When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I think I was
about 12 years old. I remember very clearly taking a train trip
from Washington D.C. to New York City and I deciding to start a story about Paul
McCartney; I was totally infatuated with him at the time. It was a romance of
sorts—Paul as a man smitten and myself as the object of his desire—and dragged
on for some 40 pages (it was a long train ride). It was truly horrible. After
much consideration, I wisely opted not to submit it to Seventeen
Magazine.
What genre do you write and why?
I write both
mysteries and psychological thrillers. My first book, Hunter Huntress (Snowbooks, UK, 2010) was a bit of both. No idea
why I’m attracted to the genre, probably something about the sudden plot twists and red herrings I find
popping up in my work. I’ve been known to incorporate bits of the paranormal
and historical fiction in there as well.
Tell us about your latest book.
Reese’s Leap (Maine Authors Publishing, 2013) is the second in my
Maine Island Mystery Series. The books all feature the bachelor botanist Gil
Hodges who has a bit of a problem with impulse control when it comes to women
and alcohol. In this story, five high-powered
women enjoying a remote all-female retreat are forced to host host him when
he’s unexpectedly standed in thick as fog. When a diabolical stranger appears
out of nowhere bent on a twisted and brutal revenge, Gil has to put everything
on the line to save them, even as he knows not everyone will make it off the
island alive.
What marketing methods are you using to promote your
book?
A
self-sponsored book tour, blog tours, and I social network everything to death.
I run free promotions from time to time. I also put the postcard of another
book in the series inside each book I sell.
What formats is the book available in?
Softcover
and all e-formats.
You mean
besides reading everything I can get my hands on? I’m a liveaboard sailor from
May through October, during which time my husband and I do a lot of sailing
along the Maine coast where the island mysteries are set. This summer we’re
building a house, as well, so it’s all pretty crazy.
Who are your favourite authors?
I read everything by Dennis Lehane. I
especially like his Kenzie & Gennaro mysteries;
he never misses a beat with dialog. I also love the British mystery writer,
Sophie Hannah and Tana French for her evocation of the Irish crime scene.
What advice do you have for other writers?
You won’t
stand a chance in today’s market if you don’t have an insane belief in yourself.
My first novel, Hunter Huntress, was
rejected by over 40 publishers before Snowbooks took it on. You have to have a
thick skin and the attitude that every “no” gets you closer to “yes.”
You also
need to realize that no matter who your publisher is, chances are you’re going
to be doing most of your book’s marketing yourself. Write your own press
releases, arrange your own appearances—all that. It’s important to educate
yourself early in the process, so you can hit the ground running.
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| Darcy at helm |
What's your favourite quote about writing?
I’m always discovering great new
ones! My latest favorite is by Aristotle, “Character is action.” Dennis Lehane used
this in a terrific article he wrote for The
Writer in January, 2000, though he believes that character is not merely
the action, it is the single most important element in creating story. It’s a
wonderful article: http://www.iw.net/~nnburk/bcresources/lehane.htm .
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| Darcy Soctt |
What's the best thing about being a writer?
For me it’s
two things. The first is getting lost in worlds of my own creation, the
challenge of making them not only realistic but compelling to the reader. My
second favorite thing is talking about them, and about writing in general. I
come away from every appearance, every reading feeling completely jazzed—whether
there were 10 or 50 people there.
Where can people find out more about you and your
writing?
My website:
www.DarcyScott.net, where they can also email me directly if they have
questions, and also on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/Author.Darcy.Scott
