In 1973, on a dare, Thonie tested with San Rafael Police Department for Parking Enforcement Officer. Yes, she got the job and became Rita the Meter Maid for three years. Six months after promoting to Dispatch, she married an officer and left police work.
In 1981, she got a job with Petaluma Police as a Community Service Officer and dispatcher. 1983 brought a divorce. After seven years on the street, she traded jobs with a dispatcher and went inside. In 1988, she married a Petaluma Fire Captain, Danny Hevron. In 1991, Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office recruited her as a Records Supervisor for the Central Information Bureau. With budget cuts looming, she left in 1994. She found a job at Bishop PD, in the Eastern Sierras, where they intended to retire.
Danny and Thonie moved to Bishop, California. Then, in 2004, again, she was offered a job she couldn’t refuse–dispatcher for Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety. Thrilled to be back in Sonoma County to be closer to family, she finally retired in 2011 after a cumulative 35 years of service.
Now focused on fiction writing, she takes a break with fitness workouts and cycling with Danny and riding horses.
Thonie’s job history gives her a rich and textured understanding of the complex life of the men and women behind the badge. She looks forward to penning the stories she has lived in law enforcement.
Website: https://www.thoniehevron.com
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/ThonieHevron/e/B008E6S6R6/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1534649763&sr=1-2-ent
BMH: Why crime fiction?
TH: It’s what I know. After 35 years in law enforcement, I know the cops, the victims and some about the suspects.
BMH: Have you written in other genres?
TH: I tried romance, once. Years ago, I was a bit of a Civil War buff and thought I could parlay that setting and time into a good story. It had already been done. I was in my twenties, many moons ago, when I read romance.
BMH: What is something you’ve never written about, but hope to some day?
TH: I’ve been toying around with memoir, but nothing is jelling yet.
BMH: What is something you wish someone would have told you before you became an author?
TH: I wish someone had kicked me in the butt to start writing seriously earlier in my life.
BMH: You can go back in time, meet and chat with anyone, who would it be?
TH: Tough question. Who first comes to mind is Jackie Kennedy, then Jack Kennedy.
BMH: What would you talk about?
TH: Jackie was so much more than a style icon. She was an educated, intelligent, literate woman who wanted to do the right things for her family. Being Catholic, I know she faced challenges and I’d like to know how she felt. Jack, in spite of his infidelities, saw her value also. I’d talk to them both about their faith, families and their contribution to society.
BMH: How big a part did your upbringing have on your writing?
TH: Huge. One side of my family is all writers, the other side is law enforcement. I didn’t stand a chance.
BMH: Who is your hero/heroine?
TH: My personal heroes? I have three. My dad: he was a man’s man who raised me to do the right thing, even if it was unpopular. That was something in the seventies! My husband, Danny is a constant inspiration, for his sense of humor, ethics and balance in life. Some of his characteristics are my protagonist, Nick Reyes. Lastly, my friend Fred. Fred is also in my protagonist in bits and pieces. Fred helped me face a career challenge that could’ve ended badly. But because it was the right thing to do, with his (and my hubby’s) support I weathered the storm just fine. Why? Each of these men have strong moral compasses that inspire me daily.
BMH: What two words best describes your writing style?
TH: Short attention span—okay, three words.
BMH: What comes first for you, characters or plot?
TH: The plot. I envision a situation and construct characters to live it.
BMH: How do you create your characters?
TH: They are mostly composites of people I know. Although for villains, I have to magnify and re-imagine negative traits.
BMH: Outliner or seat-of-your-pants writer?
TH: I’m an inveterate outliner who changes my outlines as the story evolves. I need the structure outlines provide to seed clues into my story.
BMH: How much editing do you do as you write your first draft?
TH: First draft goes to my critique group. I edit, then move on to the next chapter. After it’s done, I usually have one or two critique group members go over it, editing as they do. I re-edit. Then to technical readers; then re-edit. You get the idea.
BMH: How do you use social media to promote yourself?
TH: I establish relationships with people. I’ll never be one to have a Facebook account that screams, “buy my book, buy my book!” I like people and people seem to like me. Relationships are much more satisfying than hawking merchandise. I use Facebook, Instagram, some Twitter and LinkedIn. I also just sent out my first author newsletter and what a huge response I’ve gotten! I use a signup sheet at book events so people who receive the newsletters know what they’re getting. I offer info about upcoming appearances, news about awards and accomplishments, and I always feature my blog, Just the Facts, Ma’am.
BMH: What do you think of the new faces of publishing….eBooks, POD, indie-publishing?
TH: The opportunities are enormous if you have the time and technical expertise to learn it all. Having help (publisher, editor, etc.) makes a huge difference. I do all my own marketing.
BMH: Do you blog?
TH: Consistently twice a week. In Writer’s Notes, I write the first post establishing the topic for the month. Then, every Friday for the rest of the other months, other authors contribute their thoughts. On Just the Facts, Ma’am, I have several retired and active duty law enforcement professionals tell stories. My hope is that writers (and readers) will learn what cops are all about. They are human, after all. I also write for other author blogs.
BMH: How about some hard-earned advice?
TH: I learned this the hard way: put your butt in the chair and write. Even if you think it’s trash, write. Later when you re-read it, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to edit. Do it sooner rather than later—my life was filled with obligations that weren’t as important as I thought. I’ll always regret not writing seriously sooner.
BMH: What do you do to cut loose and have some fun?
TH: Ride horses, read, fitness, travel, read, drink wine with friends, read.
BMH: What did you do to celebrate when you signed your first book contract?
TH: My hubby made me a terrific dinner and we popped a cork on a bottle of pinot noir.
BMH: Where was you first appearance as an author?
TH: At a neighborhood writers’ presentation. I was scared to death talking in front of a crowd. I have a friend who’s an actor (he attended) and he gave me some great advice. Subsequent events haven’t been so difficult.
BMH: What authors influenced you the most?
TH: Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt early on. Later, Paul Bishop helped me find my voice—critical stuff when you make your career out of words. Michael Connelly and Sandra Brown also influenced my writing.
BMH: Research?
TH: Sometimes I become so immersed in research that I forget there’s a story that needs to be told. I love research. It’s like when I was a kid, I’d lock myself in the bathroom and read our encyclopedia.
BMH: Why did you become a writer?
TH: In grammar school, my parents used to get notes from my teachers saying, “Thonie has such potential if we could just keep her from staring out the window.” Hm. That was where my potential was. I kept seeing stories in my head. They root around until a plan forms, then I have to write them. I wasn’t the best student.
BMH: When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
TH: Since I could write. Every now and then, someone from my past pops up saying, “You used to tell me you were going to write a novel someday.” I don’t remember telling anyone but it’s what I’ve always wanted to do. Of course, in life, one has to pay bills and not many authors start out being able to make a full-time career out of writing.
BMH: Do you have a daily writing routine?
TH: Yes, but it has to be fluid. Hubby has some health challenges now and we work around them. My preference is to get up early, read Scripture, pray, then write. I go to the gym four days a week and am trying to make time to ride horses.
Thanks, Barbara, for this wonderful opportunity!