Leeann Betts Interview

Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.
A. I work from home, sitting across a desk from my husband, who is a computer programmer. We’ve been married 20 years, and we met on the internet. I’m a Canadian by birth, but I’m a full-blooded American by choice.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
A. For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved reading and writing. In 2002, I wondered if I had at least one book in me. I joined National Novel Writing Month, and wrote the first draft of the first book in this cozy mystery series. I had no idea what I was doing, so I wrote myself into a corner because I didn’t know whodunit.

Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break?
A. Let’s see: Kindergarten—learned how to spell my name; second grade—learned how to read; sixth grade—aced the SRA reading program; 11th grade—won an honorary mention in a national writing contest for a short story; age 44—wrote my first novel; age 47—met an editor at a writing conference who wanted me to write a devotional book; age 52—got an agent; age 53—got dumped by said agent; age 53—got picked up by another agent; age 55—published first book in cozy mystery series. As you can see, a series of ups and downs and ups.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release Missing Deposits?
A: When a rancher discovers copper on his property, he learns that mining can be dangerous business. Can Mike and Carly figure out who the killer is, or will they end up buried in an unmarked grave in western Colorado?

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for Missing Deposits?
A: I already had the story idea, because I’m a plotter, so I always had way more story ideas for this series than I figured there would be books. But I wanted a story set in Colorado so I could enter some writing contests that require the story be set in the state.

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?
A: That our journey to faith is not an overnight success. Sometimes there are many pit stops along the way.

Q: What inspires you to write?
A. The stories that fill my head and the characters in them that scream to be let out.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?
A. Coming up with another cozy mystery series. Can’t decide if it will be set in one place, like a bookstore, or with a wacky kind of protagonist, like a traveling dog groomer, or a fugitive on the run from an unrighteous conviction.

Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do?
A. Read. Binge watch crime shows. Particularly British, Australian, or New Zealand police drama.