Tracie Ingersoll Loy

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies and interests.

I love being in nature, be it hiking in the woods, or paddling a canoe, walking a beach, and with it I always seem to find litter, or maybe litter finds me. I find litter distasteful. There is something about the beauty being destroyed by man-made clutter. I started picking up litter as a kid in Girl Scouts and this obsessive habit has stayed with me. At times I’ve fallen out of the canoe, stuck in a hole, all for trying to keep the environment clean.

When and why did you start writing books?

Writing books, plays, short stories is a good way to keep your mind active. I love imagination, and putting it in writing brings me joy.

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

Finally, there was time to take all those stories floating in your brain and get it down in a story line. One of my first jobs out of college was working for the 3M Corporation selling their word processors. I knew then, typewriters were out and word processors were the way to go. I do miss a good IBM typewriter but not that much. When my time availed from the corporate world of marketing and sales, I sat down at the computer and let the stories take on their own lives. The stories have been there for years, I just need my time.

Which one of your books or characters is your favourite?

Jeannie Rogers and Kip Hendricks, book #1, SLIP INTO the NIGHT. I believe we all have a bit of those characters in us.

Which one of your books was the hardest to write and stretched you the most as a writer?

It will be book #5 in the Hartz Island series. All the other books have been in my brain, but not #5.

Who is your favourite author and book?

I love Maeve Binchy and her stories. But I love authors who take their characters and grow with them, intertwining the stories and their relationships. I have lots of favorite authors who create series with their characters and situations.

What book are you reading right now?

I am reading one of Jonathan Kellerman’s latest releases.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

I watch crowds, ponder situations I read about and let my imagination take hold.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Spending time outdoors with friends.

Do you have any new books in the works?

I am venturing into the world of Women’s Fiction, while I ponder book #5 of the Hartz Island Romantic mysteries.