Author Interview – Sunny Benson

3:00 AM | Labels: Authors

How has your upbringing influenced your writing? I grew up in a blue collar, middle class family in the Fargo, North Dakota metro area. The protagonist in my mystery series possesses a similar upbringing and resides in the same setting. I’m a computer scientist with degrees in computer science, biology, and chemistry, so I gave my protagonist a background in chemistry and computer science to enable me to integrate those subjects into storylines.

When and why did you begin writing? I started writing a decade ago, when I needed a break from reading. Many authors would probably concur that the functioning of the subconscious mind while writing is fascinating. My favorite part of writing occurs when the story takes a twist my conscious mind doesn’t see coming.

What genre are you most comfortable writing? I enjoy reading and writing fast-paced mysteries with a humorous bent. I especially delight in plotting out interweaving mysteries and endeavor to surprise the readers with the associated twists.

Who or what influenced your writing over the years? Authors who charmed me with their quirky characters and wacky stories, including Kim Harrison, Janet Evanovich, and Sarah Strohmeyer.

What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general? Keeping impatience at bay. I get so excited to see where the story will take me, it’s sometimes hard to slow down and describe the small details that may not be critical to the plot, such as the internal emotional state of the characters or the environment. I realize the importance of those details to the reader, but it’s an area for improvement.

Did writing this book teach you anything and what was it? Persistence in proofreading and editing. The process of proofreading and editing a book takes far more time and effort than I ever imagined.

Have you developed a specific writing style? My stories tend to be quirky, fast-paced, and dialog heavy.