Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
A Parrothead at heart, my love for pirates began with Peter Pan and continued with Pirates of the Caribbean and ghost stories about pirates from the Outer Banks. I listen to Celtic music while I write. When life gets too serious, I read Calvin and Hobbes comics. I live in Ohio with my tall, dark and handsome husband, three children and two rambunctious dogs, Indiana and Luke, who are named after my two favorite action heroes.
Descended from a family of cooks and gourmet chefs, I’m a true foodie and along with working for fortune 500 companies in marketing and teaching MBA students strategic marketing, I also ran a gourmet cookie company. Cooking for a crowd runs in the blood, so my fridge is always full. I deal with stress by baking pies (just ask my college roommates what it was like for them around exam time).
My idea of a perfect day? Sailing on the Caribbean with my family, sun in my face and wind at my back, and finishing the day in the kitchen making a fab gourmet meal and sipping a glass of wine.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Hart’s Reward.
My son received a severe concussion and lost his memory for a while. It took time, but eventually all but one day (the day of the accident) returned to him. It made me wonder…what if Landon lost his memory for the past 5 years? What if he was the Landon from 5 years ago when he found out that his late wife had betrayed him, making him vow to never marry again? How could that Landon and Keelan ever fall in love again?
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I meditate before writing. I don’t think it’s unusual, but some might think so. I like to listen to instrumentals, so I don’t start singing and make the dog howl and then lose track of my thoughts…
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Kathleen Woodiwiss, Barbara Freethy, Julia Quinn, Tawna Fenske
What are you working on now?
PIRATE HEIRESS! What a fun book to write!!
Reluctant pirate Stevie Cheramie is on a quest with her family to find a secret treasure hidden by her great-great grandparents, the two notorious pirates Anne Bonny and Calico Jack Rackham. When her eight-year old twin siblings are kidnapped and the ransom demand is a merchant ship called the Seeker, Stevie must find the courage to conquer her fears and fight for those she loves.
French privateer, Drago Viteri Gamponetti, Gampo to his men, has coveted the family-run Ahern merchant fleet for years. He knows if one ship is taken, the others will come to its aid, and sets a trap in Jamaica determined to capture the fleet.
When Captain Conal O’Brien discovers that the pirates work for his sworn enemy, he doesn’t resist capture. What better way to locate Gampo’s secret stronghold than to sail right into it? But these brigands aren’t who they seem to be, and if Conal’s not careful he’s going to lose his heart as well as his ship to the woman determined to possess both.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
After writing 4 books, I’m just now beginning to run a promotional campaign, so I’ll have to let you know. So far, I have used BookTweeters to tweet new releases, set up a Facebook page and a website: Http://www.chloeflowers.com as well as Pintrest boards and a Goodreads author page.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
1. Hone it before you own it.
Become a better writer every day. Learn the craft and then keep learning. Take workshops, join a critique group, join a writers group, go to conferences and become a sponge.
2. Network and find a group of writers who will support you and whom you can support back.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write a series. Write at least 5 books before you look at sales. Momentum is important and until you have a series going, just keep swimming.
What are you reading now?
In Sickness and in Elf by A.E. Jones
What’s next for you as a writer?
A new contemporary series set in a small town called Bridal Veil Falls, the town of happily ever afters!
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?
A Rose in Winter by Kathleen Woodiwiss
Ten Things I Love about You by Julia Quinn
45 Master Characters by Victoria Lynn Schmidt
One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
Author Websites and Profiles
Chloe Flowers Website
Chloe Flowers Amazon Profile
Chloe Flowers’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account