Below is a quick interview with Amazon Breakthrough Novelist of the Year, Judi Coltman.
Tough question, but describe your books in 5 words:
Real Life Shredded By Evil
How long have you been a writer and what inspired you to become an author:
I’ve written professionally for twenty years for newspapers, magazines and within other industries. I was inspired to become an author at a very young age, 14. I did not act until I was in my late 40s – the impetus being a forced professional change. It was a gift, in retrospect, because it was the push I needed.
My stories come from my life experiences that I file under, “You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up”. Thus, the thrillers were born from true events. The settings are authentic to the stories and often become part of the character of the book. My last thriller, “No Such Thing” is rooted in the very real abductions and murders of children in the area where I grew up. I was at ground zero for the last victim, Tim King, and that has had an unending effect on me even almost 40 years later. The fictionalized tale I tell was the only way I could bring these unsolved killings forward and keep them in the public eye. I am proud to say it was an Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter Finalist in 2012. We can never forget.
What is “Is it Just Me or Is Everyone a Little Nuts” about: Really? A departure from the mystery thriller genre, “Is it Just me. . .” is a compilation of essays from my blog. Writer me is deep, dark and daring, real me thrives on the humor in everyday life. That book was the “dipping my big toe” in the publishing game book. It did quite well, making Amazon’s Hot New Releases as well as the Top 10 in Humor.
What other authors would you compare your books to:
I think that’s a tough question. I suppose it’s a cop out but I find it a little to boastful to compare myself to anyone. I let my readers make that decision. Give me a break though, I did the 5 word challenge above and that was just as painful!
What’s the plan for the rest of 2014:
Well, we had some major life events occur over this past year. We sold 35 years worth of belongings as well our house a year ago and moved from the midwest to the west coast. We also be came grandparents! I’ve spent the better part of this year just trying to find my fit in life here; a daunting task after 35 years in one small town in Illinois. So, my plan for the rest of 2014 is to start percolating story ideas and face 2015 with renewed vigor.
Thanks, Chris!
Here is a link to all of Judi’s books. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_7?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=judi+coltman&sprefix=judi+co%2Caps%2C262
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