Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I always wanted to be the class clown but was way too shy. I had to settle for making my family laugh. Anyone who knows me will agree that humor makes my world go round and it is mystery that supports it all.

I loved movies as I was growing up and in fact watched so much television that I think I may have, at times, confused fiction with actual life events. As a teen, I was the artsy loner who banished herself to her room to strum her guitar, come up with quirky tunes and sing blues songs.

I became a portrait artist but all too soon grew tired of being asked to change the things people didn't like about themselves. "Make my nose smaller...straighten my teeth...put more hair on my head." I began to feel like I was a cosmetic surgeon. I ended up rendering pet portraits for the next decade or so. Pets rarely complain about their flaws.

I didn't start writing until twelve years ago although I think I have been writing in my head all my life. I woke up one morning with a simple idea about a story in my head. It nagged at me for days until I sat down at my computer, just to make some notes. Ten months later, I had a novel. That was the beginning.

I love contests. I found a novella contest online that was being sponsored by Vintage Romance Publishing. I went to work crafting a 25K word novella and submitted it. I can't describe the excitement I felt when the editor called me to say they wanted to publish, 'Initials for Murder" as an e-book. Initials for Murder is the prequel to Dead on the Money and is included as the prologue.

After writing Initials for Murder, I was asked in an interview if I would ever consider writing a screwball comedy. I answered no, but it felt more like a challenge than a question. I ended up calling it, Mixed Nuts, an indescribable comedy set in the mid-sixties, and it is still available at Amazon and most book stores.

Describe your book ‘Dead On The Money’ in 30 words or less.

Set in 1946, it's a mystery involving a savvy detective who falls for a sheltered librarian who is being targeted for murder. Of course there is a dash of humor laced throughout.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

The research. For some reason, I felt it would be easier to write a book set in the forties. No so. I had to make sure that I acurately described the clothes, food and the way it was packaged, cost of living, slang, music and dances of that era.

What books have had the greatest influence on you?

I have to admit there was a period of time when I couldn't read enough Stephen King books. In spite of the fact that they scared the bejeebers out of me, I was hooked. I love the suspense created by James Patterson, the tender love stories by Nicholas Sparks and of course the humor of Erma Bombeck.

Briefly share with us what you do to market your book?

I use the Internet quite a bit and join writing clubs. Believe it or not, I sing lead vocal in a band and whenever we play coffee houses, I also have book signings. I leave bookmarks wherever I go, donate books to local libraries and even include my bookmarks along with my checks when paying bills. After all, they send me advertisements. I write a humorous blog that can be found on my website, www.venitalouise.net and often post one liner humor on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Venita.Louise and I still enter contests.

How do you spend your time when you are not writing?

Well, I still have a day job. I am the production control manager at a well-known musical instrument company.

I also write music and lyrics with my husband under the name, White Smoke. www.meridian-whitesmoke.com

We recently released our first CD, Proper Introducitons, available at CD Baby http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/whitesmoke

What are you working on next?

I just signed a contract with Vinspire Publishing for, 'In Mysterious Ways'.

It is a paranormal mystery involving a famous artist, his blues singer fiance and their strange experiences after being subjected to the inexplicable energy of a crop circle.