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

 

What drew you to the genre you write?
First off—thanks so much for having me!

I grew up on Nancy Drew and Harriet the Spy, so mysteries are my go-to genre. As an adult, I devoured Sue Grafton’s alphabet series. I was so sad when she passed away.

What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?
Great question! That would have to be PI Liz Adams’ sidekick, a Labrador retriever named Duke who yips when people are lying. Duke is loosely based on our own Lab, Eve. Although she can’t tell when people aren’t telling the truth, she’s quite the communicator. She howls her version of ‘I love you’ for her breakfast in the mornings.

How did you come up with your pseudonym?
One day I hope to publish children’s books, so I wanted a name that would work across genres. My real first name is Stacy, but my real last name didn’t fit. I love nature, and I also write poetry so “Wilder” felt like a natural fit—pun intended. It also connected with a poem I wrote, a play on the word bewilder/be-wilder. Stacy Wilder – Poetry. The more I thought about it, the last name Wilder seemed to fit on so many levels.

Tell us how you got into writing?
I’m an avid journaller, story ideas often bubble up as I journal. That’s how my first book, Charleston Conundrum, began, which took me nearly twenty years to write!

As a milestone birthday approached, I decided to either get serious about finishing it or throw it in the trash. So, I gobbled up classes, entered contests, joined a writer’s group, and finally completed the manuscript.

What jobs have you held before, during and/or after you became a writer?
My first job after college was an internship with a French bank in Houston, TX. After the internship ended, I migrated into the energy industry holding jobs in accounting, human resources, training, and organizational development. Currently I’m an independent consultant tackling a wide variety of HR and accounting projects, coaching, training, and process improvement initiatives.

How many books do you have published?
Charleston Conundrum, the book that took me twenty years to write, finally took flight in 2021. Now, I have five books in the Liz Adams Mystery Series. The others are Carmel Conundrum, A Christmas Conundrum (a novella), Cayman Conundrum, and A Camping Conundrum (a novella). I’m working on the sixth book, Colorado Conundrum, and Liz and gang are in for quite the adventure.

Where do you write?
I have an upstairs office/art room where I do my morning journaling. The dual monitors on my desk are a must—I love being able to write while researching at the same time.

What is your ideal time to write?
Anytime I can! I have a day job, so I typically write on weekends. Crafting a story is such a joy! I love every minute that I spend with my characters and the settings. And when the book is finished, it’s a humbling experience that’s hard to explain. I’m like, Thank you, Lord, for letting me tell this story.

What is your favorite deadline snack?
Popcorn! With salt and butter.

What’s your favorite genre to read?
Mystery, but a publisher once gave me some sage advice. He said—read outside of your genre to keep your writing fresh. So, I do try to make a point of that. Although if you go to my GoodReads page, you’ll see it’s dominated by mysteries and thrillers.

What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
I’m normally somewhat soft-spoken, but when I sneeze—watch out! You can hear it from blocks away.

What is your favorite beverage to end the day?
A glass of Australian shiraz, preferably something from the Mollydooker vineyard. Fun fact: “Mollydooker” is slang for left-handed in Australia. And yes, I’m left-handed.

Who is an author you admire?
Beatrix Potter, hands down. I adored her books as a child and later became entranced by her life story. I love that she wanted to be a botanist, self-published her stories (and illustrated them), and she left a legacy behind by donating land to the Royal National Trust.

Yep, she’s my hero.

My dream would be to make a similar difference. I donate a portion of the proceeds from my books to causes that help the homeless, both people and pets.

Have you any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?
Join a writer’s group. Take classes. Enter contests that give feedback.

I’m a member of League of Romance Writers which includes writers across all genres and offers amazing online workshops for a very affordable cost.

Gobble up all the classes and books about the craft of writing that you can. There are plenty of free resources out there, but I recommend MasterClass where you’ll find writing courses by Dan Brown, James Patterson, Margaret Atwood, and David Baldacci, just to mention a few.

Enter contests that give feedback. If romance is your genre, the League of Romance Writer’s Emily Contest is a great one. Not only will you receive feedback on the first 6,000 words of your story, but you could also get picked up by a publisher.

If you self-publish, hire a professional team and invest money in quality book cover design and quality editing.

What are you reading now?
Currently reading, The Murder Before Christmas, by Charlie Kingsley. Next up is A Book Signing to Die For, by Judy Moore.

It took me a minute to get used to my Kindle. Now I can’t imagine life without it, although I do love a physical book too. I’m surprised by how many younger readers prefer print books and find their preference encouraging for the future of the publishing industry.

What is next for you?
I’m working on Colorado Conundrum and am having so much fun with the story. Liz, her husband, Brad, and their Lab, Duke, take a road trip from Charleston to Colorado with their friends. Their first stop is Dollywood, and I had such a blast writing the scenes in those chapters. There will be a few surprises in this book. Although most of the stories can be read as standalones, you’ll want to read Carmel before Colorado.

I’m also working on a romance novel . . . stay tuned.

Where can we find you?
Website at StoryStacy.com, Facebook, Amazon, Instagram, BookBub, and YouTube.

 

Now to have some fun . . .

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Lunch. I prefer to eat a hearty meal at lunch and then something lighter for dinner. Since I typically skip breakfast, by lunch I’m starving.

Fruits or vegetables
Veggies. Spinach is one of my favorites.

Chocolate, vanilla, or another flavor
Chocolate.

Sweet or salty snack
Salty for sure. I crave salt. Nuts, pretzels, popcorn. When I do eat breakfast, I put salt on my grapefruit.

Ice cream or cake
I’m not much of a sweets person, but I do like coffee ice cream.

Cooking or baking
Both. In my books, I include recipes, and I enjoy putting together food that fits the location and the characters. I try to include an entrée, a salad or veggie dish, a dessert, and a drink or appetizer. The stories also include playlists. Everything you’d need for a book club gathering. Even though I’m not big on sweets, one of my favorites is the Smores Bars recipe in A Camping Conundrum.

Dining in or dining out
A mix. Although I enjoy cooking, it’s nice to take a break and go out.

City life or country living
I like the convenience that a city offers. I’ve been in Houston, TX for over forty years, but I hate the traffic. One day, maybe a smaller town.

Beach or mountain
Beach all the way!

Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall
I love Summer. Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays, and July is my birthday and anniversary month.

Extrovert or introvert
Slightly introverted. When I test for this, I’m right on the cusp. I recharge by doing things by myself, like reading, but I also truly enjoy people and conversations.

Early bird or night owl
I’m more of an early bird, although not entirely by choice. Our Lab, Eve, wakes me up every morning for her breakfast and treats.

 

And even more fun . . .

What’s your favorite movie?
The Big Chill.

You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
This is a hard one. Assuming there’s fresh water . . . tea bags, sunscreen (I’m fair-skinned), and a supply of large-print books since bringing my readers would make four. 😊

---

My bio:
Stacy writes mysteries, children’s stories, short stories, and poetry. Her mission is to deliver a delightful story to readers of all ages while benefiting a larger community. She donates a portion of the proceeds from the sales of her books to causes that help the homeless, both people and pets. She and her husband live in Houston, TX with a totally spoiled Labrador named Eve.