About Harley Christensen:
I live in Phoenix, Arizona with my significant other and our mischievous motley crew of rescue dogs (aka the “kids”).
When not at my laptop—or chasing the dogs—I am an avid hockey fan and lover of all things margarita. I’ve also never met a green chile or jalapeño I didn’t like, regardless of whether it liked me back.
I am the author of the Mischievous Malamute Mystery/Suspense/Thriller series, which first introduced readers to AJ and her Alaskan Malamute, Nicoh, in Gemini Rising. Beyond Revenge is the second installment in the series and Blood of Gemini the third.
Bonus: Did I mention I love margaritas? 🙂
What inspires you to write?
From my earliest childhood memories, I think I’ve always gravitated toward creative outlets, whether through art, music, photography, etc. Writing is just another way to express myself creatively, even if I am only jotting down thoughts or ideas for myself.
Tell us about your writing process.
Oh, my writing process…well, it’s a bit of a work in progress. Like my writing, it has evolved with each story. I tend to think of myself as a pantser AND a plotter. My initial ideas—that’s all pantsing. I scribble on anything I can find wherever I am, hoping I can make sense of it later. Once I get those initial ideas down, I have become better about developing an outline and determining where things fit into the overall story structure.
For tools, I use whiteboards, chalkboards, huge rolls of butcher paper, flip charts, index cards…you name it, I use it. As far as software, I use OneNote for collecting research and creating outlines and Scrivener for drafting.
My characters tend to evolve throughout the drafting process and then I go back and add nuances—making them stronger, more sinister or more vulnerable, etc. In the end, my key—and something that I’m constantly working to improve—is to ensure that their mannerisms, tone and voice remains consistent and they stay true to their individual character.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
What? You mean my characters aren’t real?
Yeah, I talk to them on a daily basis—after all, every writer needs someone to share her secrets with, right? 😉
What advice would you give other writers?
Feeling stuck? Look around you…there’s inspiration in every nook and cranny of everyday life, just waiting to be tapped into…
Write because you can and never let doubt—whether from within or from others—convince you to do otherwise. Just get those words on the page—they matter.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I went the self-publishing route because it suits my personality, e.g. I enjoy doing things myself and having control over my own successes (and failures). That doesn’t mean I won’t explore other options in the future but for me, this was the best path for starting out. Each author should ultimately choose what direction works best for him/her… 🙂
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
There will always be change. It happens in every industry—things evolve. But rather than fearing the change, look at it as an opportunity to delve into something new and different and as a way to learn something you didn’t know the day before…
What genres do you write?: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Harley Christensen Home Page Link
Link To Harley Christensen Page On Amazon
Link to Author Page on other site
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
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