Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy
I currently live in the far southwest corner of Missouri
in the beautiful Ozark Mountains
but I’m a native of St. Joseph, MO,
where outlaw Jesse James met his end
and the Pony Express began!
Good morning, Lee Ann, and welcome to Vision and Verse. We’re happy to have you with us this morning. What have you written?
I’ve written and have seen published around 60 novels and novellas, assorted short stories, a few poems, and many articles.
What is your favorite genre to write?
Romance – these days primarily sweet romance
Favorite food.
Fish – catfish, salmon, cod, shrimp, clams.
Tea or coffee?
Either. I love strong Irish tea or dark roast coffee.
Pizza or ice cream?
Ice cream.
Wine or beer or soda or what?
Sweet iced tea
Where would you like to visit?
Ireland
Favorite musical artist.
It depends on my mood. Tommy Makem. Janis Joplin. Johnny Horton. The Eagles.
Do you listen to music when you write?
Often.
What?
Usually, it somehow relates to the current WIP – if it’s historical, I might listen to the music of the 1940s or old cowboy tunes. For Irish, I’ll listen to Tommy Makem. Contemporary, maybe rock. I have eclectic tastes in music.
What makes you laugh?
Dry wit, satire, sometimes sarcasm
Favorite work of art or sculpture.
The Immigrants in Battery Park, NYC.
How old were you when you started writing?
Very young. My hometown had a kids’ page on Saturdays. My older cousins sometimes had artwork published but I can’t draw so I wrote a poem and it was published. I think I was eight!
Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? Or just write?
I always know where the book will begin and end. I may collect various information and create a file for it on the computer but I just write the middle.
Describe your perfect evening.
It’s spring or summer, not too hot, pleasant breeze, and I’m out on the porch or deck with a book and a class of Moscato wine.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Anywhere and everywhere. I might see a photo, read a news story, admire a flower in bloom and bam, an idea hits.
What do you do when you get a writer's block?
I seldom have writer’s block but when I do, I put everything aside for a few days.
Who is your favorite author?
Susanna Kearsley, John Steinbeck, Dean Koontz
(Sorry I couldn’t pick just one!)
Best book you ever read.
Hard question. I’ll stand by A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.
Last book you read.
Through A Glass Darkly, Karleen Koen. I first read it years ago when it was published but I decide to re-read and didn’t regret it.
What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer?
I’d work in media as I did for many years, both broadcast radio or newspaper. Alternative would be to own a restaurant.
Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?
My Granny. She took care of me from the age of two months until I started school while my parents worked. She was a strong, wise woman. She “raised” me the way she had her own children so I was brought up like a child in the 1930’s and 1940’s. She wanted to write herself but as she said, “I couldn’t – but you should.” So, I did.
If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?
My great-grandfather Benjamin Hayward, an English immigrant who was shanghaied into the Royal Navy, jumped ship in Canada after a few years to join his older brothers in St. Joseph, MO. By all account he was a colorful character and I would love to ask him a few questions about the family history.
What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?
Have some basic skills with words, be ready to work hard for little return, be determined to stick with the craft, realize you probably won’t be rich, and have a burning desire to share your stories with the world.
Do you have some links for us to follow you?
Book link for my latest March 11 release:
https://mybook.to/legacyofboonewilson
Links:
Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy: Rambling and Writing (blog)
https://leeannsontheimer.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/leeann.sontheimermurphy/
World Castle author page:
https://www.worldcastlepublishing.net/lee-ann-sontheimer-murphy
Evernight author page:
https://www.evernightpublishing.com/lee-ann-sontheimer-murphy/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leeannsontheimer/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/leeannwriter/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-ann-sontheimer-murphy-a753a422/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leeannwriter
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa11tpg_gGG80lh6uR-dNUw
Other:
Audible:
https://www.audible.com/author/Lee-Ann-Sontheimer-Murphy/B004JPBM6I
https://allauthor.com/author/leeannauthor/
https://www.waterstones.com/author/lee-ann-sontheimer-murphy/2236830
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The new books looks interesting. It may have to join my packed TBR on the kindle!
ReplyDeleteThanks!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for an interesting interview, Lee Ann and Carol. You certainly are a prolific writer, Lee Ann. As a fellow writer, many of your comments clicked with me, for instance, your cure for writers’ block. Best wishes, Meryl Brown Tobin, romantic suspense author
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carol.
ReplyDelete