What is a fun/unusual/unexpected fact about yourself that has nothing to do with writing?
I’ve been chased up a tree by a one-horned rhinoceros.
What is your writerly ‘crutch’ or ‘tic’?
I love writing in the dark when everyone is sleeping. I find it easier to world-build.
What are five things you need in order to write (like a laptop, music, notebook and pen, coffee, etc.)?
Coffee, laptop, early morning hours, good night’s sleep, quiet.
Where is your favorite place to write?
My kitchen table when everyone is asleep.
What is your favorite outlet for creativity outside of writing?
Exercising, or primal screams. Sometimes both.
Where is your favorite place to set a story? Have you ever been there?
This varies, but I like vibrant settings. I’ve set books in the Hudson Valley, the Catskills, and my latest is the Adirondacks. I’m from the NYC area but I’ve lived in Honolulu for decades, and I find myself coming back to my roots. I also lived in Silicon Valley and set a series there. Haven’t done one in Hawaii yet. Maybe some day.
Who is your favorite fictional hero?
Ayla, from Clan of the Cave Bear.
Who is your favorite fictional villain?
Jack Torrance, from The Shining.
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
Babar the Elephant.
What fictional character (from someone else’s work) would you like to write into one of your books?
Nancy Drew? Those books made me love mysteries when I was a kid. I’d like to think about what she’s up to now.
What’s the weirdest thing in your writing space?
Me.
Did you have any other jobs before becoming a writer?
Teacher, administrator, marketing exec.
If you weren’t a writer, what job would you hold?
At this stage, I’d probably be a screen writer. I’m trying to write a spec script now.
Which book was the biggest struggle for you to write, and why? Which book was the easiest, and why?
I’d say in some ways the first one was the easiest in terms of plotting. I had no expectations and neither did my readers, but now that people like my books and I have repeat readers, it gets challenging to keep surprising them because they know my tricks, and they will call me out on it if I get lazy.
Did you face any rejection when you began to write?
I started out indie, and I didn’t try to get traditionally published. But now I’m trying that route and yes, there’s a lot of rejection, but everyone’s so nice about it! I try not to let it get me down, and I’ve pretty much got the process down so I have that to fall back on, but it would be nice to have a whole team behind me. I’m very impatient, though, and the traditional route takes a long time, so we’ll see. I usually get sick of waiting and just do it myself.
Writing group or book club?
I trade beta reads with some author friends, but it’s not a group. I’m in some FB reader/writer groups and I’ve Zoomed into a few book clubs when they’ve read my book.
How do you like to connect with readers? (Please include your website and/or any social media you’d like to share.)
www.facebook.com/bonnietraymore/
www.instagram.com/bonnietraymore/
www.bookbub.com/profile/bonnie-traymore
Brief Bio
Bonnie Traymore is the Amazon Bestselling author of seven domestic/psychological thrillers. Her thrillers feature strong but relatable female protagonists who peel back the layers of suburban American life and give readers a peek inside. The plots explore difficult topics such as jealousy, infidelity, murder, and the impact of psychological disorders, but she also includes bits of romance and humor to lighten the mood from time to time.
Bonnie loves Hitchcock movies, psychological thriller novels, coffee, and dark chocolate, not necessarily in that order and sometimes simultaneously. She has a doctorate in United States history and resides in Honolulu with her family. She’s an active member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America.
