Local author Layne Deemer describes herself as a genre-less author. She doesn’t stick to one type of writing, and this makes it even more exciting as she gets inside the heads of her characters and watches her stories take shape.
When did you know you wanted to be a writer? I’ve always enjoyed writing. In eighth grade, I shared a poem with my English teacher, and she told me how good it was. After that, I just kept writing. I started with poetry and short stories and then moved to novels. At that time, the only way to publish was to get an agent and query a large publisher. That was overwhelming, so I didn’t publish. But now in the age of Amazon self-publishing and indie [independent] publishing, I decided to do it.
You write thrillers and romance novels. Which of your novels are you most proud of? I’m very drawn to thrillers; I’ve written three and have ideas for more. But my contemporary romance novel Life Forgotten is the book I’m most proud of. It’s probably my least read book because of the uncomfortable topic; the protagonist is a caregiver for her mother who is battling Alzheimer’s disease. Many of the events are based on my personal experience caring for my mother when she battled Alzheimer’s.
Do you have a favorite character in your novels? My favorite character is Jeanette Singleton in Decompose. She’s this cross between June Cleaver and Dexter Morgan — a forty-something housewife and mother who enjoys gardening and is secretly a vigilante serial killer.
How would you describe your writing process? I try to write every day or every other day. I’m a “pantser,” meaning I write by the seat of my pants. I don’t write with a plot in mind. I get inside the head of a character, and I write and see where it takes me. I love it when I write a twist I didn’t see coming because I let the character guide me.
What advice do you have for aspiring writers? Just write. Set a schedule and write every day even for as little as 15 minutes. Get your words on the page. It sounds so simple, but it really isn’t because we let fear stop us from writing. One of my favorite indie authors gave me similar advice when I told her I wanted to be a writer. She said, “If you want to write, then write. When you write, you’re a writer.” That stuck with me because I realized it’s writing, not publishing, that makes you a writer. But you have to get the words on the page.
When you’re not writing, how do you relax and have fun? I’m an avid reader, so when I’m not writing, I’m typically reading. I also love hanging out with my husband and kids.
Learn More
Author events. If you’re looking to host a book signing or local author event, Layne is available. Contact her through her website laynedeemer.com.
Find her books. Layne publishes through the Kindle Unlimited program. Her books are available in print and electronically on Amazon.
