Welcome Peg Herring!

Today we have the the very talented Peg Herring with us. She has a novel coming out very soon with Red Rose and at the end, you'll have a chance to win a copy of it. So welcome Peg.

1: Welcome Peg. Thanks for being here. When did you first begin writing?

When I look back, I was always writing, but it was for something: a poem for someone’s retirement, a skit for my students, a short story for myself. As the drama director for the high school where I taught, I could never find plays with large (30+) casts, mostly female roles, and what the kids called “good” parts: eccentric, fun-to-play characters. when I wrote a play for the group one year, quite a few people said, “You should publish that.” I sent it to three publishers, and two of them wanted it. “Wow!” I thought, “This writing thing is easy!” Little did I know it would take three years to publish my next play and six years to publish my first novel.


2: What inspired you to write?

Wanting to entertain, I think. I love the idea of getting people’s interest, and I am thrilled when someone says, “That was great!” or “I couldn’t put it down!” Still, I think I’d write even if no one read my work. I like putting a story together and making everything work.


3: What are you currently working on?

I write mostly mysteries, and my WIP is a modern-day story with an intriguing protagonist, unique enough that I’m keeping her a secret until I see if she and I can tell a story together. It’s about two-thirds done, and I really like it so far.

4: What do you for fun and relaxation when not writing?

I read a lot. My husband and I love to travel, both inside the U.S. and out. In summer, we have a large garden, although we’re lucky if the elk, deer, rabbits, and birds don’t get more than we do. Music is a big part of my life, and I direct two choirs.

5: Are there any authors you like to read?

Tons! In mystery I read in most of the subgenres and particularly like Lee Child, Laura Lippman, Kent Krueger, Craig Johnson…oh, I can’t name them all.
As to other genres, I like historical novels, usually the big ones by authors like Edward Rutherford, Margaret George, and M.M. Kaye. I love Margaret Atwood, Anne Tyler, Barbara Kingsolver, Kurt Vonnegut… There I go again. I have no favorites, just lots of beloved books.


6: What, if anything, are you currently reading?
Laurie King’s The Art of Detection. I love her Sherlock and Mary books, so I’m branching out.


7: Do you have any tips for aspiring authors?

Persist. You can’t give up. You can’t let yourself think you’re not good enough. You can’t give yourself time limits. It will happen or it won’t, but if you give up, it can’t happen.

8: What’s the one place you would most like to visit?

Australia is high on my list, although I’ll go just about anywhere. And I always long to go back to Britain one more time.


9: On April 1st your debut novel with RRP will be released. Can you tell us a bit about Go Home And Die?

Carrie Walsh, a somewhat dowdy, rather prim young woman, witnesses a murder that changes her life. As she tries to help private detective Jack Porter discover who killed his partner, she faces danger, some disturbing truths about herself, and the surprising secrets Jack brought home from his tour of duty in Vietnam.


If you’d like to win a copy of Go Home and Die, post a comment on today’s blog. We’ll draw a name on the Red Rose release date and notify the lucky winner!