Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve probably started a million books, but have successfully self-published two of them.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
After having watched The Voice on NBC for several seasons, I finally happened to notice how handsome the judge on the far left of my screen was. Adam Levine? Who the hell was Adam Levine? I immediately turned to my best friend, Google, and asked him. I was inundated with a plethora of images, websites, and information. That very night, I had a wonderful dream in which I was introduced to the sexy Mr. Levine. Hence, The Widow and the Rock Star was born. After taking a year and a half to write, rewrite, edit, and re-edit the manuscript, it was published on July 31, 2014. Being told that I needed to have a “series” by many other writers in the know, I sat back down at the keyboard to hash out another story. I wasn’t able to really think of another idea for a full length novel about the characters from Rock Star, so I decided, instead, to write another story about another Widow. Over the course of the next year, I gave birth to The Widow and the Will. Now that it is available to the world, I’m hashing out the final book in the “group” (notice, I don’t say series) called The Widow and the Orphan.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Only that I work best under pressure. I’ll give myself deadlines and then ignore them until it’s days or even hours before them, and then I write like mad to make sure I don’t disappoint myself.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a huge fan of Stephen King, even though I don’t write in the horror genre. I adore Maya Angelou, Terri Morrison, Terry McMillan, and I am also completely enamored by many contemporary authors like Jennifer Crusie, Jennifer Weiner, and Patricia Gaffney. I have discovered quite a few indie authors I love as well, including Mary E. Twomey, Madeline Freeman, Sara-Beth Cole, Rachel Schurig, Andy Lockwood, and Parker J. Cole.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently writing the last in my group of “widow” novels, to be called The Widow and the Orphan.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just put the pen to the page. Or the fingers to the keyboard. There is no such word or phrase as “I can’t.” It just doesn’t exist. If you want to write, you will. If you love to write, you will. Go deep within yourself and don’t let anyone stop you, if it’s really what you want. Don’t worry if it takes a long time. I’ve been writing since I was four and it took me almost forty years to publish. It’s not about money or fame or any of that. It’s about the love of the craft and wanting to do it more than anything else.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Shut up and write. I was taking a creative writing class through the adult community education department in my local county and when I complained about the topic for a timed writing exercise, the instructor looked at me and said, “Shut up and write.”
What are you reading now?
I don’t tend to read while I’m trying to write because I’m afraid I’ll be influenced by the book in my head. When I’m in the editing or revision stage, I will devour a dozen books in a few weeks time to cleanse my pallet of my own work. The last time I was able to read, I finished The Vemreaux series by Mary Twomey, Empty Hallways by Andy Lockwood, Many Strange Women by Parker Cole, and Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Business as usual. Just to keep writing. Even if an idea I start with doesn’t pan out, chances are, there are several million behind it. One of ’em is bound to stick and I’ll run away 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?
The Stand by Stephen King, A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux, anything by Maya Angelou, and Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry.
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