Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Nice to meet you. I write romantic adventure here in the mountains of Colorado. My hubby and I were buddies in high school but didn’t date until ten years later, mainly because I told him I was never getting married. (Yet look who became a romance writer. Life can be weird.) He was strategic enough not to say anything and just started doing things here and there, and showing up, enough that I got hooked on him. Devious one, that guy. Here we are, married 20+ years later, with kids, pets, and a family of bears living in the canyon below us. I love to mountain bike, I lose something daily, and you will always find a pile of laundry at my house. Always. Outside of that, I write light hearted romantic adventure because I’m a sap, but also because life I surprising, love is complicated, and romance can be entertainingly awkward. I’ve got one short novelette up on Amazon, with a full novel in the series coming out May 22.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Matchmaker’s Catch. I was inspired by Noah, my enigmatic quarterback. He’s completely misread and misunderstood. If we’re being raw here, my husband inspired the character somewhat. He played football, but he was not a typical jock. He’s very much a romantic and was never the serial ladies man. Noah, however, took a number of fun turns, so he’s 100% fictional. From there, the heroine showed up, and the shenanigans began! One of said shenanigans was skijøring. One person straps on a set of skis, grabs a rope attached to a horse, then the rider on the horse takes off, essentially dragging the skier through an obstacle course. It looks like outrageous fun to me, if only I could ski adeptly, at all. (I know. Shame on me. People from Colorado are supposed to be awesome skiers, right out of the womb.) Honestly, I just found out about the sport two years ago. I suppose I’ve been living under a rock, because most years they hold a skijøring event in Silverton, Colorado, not too far from me. I can’t wait to see it in person! Aside from that, crepes play a fun part in the story, and I’m a die hard crepe fan. I even have a recipe up on my website. Bon appetit!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Oh heavens yes. Most of my writer friends break out in a cold sweat when we start comparing habits. Most of them have software to keep them organized, on track, and plotting merrily away. Me? Tried that. Hard pass. My house appears normal on the surface, but if you look under, in, or behind any given surface, you’re bound to find sticky notes, note cards, articles, pictures, advertisements, notes on history, screenshots of computer games, and who knows what. They’re in the couch cushions, under the coffeepot, and stuck in a pattern that only makes sense to me behind our bedroom door. And I know where to find every one of them and how I’m going to use them in my story. Needless to say, I’m a tactile person and I thrive in the midst of writing chaos. When I plot it take up an entire room. I actually have the string, tape, pins, cards and everything in a cobweb around the room. Did I mention my husband is a tidy, former military sort? Yet somehow we’re still married. I think it has something to do with me promising him a trip to Bora Bora.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh, boy. Get comfy. Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca made me fall in love with fiction in 8th grade. I know that’s an odd first-loved-book, but there you go. From there, I took another strange turn and dove into Stephen King. Yep, nothing at all like du Maurier, but the excitement, dread, and horror in his pages made me want to create emotion like he could. From there, I pulled another hairpin turn and dove into Terry Brooks’ writings, particularly the Shannara series, which showed me what it was like to disappear into a fictitious world. I’m a fan of Jennifer Cruisie’s fun romance, Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, the complexity of a David Baldacci, Tessa Bailey’s flirtatious writings, the rawness from Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series, and so many more.
What are you working on now?
I’m finishing up edits for the first full novel in the First Three Dates Matchmaking series due out May 22. I’ve had a surprising amount of fun writing this book. I hope the readers do, too! I’m also halfway through edits on a second, edgier series about the most unqualified, uniquely talented team never to be officially a part of the FBI. They’re my H.O.T.T.I.E.S., the Highly Outrageous Tactical Team for Infiltration, Extraction, and Sabotage, and I can’t wait for you to meet them.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ll let you know when I figure that out! lol. I’m on Facebook and Instagram and very much enjoy the interaction I’ve had there with readers and fellow writers. Word of mouth is Queen, so most of my sales up to now have come from friends telling friends. (Thank you!!)
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes. Don’t be afraid to be odd. Write your story, and have a blast with it. If you’re not having a blast, step back. Stop there. Your reader will know. Sure, there’s the “grind” in everything we do, but the act of creation should involve your heart. Turn it loose and believe in yourself. There’s only one of you in the universe, and that makes your story invaluable. Hone your craft and tell it well.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You aren’t meant to be like everyone else. Embrace that and use it to affect the world around you (hopefully for good and not for evil).
What are you reading now?
Stealing Mr. Right by Tamara Morgan, Turning the Page by Jean Marie, and the Royal We by Heather Cock and Jessica Morgan. Yeah. I’m always reading three things at once. Let’s not psychoanalyze. Let’s move onto the next question, shall we? And we’re walking…
What’s next for you as a writer?
Why, taking over the world, of course. Wait. Sorry. That’s for my Megalomaniac Facebook group goal session later. They’re helping me break down world domination using the S.M.A.R.T. goal system and a kanban board. Lovely people. Definitely helping.
Ahem. Back to writing. Yes. Well, I’m focused on two series at the moment that should keep me busy for the next few years. I have some booths at comic cons lined up next year that I’m super pumped about. I adore dressing up and meeting people. (Not so much the typical introverted writer here.) Aside from that, I’ll be plotting and scheming future endeavors. Mwahahaha
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?
Heeheee. Will I get in trouble for naming Omnibus editions? Also, I’m going to be feisty and reserve a deserted island instead of a desert island. I was born in the desert. I’ve had my fill; don’t plan on going back. So, running with that massive change, I believe I’ll pack my SAS survival Handbook by John “Lofty” Wiseman (yep, I own it), a huge blank book so I can keep writing, and Moby Dick because there’s no way I’m ever going to finish it unless I’m on a deserted island and that’s all I’ve got. #confessionisgoodforthesoul
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