I am delighted to have the award-winning husband and wife writing team, Andrew and Patti Miller writing as AP Miller as guests on my blog today. I first “met” them when they liked me on FaceBook after I signed with literary agent, Jennifer Etherton. I liked them back because (among other reasons) we have the same literary agent. We have chatted online on numerous occasions and I finally screwed up the courage to invite them to my blog. I was thrilled when they accepted.
Authors of 24 books, Patti and Andrew live in sunny and mostly warm Las Vegas, Nevada with three dogs who are plotting for world domination. Patti has been a long time published author since 1989. Her very first trilogy, “Thief of Hearts” was published with a small press in NYC. The company was purchased by a larger one, and the series was forced to sit back on her shelf collecting dust. The series will make its debut shortly. She has a thirty year background in fiction and script writing, newspaper and magazine writing as well as publishing, which has enabled her and her husband to become the prolific bestselling authors they are today.
Andrew has been actively writing since he was twelve years old; and writing stories that are worth reading, instead of simply using for toilet paper, since he was nineteen. His beliefs about equality, libertarianism, and personal potential lend his works direction and endings that often quite differ from the formulas seen in most other literary works. He is a former editor with three now defunct e-book publishers. He has studied and experienced a wide range of pursuits, ranging from courses in emergency medical procedures to several decades of training in martial arts styles from around the globe, to baking and sushi making. He is currently an amateur mui thai kick boxer hoping to go professional (in the ring or in the NHB cage, depending), and thinks boots were made for walking…unless they’re high heeled boots worn by statuesque dommes.
Patti and Andrew have generously agreed to provide a free e-copy of BOOGEDYMAN for one reader. All you have to do is comment or ask a question at the end of the interview to be entered to win.
I’m intrigued by the idea of a writing team for fiction. As a non-fiction author, I’ve had co-authors and editors for decades, but I’ve never tried it for fiction. What is your writing process?
We are asked this question frequently. Andrew and I have no real process. What we basically do is come up with ideas and toss them back and forth. Andrew likes to plot his writing while I’m the one to dive in head first and allow my characters to take over. When we do decide on a book together we each take on a chapter and switch back and forth that way. Andrew and I have a very similar writing style so it’s easy to feed off of one another.
What you like best about being writers? What do you like the least?
We love coming up with fun story ideas and actually sitting down at the keyboard to write. We also love being able to sit and write is our PJ’s all day and watch cartoons…it’s incredible! I can’t admit to anything we dislike about it because it’s always an adventure, but the one thing I can admit to which are the long grueling hours and days of the dreaded DEADLINE!
How do you keep yourself from being distracted by the bright lights of the playground in your backyard? Do you ever allow yourselves to go play at the casinos?
Actually we aren’t gamblers so it’s easy for us to ignore the city lights. We do go out every now and then but not to the casinos unless it’s around the holiday season when it’s all decorated! We prefer a meal out at one of our favorite places, spending time at home or with family, or going to the movies. I tell people who always say they are jealous we live here, that wanting to live here is not something you take lightly if you have addictions. This will be the worst place for that. We love the rustic beauty that is the state of Nevada. It’s not all the lights and excitement of the strip.
On your website you state “Our writing is based on the belief that our readers’ needs are of the utmost importance.” How do you assess these needs?
Our readers are very important to us and we love them all, so obviously we want to please them. We tend to get a lot of requests for stories they want to read so we do what we can to accommodate. We write what they want…simple.
Have you ever felt as if you were being dictated to while you wrote a book–as if the words came of their own accord? If yes, which book did that happen with?
All the time. Our characters do the talking. Some might think this is nothing but pure insanity but when my fingers hit the keys I become the character and see the book as a movie in my head. Andrew does as well. Takes years to master. I have al least 300 characters in my head running amuk.
You’ve written 24 books in 7 years and received numerous awards. What’s your favorite time management tip? And which is your favorite award and why?
The problem is we don’t have a schedule. We sit down and write when the muse is functional, which for me is very active now and has been this past year. I’d have to say it’s been in overdrive. Our favorite awards are the ones that come from our readers like voting for book of the year, or best book etc…those are the ones that mean the most.
