Goose Pimple Junction Author Amy Metz – Interview

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I’m pleased to welcome Amy Metz to the blog today. Amy is author of the well-reviewed Goosepimple Junction Cozy Mystery series, and was kind enough to take the time to answer a few questions so we can get to know her. Cozy fans – be sure to check the links at the end of the interview, and keep an eye out for a new book coming this Spring!

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I started writing in 2009 when I was going through a really hard time. At first, writing was a great escape from real life. But the more I wrote, the more I discovered I loved it. I joined an online writers group, and with encouragement and support from other writers, I polished my manuscript and submitted it to publishers. I guess I was writing my second book when I realized that writing was going to be a part of my daily life for a long time. It was no longer an escape but part of me.

What is your current writing project?
I’m writing the fourth book in my Goose Pimple Junction mystery series. I’m hoping to publish Rogues & Rascals in Goose Pimple Junction in the spring.

Do you have a favorite book that you’ve written? (or a favorite character, setting, etc…)
I once heard a mother say her favorite child was the one who needed her the most at the moment. I think that’s true, and I think that’s true with authors too. I really don’t have a favorite, but I give the most attention to the one I’m working on at the moment. I continue to love and nurture the other books, but the work-in-progress is the most favored at the moment because it needs my excitement, concentration, and fascination.

Do you experience writers’ block, and if so, how do you deal with it?
Yes, I do. I’ve had terrible writer’s block with the book I’m working on now. In the past, long drives in the car helped me get the juices flowing, but I’ve learned that sometimes I have to just be patient and wait for my characters to start talking to me again. I’ve heard other writers say it’s important to write everyday, but I haven’t found that to be true for me. I can’t force it. I try to edit and re-write chapters I’ve already written so I don’t waste time completely, but writing just for the sake of writing doesn’t work for me. Patience is my mantra.

Favorite authors/genres?
I love to read mysteries, and my all-time favorite author is Robert B. Parker. I read the occasional chick lit novel, but my heart lies with mysteries.

Most exotic location you have ever traveled to?
I don’t think I’ve ever traveled to an exotic location. I love to travel, but the word “exotic” implies a certain sense of adventure that I don’t have. Give me the beach or some mountains and I’m a happy girl.

Coffee or tea?
Oh, tea, definitely tea. I’m addicted to sweet tea, either hot or cold. I could give up Colas if I absolutely had to, but you’d have to pry a tea cup from my cold, dead hands.

What hobbies do you enjoy when you’re not writing?
I love to bake. Love it! I also love photography and making digital photo books with my pictures. Netflix binges get a lot of my time in the winter. Of course, reading is always on the list. And I’m shamelessly addicted to solitaire on my phone. Is that a hobby?

Which fictional character would like to invite for dinner? Why?
My first thought was Robert B. Parker’s Sunny Randall. I think she would be an awesome girlfriend. But honestly, I would love to have dinner with my Louetta. She is wise, witty, and wonderful. The fun we could have and the things I could learn from her would be incredible.

What book(s) / series can we expect to see from you in the future?
Rogues & Rascals in Goose Pimple Junction will be out next. I’m also considering dusting off two other manuscripts I started but haven’t worked on in a while. One is a chick-lit novel set in South Carolina, and the other is a thriller set in Alabama. It all depends on which characters decide to start talking to me again.

Thanks for chatting with us today Amy! Now readers, it’s time to pour yourself a cup of tea, grab a scone, and go check out one of her cozies on Amazon. 🙂

Connect with Amy online:
Amy Metz