What is your favorite book/who is your favorite author?
My absolute favorite book is The Great Gatsby. I’ve read that book so many times. I don’t have one favorite author, but there are many whose work I admire. Some include Toni Morrison, Beverly Jenkins, JK Rowling, James Patterson, and most recently, Alyssa Cole. Her Loyal League series is amazing.
What book do you think everyone should read?
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing since I was a kid. I’ve always loved storytelling for fun, but only in the past five years or so have I started taking it seriously.
What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book?
I don’t do much research beforehand. I’m a pantser, so I usually love to dive into the story as soon as possible. I do research here and there as I write. Any major research I make notes of and sort out during the editing stage.
Do you see writing as a career?
In an ideal world, yes! I would love to one day become a full time author.
Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre?
I’m definitely a big book lover. I try to switch it up and read different genres, but my favorite is probably historical romance.
Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?
I need music. The type of music depends on the story and scene I’m writing. For Chasing Wild Horses, I listened to a lot of alternative and country music, particularly from the 90’s. It really depends on the project what I’m listening to. Music helps me draw inspiration and adds to the mood/atmosphere when writing.
Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?
At one any given time I have multiple projects going, but usually in different phases. I’ll have one book I’m writing, another I’m editing and a last book being promoted/published. It gives me a chance to hop between projects depending on the day, though it’s also hectic at times too. :)
If you could have been the author of any book ever written, which book would you choose?
Probably The Great Gatsby.
Pen or type writer or computer?
Computer for sure!
Tell us about a favorite character from a book.
One character I absolutely loved was Elle Burns from An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole. Elle stood out to me because she was so brilliantly written. She had her flaws like being impulsive and stubborn, but she was also strong, intelligent, compassionate and many other things. I just love complex female protagonists.
What made you want to become an author and do you feel it was the right decision?
Absolutely the right decision. I can’t pinpoint my desire to become an author to one thing other than that I love telling stories. It’s always been who I am no matter the age I am or the phase of life I’m in. What I write changes, but my desire to write will always be there. As an author, I feel so fortunate to be able to publish my books and entertain readers.
A day in the life of the author?
I’m a part-time author who juggles author duties with my main career and school, but on a day I’m able to devote 100% of my time to author stuff, I usually start off by checking my author email. After I sort through those, I move onto social media. I’m not big on social media, to be completely honest. I didn’t even have social media before becoming an indie author, but I still try to check mine daily. Once I’m through with that, I check any ads I’m running for my books to see how they’re performing. I usually don’t start writing until late morning. Most of the time I don’t get many words down, because I’m much more creative at night. I usually save the afternoon for any editing I need to do. At night, I write. I get down probably 80% of my writing between the hours of 7 p.m. and 1 a.m.
Advice they would give new authors?
Never compare yourself to others. Everyone’s author journey is different.
What makes a good story?
Great characters! Relatable, well written characters make or break the story.
What are they currently reading?
I’m currently reading Love Sucks by Cynthia St. Aubin
What is your writing process?
I tend to dive into my stories right away. I figure out the plot and characters as I go. It might sound terrifying to let the story/characters lead the way, but usually I find a groove by the end. For drafts two and three, I focus on tightening up the story and characters. Draft four is usually the copy edit. The last draft is the proofread.
What are common traps for aspiring writers?
Imposter syndrome for sure. I don’t know a writer who has not experienced imposter syndrome at some point, myself included.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
Outlines! The quickest way for me to lose interest in a story is an overly detailed outline. There are so many stories I’ve started and stopped due to outlining.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
I do try to keep readers in the back of my mind, but ultimately, I try to follow where the story leads me. I write the story that most interests me.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Stop being afraid to put yourself out there! I wasted so many years thinking an author career was out of reach
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
Definitely expressing male emotion. Men typically express themselves differently. They usually process their feelings, particularly in terms of love and relationships, differently as well. I try to be as authentic as possible when writing from a male perspective.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
It depends on the project. Love’s Recipe took me 3-4 weeks. Chasing Wild Horses took me 3 months. Sometimes the words just flow, but other times it can be like pulling teeth.
Do you believe in writer’s block?
Writer’s block is a thing, but I feel like everyone experiences it differently. For some writers, all they need is a daylong break. Maybe some time reading. Others struggle for days or weeks, even months. Overcoming writer’s block is something you have to figure out for yourself. I’ve experienced a creative block that was solved by me changing my writing space. I’ve experienced a creative block that was not solved no matter how many writing exercises I tried. It really all depends because creativity in general is so fluid.
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