Born and raised in Texas, which is your favorite childhood memory?
I have so many. One of my favorites was Spring Break in 1994, I think. My mom and I went to The Bahamas. We had a blast! We snorkeled and swam with dolphins. On our way home, we went through a bad storm and saw an alligator attempting to cross the road. The wind was so strong it kept blowing it backward.
Have you always been an author? When did you first start writing?
I’ve always enjoyed writing, but I didn’t take it seriously until about four years ago. I started out on a free website online and made the shift to indie publishing last year.
Who all are a part of your family and how do they give you stories and ideas to work on?
I’m married to my wonderful husband, Brian. We have three children and one granddaughter. I’m always using funny things they say in my writing. In the current book I am working on, the lead female has a stuffed animal named Mr. Hammypants. It’s a stuffed pig based off of my youngest son’s stuffed animal.
What gave you the idea for your book "Blackwood: Book 1"? How did you do your research for this book?
Like most of my ideas, it came to me in a dream. I woke up and jotted down a few notes and the story came to life. Google was my best friend for this book. I spent a lot of time researching where the packs were located, the routes between them, and climates. I wanted everything to be perfect.
Which is your all-time favorite romantic novel? How difficult it is to write romantic novels?
Oh gosh, that’s like asking me to pick a favorite child. If I had to choose, I would say The Thorne Birds by Colleen McCullough. I remember watching the mini-series on tv (talk about dating myself there) and my mom bought the books to read. I would sneak them from her room to read because she read so slow. Sometimes it is very difficult to write romance. I find that I have to be in the right frame of mind and the right mood. Otherwise I end up killing off characters.
‘Blackwood’ is a wonderful and interesting title for the book and the stories it tells. How was it created?
Blackwood is the story of Alexandra Isabella Blackwood Greyson. It follows her trials and tribulations as she runs from and then confronts her fears. Once I started writing, I knew I had to use her name as the title.
Given a chance which character would you like to bring to life, Annabelle James or Isabella Grayson? Why?
As much as I love Isabella, I would choose Annabelle. Her struggles and pain were incredibly difficult for me to write. The growth and maturity of her character speaks volumes to me. I’d bring her to life just to spend a day in the kitchen baking and telling stories.
What inspired the plot of ‘The Devil';s Reapers: Blade’? What challenges did you face to write an emotionally charged MC story?
Blade’s story came to me in a dream. This rough and tumble man who’d do anything for his woman. This story brought many challenges. For one, I wanted to portray the MC in a positive light. So many MC stories focus on the negative or illegal activities of the club. I wanted to stay true to the roots and reality of an MC without making them seem weak.
If you had to describe your relationship with your granddaughter in one sentence, what would it be?
“I love that little nugget something fierce!” She was born 9 weeks early, weighing 3 pounds 9 ounces. I don’t think she ever realized that she was a preemie. She brings me so much joy. I love watching her grow and learn.
How have the good reviews on “Blackwood: Book 1” inspired you to write more and better?
I always try to learn something from reviews, good and bad. The good reviews definitely encourage me to keep writing but the bad reviews are the ones that I think help me grow as a writer.
Blackwood: Book 2 is a perfect continuation and conclusion to Blackwood book one. How difficult it is to continue the story from where you left it before?
So, funny story here. Blackwood was originally one big book. I had never intended to publish it and just wrote the story as it came to me. When I did decide to publish, I had to split it into two books. The hard part was deciding where to put the split. My editor worked with me to find the perfect spot and we went from there.
If you could be a part of any one of your stories for a day, which one would it be and why?
Oh, I’d definitely be part of Blackwood. I’d love to be a shifter for a day! I think it would be so fun and so freeing.
Do you have a personal library in your house? Which genre of books do you have the most and which is your most prized possession?
Most definitely! My office has one wall that is solid books, all signed by the author. Most are contemporary romance. I think my most prized book is my copy of Amy Briggs’ Love and Donuts. I was fortunate enough to be able to work with Amy on developing the menu and recipes for the book.
Which is the next book you are writing?
I am currently working on two books. For the Love of a Bear is a Paranormal Romance, shifters. It is the follow-up to my latest release, For the Love of a Wolf. The Devil’s Reapers: Samson is book 2 in The Devil’s Reapers Series.
When did you first learn about AllAuthor and how were you introduced to it?
A friend of mine, Deb Carroll, asked me if I knew of the site and told me I needed to sign up pronto
