Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Thank you so much for the interview!!
I write historical fiction and historical erotica about courageous women and daring passions! My historical erotica is published by Cleis Press. Legends of Lust debuted in January, and Confessions of a Sheba Queen is scheduled for release January 2020.
The Impaler’s Wife is my debut historical fiction!! To date, I’ve written 8 books—3 historical fiction and 2 historical erotica, and 3 paranormal romances under another pen name.
Quick facts.
• I’m an author, mom to 4 grown children, & high school teacher.
• My children tell me I’m crazy. (They made me that way.)
• I live in Southern California.
• I’m always on a diet, which is hard because bread, carbs, and sweets are so delicious!
• I drive too fast—hey, I have places to go.
• I’ve been married 3Xs. (I ditched 1 & 2)
• Hubby #3 is a keeper…so far. LOL!
• I write historical fiction about courageous women because women need to embrace their power.
• I also write erotica because….SEX!
• I can make a pound cake with my eyes closed. ( 4 kids = a lot of baking )
• I hate folding laundry—sorry, Marie Kondo.
• My spirit animal is an Octopus.
• Travel inspires me.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Impaler’s Wife is my newest historical fiction. I’m a bit of a history nerd, especially history about bad-ass women. Who doesn’t love and respect fearless women who lived and loved their own way? While reading a book about little known women in history, I came across Ilona, Vlad Dracula’s Hungarian Wife. I had to write about her! So into medieval history and Dracula’s life I plunged. I didn’t sugarcoat the times or make it politically correct. Nor did I water down facts to suit our 21st century sensibilities. One of my favorite things about reading historical fiction is getting a glimpse into the life and times of the people.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
If it’s nice outside—in southern California that’s 90% of the time—I write outside by the pool. Sometimes in the pool if it’s over 110 degrees. I’ll write a few hours, jump in and do a few laps, work out scenes or dialog. I write until my eyes blur. When the weather is cool—that’s anything below 70 degrees— I sit in a comfy rocker in my living room.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Genre whore here! I’ll read any genre. Janet Evanovich, J.K. Kenner, Preston & Child, Michelle Moran, Lisa See, Diana Gabaldon, Dominic Grey, Lauren Smith, Philippa Gregory, Ken Follett, James Rollins, Jean Auel, Christian Jacq, Ken Follett, Susan Howatch, Haruki Murakami, and Anne Rice to name a few! And I adore the Brontë sisters, Jane Austen, William Makepeace Thackery, Mary Shelley, Margaret Mitchell, Agatha Christie, Alexander Dumas, Leo Tolstoy, and I’m certain I left out hundreds more.
What are you working on now?
Plenty of multi-tasking happening in the next few months!
~ I’m revising the first novel I ever wrote, a paranormal romance under another pen name, so I can promote the series
~ and working on the editor notes for Confessions of a Sheba Queen
~ and outlining a 4th paranormal romance
~ and finishing the first draft for Diros, a historical fiction I hope to have ready next year.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is all new to me. I’m still learning the ropes. And sometimes those ropes get pretty tangled up!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
1. Write. Write. Write. If you’re a newbie. Learn the craft. There’s tons of blogs, books, and videos about plotting, conflict, character and more! Keep writing.
2. Revise. Revise. Revise. Then revise some more.
3. Find a local writing group that offers critique sessions. This can be tricky. I went to one where a guy thought finding comma faults on someone’s first draft was helpful. Ever the smart ass, I asked if this was an editing group or a critique group.
4. Take advice and learn from successful published authors.
5. If it’s in your budget go to writing conferences. I went to three the first year I caught the writing bug. I learned different things about publishing from each one.
6. This advice comes from my computer engineer son. If something isn’t saved in three places, it doesn’t exist. Three places. I send my documents to the cloud (wherever that is), to my email, and to a flash drive.
7. Write because you have a story to tell. Write because you must. The creative mind blossoms best when it is nurtured and respected.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
LOL—that’s a difficult question! For me it’s all about the power of revisions!
What are you reading now?
The Count of Monte Cristo is on my bedside table and A Discovery of Witches is on my kindle.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Lots coming this year and next.
Historical fiction available summer 2019 ~ DRAGON LADY
Against all odds, a prostitute becomes the most powerful pirate chieftain in the South China Seas. Sold into slavery by her parents, Xianggu works on a floating brothel for ten years before a midnight pirate raid changes her life.
Determined to rise above her lowly status, the fearless young woman embarks on a journey requiring beauty, brains, and brawn. Red Flag boss, Zheng Yi, is captivated by the spirited Xianggu and soon makes her his wife. This begins her adventure into the violent world of sea banditry. But Xianggu must do more than learn to wield a sword, sail a ship, and swim across a bay. She must become indispensable to Zheng Yi or risk losing everything, even her life.
After her husband’s death, Xianggu wrestles control of the Red Flag fleet. Despite betrayals, Mandarin treachery, and foreign foes she builds a pirate empire with more than 400 ships and 40,000 people under her command. She also establishes rules safeguarding the women on her ships.
Amid the famines, feuds, and fighting, Xianggu must battle ancient prejudices and jealous men. In 19th century China, when men made and enforced the rules, the Dragon Lady lived by her own.
Historical fiction available Fall 2019 ~ The EMPEROR’S ASSASSIN
A young herbalist finds herself forced into a world of decadence and corruption when Nero commands her to become his personal poisoner. The Emperor’s Assassin chronicles the life of Locusta of Gaul, a shadowy historical figure whose poisonous deeds remain only conjectures.
Locusta is not only a survivor, she is a complex and strong woman who embraces her cunning, sexuality, and herbal knowledge to thrive during Nero’s treacherous reign. Ordered to leave her pastoral life, Locusta is swept into a world of Roman intrigue, scandal, and murder. At a time when defying an Emperor meant death and treason lurked behind every corner, Locusta must embrace her profession or die.
As she journeys from the vineyards of Gaul to the Imperial palaces of Rome, Locusta discovers the importance of friendship, the consequences of dangerous knowledge, and the cost of freedom.
Historical erotica available January 2020 ~ Confessions of a Sheba Queen.
During a sandstorm in the ancient lands of Saba, a powerful jinni in hiding gives birth to a daughter. An intelligent, curious child, Bilqīs does not inherit the super-human physical gifts of her mother, a being born of smokeless fire, and yet deep within burns the courageous spirit of her fearsome parentage. Her rite into womanhood, however, reveals a sexual hunger that may be her undoing.
Tragedy forces Bilqīs to leave her home and travel to the city of Ma’rib where she seeks revenge upon the king. Danger lurks around every bend and corner for a young woman with only her wit, courage, and body as her weapons. Bilqīs soon masters the art of seduction and finds it the most pleasurable method to achieve her goals.
But fate intervenes, and what begins as a quest for vengeance becomes a mission to make the land of Saba the wealthiest kingdom in ancient history. Bilqīs, the enigmatic Queen of Sheba, battles prejudices, jealousy, corruption, and her own unquenchable hunger for carnal pleasures.
It is only after meeting King Solomon that Bilqīs discovers her greatest battle is not with others but within herself.
Historical Fiction coming 2020 ~ Diros
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?
Gone with the Wind
Tales of Genji
The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes
The Complete Works of Agatha Christie
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