I recently had an amazing opportunity to interview cozy mystery author, VS Gardner. She is the author of three page-turning cozy mysteries: A Killing on Hardee Street, A Brick To Remember, and The Forgotten Home.
I asked VS questions about her experiences as a writer and to take a deep-dive into what it’s like for VS to be an author, and how it has affected her life. Read on to learn about her experiences of being an author, which can help those who are looking into this career path.
How did you get into writing?
VS: I have loved to play with words since I was a child. I started rhyming, just for fun, before I was even 10 years old so I guess that’s when I first got into writing. I’ve been saving my poems since I was about twelve. That is also when I started journaling. In 9th grade, my English teacher gave us a creative writing assignment. When mine was returned she had written positive comments all over it. On the last page, she wrote, “You should have this published.” I had no idea how to do that but her encouragement added fuel to the small ember already inside me. After publishing my first book, I searched for 3 months before finding an address for that teacher. I sent her my book and we’ve stayed in touch since.
Who are some of your influencers?
VS: Reading hugely influences writing and two people influenced me as a reader. Getting Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House book collection as a gift during childhood greatly fueled my love of reading. Corrie Ten Boom deeply impacted my life. At fifteen years old I read The Hiding Place, an autobiography about her family’s experience during the Holocaust. That eye-opening read both challenged and inspired me. From then on, I read everything I could that she authored.
What inspired your first book?
VS: A friend’s joke, my husband’s remark and a new house built in our neighborhood inspired my first book. For years I’ve been falling asleep while typing in my journal. As a result, the last five or six sentences of my entries don’t make sense. I have come to refer to this as sleep typing. While telling a friend about it she joked that I should write a book where a crime is committed and clues are hidden in someone’s sleep typing. We laughed. Later, when thinking over that conversation, my desire to write a book was reawakened. A few days later I told my husband (an avid reader) I was thinking about writing a book. He remarked, “You’ve gotta catch ‘em in the first chapter.” I thought about all of this over the next several weeks while enjoying my morning coffee and watching a new home construction in our neighborhood. Two weeks later I wrote the first chapter of A Killing on Hardee Street. I used a photograph of my rocking chair on the back patio of our home for the cover of that book. The sleep typing storyline wasn’t used in that novel but it was in my second, A Brick to Remember.
Do you have a writing routine?
VS: I do not have a set writing routine. My method is to chew on an idea until it takes shape. Once I seem to have a bit of direction I sit down and begin to type. At this point, the story flows out of me. Sometimes I write a chapter or 2. Sometimes I write 7 or 8 chapters. I may write every day for a week. I may not write again for several days. I follow this pattern until the story is told. When I am not writing a book, I write daily journal entries and poetry.
What was it like to meet a stranger who read your book for the first time?
VS: The first time I met a stranger who had read my book it was very exciting!! While buying some items at a yard sale I did what I usually do, I asked if she enjoyed reading and offered her my business card. Glancing at the card she excitedly exclaimed, “You’re VS Gardner? I love your book!” Of course, we then talked about where she found my book and what she liked about it. I happily answered her questions and thoroughly enjoyed getting her feedback. It was fun!
Do you have any authors who inspire you and/or your books? If so, who and how?
VS: My daughter recommended the book The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah and I loved it. Her descriptive writing was so vivid I could picture the entire story. This prompted me to read more of her books. While some of her stories weren’t as enjoyable, I loved The Four Winds and The Nightingale. She obviously does the needed research and is an excellent descriptive writer. Between my first and second books, I studied how she writes dialogue. Her writing has certainly inspired me to continue improving as a writer. Also, I’ve been honored to have a reader compare my writing to Nicholas Sparks. I’ve read many of his books through the years. His storytelling and writing ability both inspire me.
What is your favorite part about being a writer?
VS: My favorite part about being a writer is the people I get to interact with as a result. I want my writing to uplift and encourage people. It makes me happy to have readers say they get to know and love the characters I write. I love hearing that readers who have experienced grief relate to how Vonda (the main character) feels and how her grief comes and goes in waves. I enjoy knowing whether or not a reader figured out who was behind it all and solved the mystery or whether they were taken by surprise. I enjoy meeting people from all walks of life and especially like talking with readers. Getting a message or email from a reader is the best! Having readers post reviews on my Facebook Author page or Amazon and Goodreads makes my day! Those who love my stories inspire me to keep writing.
I want to thank VS for taking the time to answer these questions. If you want to learn more about VS Gardner, she is currently switching genres temporarily, with the publication of her poetry book titled Vanessa’s Reflections. It will be published before the end of this year as soon as the book cover is completed. She is also writing her fourth mystery, which isn’t titled yet, but wants to publish it in 2025. Interested readers can find her books and connect with her by following or friending her on her Facebook Author Page, or explore her books and follow her on her Amazon page.
