Author Interview—L.C. Hayden

December is a busy month for most people—how are you surviving? Looking forward to time with family or maybe a little time off? Whatever your plans, I hope you have some time to sit down and read a good book. You might want to try one of L.C. Hayden’s Harry Bronson or Aimee Brent mystery thriller books—there are plenty to choose from including her latest, When Danger Follows. You can read my interview with L.C., below. Enjoy learning about this prolific author!

About the Author

L. C. Hayden is the author of the popular Harry Bronson and Aimee Brent mystery series. When Doubts Creep In recently hit the number one Kindle Bestseller list for suspense and the number two spot for mysteries. The Aimee Brent series hit the number three Kindle position for Women Sleuths. Her novels have been finalists for the distinguished Silver Falchion Award, the Readers’ Choice Awards, and the Agatha and LCC Awards, and they hit the Pennsylvania Top 40, the B&N Top 10, and the Kindle Best Seller lists. Her angel/miracle series are international best sellers.

Hayden is also a popular speaker. She presents workshops, speaks to clubs, and major cruise lines have hired her to speak while cruising all over the world. From October 2006 to October 2007, Hayden hosted Mystery Writers of America’s only talk show, Murder Must Air.

Interview

Who or what inspires you to write?

There’s this guy who inspires me to write. His name is Harry Bronson—and believe it or not, he’s the character in my Bronson Thriller Series. He’s such a great person. To quote a reviewer: He is “warm, funny and caring—yet hard-headed when it comes to criminals and crime.” He inspires me to write because he keeps pulling my heart strings. “Write, write. Tell ’em about my next adventure,” he often tells me. I absolutely love him, but please, please, don’t tell my husband!

Harry sounds like an interesting guy. What is the best thing that has happened because of your writing?

By far, the neatest thing that has happened is that it’s opened doors to new friendships. I’ve met so many talented authors and so, so many wonderful readers throughout the years. We’ve developed a bond that definitely wouldn’t exist if I hadn’t been writing.

It sounds like you have a wonderful community of writers and readers. What is the most difficult thing you have experienced about writing or publishing?

It’s the P word. You know what I’m talking about. Even thinking of it gives me the willies. Okay, I’ll go ahead and say it. But only once: promotion. I would love a world where I can write and mingle with the writing/reading community but not worry about . . . you know, that P word.

But P I must. I’m just not good at it. Here’s my approach: did you know I have a new release When Danger Follows? It’s receiving so many positive comments about how great a read it is. Several have said that it’s so good that they couldn’t put it down and kept on reading into the wee hours of the night. I would love it if you gave me a chance and read my book. But you don’t have to. It’s okay if you don’t get it.

See what I mean? I always blow it!

That P word thing is difficult for so many authors. What didn’t you do during your writing or publishing journey that you wish you had?

The Bronson Thriller Series has seven books so far. The Aimee Brent Mystery Series has three. I’m proud of these series. But I think the pre-Bronson books were written too fast. I wanted to be published, but I should have had the patience to take the time to develop the plots a bit more and gotten to know the characters a bit better. Ah, unfortunately, patience isn’t my virtue.

It’s hard not to be too eager to get our writing out into the world. I have experienced that myself. Do you have a publisher and/or agent, or are you an indie (self-published) or hybrid author?

I started out by being traditionally published. I loved not having to worry about the publishing business. But I didn’t like deadlines: must have the next book out by . . . I wanted to work at my own pace. Maybe that’s why the pre-Bronson books seemed rushed. That’s because they were! I then decided to venture on my own and self-publish. I love it! I work at my own pace and have complete control of my work. The downside is trying to find new readers.

But even if I’m self-published, I won’t let go of my Harper Collins/Harlequin publishers. After the books are released, Harper Collins/Harlequin republishes the books under their own imprint. So I reckon you could say I’m a hybrid.

I didn’t know publishers republished self-published books—I have learned something new. Which genre(s) do you like to write in, and why?

