Author Bio:
Kathleen Hering lives in Oregon, dodging the same rain storms that splash about the characters in the Designer Mystery series she writes. She is a former journalism teacher and middle school principal (only the brave need apply.) She and her journalist husband spend their time riding a tandem bicycle, rowing a tippy canoe on Oregon’s Willamette River, and enjoying their grandchildren — not necessarily in that order.
What inspires you to write?
I write to entertain myself and, I hope, to entertain the reader. There’s never a lonesome minute when I am surrounded by developing characters.
Tell us about your writing process.
Early mornings and late evenings are the best times for me to write. (Life happens in between those times.) I work from an aging computer perched upon a painted wood desk in the kitchen. The computer is “perched;” I sit in the wood chair I rescued from the second-hand store. I don’t create character sketches in advance, but let the characters develop as they face each new hurdle in the plot. Main character Laura Howard is the smart, sassy, independent woman I always wanted to be. (But, alas, I could always hear my mother saying “be a lady, Kathleen.”) Character Aunt Esther is modeled after my grandmother who always said exactly what was on her mine.
My books “come to life” as I keep throwing hurdles in front of the cast of characters. I’m thinking “what’s the worst thing that can happen to this character?” And, if the character manages to dodge that bullet, how will she handle the next problem I’m going to toss at her?
I do go back through the mysteries and make sure every possible loose end is tied up at the end. Don’t you hate to finish a mystery and then think “but what about the first suspect and the knife the detectives found?”
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I don’t talk to my characters. But, at times, they try to take off on a frolic of their own. Then, I have to reign them in and mentally remind them (and myself) that I get to call the shots. (Oops! Bad choice of words for a mystery.)
Who are your favorite authors?
Jennifer Crusie and Mary Kay Andrews, writers of humorous, frolicking mysteries with strong leading ladies.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I read an article in Wall Street Journal that explained the growing number of authors who were using e-publishing. I figured it was worth a try. I figured right.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
There will always be room for hardback, paperback audio and e-books. Each suits a different style reader. I still most enjoy picking up a traditional book, fixing a cup of hot tea with a shot of vanilla, and reading by the fire. Others carry kindle-type devices and can wherever they are.
What genres do you write?
fiction, comic mystery, romantic suspense
What formats are your books in?
eBook, Print
