Sometimes a writer comes along who takes the publishing world by storm. Wanda M. Morris is one such writer. Wanda spent a decade writing her first novel–and what a novel it was! All Her Little Secrets was the breakout thriller of 2021–a year in which many debuts suffered less-than-stellar starts. Not one to rest on her laurels, Wanda has followed up with the remarkable historical mystery Anywhere You Run. Wanda is a writer to watch–and if you haven’t read her work yet, now’s the time.
We’re thrilled to welcome Wanda M. Morris to Career Authors.
- What book changed your life?
The Bible
- Was your first published book the first manuscript you ever wrote?
Yes. But that’s probably because I’m more dogged than talented. I spent over a decade working on that book. I was learning how to write a book during that time. Thankfully, it worked out.
- Stephen King says, “The hardest part is just before you start.” What’s the hardest part of writing for you?
The hardest part of writing for me is taming my inner critic.
- Do you know the story’s ending before you start?
Never. I can’t seem to figure the ending out until I am 50-75% into the story.
- When you’re having a difficult writing day, what do you tell yourself to get through it?
I tell myself there was a reason I came to this story idea. I try to relax and lean into that to find my way again. If I am still stuck, I’ll talk a walk or do something other than writing to allow the “boys in the basement” (as Stephen King calls it) to figure out the knot and guide me back.
- Do you read your reviews?
Only the good ones! LOL. Seriously, I don’t spend a lot of time indulging in a review from someone that didn’t enjoy my books. Writing is art and art is subjective. Some people will like what you create, and others will not.
- Besides being persistent and correcting your spelling errors, what’s your best advice for a new author?
Read a lot and read widely. Reading is the best way to learn the craft of writing because you learn what a good book sounds like. You learn what works and doesn’t work when it comes to pacing and characterization and dialogue. Also, when you read widely, and by that I mean reading outside the genre you write, you learn to stretch your writing chops. You learn about characterization by reading biographies or you learn how to spice up your mystery novel by reading romance.
- What’s your definition of writer misery?
Comparing your writing journey and success to that of other writers. Every journey is different.
- What’s your definition of writer happiness?
Writing something that resonates and connects with a reader so that it inspires and/or challenges them.
- What’s your favorite book on writing?
Paula Munier’s The Writer’s Guide to Beginnings: How to Craft Story Openings that Sell. Writers should never underestimate the critical importance of a great opening. A great opening is the thing that will keep an agent or editor reading, more so than a good premise or pitch. I’ve had the good fortune to teach a few workshops and I always recommend this book and use it as reference material.
- What book are you reading right now?
The Eden Test by Adam Sternbergh. It is a twisty thriller that examines the question, what makes a perfect marriage.
Wanda M. Morris is the acclaimed author of All Her Little Secrets, named as one of the “Best Books of 2021” by Hudson Booksellers and selected as the #1 Top Pick for “Library Reads” by librarians across the country.
Her latest novel, Anywhere You Run, was named One of the Top Ten Crime Fiction Books of 2022 by The New York Times. It has received starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist and won the Lefty Award for Best Historical Novel of 2023, and the 2023 Georgia Author of the Year for Mystery. It has been nominated for the Anthony Award, the Strand Critics Award, and an ITW Thriller Award.
