Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an award-winning writer of romantic suspense. My debut novel, Leather and Lies, earned an honorable mention award as a finalist in the 2018 RWA Kiss of Death’s Daphne Du Maurier contest and a 3rd place finish in the 2018 Valley Forge Romance Writer’s Sheila contest in the romantic suspense category.
I’m a hopeless romantic who enjoys plotting the harrowing journeys my characters go on before they finally reach their happily-ever-after. I live a quiet country life in northeastern Pennsylvania, residing on a piece of the old family farm with my husband, son, and two cats. Writing as a hobby since childhood, I spend my days as the grant writer and operations director for a local non-profit agency focusing on public health issues. When I’m not penning steamy romance scenes in her spare time, her interests include traveling, visiting amusement parks, collecting baseballs, hiking, and reading.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Leather and Lies was conceived in a burst of inspiration while I was elbow deep in dirty dish water. I’d been contemplating writing a steamy romance for a few days, but wasn’t sure where to start. I knew I wanted to have a strong heroine who drove the plot with more than just a “does he or doesn’t he like me” dilemma. My husband dabbles in criminal profiling as a hobby and also rides a Harley, so he served as both inspiration for my female lead, Skye, and my male lead, Wes.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Nothing that I consider unusual. While I prefer to be listening to music or in a quiet secluded place when writing, I also have a full time job and a 4-year-old son, so I’ve learned to seize any opportunity to write, no matter if it’s ideal or not.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Janet Evanovich is a strong influence on my writing. I love her Stephanie Plum series and have been reading it for years, so I knew I wanted to emulate her use of strong female characters as well as humor to balance out some of the more serious plot points in my novel.
I’m also influenced by Amy L Gale, whose books introduced me to the steamy romance. She was kind of my gateway drug to this genre.
What are you working on now?
I’ve got more pokers in the fire than I know what to do with right now. I’ve got a sequel for Leather and Lies on the way, as well as two stand-alone romance novels. One is a steamy second chance romance tale entwined with a murder mystery. The other leans more toward paranormal romance and has a time travel element.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m a debut author, so I’m still figuring this out. So far, it seems that creating a strong newsletter following is one of the best ways to promote books. There are no algorithms involved, no hoping the right readers see a promoted post. Everyone gets the e-mail and I can promote multiple books, events, and contests in one newsletter.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Find an established author in your genre who is willing to mentor you! Seriously, the amount of things I didn’t know about publishing and marketing was astounding. My mentor is the fabulous Amy L Gale and she told me after I finished the first draft of Leather and Lies “writing the books is the easy part.” She wasn’t kidding.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Find a critique group and let them read your manuscript. And learn to take the constructive criticism and apply it. Edit. Edit. Then edit some more. Also, critique other people’s writing in the group. It will help you learn to identify your own strengths and weaknesses as a writer.
What are you reading now?
Between my works in progress, a full time job, and family life, there isn’t a whole lot of time for reading. I do have a steamy romance set, Tropical Tryst, waiting for me on my Kindle when I do get a bit of downtime.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully releasing a few more books and perhaps getting in on some boxed sets. I would love to earn my letters and add “best selling author” in front of my name.
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?
Can I count Janet Evanovich’s entire Stephanie Plum series as one book? No. I guess I would take her Hard Eight, Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and Brown’s Davinci Code. I know, I have some eclectic tastes.
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