Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I started out professionally as a freelance writer for newspapers and magazines, and also as a freelancer in live television. That’s vague, I know, but I wore a lot of hats over the course of my twelve-year TV career and that’s not what we’re here to talk about. That life was all about financing my fiction habit.
A friend encouraged me to share Bo and Blade’s story and three books (and several shorts later) The Black Wing Chronicles is wrapping up its story arc.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Barron’s Last Stand. I wrote the books out of order. This was actually supposed to be a stand-alone, but the authors and editors in my writer’s group encouraged me to tell the backstory first and write them as a series. The reasoning was that the characters were so engaging, everyone wanted to spend as much time with them as possible. I liked the idea, so I put Barron’s Last Stand on hold for a few years while I cranked out Sovran’s Pawn and Hero’s End.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have a story board wall. I put plot points on index cards and pin them to the board. That way I can order them for pacing. Sometimes, I write them out on the windows in my office in crayon, but the neighbors complained about seeing “Kill Bhruic” on my window and I had to wash them.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have always been inspired by Harry Harrison’s Stainless Steel Rat series. I love the tongue-in-cheek tone and the delightfully amoral characters. Romance author Julie Garwood has always been a favorite of mine, as well. I love the way she catches the reader with a carefully crafted opening line, and then pulls them along with laugh-out-loud humor.
Hmm. I’m starting to see a trend, here.
What are you working on now?
The road to finishing The Black Wing Chronicles has been peppered with personal crises, so I’m happy to have that story arc completed. My readers, however keep asking for more about the characters. I have some first drafts of companion books in the ‘verse, as well as a few shorts that I’m working on. I also have a Southern Humor novel that I’ve been gnawing on for years that is a favorite with my family.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I find word-of-mouth is best. My readers recommending my books to their friends has netted me my best sales. That’s why I spend so much time cultivating relationships with my readers. That, plus they’re awesome!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read and study your craft. Join a critique group. Keep your day job.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t give up your day job. Seriously, it’s very hard to make a living as a writer, let alone a novelist. We can’t all be JK Rowling and it’s vital that stories be told. If you aren’t depending on your writing as your sole source of income, you really do have a greater appreciation for it when you steal time for it, and for when you make money from it.
What are you reading now?
Honestly, I’ve been so immersed in science fiction for so long that I’m taking a break to read some lighthearted Regency Romance by Meara Platt. I look at it as a palate cleanser and refresher for my brain.
What’s next for you as a writer?
A nap.
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?
One book on survival, and The Black Wing Chronicles series.
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