Featured Interview With Nina Mansfield
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in New York City, but I grew up in a small town in the suburbs. I currently live in Connecticut just a short walk away from Long Island Sound. I love living near the water. Water inspires a great deal of my writing. I have two cats, Coco and Cookie. When I’m not writing, I enjoy seeing theater, traveling, practicing yoga and spending time with my husband and daughter.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I wrote and illustrated my first book when I was about five years old. I attempted to write my first play when I was seven. I remember my mother taking my brother and me to our local library often when I was quite young. I was so excited when I was old enough to get my very own library card. I would spend hours lounging around reading whatever I could. So, for as long as I can remember, I have adored books.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I have so many authors I’m crazy about. Lately, my favorites are Gillian Flynn, Tana French and PD James. From this list you might be able to tell that my favorite genre to read is mystery. But I read all sorts of things: plays, YA, nonfiction, historical fiction, etc.. For a while, I was hooked on nonfiction books that dealt with geography. For some reason, that’s what I was in the mood for. As for who inspires me, I have to say that one of my earliest inspirations was Lois Duncan. Her books made me want to become a writer.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
SWIMMING ALONE is a young adult mystery that combines two of my favorite elements: the beach and suspense. My protagonist, the quirky Cathy Banks, is spending her summer in the town of Beach Point, Rhode Island. A summer by the beach would be ideal, but there’s a serial killer on the loose in Beach Point. When Cathy’s new friend Lauren disappears, she is convinced the Sea Side Strangler has claimed his latest victim. I wrote the first draft of SWIMMING ALONE about 10 years ago when I decided to take my writing seriously. Many rewrites later, I am excited to see the book in print!
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