A Talk With Misty Simon

By Julie Obermiller

Misty Simon doesn't take herself too seriously and that is reflected in the lightness of her writing. With a husband to pay the bills and offer moral support, Simon is free to devote her time to her daughter and her writing. Says Simon of her daughter “She is fantastic! The other day she told me, "You ROCK, girl," and I almost fell out of my chair. I do that a lot. I also snort iced tea out of my nose if I try to drink and laugh at the same time. I don't recommend it.” It is that unselfconscious irreverence that comes through in “Poison Ivy- an Ivy Morris Mystery” (reviewed in this issue) and it makes a delightfully fun read. A member of Romance Writers of America and VP of ChickLit Writers of the World and Sisters in Crime, her book straddles the romance/mystery fence quite well. She is currently working on three anthologies, promoting her first book and working on a sequel. The anthologies are Sweet Faerie Tale Romance, Steamy Paranormal and Romantica Paranormal. Visit her site at mistysimon.com.

Q. Is your first love mystery or romance? Poison Ivy seems to straddle the line well. Do you have a target audience?
Sure, start with the hard one. I actually love them both. I tend to read quite a few romance novels in with my need for mystery. As far as a target audience, to be broad, I hope to appeal to a variety of readers and open romance readers to the wonderful world of mystery and vice versa. To narrow it down a bit, I want to touch those readers who are looking for a story involving a real woman going through real personal situations. I write for the joy of it, but also to show women that not every one of us needs to have a flat stomach to fall in love. :) I tried writing skinny girls, but quite honestly I knew I was on the wrong path when my poor size four lady was walking down the hallway and her thighs were touching :) 

Q. Do you write what you, as a reader, enjoy? What makes your own personal
reading list?
I love mysteries, the funnier the better, though I do enjoy some of the noir types. I will read anything by Laura Levine and I adore Wendy Roberts, Diane Mott Davidson and Laura Childs.

Q. When writing a story, do you have a beginning, a plot and an end before
you put it down, or does it evolve as you go?
I pretty much always have at least some idea of where the story will end and whodunnit. Whether or not I stick to that mini-synopsis is to be seen as I dive into the story. I love the creative process and have managed to surprise myself when the story ends.

Q. What finally made you start writing; at what stage of your life?
I started writing seriously as a career choice after I won a round robin contest. I've loved writing for years, but it was only after I had my daughter and my husband got a new job where I could stay home that I began to see writing as less of an insubstantial dream and more as away to fulfill a longing inside myself.

Q. How much of your life now is devoted to writing, promoting and working
with the writing community?
*laughing* all of it? Seriously, I spend a good portion of every day writing, editing, doing book signings and interacting with other writers online. I'm President of the Chick Lit Chapter of Romance Writers of America and the Instructor Recruiter for the suspense chapter, Kiss of Death.

Q. Do you plan to stick to one character/cast to build sequels or do you
just turn your imagination loose in any direction??
I do both. I love Ivy and hope she will continue to draw readers through more and more books, but I also like to write other stories that come into my head. From paranormal to straight romance, I like to write it all.

Q. What's a typical writing day like for you?
I get up, get my daughter off to preschool and then sit down and take care of any emails that need my attention immediately. After that it's all about whatever story I'm writing. For the follow up to Ivy, The Wrong Drawers, long hand in a notebook seems to work for me now. I wrote Poison Ivy entirely on my laptop, but needed something different this time. So I write five to seven pages, then answer more email, chat with my writing buddies then apply more chair glue and write again through out the day. Sometimes I'll write in the evening when my daughter is sleeping, too. Interspersed in there, I also find time to read many books and keep abreast of industry information.

  Q. Is editing harder than writing the actual novel, as some suggest? How
hard is it to edit, and cut, your own work.
Personally, I love editing or rewriting. I try not to do too much of it, since I want the story to stay fresh for me, too. But I have been known to cut huge chunks of what I loved simply because it didn't move the story along. I try to be honest with myself and give the best story I possibly can.

Q. Do you spend time with other authors to compare notes and experiences or
are you a solitary writer?
I'm a solitary writer in that I do not have any local friends who are authors. I do however have a great group of friends on the internet called the MTW Girly Whirlies who support each other and encourage each other with tons of wert noodles. I love the time we spend together and the things I learn from them since we are all at different stages of the writer's journey to publication and beyond.

Q. Do you write with "the movie version" in mind? Would you like your story
to make it to the big screen?
I'd love to see Ivy on the big screen! I don't write with that goal though. I do see each scene on my head and try my hardest to make it come alive for the reader and drawn them in. I want people to feel like they could go to Virginia and have a cup of coffee with Ivy and her friends at Mad Martha's Milk and Munchies.

Q. The sexual tension between Ben and Ivy is titillating and humorous, but can't go on forever! Please tell us you won't leave Ivy unfulfilled for a whole series of sequels!
She will be very fulfilled in the second book. I think you can only hold out for so long and still play fair with the readers. I personally do not like to have things stretched out so far they defy believability. Ivy will get hers. LOL.  

Q. Is there a sequel in the works?
Yep, “The Wrong Drawers” will hopefully be available in or around January from the same publisher (whom I love). The challenge will be topping the first cover :)

Q. What's your opinion of the current mystery/suspense offerings? Do new
writers have a chance to break the ranks of prolific best-selling authors?
I think new authors are always needed and if they have a good story to tell and persistence they'll find a home. I love new mystery series from new authors and am always willing to try someone new if only to see what they have to say. I think currently we have some great stories out there, but would love to see fresh new voices join the ranks.

Q. Do you think "brand name buyers" are reluctant to "go generic?" Does that
make it tough for new authors?
I think a lot of people are spending their hard earned money on books, especially as prices continue to rise. It can be disappointing to pick up a book from a new author and not love it when you could have had a book by an author that always delivers. But I like new authors and find that sometimes their stories are much more unique or have a different slant because they are working harder to get themselves known. Tried
and true is good, but new and fresh can be as good or better.

Q. When a book is finally written, edited and printed, the hard work is just
beginning; don't you agree? Do you have any final cautions or advice for the
hopeful beginner?
I completely agree with this. Especially with a small publisher, you have tons of work ahead of you, getting your name out, your work to the right people and someone other than a friend to buy it. :) It can be scary, but I find it wonderful. I love to meet new people and find signing to be a complete blast. Talking has never been a problem for me. :) The only advice I can give that is also a caution in its own way is to never give up. Perseverance will get you so much. If you have a great story you believe in, keep believing in it no matter how many rejections you get. We have a saying in my group that each manuscript is assigned a certain number of no before you get your yes. Who wants to give out one rejection before a yes? And each rejection takes you one step closer. Only one person has to want it in the publishing world and then the rest will kick themselves for passing up this wonderful new author. I received several rejections before Ivy found a home and it was the perfect fit for her and her stories. Don't give up, it will happen!