Author Interview!
What are your top favorite books/authors?
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
Half Resurrection Blues by Daniel Jose Older
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Heartless by Gena Showalter
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
Jennifer Government by Max Barry
Necklace of Kisses by Francesca Lia Block
Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
How long have you been writing?
I have been writing stories and poems since I was in elementary school. I didn’t decide to do anything with my work until I was nearly 40 years old.
Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write?
Characters become more real to me as I begin writing them. I never really know much about the characters until I start writing different scenes, then their actions reveal more about their personalities and I can see them more clearly.
Do you read yourself and if so, what is your favorite genre?
I love paranormal romance, science fiction, women’s fiction, and poetry. Lately, I’m really enjoying reading novellas and anthologies.
Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?
Really, it depends on the day. Sometimes I like to hear nothing except the sounds of the cars passing and birds singing. Other days, I like music or TV on in the background. The continuous sound of songs and shows I have already seen and heard helps me focus.
Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?
I tend to procrastinate and get writer’s block a lot so I have a couple of different projects that I work on, that way, when I’m stuck on one book or project, I can work on something else.
Pen or type writer or computer?
When I was little, I was obsessed with typewriters. I loved the sound they made and it was so much fun to type up letters, but they aren’t really portable or practical. I like to sit outside or wherever I please with a pen and notebook to plan out rough ideas or write poems. As the ideas take shape, then I have to put everything on the computer. I have a few fidget toys that help me when I get annoyed at being still and stuck at the computer screen.
What makes a good story?
Whatever makes a reader care about the characters and hope they find their way through whatever struggles they face. I tend not like books that end on a sad note or show the tragedy of a situation but no resolution.
What are you currently reading?
I just pre ordered Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen and I’m headed to the library soon since I haven’t had a chance to read for a few weeks. I’ve discovered so many good books by wandering through the aisles of the library.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
It takes me about a year to finish writing a book. I spend a lot of time trying to get the dialogue, the scenery, the description, the characters, and everything else just right.
Do you believe in writer’s block?
I’ve been there many times. When I come to a standstill and don’t know what should happen next in a scene, I have learned that my brain isn’t ready to create the next part and I need some distance. I try to work on other projects when I am stuck on one project, that way, I’m still being productive and getting something done.
She had every reason to hate him.
Aiden “AJ” Shepherd’s mistake during a Shifter Army Enforcement rescue mission cost Ellie Ortiz’s brother, Marco, his life. Ellie hates AJ with a burning passion until a chance encounter with him on New Year’s Eve reveals he’s not the cold, heartless man she once thought him to be. Her attraction to him takes her by surprise, and she vows to ignore her feelings. When a new job puts her in contact with him every day, the heat building between them threatens to flare out of control. Her resolve to keep the sweet, sexy man in the friend zone is weakening by the day.
He’s convinced she’s his mate, but a secret could ruin everything
Whether they’re fighting off fanatics who target shifters or working together to get his shifter resort, Haven Forest, ready for the grand opening, AJ can’t get enough of Ellie. Convincing her to give him a chance, more than the one-night-of-fun idea she’s proposed, might be impossible, but he’s fallen too hard for her not to try. During a disastrous assignment with Shifters United, AJ uncovers some information that changes everything. Keeping the secret from Ellie is killing him but he might lose her forever if he tells her the truth.
When Ellie ends up at the heart of a reporter’s plot to prove the existence of shifters, she and AJ must fight their way to freedom. The survival of shifters everywhere depends on it.
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Author bio:
Before I had the wild idea to write a book, I worked in a few different fields. I was in sales for a while, and after I finished college, I worked as a case manager. When my children were little, I was a personal trainer and running coach. During the evenings, when I was supposed to be studying for another fitness training certification, I started writing a story. Finally, I gave in and acknowledged that writing is what I’m meant to do. I love creating imperfect but determined characters who find the courage to love and the strength to survive in a world where there are no guarantees. My stories include a fair amount of sarcasm, suspense, steam, and violence. When I’m not writing, I enjoy spending time outside and finding ways to avoid cooking. I live in beautiful Virginia with my husband, two daughters, and a sweet, hairy monster of a dog.
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