BEING FRANK with Donna Earnhardt

                                     Interview by E. E. Kennedy 

I first met author Donna Earnhardt when she came to speak to a writers’

group and enchanted us with her bubbly personality and her charming, funny children’s book, Being Frank. Now, I learn that this award-winning author is currently writing her first cozy mystery!

SS: Donna, when did you first start writing?

I first discovered my love of writing in elementary school. I loved poetry, mysteries, sci-fi, and stories that were just kind of "weird." 

SS: Please tell us a little about how you came to write Being Frank. Is he based on a real person?

 Frank is not a real person, but rather a mixture of everyone I've ever known who are a bit "frank" -- including my hubby. One of the lines in the book is a direct quote from one of our conversations. The character is named, however, after my Dad. His first name was Frank! 

SS: The book is so cheerfully and colorfully illustrated. Were they able to capture your vision of Frank’s story? 

Andrea Castellani did such a wonderful job - much better than anything my non-illustrator brain came up with! His vision for Being Frank sprung to life on the page and blew me away.  

SS: I know you’re a busy mom, who homeschools three daughters. (How do you find the time? I’m asking for a friend.) Is your family supportive of your writing? Are you nurturing a future writer or two?

My oldest daughter graduated from our homeschool two years ago and works multiple jobs, including her pursuing her own photography business (just turned 21).and our middle girl just started dual enrollment this year at RCCC after being homeschooled her entire school career. They are both rocking their new "ventures"! That leaves my youngest girl at home as the only one that I'm currently homeschooling. It is definitely an adjustment... but we love it. Lots of hands-on activities and time to focus on the things she needs to focus on the most.

The entire family supports me 100%/ They consistently ask me when I'm going to finish some of the stories I've been writing for a while! 

I can honestly say that we have tried to nurture their artistic gifts, whatever form they happened to take. All three are great artists and have music in their blood. The one who has the most outward signs of being a writer has to be our middle daughter. She's been writing for a long time, but it has really exploded since she hit her teen years (she just turned 16). We love hearing her stories, rhyming and free-verse poetry, and especially her spoken word poetry. We look forward to seeing how all of their gifts impact and bless the world around them! 

 SS: On your website, WordwranglerNC.wordpress.com, you share insights from your Christian faith. Tell us about how that impacts your life and your writing. 

God's love for me is more than I can fathom... and it is more beautiful and mysterious than anything I can ever write. But I believe that God gives us all gifts. He also gives us a responsibility to share those gifts with the world to make it a more beautiful place and leave His mark of love on it. So when I write, even if it is a goofy poem, a children's book, or a murder mystery - I believe that it can be a gateway for me to share God's love with others. 

SS: You’re changing genres. What inspired you to write a mystery?

I started writing a murder mystery over 15 years ago. I really enjoyed it. But... I wrote myself into a corner. I tried to get over my writer's block by working on my other stories - picture books. But in the last year or so, I've come back to writing mysteries. I'm planning to finish the first one I started way back when... but I am currently working on a new one and really excited about it!  

SS: Can you tell us a little bit about the story of this new book? Sort of an elevator pitch, so to speak? 

Honestly? I'm terrible with elevator pitches! So I hope this little bit is enough: 

The working title is The Garden Gnome Murders. Molly Flynn has been writing about murders since she lost her detective job in the smallish NC city she's always called home. And when she broke off her engagement to Mason Gareth (the medical examiner), she poured her savings, energy, and grief into the cafe/bookstore she bought with her sister, Lucy. But when Molly finds the Mayor's dead body in the community garden, and his daughter Elena, is named as the main suspect, Molly finds herself teamed up with Mason to find the real murderer and free her best friend. 

SS: I’ve heard it said that writing for adults is easier than writing for children. Have you found this to be true?

I think writing for adults and children are equally has hard -- both have their own set of challenges, just different. One thing that I'm still getting used to? Outlines! I'm not used to writing them for my picture books, so it has been a challenge to become more of a "plotter" and less "Pantster". I'm actually starting to enjoy that aspect of my new routine!

SS: Please tell us something about yourself that might surprise your readers.

My chili is always good, but I've never made it the same way twice. 

I am delving into my family tree and found out that one of my ancestors may have been drowned for being a "witch". (She didn't survive, though, so her name was cleared!)

I love podcasts - especially "Stuff You Missed In History Class" - but don't like to listen to books on tape. 

 SS: What do you like to read for fun? (Present company excepted.)

Other than YOUR fabulous books and other mysteries, well...

I like books on cryptozoology. They intrigue me! I also love to read picture books. (Such a surprise, I know.) Picture books make me laugh, teach me something about myself, and help me become a better writer. I also love reading books on how to get organized. Unfortunately, I usually lose the books on organization. #ironic

SS: Thank you for this fun and fascinating interview, Donna. We can’t wait until your mystery comes out. Be sure to let us know!

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In the meantime, please leave a comment below, along with your EMAIL ADDRESS (!) and your name will go in the hat to possibly win a copy of Donna’s delightful children's book, Being Frank!

E.E. Kennedy’s author’s website is missprenticecozymystery.com