Pump Up Chats with Jean Henry Mead

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Jean Henry Mead photo

Jean Henry Mead is a mystery/suspense and western historical novelist. She’s also an award-winning photojournalist. One of her fortes is interviewing writers, actors, politicians, artists and ordinary people who have accomplished extraordinary things. She began her writing career as a California news reporter/editor/photographer, first in Central California and later in San Diego. Mead then transferred to Casper, Wyoming, to serve as a staff writer for the statewide newspaper. While there she served as editor of In Wyoming Magazine and two small presses. She also freelanced for other magazines, both domestically and abroad, among them the Denver Post’s Empire Magazine. Her first book was published in 1981. She’s since published thirteen novels and nonfiction books.

She currently writes the Hamilton Kids children’s mystery series as well as the Logan & Cafferty mystery/suspense series. Her latest release in the Logan & Cafferty series is Murder on the Interstate.

Visit Jean online at www.jeanhenrymead.com. She blogs at:

http://mysteriouspeople.blogspot.com/

http://writersofthewest.blogspot.com/

http://murderousmusings.blogspot.com/

http://makeminemystery.blogspot.com/

She is also on Facebook and Twitter.

On Murder on the Interstate

Q: Can you tell us why you wrote your book?

It’s the third book in the Logan & Cafferty mystery/suspense series and I wanted to use my experience derived from driving a motorhome in the mountains west of Flagstaff, Arizona, when I talked to truckers along 1-40 on my CB radio during heavy road construction of 1-40 as well as a heavy downpour. It seemed like a good setting for another mystery/suspense novel.

Q: Which part of the book was the hardest to write?

The part about terrorists’ activities. I conducted a lot of research and watched hidden camera videos about known terrorists coming across the border with Mexican nationals. I also read about Phoenix, the kidnap capital and learned that an average five murders are committed there every week. So I incorporated those facts into the book along with homegrown terrorism.

Q: Does your book have an underlying message that readers should know about?

Our nation is being infiltrated with terrorists determined to destroy this country.

On Writing

Q: Do you remember when the writing bug hit?

I wrote my first novel at 9, so I was interested in writing at an early age, but I had other interests as well, such as art, photography, dance and boys, so I didn’t publish until high school when I wrote for my high school newspaper.

Q: What’s the most frustrating thing about becoming a published author and what’s the most rewarding?

Aiming too high with your first book can be frustrating. I was fortunate that Pruett Publishing in Boulder, Colorado, a regional publisher, accepted my first book as well as my second. Both were nonfiction books. If I had submitted that first book to a large publisher, I have no doubt it would have been rejected because it had limited appeal.

The most rewarding, other than holding that first book in my hands, was a nice blurb from bestselling mystery writer Carolyn Hart for my latest release, Murder on the Interstate.

Q: Do you have a writing tip you’d like to share?

Read widely in various genres and study the styles of both successful and unsuccessful writers to learn how to write and how not to write.

On Family and Home:

Q: Would you like to tell us about your home life? Where you live? Family? Pets?

My husband and I live in the Laramie Mountains on a small retirement ranch and plan to spend several months during the winter in our RV in southern California, where I spent my formative years. Our family has grown up and gone elsewhere so we spoil our beautiful Australian Shepherd, who resembles a wolf.

Q: Where’s your favorite place to write at home?

I write at my computer desk in a spare bedroom that has been converted into a home office. While traveling in our RV, I use a laptop Dell with all the bells and whistles on a fold-up desk.

Q: What do you do to get away from it all?

I ride in the mountains near where we live with my husband on our four-wheelers. We pack a picnic lunch and our cameras to take pictures of wildlife and some beautiful scenery.

On Childhood:

Q: Were you the kind of child who always had a book in her hand?

Yes. I’d visit the local library on Saturdays and come home with an armload of books.

Q: Can you remember your favorite book?

Little Women and Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott. I still have the tattered copies in my home library.

On Book Promotion:

Q: What was the first thing you did as far as promoting your book?

I promoted it on Facebook and Twitter as well as various online forums.

Q: Are you familiar with the social networks and do you actively participate?

I’m active in a number of social networks and I’m a member of six writer’s forums.

Q: How do you think book promotion has changed over the years?

I used to drive all over the state for autograph parties but rarely do that anymore. I much prefer promoting my books online at home in my pajamas.

On Other Fun Stuff:

Q: If you had one wish, what would that be?

That’s a difficult question. Other than wishing for world peace, I’d probably wish for at least one bestselling book.

Q: If you could be anywhere in the world other than where you are right now, where would that place be?

There’s no place on earth I’d rather be than right here in the United States.

Q: Your book has just been awarded a Pulitzer. Who would you thank?

God, my family for passing down my writing talent, my readers and whomever nominated me. I’d also thank the Pulitzer committee.

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Jennifer Chase, FLOWERS ON HER GRAVE

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Miri Leshem-Pelly, SCRIBBLE & AUTHOR

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Bacon Press Books

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Lauren Carr, Best-Selling Mystery Author of Mac Faraday, and Lovers in Crime, Mysteries

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Question of the Day

How do you make sales happen for you?

A lot of hard work! I sponsor a lot of on line parties, festivals and contests. Book sales don’t magically happen, believe me. An author has to work hard to earn her readers. And then she has to work hard to keep them by giving them something they’ll enjoy reading. I try hard to make my books worth a reader’s time.

-- Sheila Roberts, Author of Winter at the Beach