Katia Lief, author of Here She Lies, write crime novels for a living and for fun. She sits down to chat about writing, writing, writing, then writing some more, with fellow StoryBundler Geoff Morrison.

How did you approach your first book? Is that different from how you approached the next?

My first published book was a literary novel about adolescent coming of age. Most of my novels since have been thrillers. Why? Well, my kids have to eat….

What did you learn writing your first novel? Your most recent?

Writing my first novel, I learned that I could. My most recent novel taught me that it will never be easy.

How much do you plan out in advance, and how?

I plan a fair amount in advance, and work with an outline, so that I get essentially where I’m trying to go in my first draft. But…I take many detours along the way, and always end up someplace slightly different and better than I’d imagined.

How do you approach writing characters?

Each character needs to be unique. The freer you let yourself be in inventing characters, the more interesting they’ll be.

How do you give individual characters their own “voice"?

Sometimes I work at it, but often the voice somehow magically happens. That’s when you know that a character will do the talking, and all you need to do is type.

How do you decide on pacing?

If I feel bored reading a rough draft, then my reader will feel bored, too. I’m a ruthless editor and work hard to find the right balance in a novel’s pacing.

How do you decide what to reveal to the audience, and when?

There should always be surprises. I work hard to make sure that I’m revealing enough, but not too much.

When it comes to description, do you think there’s such a thing as too much? Too little?

There can definitely be too much description. It’s a cliché at this point, but so true: Never tell what you can show.

Do you have a specific place to write? A separate computer?

I have my own computer in my own home office with my own door, window, and mess.

Do you listen to music as you write? If so, what?

Nope. Quiet is essential.

Do you finish, then edit, or do you edit as you go?

Both.

Do you wait until you have an idea, or do you sit down and write every day no matter what?

I wait until I have an idea, but I get lots of ideas. I do feel it’s important, though, to step out of the office and live life a little; it’s great fuel for creativity.

What’s your biggest hindrance to finishing a book?

Time. There is never quite enough of it. I always get my books finished on deadline, but I wish I had more time to polish them.

How many people get to read your unfinished, or recently finished, work?

Two: my husband, and my agent. They both give me excellent feedback that helps me revise.

What advice would you give for someone who wants to improve their writing?

Most important, keep going until you have a complete draft of a novel. Write whether you feel good or not-so-good. Write if you’re tired. Write if you have a million other things nagging at you. Kick aside the mess, and write.

Excellent advice. What would you like to improve with your writing, and how would you go about doing it?

I’d like to emulate the Slow Food movement and create a Slow Writing movement, so that novelists who publish can take the time we need to make sure we’re delivering the best possible book. Unfortunately, in reality, deadlines are part of the bargain.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out, trying to finish (or start!) their first novel?

Just do it. (I was saying it long before Nike stole my motto.)

If you could ask your favorite author one question, what would it be? What would you like to learn from them?

“How much revision do you do?” My hope would be to learn that even the best writers have to struggle to get to a good novel.

How did you approach your cover artist, and what was that experience like?

My talented website designer was happy to design my covers, for which I am grateful.

What software do you use, if other than MS Word?

Scrivener, for outlining.

Are there any websites you found helpful in regards to eBook formatting?

I admit to hiring a conversion expert: ebookarchitects

Do you sell across all eBook platforms? Has one done better for you than others?

Yes, I sell just about everywhere. I’ve done very well on Nook and Kobo in the US, and Kindle in the UK.

How do you feel about KDP Select (i.e. Kindle Owners' Lending Library)?

I have mixed feelings about it. I enrolled one short story, for promotional reasons, but generally want my work to be available widely, which KDP Select precludes.

Do you sell print versions of your books? If so, what company do you use, and why?

Yes. My PODs are done through Lightning Source. First, though, my manuscripts are converted by the capable hands of Integrative Ink.

Do you do any marketing? If so, what works for you, what hasn’t?

Yes, as much as possible. I wish I knew what worked the best, but it’s hard to quantify. I love running online promotions through AuthorBuzz.

Did you enjoy being a part of your StoryBundle? Have you seen an increase in sales separate from the Bundle?

I did enjoy participating in StoryBundle, and would do it again. I don’t know if my overall sales increased as a result, but I sold a fair number of copies during the three week promotion, so I’m happy.

Katia Lief 's newest thriller The Money Kill, just published by HarperCollins, is the fourth in her acclaimed Karin Schaeffer series. She teaches fiction writing at The New School in Manhattan and lives with her family in Brooklyn.