What fun! An interview with Roger Vizi. Janet called in. It was a very satisfying event!!

Roger sent questions and I prepared answers. We didn't have a chance to hit on all points.... always better to have material left over at the end of the time than time left over at the end of the material!

Some of this will be on the interview tape, the rest is here if you would like to read!

we talked questions 1--2--3--7--8--9

1. I know you were a teacher for over 20 years. Did this training help you to become a writer?

I am a detail oriented, organized person… traits which held me in good straits during my years of teaching and help me with my writing as well.

2. You started writing feature articles for a small newspaper on NE Oklahoma in 1990. How did this help you to become a writer of short stories?

I wrote on a wide variety of subjects and each article was a short story of sorts. The newspaper writing was great fun, and because I wrote on so many subjects really provided a good background for other writing. I wrote about Civil War in Indian Territory, a daily devotional based on the Biblical book of Proverbs, a Travel column of day trips, one on depression era collectibles, Suppertime a reminisce column which led to my little book ‘Daddy’s One Acre’, I wrote parenting tips, and school readiness tips and club meeting news. It was a great experience.

3. The Blanket is the leading short story on AuthorsDen. You purchased this blanket at Wal-Mart and the story just came to you as you were sitting with the blanket one evening is that correct?

Tis true and I’m truly astounded that it is the leading short story. I’m not much of a short story writer, but this one grew on its own. I bought the blanket to use as a snuggle wrap on cold evenings and the story just evolved from that. While I was not a battered wife I have had friends and family who were and drew from some of what I have heard over the years. I have received several emails from women who tell me they were battered and this story is one that really shows what battering is all about. One woman told me just this week that she wishes she had a supply of the blankets to take to the women in her local women’s shelter.

4. Wolves play a significant part in the story. Why did you choose wolves to be the hero?

I am particularly fond of wolves. They are not good pets, the critters need to be left to be what they are… wild animals. I have a ½ wolf, ½ akita that some ninny bred and then abandoned. Thor has been a love for 12 years, but he will eat my cats… I can’t get mad at him, it is in his job description. I would like to shake some sense into the ninny who bred the animal and then abandoned him.

5. You also write mystery books as well. What can you tell me about Nolly Penderson and where did you get the inspiration for her?

Nolly is based on a longtime school girl friend. My friend and Nolly are both kindly gals who get things done. I have had a number of people ask if Nolly is based on myself. She isn’t. I see myself more as Ellen Higgins in my London semi cozy series. I’m not quite as old as Ellen, but she is more my personality I think.

6. Another switch that you make is to Western crime books. Can you give us a glimpse into Palo Verde?

On a trip to Amarillo my husband and I stayed at the Big Texan motel. It is designed to look like an old time gun town. There behind the desk was a Marshal….. Pappy. …. at the restaurant next door all the servers dress as Marshals, crib gals and the like. I told the Marshal I was going to write a book and make him the main character and Palo Verde: The Wanted Poster was born. It was great fun to do some research into forensics of the era. By 1905 law men were beginning to use fingerprints, photography and ballistics to locate or eliminate criminals. My Marshal Watson is very ‘into’ the modern technology. Sad to say the man who was my inspiration for Pappy Watson has had to give up his job, on a more recent trip to Amarillo I hoped to be able to tell him that the book is now finished and with a publisher and was saddened to learn that he is suffering ill health. Hopefully when the book is in print I will be able to get a copy to him through the hotel itself.

I am now working on the second in the series. It is Adobe Ridge.

7. You have also written a book called “The teachers handbook for non-teachers. Tell us about this book.

It is a little handbook geared for beginning scout and similar leaders who may be a little intimidated as to how to set up and actually run a small group teaching situation. I am also preparing a new teacher’s handbook specific to new classroom teachers. It is based on the many snafus I personally carried out during my rookie year of teaching as well as on the ones told to me by fellow teachers. I have the work about ½ edited and have sent a query to a publisher concerning it.

8. Another one of your many talents is reviewing books. What types of books do you review, and where can your reviews be found?


While my first interest is mystery and/or children’s books I read and review all genre except gore dripping sadism type stuff. Just recently read my first vampire, it was by Linda Suzane and I was pleased to find it was not the average vampire fare. I have today finished a review for an authorsDen member, it is my first horror review, and while I’m not mad for the genre, this particular book, “The Endless Place” by William Calabrese was not horror in a horrifying ‘keep me up at night’ type work.

Christine Spindler author of the Inspector Terry series is the one who first suggested I might enjoy reviewing. At the time she was producing an ezine and I reviewed for her. Christine puts together and maintains my beautiful website where my own books, reviews, interviews I have done with fellow authors and links to other sites are found. My reviews appear on Word Weaving, ScribesWorld, BookDragon, KBS, ebookweb, reader’s club my own site and AuthorsDen as articles under my pen name m j hollingshead, and as a reader comment on the book page if the writer is registered to AuthorsDen.

9. Are there any other writers or authors that you would like to mention?

Christine Spindler the German writer I mentioned of course. Her work is very good. I particularly enjoy reviewing for William Manchee, Rolland Love and Walker Joe Jackson because they are writers in the Mark Twain/Ellery Queen vein….. excellent story tellers who do not rely on graphic language or sex to cover up a weak story line. Poornima Shankar is an illustrator/writer who produces children’s books of her own and has provided illustrations for three of my books.

I have found that there are many very good writers out there who have little or no chance to become known simply because the ‘big print houses’ are not paying much attention to new writers. It is my belief that formula books, and relying on the old tried and true can be a detriment, and particularly in the writing world today.

6. Where can the listeners find you works?

I write as m j hollingshead or Tomsdattar. Children’s books are by Tomsdattar, everything else is m j hollingshead. The eBooks are available on AuthorsDen: These are Inspector’s Wife and CatsPaw:Blue Death these are almost cozies set in London more are in the works. Children’s books include Wonderful Day, Uncle Bob Claus, Clyde the very special Cat, My Teacher Yells and A Letter Book for Kids. I have a series set in Arlington, Virginia, this is the one featuring Nolly Penderson. The Agent: Murder by Accident is an eBook, The Agent: Murder by Design is available on Amazon and from iUniverse. I have written one fantasy… InnerLand: The Door and am working on InnerLand: A Dragon’s Tale…. So far one is ePubbed.

Palo Verde: The Wanted Poster is ‘coming soon’ from PublishAmerica.

Closing:


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http://www.AuthorsDen.com/mjhollingshead
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