Now it’s time to learn more about the authors we read. . .

What drew you to the genre you write?
It’s slightly embarrassing, but I’ll be honest. I started out writing romantic suspense, heavy on the mystery. After six books I realized I dreaded writing another intimate scene… I looked around and there, glimmering on a distant hill and beckoning to me was the category of cozy mystery. I climbed that mountain and never looked back.

What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?
Hmm. All of my characters are quirky because that’s how I write. Usually, they are running from one or more truths about themselves, are longing for something more, and have a super ability to notice things or a superpower. With that said, my latest quirky amateur sleuth is remarkably sentimental. That makes sense in a double negative kind of way. Quirky for a quirky character equals a normal trait.

How did you come up with your pseudonym?
My current pen name came about because having a pen name was the condition of my last contract. I went with place names in my home county. Valona is the fishing hamlet where I grew up and Jones is a community on the other side of I-95. When I tried the name out, it sounded right, you know?

Tell us how you got into writing?
Actually, the question for me is, “how did you get sidelined into being a scientist for most of your working career when you were born a writer?” I wrote long letters to friends and family before email was invented. I wrote in my diary. I took creative writing in high school. It was a big deal for me, the daughter of a blue-collar family to go to college. I knew the money it cost was dear to my family, so I had to do my very best. When I got to college, reality dawned. People with an English degree of any sort were in surplus in my home state, and I wouldn’t be able to get a job in that field. I gulped and looked around. My sister was a scientist and that was my second fav subject, so I went with that. Later, I had the opportunity to embrace creative writing again, and my career took a sharp turn from technical writing to mystery writing.

What jobs have you held before, during and/or after you became a writer?
I held several jobs in the science field: health physicist (today that is more like industrial hygiene), chemist, aquatic toxicologist, and science writer. After I became a writer, I accidentally became a parttime reporter for our weekly paper for a number of years.

How many books do you have published?
Three futuristic eco-thrillers under the pen name of Rigel Carson, 6 romantic suspense novels, 15 cozy mysteries under my own name (including my culinary cozy series and my paranormal cozy series), and 3 paranormal cozies as Valona Jones. I have also written two nonfiction books. So, the total is 27 works of fiction and 2 nonfiction titles as of October 2024.

Where do you write?
I can write anywhere if the room is quiet or if I wear noise-cancelling headphones.

What is your ideal time to write?
Mornings have always been my best time. In the beginning it was because the ideas I’d dreamed about were freshly perking along in my head. Now it’s because things are different with age and post-covid. The later it is in the day, the more other things come into play, so the quality of what I write goes down.

What is your favorite deadline snack?
Almond butter granola bars. They have the perfect mix of weight in my belly and give enough satiation that I can go for several hours before I need anything else.

What’s your favorite genre to read?
I am a big fan of mystery, romance, and science fiction and any high octane blend of the three.

What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
I enjoy sewing. It’s something I learned as a girl. We have several of my embroidery and counted cross stich pieces framed in our home. I’ve also made clothes, hemmed clothes, and other fabric projects.

What is your favorite beverage to end the day?
Since I am highly caffeinated all day, my end of day beverage is either peppermint tea or cinnamon apple spice tea.

Who is an author you admire?
I admire all authors. It takes a lot of courage to write a book, go through the publishing process, and market the work. You’d think it gets easier after a while, but it doesn’t. There are still moments of doubt at every crossroads along the way. Most of my author friends are midlist or indie, but of the big name authors, I’m a fan of Charlaine Harris, Carolyn Haines, Jayne Ann Krentz (including her work as Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle), and Julie Garwood. These authors have stayed at top of their craft for 20 or more years. That’s amazing!

Have you any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?
Make sure you love the creative process. If it becomes “work” you will walk away. I’ve seen it happen time after time. Also, criticism comes with the territory. If your words are sacred to you, perhaps you aren’t writing for publication but for yourself. No harm in that but be wise in your choices.

What are you reading now?
In the last year, a fellow author recommended Lindsay Buroker to me. She writes multiple genres including fantasy, paranormal, science fiction, and romance. She blends genres, has a natural storyteller’s voice, and is prolific Her pacing is mostly along the lines of an action-adventure movie so every one of her stories is literary gold for me.

What is next for you?
I plan to release two more A Magic Candle Shop Mysteries under my Valona Jones pen name. Then I’m either going to start a series with a cat familiar or perhaps write something with dragons in it. Both concepts appeal to me. But The Muse Rules. Whatever she wants is what I’ll do…

Where can we find you?
I hang out with a group of cozy mystery authors at BookloversBench.com. I am spotty on social media these days, since I have many real-life commitments taking up my spare time. My website of maggietoussaint.com has my fiction books listed (including my pen names’ books). I put out a monthly newsletter, so that’s the best way to keep up with what’s coming next. Signups for the newsletter are on my site.

Now to have some fun . . .

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day

Fruits or vegetables
I LOVE them both

Chocolate, vanilla, or another flavor
Chocolate, of course

Sweet or salty snacks
The best ones are sweet and salty (praline pecans)

Ice cream or cake
Cake wins for me

Cooking or baking
I do more baking than cooking

Dining in or dining out
Out, absolutely dining out

City life or country living
Country life

Beach or mountain
Beach

Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall
Fall is my jam. Not too hot, not too buggy, and not as much pollen as spring.

Extrovert or introvert
Introvert, no question about that

Early bird or night owl
Early bird

And even more fun . . .

What’s your favorite movie?
It’s a little dated, but Galaxy Quest has it all (romance, mystery, and science fiction).

You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
Protein bars, water, shade

My bio:
Valona Jones, aka Maggie Toussaint, writes paranormal cozies set in coastal Georgia. Her latest release, TALLOWED GROUND, book 3 in the A Magic Candle Shop Mysteries, released September 10, 2024. Under the name of Maggie Toussaint, she also publishes cozies and romantic suspense. Her pen name for a three-book science fiction ecothriller series is Rigel Carson. In total, she’s published more than 27 works of fiction. Visit her sites: valonajones.com and maggietoussaint.com.