Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am from the romantic Pocono Mountains but I adore writing about about the land of paradise in the Florida Keys. The keys are filled with love, romance, moonlit nights and full moons that are so much more vivid than any place else I’ve ever been.
I’ve written two books so far, What Tomorrow Brings and Nothing Waits Forever
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest book that I released is called Nothing Waits Forever, the story of Jon and Abby. What inspired it was that I loved writing What Tomorrow Brings so much that I didn’t want to stop at their story. So, I thought that Jon, Jake’s twin brother, needed his own story.
Abby dresses up like Pippi Longstocking, where she volunteers at a hopsice center. I loved the stories of Pippi when I was younger and wanted to incorporate her unique personality into my main character. Especially since Abby never lived a normal life, so I thought it would be fun to add a splash of Pippi to her character.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have a ritual, get coffee, read online bible passages for a few minutes and then do some prayer. This all happens before I start my writing. It’s the only way I start my day but it isn’t unusual. I’m sure others do the same as well.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
So many authors have influenced me. I spent a lot of time at the library and loved reading the classics. Little House on the Prairie was one of my favorites. As far as romance, I used to “borrow” my Mom’s books and that’s how I started enjoying romance when I was about fifteen. She had this one trilogy called One Wore Blue, One Wore Gray and One Rode West. When I read the three books, I said to myself that I was going to write a romance someday.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on Key West Wild. One of the characters from Nothing Waits Forever, Joshua Eden, an undercover agent, who spent the last ten years as a homeless man working for the government, spends some time in Key West trying to decide what he wants to do next.
Along comes Sara Rose, the sister of another agent. She had plans to stay with her brother after getting out of a bad marriage, but when she gets to Key West, her brother is missing and she winds up managing a bed and breakfast. It’s still in the works and I’m not quite sure what happens next, but the characters will often come alive and let me know in which direction they are moving. Sara just wanted to get wild in Key West and Joshua wanted peace and quiet. It’s going to be fun to see what happens next.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am a basically new to promoting my books, but I know social media is a good way to get your name out there. I don’t think you should ‘sell’ yourself, but get to know readers and people and establish a relationship with them. It’s important to me to return mail and answer any questions as soon as I can.
Awesomegang.com is turning out to be a great support for writers. The advertising is affordable and when you have a free promo, they help promote your book. Don’t hesitate to use this website to promote.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep writing. Don’t stop and never, ever give up. It may seem as if you are going nowhere at first, but no one has ever gotten where they are by throwing in the towel.
Success is out there and any genre can be successful. It’s just a matter of work and how much you want success.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
My mentor told me that I have all the tools I need to keep writing, so don’t fall for all of the ads and promotions out there. I could spend a small fortune buying everyone’s programs. She told me to write and write and write and I will become better and better every day. So, that’s what I am doing.
What are you reading now?
I just finished reading a sweet romance called Way Out West, about a man who builds a western town as a get-a-way for people to unwind and forget about their real world. It’s a great concept and I could see a series of books about it.
What’s next for you as a writer?
To keep writing every day. I actually have a historical romance in the works that I started a few years back. I may bring that out and see what I can do with it.
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?
First, I would bring my own as you can never get done editing. Then, if I needed a good, long book to keep me going, it would have to be Stephen King’s 11/22/63. I have been meaning to read it for months and it’s so thick. I think if I were stranded, it would be a great time to start. My bible would be the one book I could not leave behind.
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