Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an award-winning young adult author with a passion for the paranormal. Now with over fifty books in happy publication, I live in beautiful Prince Edward Island, Canada, with my patient husband and six massive cats.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Foresight, based on a group of female oracles descended from the Delphic tradition. It’s the first in a spinoff series based on my popular Hayle Coven Universe. I’ve always been fascinated with the ability to see the future. I learned to read Tarot at a young age and still do on occasion. The opportunity to explore foreseeing was too good to pass up.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I tend to be pretty boring. My days start with marketing and answering emails in the morning, followed by an afternoon of either writing or outlining. I tend to work pretty much 24/7, with the odd day off in between. One of the benefits of loving what I do, it never feels like work!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
David Eddings, The Belgariad, Anne McCaffery, The Dragonriders of Pern… I’m a huge sci-fi and fantasy nerd and grew up on The Lord of the Rings and other books of that nature. It was only when I reached my thirties I discovered young adult books and fell in love.
What are you working on now?
I’m right now working on The Outcast, book one of the Hayle Coven Destinies. It’s an adult series, a continuation of my twenty volume Hayle Coven Novels. I’ve been hearing the lead character’s voice in my head for about four years now, and she loves to tell me stories.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I tend to use a variety of methods, including my own mailing list, my Facebook fanpage and Twitter, as well as outside sites like Awesomegang. Anything I can do to share my work with readers, I’m all for it.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Several pieces, actually. One, be a professional, always. I know it’s hard when you receive a bad review or someone is mean or cruel to you. But if you want to survive in this industry, it’s less about having a thick skin and more about treating everything outside of writing as a business.
Two, research all of your options. Maybe you want a traditional deal, or would like to be an independent. Unless you ask around and examine all of your choices, you won’t know for sure which route works for you. And ask other writers who are further along the road than you! Most are open and kind about sharing knowledge.
And third–have fun! Please don’t ever forget in the heat of the moment, in the agony of waiting for sales that this job we do is the most fun ever. Ever. If you catch yourself losing sight of that, find a reminder. Because in the end, if you’re having fun, so are your readers.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Go independent. For me, it’s worked out incredibly well. While it might not for others, being my own boss has given me the freedom to publish professionally but at the speed I work, instead of waiting on someone else’s timetable.
What are you reading now?
I’m in the middle of Lumiere, by Jacqueline Garlick. I love steampunk!
What’s next for you as a writer?
As always, more writing. I have twenty books scheduled to write and publish this year, and I’m right on target. I’m hoping to attend a few conferences this year, and take some time off in the summer, but I find it hard to step away. I truly feel I’m doing what I’m meant to be doing and I couldn’t be happier.
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, Stephen King. I’ll never get tired of that book.
Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin. The man makes me so angry, but I love his books!
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins. I’m a massive fan.
A journal, so I can write my own while I wait to be rescued.
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