Interview with Lucinda Race, Author of Books & Bribes

Let’s give a warm welcome to author, Lucinda Race. Thank you for joining us today!

How long have you been writing?
Since 2017

Why did you decide to write a mystery?
I’ve been reading mystery since I opened my first Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books, and I was hooked for life

Where do you get your ideas?
For the cozy mystery I purchased 4 book covers in a premade sale, printed them out and then developed the story lines.

Do ideas for plot or characters appear first?
The characters appear first and then the plot evolves from there

What is your writing process like? Are you more of a plotter or a pantser?
Oh definitely a pantser. Plotting gives me hives. J

Have you ever traveled when researching information for a book?
When I travel I’m always taking note of places, events and people and I store away tidbits to pull out at a later date.

When did you begin writing?
When I was a young girl I would write short stories and it evolved into a deep love but never jumped really into writing until 2017 when I finally had the courage to just do it.

How many hours do you dedicate each day toward writing?
2-3 it depends on the day job.

What has been your biggest challenge?
Not having enough time to write. When I start a book I’m immersed until its done

What does literary success mean to you?
Success is writing a good book and knowing that when people read my story they’ll get lost in my fictional world.

What is your favorite part of the writing process?
The first draft, it’s the wonder and experience of the story unfolding that I love.

What advice would you like to share with aspiring authors?
Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t write. The only book you can’t write is the one you don’t try to write.

If you could give your younger writing self advice, what would it be?
Start now…. Don’t wait for someday

How do you deal with writer’s block?
I haven’t had writers block yet and I think that’s because I’m a pantser it just flows and I’m not confined to writing down something before I can close my eyes and just let the words flow.

Which authors inspire you?
Agatha Christie, Nora Roberts, JK Rowling, the list is endless actually.

If you could have dinner with another mystery author, who would it be?
Without a doubt Agatha Christie but authors who are living, Annabel Chase or Jana Deleon

What are your favorite genres to read?
Cozy mystery and later in life romance

Do you write in other genres?
I do, I write romance, contemporary cowboy and later in life romance

Did any books from your childhood influence you as a writer?
The Nancy Drew series – I wanted to be Nancy

What part of this book did you have the hardest time writing?
Waiting for it to be released and being scared that I missed the mark. Writing cozy is very different than writing romance. The clues must connect to the mystery.

What part of this book was the most fun to write?
All of it.

Which of the characters do you relate to the most and why?
I just love Milo, the talking familiar. His personality just leaps off the page.

What project are you currently working on?
Book 7 in the Bookstore Cozy Mystery Series, Magicians & Murder.

Upcoming books, events, appearances, giveaways:
I will be releasing more books in this series, 3 more in fact in 2023 and at least 4 in 2024. I’ll be at Romanticonn in Conn and at the Bookloft in Great Barrington in October.

AUTHOR: Lucinda Race

TITLE: Books & Bribes, A Paranormal Witch Cozy Mystery, A Bookstore Cozy Mystery Series

GENRE: Cozy Mystery

BLURB:

In a small town like Pembroke Cove, Maine, everyone has something to hide. But when bookstore owner Lily Michaels takes a tumble and hits her head, and her cat Milo starts talking to her, she discovers she has something to hide, too. She’s a witch, and Milo is her familiar. And she’s not the only one in town. Lily has been hiding something else, too. Even though she’s always kept Gage Erikson in the friend zone, her feelings for the man Milo calls Detective Cutie go a lot deeper than she’s willing to admit.

Gage has a secret too. He’s always had a crush on Lily. But if he gives into his feelings, it might mess up the wonderful friendship they have. With his cowboy boots and cherry red pickup truck and knack for just letting folks talk, people might underestimate just how good a detective Gage actually is. But is he good enough to discover all of Lily’s secrets?

Somebody in Pembroke knows a lot about the secrets people are keeping, and isn’t above a little blackmail. While Lily struggles with learning how to be a witch, she works with Gage to uncover the truth, and a new kind of magic develops between them. Will they continue to be just friends, or will they finally admit to the secret love they’ve been hiding?

AUTHOR BIO:

Award-winning and best-selling author Lucinda Race is a lifelong fan of fiction. As a young girl, she spent hours reading mystery and romance novels and getting lost in the fun and hope they represent. While her friends dreamed of becoming doctors and engineers, her dreams were to become a writer—a novelist.

As life twisted and turned, she found herself writing nonfiction but longed to turn to her true passion. After developing the storyline for the McKenna Family Romance series, it was time to start living her dream. Her fingers practically fly over computer keys she weaves stories about with mystery and happily ever afters.
Lucinda lives with her two little dogs, a miniature long hair dachshund and a shitzu mix rescue, in the rolling hills of western Massachusetts. When she’s not at her day job, she’s immersed in her fictional worlds. And if she’s not writing mystery, suspense and romance novels, she’s reading everything she can get her hands on.