY DAY, even if it's only for 15 minutes.

How do you deal with criticism?

I used to be very sensitive, cry when I got rejected or got a bad review, etc. But I'm a big girl now, and I can take it. Everyone has something they like to read: if it isn't my stuff, fine. Buy a book from someone you love and don't buy mine again.

But there's no reason to slam someone in a review site. Simply put the book you didn't like and move on.

What do you do when you get stuck?

I take a walk, play with the dogs, read, do a Soduko, whatever I need to do to get my mind off the problem. Then I approach the page as if it were brand new. That usually works. If not, I take a nap.

Fast Five

Favorite time of year-
Absolutely the fall. The colors are beautiful, the days are sunny and warm but not hot, the nights are cool.

All time favorite movie-
I have too many favorites. I loved Starman with Jeff Bridges, all the Carey Grant movies. Independence Day, and some of the new stuff. I just saw Julie and Julia and Blindside, and loved them both.

If you were on a deserted island what is the one thing you couldn't live without?
A book, of course. Maybe the dictionary so I could look up the words and think about what they meant and how I'd use them to tell a story.

Bright Sunny Day or Cozy Moonlit Night-
I'm a morning person, so sunny days.

Would you rather have an admirer serenade you or send you a love letter?
I'd much rather have a letter. That way, I could read it over and over again, cherish the words, sigh at the good parts, and think about the author.

Thank you, Judy for dropping by Micole Writes Romance. You can find Judi's books at Barnes and Noble, Waldens, Books a Million, and Amazon, or visit her website at www.judymccoy.com

See you next time friends.

Hugs

Micole