Gail Pallotta Interview

Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.
A. I grew up at the foothills of the North Carolina Mountains, the granddaughter of a minister who started churches in those and surrounding hills. Even though I love my mountaineer heritage, I’m a beach bum at heart. If I could live anywhere I’d choose Destin, Florida. I’m grateful for God’s many blessings, including my wonderful church.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
A. I’ve made up stories for as long as I can remember, but considered it a hobby until I enrolled in a creative writing course in college. Even though I’d always wanted to write a novel, I learned I could make a living as an editor or copywriter, so that’s what I did for many years. When my husband semi-retired and my daughter left for college, I started working on a book.

Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break?
A. Out of college I applied for a job in the public relations office of a large insurance company. The head of the department hired me to answer the phone, but told me he would consider giving me a try as a writer. I worked there three months, and one day he laid a press release on my desk and said, “If you can follow this and write a piece about our salesman of the month, I’ll promote you.”
I did, and that led to working on the company magazine and newsletter as well as handling the press releases. It also paved the way for me to write freelance articles in my spare time after I married and helped my husband with his business. When I remember that period of my life, I think of stirring gravy while holding the phone and interviewing someone for an article.
When our daughter left for college, I dabbled in writing a book, but didn’t seriously work on one until I joined American Christian Fiction Writers.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release Hair Calamities and Hot Cash?
A: Cynthia Hickey, author of the Shady Acres Mystery Series, says it’s “A comedic romp from small town to big city in search of missing money, hair catastrophes, and love…”
A New York stockbroker crashes his car into Eve Castleberry’s North Carolina beauty shop…on the same day the young widow’s defective hair products are causing wild hairdos. Soon Eve finds herself helping the handsome stranger hunt the thieves who stole his client’s cash…and hot on the trail of two of the F.B.I.’s most-wanted criminals! Romance blossoms amid danger, suspense and Eve’s hair-brained plan to get back the money.

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.
A. I grew up at the foothills of the North Carolina Mountains, the granddaughter of a minister who started churches in those and surrounding hills. Even though I love my mountaineer heritage, I’m a beach bum at heart. If I could live anywhere I’d choose Destin, Florida. I’m grateful for God’s many blessings, including my wonderful church.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
A. I’ve made up stories for as long as I can remember, but considered it a hobby until I enrolled in a creative writing course in college. Even though I’d always wanted to write a novel, I learned I could make a living as an editor or copywriter, so that’s what I did for many years. When my husband semi-retired and my daughter left for college, I started working on a book.

Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break?
A. Out of college I applied for a job in the public relations office of a large insurance company. The head of the department hired me to answer the phone, but told me he would consider giving me a try as a writer. I worked there three months, and one day he laid a press release on my desk and said, “If you can follow this and write a piece about our salesman of the month, I’ll promote you.”
I did, and that led to working on the company magazine and newsletter as well as handling the press releases. It also paved the way for me to write freelance articles in my spare time after I married and helped my husband with his business. When I remember that period of my life, I think of stirring gravy while holding the phone and interviewing someone for an article.
When our daughter left for college, I dabbled in writing a book, but didn’t seriously work on one until I joined American Christian Fiction Writers.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release Hair Calamities and Hot Cash?
A: Cynthia Hickey, author of the Shady Acres Mystery Series, says it’s “A comedic romp from small town to big city in search of missing money, hair catastrophes, and love…”
A New York stockbroker crashes his car into Eve Castleberry’s North Carolina beauty shop…on the same day the young widow’s defective hair products are causing wild hairdos. Soon Eve finds herself helping the handsome stranger hunt the thieves who stole his client’s cash…and hot on the trail of two of the F.B.I.’s most-wanted criminals! Romance blossoms amid danger, suspense and Eve’s hair-brained plan to get back the money.

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for Hair Calamities and Hot Cash?
A: My mother’s beauty shop inspired Hair Calamities and Hot Cash. Her customers in the small town where I grew up discussed life’s milestones, employers, illnesses and hard times while hair flew. Triville, the fictitious community in Hair Calamities and Hot Cash, takes on the town’s ambiance. The residents treated every sickness with casserole dishes and offered helping hands in times of need. They squabbled, broke confidences, offended, and irritated one another. They had close friends, acquaintances and folks they avoided, but they respected each other and stuck together. In the event of a crisis everyone came to the rescue of the unfortunate family whether they were close friends, acquaintances or someone to avoid. They were one of God’s children to be honored and cared for. I wanted to recreate that spirit of community in Hair Calamities and Hot Cash.

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?
A: That it was fun to read with lots of interesting characters who cared about one another, loved God and loved their neighbors.

Q: What inspires you to write?
A. In general, it’s something I’ve always enjoyed and wanted to do. Specifically, things that happen around me and how they affect people interest me.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?
A. I’m working on a romantic suspense. Also, also set in the North Carolina Mountains, it tells the story of a woman who’s assaulted and ends up moving to her mother’s hometown. She faces cut-throat opposition, including vandalism, to her new business, finds a dead body at the doorstep and learns some unsettling family secrets.