Authorsday: C. L. Exline

1. When did you know you wanted to be a writer? Seems like my whole life I’ve had images dancing in my head. When I was little and bored (like at church) I created stories, but I really didn’t know why.  That came later.
2. How long have you been writing? For real since 2000. I’ve always dabbled but not seriously until 11 years ago.
3. How did you pick the genre you write in? Mystery stories and movies are my love, my passion, and it’s what I know best, so that’s what I write. Always with romance.
4. Do you plot or do you write by the seat of your pants? By the seat of my pants. I have an idea and a basic direction but that usually goes out the window.
5. What drew you to the subject of (insert book title.)? Sheryl Locke Holmes Mystery Series. A friend of mine wrote Harry Potter fanfiction. That’s not for me, but I love strong women characters and I adore Sherlock Holmes and figured Sheryl would be perfect as his daughter. She’s just more up to date.
6. Did you encounter any obstacles in researching it? No. I have lots of reference material on Sherlock, plus movies about him. I learn a lot by watching for the foreshadowing and how he solved the puzzles. Gemstones are used in each of the titles, so I researched stones and their backgrounds. Took time but I loved doing the research. Sheryl’s into antiques, so that was another topic. I love antiques so that was easy.
7. What was the name of the first novel you wrote? Did you try to publish it? Screams In The Dark and I self-published that. The prologue was a story that was in my head for years before I put it on paper. Got a great response from readers on the book, but I know now I broke several golden rules – head hopping for one. Guess readers don’t care about that.
8. What do you know now that you are published that you didn’t know pre-published that you wish you knew? That it takes forever to get from yes to purchase. But I will say, I’ve been very fortunate with editors and cover artists.
9. How many rejections have you received? Not many. Only one that I really think was a good story but it broke a rule and we couldn’t reach an agreement. On the side, I work with a fantastic editor who makes me work hard and so far most everything submitted has sold.
10. What was the best writing advice someone gave you? The best advice I ever received was to stop using the word “it” – wow, do I rely on that word a lot. I still work on breaking the habit.

Author Bio:

Cassie works for a small town newspaper along the east coast of the United States. Writing has been her passion. She writes romance to melt the heart and mysteries to chill the spine.  Her stories have been published at Ruthie’s Club, The Erotic Woman, Justus Roux, and Erotic Bookworm. Her three ebooks in the Sheryl Locke Holmes Series, Amber's Mysterious Death, Ruby's Deadly Secret, and Opal’s Disappearance can be purchased at Wild Child Publishing. Next book in the Holmes series is Dragon’s Pearl. Cassie also has a story, Fire & Ice, published in the anthology Coming Together: With Pride, available in ebook & print at Amazon and All Romance. She’s a member of Erotica Author’s Association, Erotica Readers & Writers Association and Desdmona’s FishTank.
Website: http://www.cassieexline.com
Blog at: http://cassieexline.blogspot.com
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/cassie.exline

Book Blurb:

Book 3: Opal’s Disappearance by C.L. Exline

An old college friend begs Sheryl to help find her missing cousin, Opal, who may have been kidnapped by a mysterious mountain man. When all leads are exhausted, Sheryl concocts a dangerous plan—she becomes bait for the kidnapper and alleged murderer.

But will she survive her plan? Or is this Sheryl's last mystery?

“Once I’ve been kidnapped, and I’ve found Opal, I’ll give the code word…come running. I will do my best to leave a trail. I daresay by tomorrow night, this will all be over.  The game’s afoot.”

Buy Link: http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=83&products_id=362