Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have three published books and more in progress. I typically write twisty mystery-thrillers. My debut novel, Kings & Queens, is currently FREE on all online stores. The stand-alone sequel, Sapphire Reign, just came out summer 2014. And my first Middle Grade novel, Angels Club, has just released as well, and was co-written by another local author, Sandra J. Howell, who knows much more about horses than I do. Neither one of us could have written this book alone. We made the perfect team, which is kind of funny, because the girls in our book learn their Angels Club is at its best when everyone decides to overcome their differences and work together. Then, everyone gets to shine.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Sandra and I have been attending fairs with our local authors group to sell our books for over two years, and we always see kids streaming through, but no one in our group has kid books. We considered doing a picture book that showcased the rare American Curly horse, but I’m a cover designer, and one of my pre-made covers that I slapped the title “Angels Club” on kept calling to me. I craved it for myself. So I brought up the idea of combining the horse angle with a club that goes around doing good deeds. A Middle Grade novel would allow us the space to showcase all the things we care about: horses–especially the American Curly, ethnic and handi-capable diversity (we both have Autistic children and hers is in a wheelchair), bullying, friendship, riding therapy and using your talents and strengths to made a positive difference in the world. She loved the idea, so our collaboration began, and we work awesomely together.
We have a series of at least three Angels Club books planned featuring varied ethnic perspectives, not so we can have X, Y and Z represented, but because these are the characters with stories to tell.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really, but I always have to have coffee beside me.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Dean Koontz and John Saul have probably influenced me the most. I don’t write exactly their genre or style, but it definitely gave me a taste for the weird and twisty, and that’s mostly what I write.
What are you working on now?
The second book in the Angels Club series. It has the alternating perspectives of Kat, a sassy little spitfire whose family owns the Sunny Brook Therapeutic Ranch, and River, her Cherokee frenemy and fellow adventurer whom she usually can’t stand.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ll be honest and say, I totally stink at promotion and marketing, but I learn a lot about publishing and promotion in general from KBoards and in various author groups on Facebook.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Get some beta readers/proofreaders/critters, I’d say six, before sending your book out to professionals, whether it be your own hired editor or to shop your manuscript to agents. You should have your work as clean and polished as you can get it before sending it out. It’s not an editor’s job to fix big glaring problems with flow, flat characters, plot holes and more, so be professional and do things correctly.
I know you are eager to publish, but do NOT sign up for anything that makes you purchase a package. Usually they are the first sites that come up if you search how to/where publish a book. This is not a real publisher; it is a predator press. They also take a chunk of your royalties on top of what you would have spent on a clunker car, at minimum. Seriously, run as fast as you can from these peeps and don’t look back. Either aim to find an agent that reps your genre if you want to go traditional or self-publish through Createspace, which is free, and source out your editor, book formatter and cover designer, if you don’t have the skills, for much, much cheaper, and then you’ll get to keep all your royalties and control your own career path.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Know the rules so you can know when and how it’s appropriate to break them.
What are you reading now?
I’m too busy writing right now, but some thriller, YA or New Adult novel will be likely next.
What’s next for you as a writer?
More Angels Club books. I also have an Urban Fantasy Romance novel that I keep working on a little bit at a time.
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?
The Bible
The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe
The Complete Works of Shakespeare
Author Websites and Profiles
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