Her writing career started years ago when she got a cold, went to the local K&B Drug Store for some medicine, and the clerk put a free romance novel in her bag when she checked out. “I had always loved to read, but never thought of being a writer,” she said. She read the book, “got hooked,” went on a romance novel reading frenzy, and that led to a decision to try to write one herself.
“I had trained to be an artist, but as soon as I started writing, I knew that writing was what I wanted to do,” Ms. Spindler said. “It’s my favorite way to use my creativity.”
Three years ago Spindler visited a sixth grade class at Lake Harbor Middle School in Mandeville to explain to the students about writing and publishing books. She also shared with them how she became a New York Times “best-selling” author. She brought some of the foreign-language editions with her to show the students.
She told the students about her book, “Justice for Sara,” which takes place in St. Tammany Parish and showcases many local settings familiar to the students. It takes place in a fictional town called “Liberty” which resembles Madisonville, she said, “but has a town square.”
Ms. Spindler enjoyed visiting with the students and their parents, signing their books, and sharing with them how she writes her books.
Ms. Spindler, left, and Teacher Adaline Rutherford
According to her website, the International bestselling author's skill for crafting engrossing plots and compelling characters has earned both critical praise and legions of fans. Published in 25 countries, her stories have been lauded as “thrill-packed page turners, white- knuckle rides and edge-of-your-seat whodunits.”
In 2009 she won the "Literary Artist of the Year" award in the St. Tammany Parish Commission on Cultural Affairs' art awards given by Parish President Ken Davis. Here is a short video of her receiving that award and telling of her writing career and recognition in the field.
Click on "play triangle" above to view video
Her introduction noted that she is a New York Times and International bestselling author. "Erica Spindler's skill for crafting engrossing plots and compelling characters has earned both critical praise and legions of fans. Published in 25 countries, her stories have been lauded as “thrill-packed page turners, white- knuckle rides and edge-of-your-seat whodunits,” said Stephen Cefalu, vice chairman of the Cultural Arts Commission.
Raised in Rockford, Illinois, Erica had planned on being an artist, earning a BFA from Delta State University and an MFA from the University of New Orleans in the visual arts. In June of 1982, in bed with a cold, she picked up a romance novel for relief from daytime television. She was immediately hooked, and soon decided to try to write one herself. She leaped from romance to suspense in 1996 with her novel Forbidden Fruit, and found her true calling.
Her novel Bone Cold won the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award for excellence. A Romance Writers of America Honor Roll member, she received a Kiss of Death Award for her novels Forbidden Fruit and Dead Run and was a three-time RITA® Award finalist. Publishers Weekly awarded the audio version of her novel Shocking Pink a Listen Up Award, naming it one of the best audio mystery books of 1998.
See also:
http://www.ericaspindler.com/
