I am so happy to be hosting a Question and Answer with Laura Bradford today. Laura is the author of many great series, writing as herself or as Elizabeth Lynn Casey. Included in her series are A Southern Sewing Circle Mystery, An Amish Mystery, Emergency Dessert Squad Mystery, Jenkins and Burns Mystery and A Tobi Tobias Mystery. 30 Second Death is the second in the Tobi Tobias series and will be released July 11th,2017. So sit back, relax and learn a little more about this fantastic author. And be sure to pick up your copy of 30 Second Death as soon as it’s released (and try her other series as well).
What inspired you to write your first book?
My very first book? That was just about realizing a dream. I’d always wanted to be an author and when the time presented itself to reach for it, I did.
Are experiences you write about based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
I rarely write about people I know, rather I sprinkle little parts of lots of people into a character. As for events, some of the background flavor might come from experiences I’ve had, but the main plots (the murder ones) are from my imagination (thankfully).
Do you ever experience writer’s block?
Not in the traditional sense, no. The only time I have difficulty moving forward is when I try to make a character do something he or she doesn’t want to do. When I step back and let them take over, I can get going again.
Do you read your reviews? Do you respond to them, good or bad?
Once in a while, though I prefer not to. I appreciate constructive criticism, but when a review morphs into mean for the sake of mean, I’m done.
A wise (and well published) friend once told me to think of the one book I’ve read that is my absolute favorite and then go read its reviews. He said all books get dinged by readers who didn’t care for it and by the trolls who exist just to be cruel. Once you realize it happens to all writers, it becomes easier to take. Besides, I have so many lovely readers who say such encouraging things, I don’t feel I need to spend too much time on the negative.
As for responding, if someone takes the time to send me an email via my website, I will respond. On review sites, no.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
To help an old friend, Tobi Tobias gets a third-rate thespian a part in a commercial, and learns that in the advertising business, bad acting can lead to murder . . .
When Tobi Tobias opened her own advertising agency, Carter McDade was there for her every step of the way. A brilliant hairdresser, Carter has just landed his dream project: doing hair and makeup for a theatrical production of Rapunzel. But the dream turns into a nightmare when he runs into Fiona Renoir, a cruel, talentless starlet who won’t let Carter touch a hair on her head.
To get Fiona out of Carter’s hair, Tobi hires the difficult actress for a bit part in her latest commercial. But true to character, Fiona is a terror on set, and Tobi is starting to think she’s made the biggest mistake of her life. But things get even worse when Fiona drops dead in the hairdresser’s chair, and the only suspect is the man left holding the tainted hair dye, Carter McDade. And unless Tobi can prove his innocence, he’ll never do hair in this town again.
About The Author
Laura Bradford is the national bestselling author of several mystery series, including the Emergency Dessert Squad Mysteries, the Amish Mysteries, the Jenkins & Burns Mysteries, and the brand new Tobi Tobias Mysteries. She is a former Agatha Award nominee, and the recipient of an RT Reviewer’s Choice Award in romance. When she’s not writing, Laura enjoys making memories with her family, baking, and being an advocate for those living with Multiple Sclerosis.
To learn more, visit her website: www.laurabradford.com, or hang out with her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/laurabradfordauthor/?fref=ts. She can also be found occasionally tweeting at: @Bradfordauthor.
Be sure to click on the link below for your chance to win this amazing book, sponsored by Laura Bradford.
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