Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m relatively new. I have one book published (Sex, Lies, and Beauty Aids) and one slated for release (Sex, Secrets & Happily Ever Afters, August 4th 2015) with three more slated for the Twisted Sisters Club series.
In addition, I’m plotting a 9 book cowboy series, and 3 other 3 book/series to follow.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Sex, Secrets, & Happily Ever Afters is book 2 of the The Twisted Sisters Club series. The series is about a group of friends. It was inspired by the friends I’ve known in my life. Always being there for one another no matter what. The levels you’re willing to go to for those friends, and the mishaps and mayhem that happen along the way. The one fun running theme in this series is the girls play a game of “Truth and Dare” which doesn’t always have the expected results, and more often than not, leads to embarrassing circumstances and situations. And there’s always some sort of “revenge” being plotted…somewhere.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to write long hand notes at the end of the day. Then the next day I’ll add the plot details I came up with to the current notes in place. Sometimes bits of dialog, situations, ideas, whatever…I decide the best place for it, and keep going…when I’m done writing for the day. I set that aside and just make more hand written notes. Something about writing it out long hand being away from the computer makes it easier to come up with ideas.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love Janet Evanovich. I hear people say, come one decide Joe or Ranger already…all I can say is “Why decide?” Stephanie gets into more trouble, has more fun, and two men wanting her…what’s not to like? It was the Stephanie Plum Series, which I love, that showed me you can have all sort of characters. I personally love Grandma Mazur…I just love the lady. She was the key to me finding my Blue-haired Brigade in my current comedy series. These ladies know now boundaries, they have no filter, and you can’t turn them off.
Another huge influence is Jude Devereaux and her Montgomery/Taggert saga. She writes men so darn well, you just have to keep reading to find everything you can about the characters and what they do, who they are, and who’s next. I’m working on getting her entire saga in hardcover now. That’s how much I like them. Same with the Stephanie Plum series…they’re my keepers!
What are you working on now?
I’m working on book 3 of my Twisted Sisters Club series. It’s Kat’s story, then I’ll do Jill’s, and last but not least Carina. Kat’s the wild child, the strongest female I’ve ever written, and boy does she fight me. Every time I think I need to tone her down, she won’t let me and does something outrageous just to prove it. Kat’s is a story about bullying and she’s not about to let it happen on her watch.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I do a lot of sharing on Facebook, Blogs, Interviews, Blog Talk Radio shows, and now I’m working on other promos for visibility. It’s hard to know what works. Nothing is concrete and what works one time may not work the next. But, I am taking notes and will gladly share.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Learn your craft, don’t rush that learning process, and really get to know your characters. Writing isn’t for the weak of heart. It’s a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, sorry for the cliché but it is. You can never stop learning, you can never be good enough, and seriously, it’s an addiction…I don’t know how to stop, nor do I want to.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I got was from a writer friend who came to speak to our local RWA chapter. I had a bad case of writer’s block, stuck in chapter 7 of Sex, Lies, and Beauty Aids…and I didn’t now why. During Tawny’s talk she said something about fear. I asked about what she meant…she said when she got a block it was fear, the character fears and fear from the author, and that when that happens ask yourself, what does your character fear and why, then give it to her…at the same time ask yourself why you fear for that character. IT WAS PURE GENIUS! I went home and finished the story in less than 2 weeks; it practically wrote itself. I then went back on every story I’d stalled on and finished them. I no longer get stuck because now I know how to get past it. Thank you, Tawny!
What are you reading now?
I just finished reading Stephanie Evanovich’s Big Girl Panties and Sweet Spot. Both are terrific books. I love the character Holly in Big Girl Panties. I can so relate to her situation, but it’s her moxy that endeared me, her sass and snark, and that she wasn’t afraid to extract her kind of revenge. She’s my kind of character.
And Amanda in Sweet Spot is in every woman I know…that want to be perfect, be the good daughter, good wife, good person, doing everything she can to always be good, ignoring the inner vixen screaming for freedom.
I can’t wait for her next book.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m finishing up a story for an anthology that will be out this summer. More details on it to come, it’s kind of a secret for now.
And have finalized the first draft of the first book in a 9 book cowboy series. Sterling Bronco is an Army Ranger, injured during his deployment and sent home where he finds EVERYTHING has changed. I can’t wait to concentrate on him and that series.
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?
I’d bring one of the Stephanie Plum series probably Explosive Eighteen when they’re in Hawaii, Amanda/Miranda by Richard Peck, The Mirror by Marlys Millhiser, and Turning Angel by Greg Iles. Those four would fit any mood I would be in.
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