Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hiya,
I adore writing (and reading!) curvy girl romance. I’ve written six books in the Curvy Love series, several more coming soon.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent release is Curvy Seduction: Circus. It’s the third installment in my Curvy Love serial.
My heroine, Angelina’s life gets flipped turned upside-down when she decides she wants to open up a BDSM club of her own. The only thing standing in her way is Gray, her way too sexy bodyguard and Dominant extraordinaire.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Ha ha ha. I’ve got one funny writing habit. I can’t write with shoes on. Even when I write at my favorite local coffee shop, I go with flip-flops or make sure I wear cute socks, because the second I open a manuscript, off go the shoes. I don’t know what it is, but I just can’t get comfortable with them on, so no shoes.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read all my mom’s romances, along with almost anything else I could get my hands on. But, in college I studied English Literature, nothing written after 1900 made it onto my TBR pile. Herman Melville, anyone? Anyone? Later, when I taught English abroad, I read on one of the early ebook readers. The easiest books to get were romances, and I dived right back in. My early favorites were Suzanne Brockmann, MaryJanice Davidson, Katie MacAlister, and Sandra Hill.
I don’t get to read as much these days (because I spend as much time as possible writing) so I slip in romance as often as I can, but end of reading lots of non-fiction on writing craft, marketing, and other publishing industry. One book I’d recommend to every reader of romance, and especially those who poo-poo it is Maya Rodale’s Dangerous Books for Girls: The Bad Reputation of Romance Novels Explained
What are you working on now?
I’m smack dab in the middle of writing the Curvy Love serial, Curvy Seduction, all about Angelina, the owner of Devils & Angels, the BDSM in the center of all the Curvy Love books. The serial follows Angelina’s relationship with Grayson Baker and how she ended up own a BDSM club all on her own. It’s been incredibly fun to write.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My favorite way of promoting my books is my newsletter. I announce my new releases, contests and giveaways, and share exclusive excerpts there first. But, I’m a big fan of all the fabulous subscription sites that share books on sale with readers. Of course, I love to connect with fans on social media and can be found spending too many minutes on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write the book. Learn about your genre and the publishing industry, study craft like a second job, but above all else, write. Write the book, finish the book, and then write the next book.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
When it comes to writing the best advice I’ve heard recently was from Angie Fox on knowing your brand. I was lucky enough to go to a workshop with Angie Fox at the RWA conference last summer, and she talks about understanding your taco stand. And by taco stand, she means author brand. You can sell beef tacos, pork tacos, and even fish tacos (your different kind of books), but don’t start selling hamburgers, because your customers (readers) will be like, what the heck is this? I didn’t come to this taco stand for a hamburger, I’m not buying that.
Figuring out your brand, sticking to it, and solidly building it will really help develop your fanbase and your career.
But, when it comes to life advice… Winston Churchill via my dad told me to “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.”
What are you reading now?
I just started Helen Hardt’s Steel Brothers Saga. It’s hot and sexy and set in Colorado, my home state. Plus, I love a sexy cowboy.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to continue the Curvy Love series, but I’ve got plans for several new series, and I’m not revealing anything, and you didn’t hear it from me, but there may be dragons who love curves involved.
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?
Nooooooooo! I need a whole dang library! Can’t I take my ebook reader, a hotspot, a solar panel charger, and a cute cabana boy to bring me drinks?
Okay, If I have to get stranded, I’m bringing the collected works of Mary Roach (who writes funny non-fiction books like Gulp, Spook, and Bonk), the latest curvy girl romance, whatever it may be, Faith Vol. 1, from Valiant comics, and an island survival guide and cookbook.
Author Websites and Profiles
Aidy Award Website
Aidy Award Amazon Profile
Aidy Award’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account