If you had one take away piece of advice for authors, what would it be?
“WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW.” I can’t stress this enough to authors who ask how we do it. You have to write from your heart and write what you know.
Tell me more about BOOGEDYMAN. What if the Boogeyman was real?”
Plagued by horrific boogeyman nightmares since childhood, Murray Thompson is deathly afraid of the things that he thinks “go bump in the night”. The one thing that keeps him grounded is his psychiatrist of many years, Dr. Rosen. With regular visits since he was 11 years old, Murray feels progress should have been made already, but with his dreams becoming more intense and “real”, he thinks something needs to be done. Going to see his family, Murray believes that this is the break he needs to keep sane. Feeling at home, and safe around his family, it works for a time. But when the nightmares start up again, he once more relies on Dr. Rosen for help. Once back, Dr. Rosen takes Murray on a journey to root out his longtime phobia and find out if there is cause for his fear or all in his mind.
How about an excerpt from BOOGEDYMAN?
Prologue
The clouds perforated the moonlit sky in a dance macabre. The street lamplight’s bulb flickered, and blew out.
The sound of a cat screeched through the nearby alleyway as it knocked over the lid of a steel trash can it had been hiding under for shelter. Along the heavily tree-lined, dimly lit street, cars were neatly parked while their owners nestled inside the safety of their homes, sleeping soundly.
Sixteen year-old Abigail Moorehouse walked home as usual after her shift at the all night diner. With her mp3 player tucked neatly in her jeans pocket, she plugged the earphones tightly in her ears while moving to the beat of the music as it soothed her. She never could get used to walking alone in the dark late at night. If she wasn’t forced to take a job after school to help her mother support her two younger brothers she would be in the comforts of her own bed right now. Her feet ached as she continued her pace.
The music ceased in her ears. She knew the battery must have died. Irritated, she removed the earphones and placed the player in her apron pocket instead. One more block to go she knew and quickened her pace. The night breeze began to blow a slight chill that surrounded her so she wrapped her arms about her for warmth.
Behind the tree ahead, the unseen dark figure hid waiting. Abigail hastened her pace as she felt a familiar pit in her stomach. The kind she sensed when she knew something was about to happen, and her instincts set off a jumble of warnings.
As she reached the tree the figure stepped out, grabbed her from behind with a firm hand to her mouth and a sharp blade to her throat. Her fingernails dug into the assailant’s firm grip as she tried to scream but her mouth was muffled. She stumbled, scratching and kicking his legs. Twisting, turning every which way. Her family’s faces flashed before her eyes. She wasn’t giving up, not now.
Tears stung her eyes as she continued her fight. She bit his hand, for a brief moment freed from his grasp. He pulled back on her hair as she kicked and screamed. Lights to the surrounding homes turned on as the owners emerged from their doors to see what the ruckus was all about. He pushed Abigail down on the ground the moment he wanted to shove the knife he carried deep into her back. Too late.
A young man came running from one of the homes to her aide. “Back off of her! Someone call 911!” Her attacker was up and running as two more men followed on his heels. He was too fast for them and gone from sight before they could see his face.
“Are you all right, miss? Here, let me help you up. The police were called and on their way.”
She was visibly shaken and still crying. “Thank you for saving me,” she managed in a whisper.
“Don’t worry, you’re safe now.”
She heard one of the approaching policemen say how lucky she was compared to the girl two nights ago.
“Come now, Miss, you’re all right. We have an ambulance on the way to take you to the hospital. Can we call your parents?”
Abigail handed him her cell phone.
“You’re a very lucky girl. We will find the person that did this to you, I promise.”
The music ceased.
Where can readers find more about your books and you on the Internet?
The book can be purchased at: https://museituppublishing.com/
In ebook and print formats.
Anrewandpattimiller.weebly.com
http://apmiller.weebly.com
http://apmillerauthor.webs.com/
APMiller654@bookblogs.ning.com
http://twitter.com/APMillerauthor3
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1078907930&ref=profile
Andrew and Patti, thanks so much for being with us here today. I know my readers will enjoy your work and your interview.
Thank you so much for having us! We are honored! Happy Reading to all of you!
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