What was your early life like and where did you grow up?
I grew up in a town with more cows than people. I was the only physically disabled person in the whole village and I was treated with a mixture of pity and contempt. Quick story: when I was a senior in high school, my guidance counselor said, “You should stay here till you’re twenty-one. You’re disabled.” Keep in mind, I’d gotten high marks on all my Regents exams (that’s a New York thing).
Needless to say, I couldn’t wait to get out of my hometown. I spent as much time writing as possible because stories were my escape. If you’re interested to learn more about that small town, check out my story, White Oak/Black Mahogany. Marisburg, the fictional town in the story, is very much like my hometown.
Who were some of your heroes as a kid and how have you incorporated them into your writing (if you have)?
Oh, absolutely! My first hero was my band teacher because he made accommodations for me when no one else would. He came out to me (because I was a crazy teenager who thought caring was the same as true love) and I’ve modeled most of my male characters after his courage and compassion.
Do you remember the first book you ever read?
I don’t remember the first book I read, but the first one to change my life was “Force of Nature” by Suzanne Brockman. At the time of its release, it was the first mainstream romance to have a gay couple find their happily-ever-after. I was introduced to that book at a time in my life when I didn’t know I was a lesbian but couldn’t stand how the LGBTQ community was being treated by different sections of my family.
Who all are a part of your family? How critical are they of your writing?
My mom was critical of my writing until I told her, in no uncertain terms, that “we are not going there.” Since then, she’s respected my wishes. My dad stays as far away from my writing as possible! My friends, whom I consider part of my found family, are all very supportive.
Take us back to when you were writing your first book. What inspired the story and how did you go about picking a suitable title and book cover?
I was in the middle of fleeing my ex-usband. Abusive creep but he gave birth to Reese, one of the major bad guys in my first box set, Dragon in Training, which is composed of the books “Dragon Food,” “Dragon Fire,” and “Dragon’s Bane.” All three book titles were inspired by Autumn Montague, a fellow author who writes about gay living vampires. “Dragon Food’ got its name because genies, and some other magical creatures, are food for dragons. So, of course, I had a genie fall in love with what could eat him!
What were some of your goals with the book "The Prince and the Painter"?
It’s interesting that you choose this one out of all of my works. I struggled with this book longer than any of the others, having created the seed of the original idea back in high school. This is, by far, my darkest title and I loved writing it, although it definitely bothered me sometimes. My goals with the book were to expose the hypocrisy of small towns (see my answer to question 1) and the power of true love. Jason is Aaron’s prince, and while this doesn’t make Jason perfect, it makes his love right for Aaron.
How many books do you plan to write in the Heartwood series?
The Heartwood series is actually finished, although Mike and Aidan appear in nearly every book in the Marisburg Chronicles. The three books in the Heartwood series are actually broken up weirdly. White Oak/Black Mahogany is two stories, and Yew and Thorn is actually one story broken into two books to satisfy the requirements of my publisher. Mike’s struggles with being gay in a small town mirror parts of my childhood, and certainly there’s a lot of my blindness-related experiences in what Aidan goes through.
What sort of direction will you take with the next book in the Fae Schooled series?
Actually, there are no more books in the Fae Schooled series. I released all three books in that series in one box set. Secret Identity, Secret Hunger, and Secret Keeping are all centered around the very hierarchical and mysterious grand fae and lesser fae.
Are you, friends, with other authors? If so, how have they helped you in your journey as a writer?
As I spend more time in this world of writers and readers, I’ve become close friends with several authors. The best thing about being friends with writers is that they never mind hashing out a story idea and I love helping them with their challenges as well! We can all learn something new from each other.
What is your work schedule like when you are writing?
I’m writing all the time. It goes this way, at least while I’m living in a rooming house:
Take the dogs out—they’re not my dogs but my landlord’s and I love taking care of them!
Homework—I’m in a Master’s program, studying to be a teacher of the visually impaired
Any writing I can squeeze in before breakfast
And the whole day basically goes like that. I know some authors who split their day into creation in the morning and editing in the afternoon but I can’t do that. The minute I set a schedule, it gets blown to smithereens. For example, I’m sitting in a doctor’s office right now waiting for my ride to pick me up in half an hour while I work on these questions!
In fiction writing, how do you keep your readers in suspense without frustrating them into giving up on your story?
I show them who my characters are, a little at a time, so that they come to care what happens to each person in my world. I also pay attention to when I stop reading an edit, to see if I’m bored with the story or if I’m simply stopping due to time constraints.
What is the most ideal ambiance for you to write in?
I can write almost anywhere, honestly, because I don’t really have time to sit down and do long stretches in an ideal location. But my usual favorite haunts are the desk in my bedroom and the Panera down the street from where I live. The first gives me the freedom to not use my headphones, because sometimes my ears can get tired of wearing them! But Panera gives me a great place to just people-listen, which is the blind version of people-watch. You would not believe some of the conversations I’ve overheard!
Which of your books was the most memorable to write and why?
“Dragon Food” was actually the most memorable because it was my first and I was creating a magical world that coexisted along with our human world out of whole cloth. I’ve never tried walking a tightrope but I bet it’s a similar, stomach-flipping sensation!
Which is the next book you are writing? What is it about?
I’m actually writing about four books right now, each in a different phase of production. There’s Marisburg Chronicles 4, 5, and 6, which have all been sent to my publisher for editing.
4: Protecting His Prince is the final chapter in Aaron’s and Jason’s story about love conquering all in spite of terrible circumstances
5: Marisburg Connections is four short stories about different couples from the Marisburg Chronicles.
6: Looks Aren’t Everything is my first contemporary transgender novel. In this book, Theresa, an MtF and newly blind 23-year-old and Ash, the nonbinary child of Mike and Aidan from Heartwood, find that their similarities are just as damning and compelling as their differences.
In the first stage of edits, which is where I take it apart and rebuild: For the Love of Horses is a lesbian romance novel with a lower heat rating than my M/M and transgender novels. Coraline, a secondary character from Protecting His Prince, finally gets her happily-ever-after.
When did you first join AllAuthor and what were some of your expectations then? Has the website managed to meet those expectations?
I wasn’t sure what to expect, honestly, but so far I am very satisfied! Thank you for this excellent opportunity!
