Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! I’m Xio (pronounced Zee-ohh.) I’ve self-published two books and have three more on the way. I write love stories, contemporary romance and what I like to call strange, twisted tales. (The latter no doubt due to my days writing Buffy fan fiction.) I’ve also been known to write erotica and women’s fiction. I grew up in the music industry and have been recording since I was about 4 years old. I live in Philadelphia with my full-time husband and my part-time cat. Oh, and I am obsessed with all things Outlander.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest novel, FALLING STARS, began life as a serial novel called Starstruck that was posted on my Tumblr blog. The serial ran from January to September, 2013. I had no intention of publishing it, but fans of the story demanded it. So, here I am. The book (the first in a series) deals with some difficult topics, but at the heart of the story, there is a coming together of soulmates. Ahhh, love. Can it overcome everything?
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to use daydreams to work out my plots. I’m a pantser by nature, as opposed to someone who plots out every scene – a plotter. I like to live with my characters before I start to write about them. I embrace the voices in my head. They’re so much more fun than I am.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Geez, this list is long. I’d never read a romance novel until 2013, after I’d written the STARSTRUCK serial. A friend made several recommendations, books by Tracy Brogan, Robin Covington, and J. R. Ward. I loved them all. Since then, I’ve devoured the works of Kim Golden, Laura Kaye, Sylvia Day, Kaia Bennett and so many more. I grew up reading Anne Rice, and looooove Jim Butcher’s Dresden series, so there’s a bit of that in there too.
What are you working on now?
Right now I’m editing book two in the Calum series and book two in the Falling Stars series, and writing book three in the Calum series. 2016 is going to be a very busy year.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My readers found me on Tumblr, and I do love it there. Facebook would be next in line. It’s easier to manage. And I love Twitter for its immediacy. Some of my characters have Twitter accounts, and it’s fun to watch them interact.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you love. Read, both in your genre and outside of it. (I know too many authors that refuse to read within their genre.) Don’t give up, and never stop learning.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Tell the story you want to tell, don’t worry about what’s trendy.
What are you reading now?
THE SPACESHIP NEXT DOOR by Gene Doucette and NOBODY’S PRINCESS by Sarah Hegger.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Writing, writing, writing. I’m having fun as an Indie author, but I am also intrigued by the lure of traditional publishing. I might try my hand at both.
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?
Are you kidding? You mean three or four Kindles, right? If I were only allowed physical books, two of them would be blank so that I could write my own stories. The other two? I have no idea. Perhaps UNDENIABLE by Madeline Sheehan and THE WITCHING HOUR by Anne Rice.
Author Websites and Profiles
Xio Axelrod Website
Xio Axelrod Amazon Profile
Xio Axelrod’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
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