FAQs : Carla Neggers

Will there be more in the Sharpe and Donovan series?

Yes! I’m working hard on getting Return to Declan’s Cross (tentative title) in readers’ hands soon. Just dotting some i’s and crossing some t’s and getting my ducks in a row and my horses before their carts. Stay tuned!

What about Swift River Valley novels? Any new titles in the works?

I have another Christmas story in mind but I haven’t written a word yet. See above about i’s, t’s, ducks and horses.

Does “Grit” Taylor in the Black Falls series have his own story?

Grit, a favorite with readers, is featured in my short story “Cold Moonlight.” I wrote it for the International Writers organization anthology Love Is Murder, edited by Sandra Brown. It’s now available individually. He was meant to have his his own book but it didn’t happen.

What are your connected books in order?

You can find the list here. Note: not all my connected books started out with names—they were added later—and some are more loosely connected than others. The way it works sometimes!

What advice do you have for new writers?

Persevere. Believe me, I know how difficult it can be to deal with rejection, disappointing sales and scathing reviews. I don’t know any author who hasn’t had to deal with them. What I fall back on is my love of writing.

Why can’t I find some of your books in print?

These days an author’s backlist often lives in eBook and audio. If I have the print rights, I do my best to make a print option available. I have to say, though, as partial as I am to print, I’ve come to love my e-reader for the immersion experience, the convenience, the availability of especially of backlist books and the deals. I love a deal.

How long does it take you to write a book?

It depends on the book. There’s “thinking” time and there’s actual writing time. I’ve written books that percolated for months if not years and others that popped up and I wrote in a whoosh. Generally I find it’s best if I get the story down quickly and not overthink it.

Do you always finish writing a book once you’ve started? Any abandoned stories in your files?

I almost always finish what I start, but I do have a few “unfinished” stories in my files. For the most part, they led to other stories that worked better for me at the time, but one in particular I might dig back into someday. Or not.