RPLA Showcase: Micki Browning

Q: Where do you get your story ideas?

A: After twenty-two years working in law enforcement I’ve got more ideas than I know what to do with, so it is ironic, that Adrift drew on none of them. I moved to Key Largo after I retired and I found myself literarily surrounded by a new inspiration—the ocean. I’ve been a diver for over two decades, but a couple years ago, I became a professional divemaster. When I learned that there really were underwater ghost hunters, my mind went into overdrive.  What if dead men do tell tales…?

Q: Anything in particular about your award-winning RPLA entry that you’d like to share?

A: Echo, one of the members of the Spirited Divers, is a man of few words, however, every line of his dialogue begins with the last word or two of the person who spoke before him. I’ve yet to have anyone notice that on their own, which makes me smile.

Q: Who do you credit with inspiring your writing?

A: This is difficult to answer as I’ve been scratching out bits of story and verse since I was a child. I read fairly widely, so it’s also hard to cite just one author. That said, I can easily answer this question in terms of who inspired me to get serious about writing, and that falls squarely on the narrow shoulders of author Mandy Mikulencak. Serendipity brought us together at at time when she wanted to start a writing group in Durango, CO. That was about six years ago, and we’ve been critique partners and friends ever since.

Q: Any tips for new writers?

A: I still qualify as a newbie, so I won’t presume to have any of the answers. What I have learned is that there are several ways to get your work in the hands of agents and editors. I’ve done my fair share of querying, but it was a contest that ultimately placed Adrift in the hands of the woman who became my agent.