Besides the mystery series I have, I also write a nonfiction series about miracles and angels. These are true stories about people who have experienced a miracle in their life or have had an angel help them. There are four books in that series. I also have two children picture books and a host of other books in other genres. But my top choices are definitely the angels series and the mystery series. For mysteries, I write mostly soft-boiled thrillers (the Bronson series) and romantic suspense thrillers (the Aimee Brent series.)

You have written an amazing number of books! Do you outline your books before you write them?

Oh, good grief no, never. That would spoil it for me. I know how the book will begin and have a glimpse on how it’s going end. Then I tell Bronson, “Take it away.” And boy-oh-boy, does he. He takes me on these wild roller coaster rides filled with twists and turns. I know I surprise the readers because Bronson surprises me. If I outlined, that thrill would be gone. So pantser it is for me!

That definitely sounds like a successful strategy for you. How do you define success as a writer?

Have you brought a smile to readers’ faces? Have you entertained them? Have you even for a brief moment made them forget their pain, their problems, and thoroughly submerged the readers in the world revolving around your characters? Have you ever brought a tear to their eye? Have you brought joy to their hearts? That, my dear folks, is what success as a writer means to me. I want to touch my readers’ emotional strings. If I’ve succeeded, then I’m successful.

That’s a great measure of success. If you could have lunch with any author, who would it be?

My ol’ buddy: Rick Riordan. It’d be great to see him again. Then there are two authors in my critique group that I’d love to meet in person: Kate Michaelson and Mary Seifert.

It sounds like you could make that happen with the last two, since they’re in your critique group. Tell us about a great adventure you’ve had.

As an author, I get asked a lot of questions, but the one I get asked the most is “What exactly does L. C. stand for?” The answer goes back to way before I started writing my novels. Before writing mysteries, I freelanced for several magazines. I looked at the various ones and decided I’d like to write for the treasure magazines. I researched, wrote the article, and since this happened before the invention of computers, I typed the piece. I used my real name as my byline: by Elsie Hayden.

My husband, Rich, took the pictures, printed them (told you it was before computers), and I sent the package in. It came back. “Thanks, but we’ve just bought a similar piece.”

I was devastated but did not give up. I researched another buried treasure and eagerly sent it out. It, too, came back. “Thanks, but we’ve just assigned this to someone else.”

Hmm . . . I wasn’t liking this trend, but I must be from Missouri. I wouldn’t give up. I sent a third, a fourth, a fifth . . . They all came back.

By this time, I felt like a high school dropout. I picked up a copy of the magazine and slammed it down. Talking to myself, I said aloud, “This is exactly what they’re looking for. Why are they not publishing me?

Rich picked up the magazine and pointed to the title page. “Look at the articles. They’re written by John, by Steve, by Mike. There’s no Marys, no Susies, no Elsies.”

Being a smart cookie, the light dawned on me. I took out the first rejected manuscript and retyped the first page. The only change I made was the byline. I changed it from by Elsie Hayden to by L. C. Hayden. The article was immediately accepted. So were a second, and a third. I got used to using the initials and when it came time to write my mysteries and other novels, it felt natural to continue to use L. C. instead of Elsie.

And thus, L. C. Hayden, the author, was born (or was I created?)

Wow, I’m so glad that you were finally able to get your work published. L.C., thank you so much for sharing some of your writing experiences with us!

Readers, you can find out more about L.C. and her books at her website, http://www.lchayden.com.

When Danger Follows

Ten of Ceruti’s coveted 1870s violins are making their way into the United States where they’ll be sold underground. Bronson must find a way to stop this, but dangerous mob leaders are one step ahead of him. To complicate matters, Becky, his fourteen-year-old grandniece, goes missing.

Bronson’s search for Becky and his efforts to stop the shipment draw him into a world filled with gangs and dangerous criminals. Everywhere he and ex-partner Mike go spirals them into danger. Can Bronson and Mike find the answers and help Becky before it’s too late? Or have they reached the point of no return When Danger Follows?

Readers, I wish you very Happy Holidays!