Lynda Rees, The Murder Guru, Multi-Award-Winning Mystery, and Suspense Author. Love is a dangerous mystery. Enjoy the ride! We enjoyed having this Author Interview – Lynda Rees for our blog. Check out this fantastic author and follow them for more amazing stories.
Lynda Rees, The Murder Guru, is a multi-award-winning, multi-genre author bringing you the best in mystery and suspense with a dash of romance and an occasional smidgen of history. This free-spirited adventurous world traveler’s diverse background brings a rare perspective to her writing.
Appalachian-born coal miner’s daughter, Lynda, is part Cherokee with workaholic tendencies and a love affair with books, mystery, and American history that stems from being immersed in the Mob’s reign when No. KY prospered as a mecca for gambling and sin. Lynda is published in mystery/suspense, romance, middle-grade mystery, children’s picture and activity books, financial self-help, and health and wellness nonfiction. Previous corporate careers in advertising/marketing, copywriting, manuals, newsletters, and freelance publications, as Marketing and Global Logistics Manager at Procter & Gamble, brings expertise to her work.
When did you start writing?
When I was old enough to write. I’ve written my whole life, but I didn’t pursue publishing until twelve years ago.
What was it like growing up?
I was born in a small mountain town in Eastern Kentucky. We were very poor. My dad was a coal miner. I roamed the mountains with extreme freedom. What work was available was extremely dangerous. In pursuit of a better life, we left everything I knew and loved, including people, behind to move to Northern Kentucky, near Cincinnati. Many of my grade school classmates were children of mobsters. The Syndicate ruled the area. It was very prosperous and riddled with crime until 1978, when the FBI shut down the top 5 mob cities, including Newport, Kentucky.
How was your early life?
I was free to roam the mountains and holler where we lived among friends and family. It was a complete culture shock when we moved to a city where I had restrictions and no one I knew except for my mother, father, and baby brother. We were poor, but I never realized that. We were happy.
What has been the biggest influence in your career?
My father told me I could do anything and be anything I wanted in life. He was my best supporter.
Tell us about your newest release.
This summer, I released the first books in two new series. More to come on these. The first is Flip or Flop, Murder House, launched on 4/1/23. The second was Fresh Starts, Dirty Money, launched on 6/1/23. Both have recently been published in audiobook format as well as ebook and print.
Which book of yours would you call your favorite child?
Wow! That’s tough. I guess it would either be Hart’s Girls Reggie Chronicle 1 since it’s my way of informing the public of how to spot and what to do about a horrendous crime wave that is affecting us all but doing it in the form of entertainment. My second choice would be Parsley, Sage, Rose, Mary & Wine, Book 1 of The Bloodline Series. I fell in love with this standalone book so much that I had to continue writing about the characters. This became a ten-book series.
What inspired you to write this book?
The characters kept invading my sleep and willing me to put their life stories on paper.
What are you usually found doing when you’re not writing?
Playing with my grandkids, fishing, or just hanging out with Hunky Hubby.
What does your writing space look like?
It’s really an organized mess. I’m surrounded by books and my cover photos, plus my sewing machine and stationary bike.
If you wrote your autobiography, what would you name it?
Down Home. I actually published a short story memoir in the BWC’s Pen To Page Anthology earlier this year.
How long did it take to write your novel, and what was your process?
My first was an historical romance, Gold Lust Conspiracy, which took two years to research and write. After that, I’ve turned out 1-3 books per year.
Favorite reads?
Anything well written. My favorite all-time book is Think And Grow Rich by Peale.
Do you have any book recommendations?
I love anything by Janet Evanovich, Dan Brown, or Jana DeLeon. Of course, I want you to read my books. Try Flip or Flop, Murder House and, Fresh Starts, Dirty Money.
What’s your next big project?
Rock Starr’s Murder Song, A Flip or Flop Mystery is in the works. I also have two non-fiction books coming out soon. I’m working on book two of the Fresh Starts Series, but it doesn’t have a name yet. There is a lot in the hopper to come.
Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Study your craft and the industry. Learn from your peers. Write every day. Butt in the seat. Hands-on keyboard. Don’t quit.
Follow Lynda Rees:
Lynda is active in MWA, SiC, CWA, RWA, KOD, MARA, FTHRW, and DRS and on social media.
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https://twitter.com/LyndaReesauthor
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