Dru Ann Love: Reviewer, Influencer, AND Writer!

 

HALLIE EPHRON: Dru Ann Love... she modestly calls the mystery book review blogs she writes “dru’s book musings,” and she’s a gift to the mystery writer community. She’s also one of the most flat-out nice people you’ll ever have the good fortune to meet.

Now she’s getting a taste of what it’s like to WRITE mysteries, co-authoring a short story with another mystery book reviewer, Kristopher Zgorski. Their story, TICKET TO RIDE (you can read it here), won the Agatha Award for Best Short Story and is an Anthony Award and Macavity Award finalist.

What a way to start!

Today Dru Ann joins us on Jungle Red to share what the transition has been like for her, from a reader/influencer/reviewer of mysteries to writing one. I'm so happy to welcome her to the neurotic world of the aspiring writer.

DRU ANN LOVE: Thank you!

How did this all start?

I’ve always been a reader. I’ve read since early childhood, whether it was picture books graduating to books with words to the back of a cereal box and more. I enjoyed the written words and the stories the authors were entertaining me with.

As an adult, reading became an escape from the world and kept me engaged with something positive because at the end of the book I was reading, justice would usually prevail.

The more books I read, it became harder to remember which books I read until I read the first chapter and said to myself “I read this one already” and that’s when I created my online journal which morphed into the blog as you know it today, dru’s book musings. I’ve added three features: “A Day In The Life,” “Get To Know You,” and “Word With The Author” as well as weekly and monthly book releases and very, very short musings.

The blog gained traction and as a result, I became an “author champion,” a “book advocate,” or you may say an “influencer,” something I really didn’t aspire to. That just happened due to my love of books, reading, and attending reader/fan conventions. For example, my blog has been nominated for an Anthony Award twice, and I received the MWA Raven Award.

All the while, declaring myself a non-writer. I really had no desire to write. None whatsoever. I was very adamant about that until an editor approached Kristopher Zgorski from BOLO Books and I, asking us to collaborate on a short story for an upcoming Beatles anthology.

To say I was surprised, anxious, nervous, and whatever other emotions were running in my head, Kris and I decided to go for it.

So, unbeknownst to me, I became an aspiring writer, that is until our story was accepted and then yes (a big smile on my face), our story was published.

And the biggest thing that could happen to a first-time published author is being a finalist for the top writing awards—the Agatha (given out at the Malice Domestic Convention), the Anthony (given out at Bouchercon), and the Macavity (presented during Bouchercon’s opening ceremonies).

Being nominated was honor enough, but guess what, WE WON the Agatha Award, and we’ll find out the results of the other two nominations at Bouchercon.

During this whole process, I now better understood when the author talk about writing their books, editing their books, critiquing their book, being on deadline with their book, waiting for the book to hit the shelves, and then waiting for those reviews.

I understand and I think the transition from being a blogger (I still am) to being a writer went rather smoothly, despite a few hiccups along the way. Did you know we had to rewrite the story, changing it from third person to first person? Or that we got some notes suggesting that we add more crime to the story?

And let’s not forget all the precious words we had to cut even though we liked them, but they didn’t add to the story). So yes, I understand it all.

I am often asked if I would write another short story, and I think I would, but probably only in collaboration with another author. However, I did write a flash short story (under 550 words) all by myself and have submitted it to three publishers! So yes, now I know the submission side of writing, as well. I got one very nice rejection and am still waiting from the others.

HALLIE: Ah, rejections... They're the building blocks of a great career. I saved all of mine and I quote from them when I give talks. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger... or at least it can make you laugh.

Dru Ann will be checking in today so please ask her about her writing, her reviewing, what she's reading, what it's like to be an "influencer" ...