Please Welcome Author LOIS WINSTON!

[LoisWinston]

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becke_davis wrote:

So true! When you design crafts, do you always make them, too?

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Rarely. If it's non-needlework, like a doll design, I'll make the model. For needlework, I have a woman who stitches models for me, and sometimes the magazines will get the models stitched. The kit manufacturers all have their own model makers.

[becke_davis]

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LoisWinston wrote:

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becke_davis wrote:

So true! When you design crafts, do you always make them, too?

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Rarely. If it's non-needlework, like a doll design, I'll make the model. For needlework, I have a woman who stitches models for me, and sometimes the magazines will get the models stitched. The kit manufacturers all have their own model makers.

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This is fascinating - thanks for sharing with us!

[becke_davis]

Hi Lois - I keep thinking about the possible connections between your writing and your crafting. Do you plot out your stories the way you plan your designs? Or do you let the muse lead you?

[ReadingPatti]

LoisWinton, welcome, hope you have a great visit. I like the titles of your books. Do you come up with them?

What do you like about writing mysteries?

Hope you have a great visit.

ReadingPatti

[LoisWinston]

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becke_davis wrote:

Hi Lois - I keep thinking about the possible connections between your writing and your crafting. Do you plot out your stories the way you plan your designs? Or do you let the muse lead you?

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I don't like lots of pre-plotting, Becke. For me, it takes the fun out of writing if I know everything that's going to happen ahead of time. I come up with a general idea, write a few paragraphs as a working guideline and so my editor has a general idea of the book, then see where the story takes me.

[LoisWinston]

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ReadingPatti wrote:

LoisWinton, welcome, hope you have a great visit. I like the titles of your books. Do you come up with them?

What do you like about writing mysteries?

Hope you have a great visit.

ReadingPatti

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Thanks, ReadingPatti! ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN was the first title I've been able to keep. All the others have been changed by my publishers for one reason or another. DEATH BY KILLER MOP DOLL was originally MOP DOLL MURDERS, but the marketing department thought it would be better if all the titles in the series had the same cadence. Of course, they were right. Right now the 3rd book is tentatively called REVENGE OF THE CRAFTY CORPSE. I'm hoping I get to keep that one.

I began my writing career in romance where plot often comes second to the relationship between the hero and the heroine. Mysteries are more about the plot, the protagonist figuring out whodunit. I enjoy writing fun plots more. So that's why I like writing mysteries.

[becke_davis]

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LoisWinston wrote:

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becke_davis wrote:

Hi Lois - I keep thinking about the possible connections between your writing and your crafting. Do you plot out your stories the way you plan your designs? Or do you let the muse lead you?

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I don't like lots of pre-plotting, Becke. For me, it takes the fun out of writing if I know everything that's going to happen ahead of time. I come up with a general idea, write a few paragraphs as a working guideline and so my editor has a general idea of the book, then see where the story takes me.

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My feelings, exactly!

[becke_davis]

Lois - With your blog and your craftwork and your writing, I don't know how you find time to breathe! Do you ever find time to read these days? If so, what books can you recommend?

[LoisWinston]

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becke_davis wrote:

Lois - With your blog and your craftwork and your writing, I don't know how you find time to breathe! Do you ever find time to read these days? If so, what books can you recommend?

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I do try to read a few books a month, Becke. Just finished THE PAST CAME HUNTING by Donnell Ann Bell. Great romantic suspense, different from the usual serial killer/FBI fare that's so prevelant in most r/s and the reason I rarely read r/s anymore.

My favorite reads over the past year or so were:

the Mistress of the Art of Death series by Ariana Franklin

City of Shadows by Ariana Franklin

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

[becke_davis]

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LoisWinston wrote:

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becke_davis wrote:

Lois - With your blog and your craftwork and your writing, I don't know how you find time to breathe! Do you ever find time to read these days? If so, what books can you recommend?

