Why do you write the genre that you write?
Ever since I was a kid I adored spooky mysteries. Told ghost stories around the campfire, snuck into the cemetery at night on a dare, scared my friends with a Ouija board. When the time came to start writing mysteries I was lucky to have oodles of ideas popping in my head. In fact, even after writing fifty books, I still have a good reservoir of ideas.
What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?
In my New Orleans Scrapbook Mysteries, my sidekick character Ava Grieux owns a voodoo shop complete with dangling skeletons, potions, and voodoo dolls. She’s also a terrible flirt and a serial dater.
How did you come up with your pseudonym?
I asked Dr. Bob (my husband) to figure out a name that sounded sweet and Southern and he came up with Laura Childs. I think he did a pretty good job!
Tell us how you got into writing?
I’ve always been a writer – plays as a kid, reporter for my high school and college newspapers, and then – boom! – right into advertising. I was able to hone my writing skills and have a lot of fun while creating radio, TV, and print ads.
What jobs have you held before, during and after you became a writer?
Writer/producer at several multi-national ad agencies, then headed my own agency and marketing firm for twenty years. I’ve also been an angel investor in several small businesses, written three screenplays, created material for several Saturday Night Live cast members, and produced a reality show.
Where do you write?
I have an office in the lower level of my home. It looks out over ten acres of woods and the deer who live there walk right up to my window and peek in. I think they’re waiting for the next mystery to be done!
What is your favorite deadline snack?
None. When I’m on deadline I write from nine in the morning until eleven at night. Sometimes I take a fifteen-minute break for cottage cheese or a fruit smoothie.
What is next for you?
Lots more books. Right now I’m working on Lemon Curd Killer, Murder in the Tea Leaves, The Head Hunters Wife, and Cadmium Red Dead.
What are you reading now?
The Palace Papers by Tina Brown, The Investigator by John Sandford, and The Velvet Rope Economy by Nelson Schwartz. I like to have three or four books going at the same time.
Where can we find you?
Usually working. But now I’m starting to take weekends off. Age, you know.
Now to have some fun . . .
Vanilla or chocolate?
Chocolate, gotta love the dark master.
Ice cream or cake?
Cake, but only white cake with buttercream frosting.
Broccoli or squash?
Love oven-roasted broccoli with sprinkles of Parmesan.
Pizza, burgers, or pasta?
Hmm, not a fan of any of these since I try to avoid carbs.
Breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
I never eat lunch but I do love chicken and roasted vegetables for dinner.
Mountain or beach?
My two favorite beaches are in Hawaii and Bali.
City or country?
I’m a shopaholic so definitely a city.
Introvert or extrovert?
Excuse me, aren’t all authors introverts?
And even more fun . . .
You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
Sunglasses, ChapStick, and a good mystery.
Don’t need a swim suit because it’s deserted, right?
My bio:
Laura Childs is the author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. Most all have been on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher’s Weekly bestseller lists. Recently, Book Riot named her mysteries to their list of “25 of the All Time Best Cozy Mystery Series.” In her previous life Laura was CEO of her own marketing firm, authored several screenplays, and produced a reality TV show. She is married to Dr. Bob, a professor of Chinese art history, and has a Chinese Shar-Pei named Lotus.
Find out more at laurachilds.com or become a Friend on Facebook at Laura Childs Author.