Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been telling stories since I was a little girl growing up in Cape Cod. Books were always fascinating to me; they were little worlds I could explore in an afternoon. I’m about to publish my third novel and am looking forward to having a fourth out following shortly.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My newest book is “Awakening, A Novel of Olympus.” It’s the second book in the series, and inspired by the Greek Myths. The protagonist is Cora, from Kore or Persephone, and she is married to Marcus Ubeli, who is a mob boss or “Lord of the Underworld” (Hades). The first book in the series was based on their love story, and this second installment treats the myth of “Orpheus and Eurydice”, or “Orpheus in the Underworld.” Zeus, Aphrodite, Hermes, and Athena all have cameos!
The setting of the series is Olympus, a modern city that’s based loosely on New York. Zeus is the mayor. Aphrodite is a stripper and porn star. Hermes is a fashion designer and Athena is a tech genius.
It’s super fun writing this modern twist to the Greek Pantheon and I forsee several more books in the series.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Now I write pretty loosely all day, although while I was writing part time I would type phrases and ideas on my cellphone. My best prose pops into my head first thing in the morning, so I keep a notebook and my laptop right beside the bed. And if I get stuck, I take a nap!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
More than I could even list in one sitting, but here’s a start: C. S. Lewis, Ursula LeGuinn, Robin McKinley, and more recently Patricia Briggs and Jim Butcher for their fantasy series. As for the myths, I’m more inspired by the art, paintings and sculpture that interpreted the Greek myths over the years than I am the works of Ovid, Hesiod and Homer. I wanted to capture the action and romance of the myths but tell them in my own way.
Sheri Tepper has a wonderful book called “Gate to Women’s Country” that gives a feminist spin on the Greek tragedies. I remember reading it and thinking, “Women don’t really have a voice in these Greek myths.” Sheri gave them a voice and I wanted to as well.
Finally, thank you to John Locke and all the wonderful indie authors who are putting their works out on Kindle. They inspired me to do so as well.
What are you working on now?
Right now I’m finishing the third book in the “Olympus” series, and have plans for the fourth and fifth book. I wrote a book in college that won the Hollins Fiction Prize and I plan to upload it after a final edit. It was the first book I wrote and I shelved it for eight years thinking I would find an agent and publisher. Thanks to the internet and indie ebook publishing there’s no reason to wait anymore!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Right now word of mouth advertising has been working best. I also have fun on tumblr, pinterest and twitter engaging and finding ideas for my novels.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read a lot, have fun writing and never stop believing in your dream!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
James Patterson’s advice to do what I just paraphrased above.
What are you reading now?
The biography of Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. And a self help book on reaching goals called “The Secret Code of Success.” I’m always on the lookout for more great fiction reads as I can devour one in only a few hours.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Write more. Read more. Nap. Repeat! Also getting my website up and starting to give away my first few books for free, as a way to grow my following to over 100,000 readers.
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?
Sunshine by Robin McKinley, Beyond Positive Thinking by Robert Anthony. And two notebooks so I can write until I figure out a way to cure and bind banana leaves or something. Maybe that’d be the third book: how to make paper on a deserted island. LOL!
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