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1) When did you first realize you wanted to be a
writer?
Fortunately, I’ve always known what I wanted to
do, and I was talented enough to earn money writing as a career. I started
writing poetry about Garfield when I was 7 years old. In junior high and high
school, I was on the yearbook staff and I won my first short story contest in
high school. In college and grad school, I worked for the school newspapers,
and afterward I got a job in magazine editing.
2) What is your work schedule like when you’re
writing?
Insane. I honestly have an insane “work”
schedule. If I think too much about it, I get nervous. Seriously, in addition
to writing, I teach college (at multiple schools), work part-time in an office,
edit books and magazines, do some freelance writing. All of that doesn’t
include being a mom, and wife, and working on self-promotion. I also volunteer
with my local RWA chapter, Orange County. (And they have meetings twice a
month.)
Oh, wait, back to writing: If I’m on a strict
(coming quick) deadline, the I write much more often. Honestly, I try to do at
least an hour a day, or 1,000 words. That means it should take me two months to
write at 50,000 word book, but usually with life and edits I need three months.
While I write late at night, I edit during the daytime when the brain is
“fresh.”
3) Where do you get your information or ideas
for your books?
Sometimes I wonder myself. As a trained
journalist, I’m a good observer. I like to watch others, and listen to
conversations. On a daily basis, I’m struck by something that sounds like it
could be a good story. Some those elements may work their way into a storyline.
I also like looking at the “calls for submissions.” Most of the time, I think:
“I’ve got nothing for that!” and then an idea pops up a few days later. Most
recently, it was a call for erotic threesome re-tellings of mythology. I
submitted by short story to that anthology, so fingers-crossed!
There are times when the characters speak to me,
too. Further in the interview, I mention an upcoming release, Chains of Silver.
As soon as that book was finished and submitted, I thought of a sequel that
continues with Silver’s storyline. She’s not finished yet. Now, to only have
the time to write it!
4) Do you have any suggestions to help me become
a better writer? If so, what are they?
You know, hon, one of my goals is to help you
become a published writer! Seriously … Be honest with your writing, and let
your creativity flow without boundaries. One reason why I write late at night
is because I turn off my filter. Drinking alcohol doesn’t seem to work well for
me because after two glasses of wine all I want to do is sleep! But, put it in
the story and you can always take it out … if you feel like you need to.
5) If you were to do your career
as an author again, what would you do differently, and why?
That’s an extremely difficult
question to answer. I’ve been fortunate to sell a few short stories to Ravenous
Romance, and then met with Editorial Director Lori Perkins, who also owns the L.
Perkins Agency. She took a chance on me with offering a contract for an
as-yet-unfinished book. I sold on proposal. I also ended up signing with one of
her agents, Saritza Hernandez.
Overall, I’ve been very fortunate.
That said, maybe I would have started finishing my novels sooner. I finaled in
a writing contest about six years ago, and an editor requested a full. I never
sent it in because I was finishing a second master’s degree and then undergoing
infertility treatments – two extremely stressful events. But if I hadn’t taken
this path, then who knows where I may have ended up?
Mostly, I don’t believe in regret
… just moving forward and embracing one’s past.
6) Have you ever been surprised by
a controversy among fans or reviewers - for example, you created a character
without thinking too much about what people would think of him, and found some
readers loved him and some hated him?
The more I write, and am
published, I’m learning that people have such varied tastes. When it comes to
erotic romance, I go for pretty much everything. When my first book, Sex University: Physical Education was
released, I received some negative reviews because while it’s primarily a M/F
novel, it contains one voyeuristic M/M scene and a F/F scene. The reviewer
wanted straight M/F without any same-sex, but me it’s a sex school! Anything
goes. (And it wasn’t the primary characters involved with someone else.)
With The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf: A New Orleans Threesome,
I’ve had a few reviewers/readers say that they love Lawrence, the vamp, and
Trevor, the were, but why did Lily have to come along? Personally, I like
reading M/F/M ménage. I like putting myself into that scene. But, others don’t
want it. So – for them, and me – I’m working a on Christmas-themed prequel
right now titled The Vampire & The Werewolf. Law and Trev were together for
five years before Lily came along, and I’m going to give a peek into that
storyline.
7) Favorite dessert?
Can I really eat anything I want,
without gaining weight or getting sick from it being too rich? If so, it would
be some sort of rich, creamy chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and vanilla
ice cream. Sigh. Something most don’t know, I’m lactose-intolerant and can’t do
that too often! But, I can dream about it. What I get in real life are Smartees
or Licorice.
8) Favorite way to relax?
As a writer, it’s a good thing
that one way is actually writing. When I haven’t for a while, I get all tied up
in knots and nervous. I’ve always said, too, if I wasn’t a writer, I’d be a
chef. So being alone, in the kitchen, and creating something fabulously
delicious is a turn-off. (Having to do it with two kids, hubby and two dogs
underfoot gets annoying.)
9) What TV shows do you watch?
Survivors ready! Yes, I’m a
long-time Survivor fan. I also regularly watch Castle, Body of Proof and
Ringer. OnDemand, I tend to choose shows like Food Truck Race and Chopped! But,
with two small kids keeping up with shows can be tough. I stopped watching True
Blood after the first episode this summer because my kids got up and came
inside five times in the first 15 minutes. With all the wild sex and violence,
it’s not something you want your 4-year-old seeing!
10) Tell us about your newest
release.
I’ve got a “coming soon,” that has
been turned in but hasn’t been given a release date yet from my publisher,
Ravenous Romance. Follow my blog for information.
The Vampire, The Witch & The
Werewolf 2: Chains of Silver
Adopted
at birth, Silver Ashe discovers her blood-brother Trevor Pack is a werewolf,
with a vampire and witch for lovers. All her teachings about the evils of the
paranormal Others come into question. She runs to a family friend, Nick, for
help.
Nick
Stake takes his hobby as a vampire hunter personally. He strives to rid the
world of evil bloodsuckers. When his best friend’s “kid” sister comes to him
for advice, Nick discovers Silver’s more than grown up. He battles his growing
desire for Silver and blindly holds true to his convictions.
Once
Silver reaches her sexual maturity, she’ll inherit her full genetic heritage
and turn into a werewolf. When death comes calling, Silver and Nick must face
their darkest fears in order to break free from the chains that bind.
Where can readers find you (What
websites, emails etc)?
3 comments:
Yeah! So much fun to be here. Thanks for having me.
Sounds great!!
slandon9903(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for coming by Sarah!
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