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I do try to read a few books a month, Becke. Just finished THE PAST CAME HUNTING by Donnell Ann Bell. Great romantic suspense, different from the usual serial killer/FBI fare that's so prevelant in most r/s and the reason I rarely read r/s anymore.

My favorite reads over the past year or so were:

the Mistress of the Art of Death series by Ariana Franklin

City of Shadows by Ariana Franklin

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

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Oh, I know Donnell - online, anyway. What a fascinating list!

The Past Came Hunting 

Winter Garden 

The Help 

Mistress of the Art of Death (Mistress of the Art of Death Series #1) 

City of Shadows 

Sarah's Key       

[leisure_reader]

Welcome back Lois

Having read Glue Gun, I can't wait to read Mop Doll!  Are there directions in the book too?  They do look cute.

Anyway, I have shared Glue Gun with several co-workers and they (like me) found it very entertaining.  Congrats on books four and five

J

[LoisWinston]

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leisure_reader wrote:

Welcome back Lois

Having read Glue Gun, I can't wait to read Mop Doll!  Are there directions in the book too?  They do look cute.

Anyway, I have shared Glue Gun with several co-workers and they (like me) found it very entertaining.  Congrats on books four and five

J

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Thanks, J! Yes, there are directions for making a mop doll in the book. There are also directions for making string doll Christmas ornaments.

[becke_davis]

Hi Lois -

I forgot to ask if you'll be doing any Barnes & Noble book signings in the next few months.

Also, I hope I'm finally going to get to meet you - my good friend Duffy Brown persuaded me to go to Malice Domestic with her! It will be my first time, so I'm both nervous and excited!

[becke_davis]

[LoisWinston]

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becke_davis wrote:

Hi Lois -

I forgot to ask if you'll be doing any Barnes & Noble book signings in the next few months.

Also, I hope I'm finally going to get to meet you - my good friend Duffy Brown persuaded me to go to Malice Domestic with her! It will be my first time, so I'm both nervous and excited!

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Yeah, Becke! I'm so glad you'll be going to Malice. We definitely need to get together for a meal or coffee.

As for book signings, I don't have any set up for bookstores right now. Maybe in the spring when people come out of hibernation.

[becke_davis]

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LoisWinston wrote:

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becke_davis wrote:

Hi Lois -

I forgot to ask if you'll be doing any Barnes & Noble book signings in the next few months.

Also, I hope I'm finally going to get to meet you - my good friend Duffy Brown persuaded me to go to Malice Domestic with her! It will be my first time, so I'm both nervous and excited!

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Yeah, Becke! I'm so glad you'll be going to Malice. We definitely need to get together for a meal or coffee.

As for book signings, I don't have any set up for bookstores right now. Maybe in the spring when people come out of hibernation.

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Hibernation is right - it's nasty here in Cincinnati right now!

[LoisWinston]

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becke_davis wrote:

Hibernation is right - it's nasty here in Cincinnati right now!

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It's not all that pleasant here in NJ, either! Winter has finally arrived. No snow yet but bone-chilling cold.

[becke_davis]

Lois - I don't know where this week went, I can't believe it's already Friday! Thank you so much for joining us! I love your books, and I'm so glad there will be more to follow!

[LoisWinston]

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becke_davis wrote:

Lois - I don't know where this week went, I can't believe it's already Friday! Thank you so much for joining us! I love your books, and I'm so glad there will be more to follow!

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Thanks so much for inviting me, Becke, and I look forward to getting to meet you at Malice in the spring.

[becke_davis]

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LoisWinston wrote:

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becke_davis wrote:

Lois - I don't know where this week went, I can't believe it's already Friday! Thank you so much for joining us! I love your books, and I'm so glad there will be more to follow!

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Thanks so much for inviting me, Becke, and I look forward to getting to meet you at Malice in the spring.

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I've always wanted to go to Malice - I'm REALLY looking forward to it! See you in April!