Literary You: Welcome, Brenda Whiteside

I'm proud to welcome Brenda Whiteside, multi-published author of romance and mystery! Her latest book is Curse of Wolf Falls, the third book in her series The MacKenzie Chronicles. Congratulations, Brenda, and welcome!

Thank you so much for having me on your great blog, Anastasia. I’m happy to be here.

And now for our little interview, Literary You.
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1) What sort of books did you enjoy reading as a child? Did you have a favorite book or series? The first memories I have, although Mom says I loved to read when young, was middle school. I read Peyton Place and any other book Mom left lying around that I probably shouldn’t have been reading. 

2) What sort of books do you enjoy reading nowadays?
I love romantic suspense and romantic mystery. I also like series suspense novels involving the same detective and recurring characters. Character driven stories, think Maeve Binchy, are a favorite too. 

3) Around what age did you realize that you liked to write? And when did you know that you wanted to write books?
I’ve always loved to write. But I always liked to paint and draw also. I chose art over writing until adulthood. At that point, I took a creative writing class for fun and realized I enjoyed filling an empty page with words more than with paint. 

4)What’s the first thing you wrote that you remember being proud of?
In the fourth grade I combined my love of art and writing. Using crayons, I drew a fairy forest with flowers and fairies. On one side I wrote a poem about fairies. 

I looove that! :)

5) You have traveled quite a bit! Have your travels given you ideas for your novels? Tell us about the creative force within you? What inspires you to write, to create?
Way back, when I wrote short stories, I did draw on some of my adventures from places we’d visited in Europe. But when I turned toward novels, I found myself using settings closer to home as well as people I knew. The smallest detail can strike an idea for a story. I’ve been inspired by words on a wedding invitation, a happening from my mom’s childhood, a millionaire I met and became friends with, a tourist city, and a night my brother spent in a cheap hotel. 

6) What’s your writing space like?
Cramped! We’ree living in an RV…a large RV, but still no office. I write from a recliner, which actually suits me fine. I like my feet up and my coffee on the table next to me. I have a great view out the window of my fairy garden and the forest beyond. 

7) Do you have a favorite time of day to write? Any habits or little rituals that put you in a writing mindset?
I’m better in the morning, and I quit by 3:30. I’m up by 5:30. Love winter when it’s dark, and I’m the only one up. I can’t say I have any special habits. 

8) Congratulations on your new release. Please tell us about it. How did you come up with the idea for this series?
Curse of Wolf Falls (The MacKenzie Chronicles Book 3) is the story of the youngest MacKenzie sibling. In present-day Joshua, Arizona—an 1800s mining community-turned-ghost-town, reborn hippie haven, and now tourist town clinging to the side of Spirit Mountain—secrets and treachery come home for the MacKenzies. The town is modeled after Jerome, Arizona, and if you ever come to Arizona, Jerome is a must stop. The MacKenzie family had their beginnings in the hippie community of the 1960s. The three siblings are definitely products of that upbringing. 

Ahh. The whole series sounds marvelous.

9) I realize you’ve just published a new book and I know what that takes. Still, I can’t help but ask – do you have another story waiting on the backburner?
Ha! More than one. I am currently writing a cozy mystery series with another author. I have two more ideas for stories revolving around the MacKenzies. And my nine-year-old granddaughter wants me to write a book about a dog with her. Too many stories and not enough time!

Wow! You are prolific! I completely agree about there not being enough time. I have a nine-year-old granddaughter, too -- so much sweetness.
 
Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?  
The second book in the series, Mystery on Spirit Mountain, will be on sale for $.99 October 22 to October 29. Although a series, it is possible to read them out of order and enjoy the stories.

Brenda, thank you for sharing your time and talent. Wishing you continued joy and success.

Secrets can protect what the truth will destroy.

Elidor MacKenzie has a gift she can't return—the ability to absorb the joy, pain, and suffering of others. She's spent her life running from what she considers her curse. Now, her best friend is dead, and she alone holds the key to an archaeological discovery that could destroy a culture. With newfound inner peace, Elidor has returned home to make amends and guard the secret revelation. But greed-driven scavengers have followed her. Once again, the energies of Joshua will stir the hurricane, with her at the deadly center. 
 
Jules never got over Elidor. Twenty years and a famous journalism career later, he's back in Joshua—and so is his first love. If his heart can stand the torture, he'll risk reviving their relationship. But saving Elidor from herself and the secret she won't give up may be the death of them both. 
 
With Jules by her side, Elidor is determined to outrun the scavengers, guard the secret, and renew their love. But fate is coming after her, and there's nowhere the couple can hide. 

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About the Author

Brenda Whiteside is the award-winning author of romantic suspense, cozy mystery, and romance. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have settled in Central Arizona. They admit to being gypsies at heart so won't discount the possibility of another move. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW fishes, Brenda writes.

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Visit Brenda at her website and her blog.
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