Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written three books. One is a collection of funny essays and stories from my blog, and two are part of my Beach Haven Series of romance novels.
The Beach Haven books are all set in the same small town of Beach Haven, Michigan, which is based on the town where I grew up. Each book can stand on its own, although readers will recognize some of the characters from book to book.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
His Heart Aflame was inspired by my experiences as the wife of a volunteer firefighter. I wanted to cover a little bit about what it’s like to love someone who risks his life at the job, but I also wanted to touch on some of the crazy behind-the-scenes camaraderie that goes on between the firefighters. Besides, let’s face it — firefighters are just plain sexy!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Sometimes, inspiration strikes at really strange times, and I’ll write in marathon stretches that can go on all night long. Other times, I might wake up at two or three in the morning and write for a couple of hours while the ideas are fresh.
Most of the time, though, I try to write a set number of hours every day, just to fight off the urge to procrastinate.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love authors who write with a sense of humor. Mark Twain, Kurt Vonnegut, and Douglas Adams are three of my favorites. I also really enjoy Debbie Macomber, Nancy Gideon, and Janet Evanovich.
What are you working on now?
I am working on the third book in my Beach Haven Series, tentatively called “Their Love Rekindled.” It’s got a couple of characters who were mentioned in my first book, but they weren’t really important before now.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still new at learning to promote, but I feel that I reach out to the most people through my blog, A Goode One. I don’t always talk about my books or my writing, but I try to talk about a lot of different topics so that readers can get to know me.
I also use my blog to promote other authors because I believe in Karma. If I help promote others, they’ll help promote me. Besides, it’s just the right thing to do.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be nice to other authors because we’re all in this together.
Never argue with your reviewers.
Just keep writing. Even if you think it’s bad at first, you can always fix it later. Just keep writing.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
What are you reading now?
I am trying very hard to read “Lucky” by Alice Sebold. It’s an excellent book, but very uncomfortable to read because of the subject matter. I have to keep taking a lot of breaks.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’d like to keep the Beach Haven series going for a few more books, but I’m also playing with the idea of a mystery novel for Young Adult readers. It’s an idea that’s been lurking in my imagination for a long time, and I’m eventually going to have to sit down and write it.
Other than that, I just hope to keep learning, keep growing as a writer, keep getting better and better with each book. And, of course, I want to keep having as much fun with it as I am right now.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would take Anna Karennina because I have never been able to finish that book and a desert island would finally force me to do so.
I would take Celia Garth by Gwen Bristow because that’s always been one of my favorite books.
I would want a couple of those huge Norton Anthologies from my college days as an English Major, because those were always jam-packed with material to read.
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A.J. Goode Website
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