Mystery We Write Tour: Anne K. Albert

Anne K. Albert’s award-winning mystery and romantic suspense stories include Defending Glory and the brand new Frank, Incense and Muriel. When not at the keyboard she loves to travel, walk on a beach, visit friends and family and read books on her beloved and much cherished Kindle 3G. Find out more about Anne at her blog at this link.

What have you learned from writing your novels?
I’ve learned there are readers who enjoy reading the kinds of books I write. I’ve learned an “expert” opinion is only one person’s opinion and that it has no more value than mine or yours. It isn’t wrong or right, it is simply theirs. I’ve learned that no one cares more about my writing than me. I’ve learned to trust my writing process even if I can’t put into words what that process is—or how it works!

Do you have a "day job?" What is it and how do you write around it?
I’m retired, but really, that’s a misnomer. I’m busier now than when I was in the workforce. Now, I’ve more things to do, more people to see, more places to go, and far too few hours in the day to accomplish everything on my to-do list. Although I treat writing as my “day job” and put it at the top of the list, some days I just call in sick!

What’s on your writing desk right now? 
My desk is a mess. I do my best to convince myself I know where everything is, but that isn’t true and probably borders on my being delusional. Okay, here’s the list (and a partial one at that): an address book, a manila file folder of bills to pay and invoices to send, my phone, my GPS I still need to update, thumb drives, a day planner for the new year and a glass of  chardonnay (I'm writing this at happy hour!).

About Frank, Incense and Muriel
The story takes place the week before Christmas when the stress of the holidays is enough to frazzle anyone’s nerves. Tensions increase when a friend begs Muriel to team up with a sexy private investigator to find a missing woman. Forced to deal with an embezzler, kidnapper, and femme fatale is bad enough, but add Muriel’s zany yet loveable family to the mix and their desire to win the coveted D-DAY (Death Defying Act of the Year) Award, and the situation can only get worse.

Leave a comment to win an eBook copy of Frank, Incense and Muriel. Also be sure to check out two posts by me today: a Q&A about writing at Anne K. Albert's blog and my thoughts on the publishing industry at Earl Stagg's blog.