We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lynn Emery. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lynn below.

Lynn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I learned through a combination of methods. First, I read a lot of books, which isn’t like work since I love to read. I paid attention to what worked for me in both fiction and non-fiction. I also took note of the mechanics of a book; how dialog was formatted, the use of non-verbal or behavioral cues to enhance dialog, descriptions of settings, etc. Second, I networked with writers at various stages, beginners like me, newly published, and authors with several books finished/published. I also attended writing workshops on craft and about the publishing industry.

The most essential skill I’ve found is flexibility. Also, having a sense of curiosity and being open to always learning new things

The only real obstacle to learning more has been my occasional hesitancy to take a risk or venture into the unknown.

Lynn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I read my first murder mystery when I was eleven years old and was hooked on the genre. I decided to write one. Of course, life happened. I had no role models or writing classes in school until I got to college. Still, I didn’t see writing as a way to make a living. Fast forward years later, I returned to that dream as a young adult. I joined a local writers group. Long story short, attending those meetings led me to attend my first writers’ conference. As it turned out, I met my first agent and editor there. I sent off my proposal. About a month later I was offered a publishing contract with Kensington Publishing. I went on to write twelve romantic suspense novels in total. Several with HarperCollins and one with Penguin/Putnam. The second novel I wrote for Kensington, AFTER ALL, became a made-for-television movie by BET (2001).

In 2006 I became an indie author and returned to my first love, murder mysteries. Most are set in my home state of Louisiana. I’ve written four series. The Triple Trouble Mysteries is a cozy trilogy. The LaShaun Rousselle Mysteries and the Joliet Sisters Psychic Detectives Mysteries are supernatural whodunnits. Then I decided to stretch and wrote a sci-fi series set in the near future called The Dr. Zen Mysteries.

In May, the seventh LaShaun Rousselle Mystery, BLOOD BAYOU, became a 2024 Black Caucus American Library Association honor winner.

Have you ever had to pivot?

As I mentioned, I sold the first novel I wrote. I went on to be traditionally published for eleven years straight. I was writing romance novels, but I wanted to write mystery/suspense. I was offered what would turn out to be my last contract in 2006. I had a decision to make, continue writing romance/women’s fiction or make a change. Due to upheavals in the industry and the wider economy, I knew turning down the offer would likely mean the end of my traditional publishing journey, I wanted to write mysteries that I knew wouldn’t appeal to publishing; novels with Black female sleuths. I was right. I came close to getting an “A-list” agent, but in my gut, I knew jumping back into the traditional world wouldn’t work for me. Even more, I didn’t want to go through the process of submitting to agents or editors and waiting for months only to get a rejection or never receive a reply. I also intuitively knew that my voice and style were not deemed “commercial.”

Fortunately, this was the dawn of the indie publishing era. But I didn’t know this at the time. Since I had a second career to pay my bills, I leaned into writing exactly the kind of mysteries I wanted to without trying to fit into a box of what I thought publishers would accept. I continued to network with other authors, read about the writing/publishing business, and joined writing organizations. I had to learn different skills and unlearn others that I’d picked up from being with publishers. The change to being indie has been a huge pivot and an exciting one.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

Right now, my best tool is a mailing list of people who have signed up to get my monthly newsletter. Change is constant in this business as in life. Social media is great, but you don’t own the content or the followers. Terms of service can change overnight and greatly affect the ability to reach those followers. Not to mention creators/users can be banned from those platforms or have their content severely restricted. This is why having a mailing list that I own and control is the best method to keep in touch with readers. I offer gifts in the form of short books to those who sign up for my list. I work hard to provide interesting and entertaining content in each mailing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lynnemery.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynn.emery.writer/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynn.emery.author
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/lynnemery/videos
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lynnemery_author?lang=en