Interview with Joss Landry

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?

Mirror Deep is not part of a series. Stands alone as a Romantic Mystery. Kat Bonner is a budding horse whisperer, and while she can usually exact good behavior from any wild steed, her second cousin Pierce bucks her at every crack of the whip. An ex-lawyer, recently released from 18 years in prison, lands at Bonner-Willow ranch to tell Kat her birth mother has just died. The only person she can run to for help is Pierce.

Do you have a favorite character?

A toss up between Pierce and Kat. I also like all the characters, even the ones you love to hate. Pierce is cool, yet kind, handsome, yet fighting to keep his emotions for Kat hidden. Kat is stubborn, determined and sometimes runs headlong into procuring a problem with her own brand of solution.

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)?

I believe the growing trend of authors doing so launched me on my research quest. I did two years of reliable research. Submit to an agent, or check in with a small publisher. I couldn’t find any small publishers that seemed to run long or deep enough to last for the whole marathon. I found many Indie publishers most of them fledglings. Unable to choose, I decided to go on my own. I’d have no one else to blame but myself if my project failed, aside from all the valuable lessons I have learned along the way.

If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?

As you have guessed by now, I am a perfectionist. Yes, I scouted for the picture I preferred amongst my designer’s stock photos and from there Regina Wamba was able to change the picture completely to what is an amazing likeness of Kat.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?

I have belonged to many critique groups throughout the years. My favorite one is The Next Big Writer.com. I worked Mirror Deep on their site for a whole 6 months getting to number 42 for the most read book.

What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?

Depends on the book. For Mirror Deep, I listed to Gordon Lightfoot’s music. Great saddle sound. Plus, Pierce has a lovely singing voice. For Ava Moss, another book soon to be published, I listened to Big Band Music, mainly Glen Miller. However, most of the time, I write in silence as this is the only way I can hear the dialogue between the characters.

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?

First thing to appear in my stories is the title. This is followed by pictures of all my characters. Each character is lavished with a 5-6 page character sheet: family, friends, likes, dislikes, right down to horoscope and quirks and pet peeves. This is followed by location, place of work, career, complete resume. Then, the story is flimsily put together. Afterwards, I will go where my characters lead me.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?

Yes. This is another research I did extensively. I went through thirteen different editors and finally chose one. I needed to find someone, who would work well with me.

What kinds of marketing are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?

I am involved with all of them.  Twitter, LinkedIn as well, and Goodreads, Facebook Profile, and a Facebook Fan Page. I also have a blog: Landry’s Island. I am looking for lots of friends to follow my blog, and visit me on Facebook and Goodreads.

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?

This has to be the most debated question and answer of our self-publishing era. I find it extremely difficult, and time-consuming to market a book while trying to edit a couple more and trying to write a new one. This is why I seek the help of professionals like Promotional Book Tours and Jen Rattie.

 

DANGER AND ROMANCE
…Roll like thunder in Kat Bonner’s world, when a known felon comes to the ranch to drop a bomb about her past. Kat turns to Pierce for help, the same Pierce who bucks her every chance he gets … and whose feverish investigation lands them in trouble with the law and directly in the path of a serial killer. 

 Mystery deepens, fraught with wrong turns, bumbling detectives, old murders, and Kat’s doppelganger no one ever sees but her, just as she never sees the change in Pierce’s feelings toward her brewing, mounting, until she can no longer deny them.

Buy on Amazon | Paperback | Kobo | B&N | EBookPie | Scribd

 

Meet the author:

With a degree in commerce, Joss has worked as a consultant for more than twenty years, writing copy for marketing firms and assisting start-up companies launch their business. She recently made the switch from composing copy and promos, to writing fiction and prose. She is developing her style through courses and the support of other writers. A recent graduate of the Long Ridge Writer’s Group, she is a member of the Romance Writers of America and is presently working on honing three other novels for publication. Blessed with four children and five grandchildren, she resides in Montreal with her husband, a staunch supporter, and enjoys spending her time biking, rollerblading, playing tennis and swimming. She loves creating stories, as she says that it fulfills her need to think outside the box. 


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