Interview with Mystery Author Malissa Chapin and a Giveaway!

Welcome to Readers Write to Know! I asked you, my readers, what questions they would ask their favorite authors if given the chance, and the authors visiting my blog answered them! This week, I have mystery author Malissa Chapin as my guest. I very much enjoyed this interview and loved reading about how close her family obviously is. Malissa is giving away a copy of her latest release, so read on to see how you can enter to win!

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am a single mom of two boys–one at home. I homeschool, teach piano at the local music store, and write. I am also a trained domestic violence advocate. I love to knit, read, play the piano, and spend time with family and friends.

Tell us about your current release.

The Piper Haydn Piano mystery series features a piano teacher–Piper Haydn–and her quirky vintage-loving sidekick–Roosevelt (aka Rosie) Hale. Murder Goes Flying is book #4. Piper’s brother has purchased a vintage airplane to fly to the airshow in Oshkosh, WI. Piper doesn’t want to solve another mystery, but she can’t avoid this one.

How do you push past the fear of your writing being average and be bold enough to sell it to a publisher (or agent, or audience if you self publish)?

My mom was my biggest cheerleader for my dreams to write someday. When she passed away in 2020, I realized that my someday would never come if I didn’t get started. Releasing my first novel–The Road Home–definitely made me push past my fears.

How did you make the initial step into writing your first novel? What were some of your major roadblocks, and how did you overcome them?

I didn’t start writing a dual timeline novel, but changed it to one and that was a pain. Reworking that took a long time and I vowed to never do that to myself again. I kept at it. Money to self publish is another roadblock, but God has made it happen every time.

Do you talk out plot lines with others, and if so, who?

Yes. My siblings first. My brother and sisters are all teachers, ministry workers, a librarian, and musicians, and we all come from the same storytelling family. They don’t let me get away with bad writing or botched details. I also have a group of about 12 people I call my “alpha readers.” They read before it is ready and critique and help. I also brainstorm with them.

How hard is it to come up with names for your characters? What are some of the sources you use?

I have a list of names on my phone. I ask my followers for name suggestions based on the character’s age or location. I read baby name lists. I search for names online in cemeteries in the area where I’m writing the story.

Which of your characters most reflects your personality?

I am a pianist–like Piper Haydn. I love vintage–like Rosie and like Cadence (The Road Home). But none of them are me.

What do you think is lacking in Christian Fiction?

Novels that handle gritty subjects without tying all the loose ends into an “everything turned out great” bow.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

Read a lot. Be willing to take advice. Keep all of your writing even if you don’t use it in your current project. Don’t allow yourself to have hurt feelings when those farther along the writing journey give advice or constructive criticism about your work or book cover. Everyone needs an editor. Call yourself a writer or author and act like one. Write!

Find Malissa Chapin online:

Website: shopmalissachapin.com
Blog: Malissa Chapin, Author
Amazon author page: Malissa Chapin on Amazon
BookBub: BookBub
Goodreads: Goodreads
Facebook: @malissachapinwrites
Instagram: @malissachapin_author
Pinterest: Pinterest
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