Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a ‘real-life romance’ writer, and I write to keep myself sane and because THE INK demands it.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first published book, ‘Climbing The Walls’ is Book 1 of my current passion project — the ‘real-life romance’ Hart & Cole Series.
H&C is not a typical romance. My themes are simple: RELATIONSHIPS. MARRIAGE. SEX. INFIDELITY. INSECURITY. It’s about “After the ‘I Do’ ”… no one rides off into the sunset at the end of one of my novels; sorry. A marriage is not a happy ending; it’s a beginning of so much more to come.
The main characters have been with me for over 15 years now — glimpses of them emerge and haunt me for months on end, and then they go quiet for a year or more.
Book 1, Climbing The Walls , started its first draft somewhere around 2002… so it’s been largely buried under a rock for over a decade and a half! The second half of Book 2, Pandora’s Poison, was mostly written over a couple of months in 2016 — I lent the first book to a friend, and she DEMANDED I finish Book 2, so I did.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Honestly, I don’t have a writing process or habit. I write when the story possesses me, when my characters whisper to me.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King — I am amazed at the AMOUNT of work he has produced over his career, and his tenacity to keep at it. He is also unafraid to voice his opinion, even when it means disparaging other writers.
Jodi Picoult — she has amazing metaphors that slip in unexpectedly and stay with you long after you’ve closed the book.
John Grisham — despite the dry, tight writing, there is always an undercurrent of dark humour in his novels.
What are you working on now?
‘Pandora’s Poison’ and ‘Pandora’s Price’ — these will be Book 2 and 3 in my Hart & Cole series. They both deal with the couple Darren and Luisa, who are struggling to keep it together while raising a child that was the product of an extramarital affair. It is intense, and painful, and some scenes I literally cried while writing. I am currently editing and tightening these two novels and hope to publish at least one before the end of 2018.
I also have Book 4 about halfway complete ‘Below The Surface’ which deals with Bryan and Stacey, a couple that have smothered so many secrets in their past that emerge years later when people from their past reenter their lives.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon Marketing Services, Instagram and Facebook and other social media. I am a new author, so still playing around to see what works best!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Every novel isn’t everyone’s “cup of tea”… and you always, always, always have to keep that in mind as a writer. You do your best to have the “bones” of the story intact – a good plot, grammar, structure; you do your best to “market it pretty” with a good cover design and blurb… but the rest, you just have to test the waters to see what your readers think… and you have to have faith YOU WILL FIND YOUR TRIBE. Despite bad reviews (or ‘iffy’ comments from well-intentioned people) DO NOT LET ANYONE MAKE YOU DOUBT YOURSELF. And… JUST PUBLISH THE DAMN THING.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You can edit bad writing but not a blank page.
What are you reading now?
The last good book I read was fellow indie author Mercedes Siler’s “Easy”. Right now, I’m trying not to read anything until I’ve gotten through another draft of my Book 2! It’s focus time.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to write at least 5 books for Hart & Cole, and then I’ll see what’s next. Right now these characters won’t let me move on to anything else!
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?
Follyfoot series – Monica Dickens
A Painted House – John Grisham
Dolores Claiborne – Stephen King
… and my own novel Climbing The Walls, it was a huge accomplishment for me to finally publish it! I’d want my characters to keep me company 🙂
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