I think the introduction of eBooks has made it easier for people to own books. It's affordable, it's portable, it's space-saving and it's recoverable if you lose your device or break it. It's embracing technology to the fullest and it puts more money in the hands of your favorite authors. What's not to like?
What work schedule? Honestly, I'm always inspired, so I try to sit down in front of the computer and get to work after a Redbull each morning, but having two kids and a husband means I'm always doing something. I fit writing in where and when I can.
I write romance as my main genre, and I don't think people realize that a romance story can be riveting outside of the love interest. Romance used to mean one thing: Two people meet, fall in love, cue Happily Ever After. Now, romance is used to cover anything with a romantic subplot or main theme. Romance isn't just for women--MEN, pick one up and find an author who speaks to you. You deserve a happily ever after too. And now all romances end happily ever after anymore. Authors have shifted with the times, we understand not everything is rainbows and sunshine.
I actually wanted to be an author straight out of high school. I even went to college for English and creative writing so I could be a better author. It's the only dream I've ever had.
ALWAYS. I can't stress this enough--real-life experience is the biggest and easiest way to connect with your readers. Do you think you're the only klutzy kid who tripped up the stairs and still does it as an adult? NO. You're not, and odds are, some of your readers will connect with the little things like that. I won't tell you right here WHAT SPECIFIC events in my books have happened to me, but they're not always good ones. When you read my books, you get to know a piece of me. If you read them all, you'll have a good grasp of the whole person I am.
A good cover and title are very important, but the story is and always will be the main focus. I personally have a problem letting go of creative control, so I've taken to self-publishing so I can make my own covers. I even learned a whole graphic design program over the span of a few days so I could make them like a pro.
I wish I could say I have, but I've been lucky. The longest I've ever been plagued by the inability to write something meaningful was a few days, and that was more due to clinical depression than anything else. But if you're stuck, never try to force it. Sometimes it helps to step back. If you feel the need to write, but you can't find a good way to push your story forward, talk to some people, other authors, other writers, or readers, even. Sometimes all you need is a fresh perspective, sometimes you just need to work on a different project. I always like to keep a WIP in the closet so I can yank it out and bash at the keyboard stress-free, to help refresh me.
OF COURSE I read my book reviews. Every author does, at first. The difference is, I understand those reviews are for other readers mostly, and not just myself. I know not everyone will like my books because we all like different things. And that's okay. If you have a bad experience with one of my books, my DM's are ALWAYS open, because, like most humans, I'm always learning. I want you to like what I write, so if you want to see something different, you don't like something, or something strongly offends you in one of my books, PLEASE tell me.
I treat good reviews like the positive feedback they are, and sometimes will use snippets from a good and well-written review to promote content, like most authors do. The difference with me, though, is you'll also see me use bad reviews the same way. I embrace them all and have no problem receiving bad reviews.
The fact that I do not have the appendages they do, nor do I think like they do. It makes it hard to get in a man's mind when you don't really understand why they do some of the things they do. And asking men to explain is like talking to a brick wall--they don't really help at all.
Kidding. But seriously, the first part. Not having their, uhm, appendages.
