Please Welcome Author L.J. SELLERS!

[LJSellers]

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ReadingPatti wrote:

L.J. Sellers, Welcome, I have not read any of your books, but I am intrigued by the titles and the subjects. I will look into getting some of your books. I love finding new authors.

I am glad that you could come and spend some time with us.

How did you decide to get into writing mysteries? I always wonder.because I think that mysteries would be hard to write.

ReadingPatti

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Mysteries are complicated and challenging to write, but that's what I love about them. I started reading mysteries and crime fiction in high school (Nero Wolfe, Travis McGee, Lew Archer) and I've always loved them. So it seemed natural that I would write in this genre. The added challenge of the puzzle just makes it more fun for me.

I also write standalone thrillers (with a bit of a medical element). They don't have the same puzzle to work though, but they often have parallel plots that require complex mapping and timing. I can't do anything the easy way.

[becke_davis]

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LJSellers wrote:

It is a scary time too. A  lot of authors are being dropped by their publishers and new authors are finding it harder to break in. But there are new venues for authors to pursue. Agents, for example, are becoming publishers for their clients, and a lot of authors are finding success through independent digital publishing. In the future, I think we're might see a great divide. A handful of writers will continue to be published in print and sold at checkout stands, and everyone else will gravitate toward digital publishing and online retailers. For me, as long  as I can continue to reach new readers, I'll be happy.

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First, it seemed as if the New York pubs were snapping up successful epub authors and putting their books in print. Now it seems as if the epubs are snapping up New York published authors whose contracts weren't renewed. The whole industry is in flux - it's going to be interesting to see where things are in a few years.

[becke_davis]

I lied. I can't seem to stop asking questions!

You mentioned a few authors you like - who were the authors that first turned you on to the mystery genre, and which authors are your favorites today (besides those you mentioned)?

Are there any little-known authors you like that we might not be familiar with?

[becke_davis]

I forgot to mention - because our sign in process is a little glitchy, we get a lot more people viewing these posts than commenting. If you want to see the view count, check the bottom left corner of the first comment box in your introduction.

Uh oh - just thought of another question: What does the "L.J." stand for, or is that a secret?

[LJSellers]

My favorite authors today are John Sandford, Michael Connelly, and Harlen Coben, to name a few. There are many others, but one police procedural series that I loved and was sad to see end was Leslie Glass' stories about Detective April Woo. Engaging characters.

[LJSellers]

It's no secret. And it's not just my published name. It stands for Linda Jean, but long I walked into yet another place of employment and discovered many other Lindas. So I said, "Call me L.J." and I've been L.J ever since. My family still calls me Linda, but you know how that goes.

[becke_davis]

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LJSellers wrote:

My favorite authors today are John Sandford, Michael Connelly, and Harlen Coben, to name a few. There are many others, but one police procedural series that I loved and was sad to see end was Leslie Glass' stories about Detective April Woo. Engaging characters.

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I've read the first three, but nothing by Leslie Glass. Thanks for the recommendation!

[becke_davis]

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LJSellers wrote:

It's no secret. And it's not just my published name. It stands for Linda Jean, but long I walked into yet another place of employment and discovered many other Lindas. So I said, "Call me L.J." and I've been L.J ever since. My family still calls me Linda, but you know how that goes.

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Aha! I totally understand. When I was a freshman in high school there were three Beckys in my homeroom. I've been "Becke" ever since. L.J. is a cool name - I like it!

[becke_davis]

L.J. - Thank you so much for spending the day with us today! This is "your" thread now - you are welcome to come back and post updates here at any time. Whenever you have a new release, a new cover, a new book trailer -- anything you'd like to share with us -- just search your name in the white box at the top right and this thread will come up. Posting a new comment will move the thread back to the front of the board. Come back and hang out with us again soon!

[becke_davis]

A Note From L.J. Dear Readers: I know I promised you another Detective Jackson book soon, and it's coming, probably around the first of the year. But in the meantime, I wanted to let you know about another release. After hearing that many of you wanted to see more of my nonfiction, I decided to pull together the best of my blogs and essays in a nonfiction book. Here's the back cover copy: Write First, Clean Later  Award-winning journalist and bestselling mystery/suspense author L.J. Sellers shares humorous personal essays, nonfiction features, and a host of blogs about her journey to become a full-time novelist. The book also includes a long chapter with writing, editing, and promotion advice, as well as detailed information about her writing process. The final chapter highlights features she wrote about amazing women in her hometown of Eugene, Oregon. L.J. Sellers is the author of the highly praised Detective Jackson mysteries as well as three standalone thrillers.  Thanks for your patience and support. L.J. Sellers Author of the Detective Jackson mysteries and standalone thrillers.  The Arranger  The Sex Club (Detective Wade Jackson Series #1)  Secrets to Die For (Detective Wade Jackson Series #2)  Thrilled To Death  Passions of the Dead  The Baby Thief  The Suicide Effect  Beyond Conception Dying for Justice  The Arranger  Write First, Clean Later  The Arranger  Dying for Justice (A Detective Jackson Mystery)  Thrilled to Death (A Detective Jackson Mystery)  Passions of the Dead (A Detective Jackson Mystery)  Secrets to Die For (A Detective Jackson Mystery)  The Baby Thief  The Suicide Effect  The Sex Club (A Detective Jackson Mystery)