Pictured: Linda Castillo and Tim Zaun
On Thursday June 23, 2011, Amish thriller author, Linda Castillo visited the Bay Village Branch of the Cuyahoga County Library.
Castillo, originally from Ohio and now living in Amarillo, Texas with her husband, was in town to promote her new book entitled, Breaking Silence.
Breaking Silence is the third book in Castillo's series featuring Chief of Police, Kate Burkholder, and former member of the Amish community.
Eighth grade produced Castillo's first book, and, while not great, it ignited her writing interests.
Corporate America was her initial career, yet her passion remained with writing. During her 12-year business employment, Castillo wrote four books on the side. She sold her fifth one in 1999 and quit her job to write full time.
Editors at Berkley and Harlequin Books, two of Castillo's biggest clients, wanted more romance writing and less suspense from Castillo. It was then that she realized she was drawn to pen thrillers.
A 2004 trip to Ohio's Amish country exposed another writing epiphany. The contrast of a slow-moving Amish buggy with the hustle and bustle of Dallas was mind-jolting.
Castillo loves to juxtaposition bucolic Amish country with crime. She also enjoys developing the police proceedings in the book series. Having graduated from two citizen police academies helps authenticate her writing.
Her research has taken her to creepy places, including the morgue at the now closed, but infamously famous, Charity Hospital in New Orleans. She's also visited a state-of-the-art morgue in Dallas which, despite being new, still lingers of death.
Castillo exclusively reads and answers all of her own fan mail, writes entirely on the computer or laptop (vs. using long-hand); and treats writing as a business.
Her advice for aspiring writers:
- Don't give up. Rejection is part of the process.
- Read what you want to write, it's the only way you'll know what editors and agents are buying.
Who does Castillo enjoy reading? Among her favorites are:
Lisa Gardener
Tami Hoag
Chevy Stevens
The working title of Castillo's next book is Gone Silent, and is due for submission August 1st. Fans could see its publication this time next year.
Whether you're already a Castillo acolyte, or a new follower, read A-1 literature in Breaking Silence and experience Castillo in-person during her book tour in a city near you.
