Siera London Interview Published on: 14, Jan 2016
Short bio or SYNOPSIS here on writing as your passion.
UNORTHODOX is the most appropriate word to describe my journey into romance writing. I grew up a latch key kid in a single parent home for the majority of my formative years. Needless to say, I spent a significant amount of time confined within the four walls of our 500 hundred square feet duplex when I arrived home from school. The characters that I read about in books were my playmates. But more importantly, my story friends were a buffer zone between me and the world I lived in. The stories I read showed me a world far different than the bleak reality of my personal existence. Peering through the looking glass of my story characters' lives, I dreamed, and hoped, and prayed for a future with a happy ending for me. I write stories of hope for the little girl who can't see a way out. I write stories of unexpected love for the woman sitting at home alone night after night because she hasn't found her hero. I write stories of sacrifice for the military wife sobbing when the news reports another bombing and she hasn't heard from her husband in weeks. I write stories of second chances and new beginnings because we all are flawed. We make mistakes, sometimes with dire consequences, but we are worthy of falling in love and being loved.
How long have you been writing and what inspired you to do it seriously?Writing has been my primary focus for three years. My professional career led me away from the fiction reading of my youth,depositing me with a thud in the medical library surrounded by peer-reviewed journals and morbidity reports. I did get my happy ending in the form of a nursing degree, a twenty-two year naval career, and a loving husband with two children. Being the wife of a sea going officer is as far from romantic as the stars from the moon. Contrary to popular belief, eight month deployments do not make the heart grow fonder. Romance novels became a comforting reminder of the journey of love I share with my husband. When I decided to retire, my husband knowing me to be a Type A++ personality, encouraged me to take time to figure out what I really wanted to do with the next phase of my life. And I wanted to write.
When choosing a name for your characters, what do you consider about them that determines what you finally call them?Wow. This is a difficult question. My characters invade my head with their pushy introductions demanding to have their story written. Their facial features and their names are generated somewhere deep in my subconscious. I suspect they are friends of mine in a parallel universe.
Did you have a collection in mind when you were writing them?Yes. It is rare that I envision a single title story. All my characters live in the same world even if the genres are different. In A DOCTOR FOR CHRISTMAS, Zari Okoro, a 23 year old virginal school teacher has less than 24 hours to get a man for Christmas. Unbeknownst to the heroine, the guardian angel Patience is responsible for helping Zari obtain her Christmas miracle. Zari and the hero, Aron Walters are characters that I introduced in CHASING AVA, Book 1 of the Bachelors of Shell Cove series. The guardian angel is a fantasy element added to my current story world. Who knows, Patience may get her own happy ending one day.
How did you choose which stories to include and in what order?I started the Bachelors of Shell Cove with Logan and Ava's story because compared to the other couples occupying the story world, these two characters have the most visible flaws. Ava avoids all new relationships and Logan's insecurity leads him to be possessive and controlling.
Do you have a “reader” in mind when you write stories?Yes. I think of what I enjoy reading. Writing to trends is a slippery slope. When I sit down to write I pen the stories I dream about. Honestly, I'm the first person to read every one of my books cover to cover.
What do you do to get book reviews? What is the best review you ever got?Book reviews are a dynamic process because each book has its own audience. In my opinion, the best way to get book reviews is to write more books. Having new material on the shelf offers more opportunities for readers to find your work and write a book review. I have a Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest page. My goal is to keep my online community updated about my life and my writing journey. When I finish a story they know about it. Wow. The second part of this question is hard because I learn something from every reader comment. Below is a reader review of CONVINCING LINA, Book 2 in the Bachelors of Shell Cove series. 5.0 out of 5 stars Seductive Storytelling at its best By Mary Alison on September 13, 2015 Format: Kindle Edition Sierra London's gift for seductive storytelling excels in her latest Bachelor of Shell Cove offering. Convincing Lina has it all: a sassy, loveable heroine, an alpha male hero with undeniable sex appeal, page-turning action and suspense, and a cast of engaging, colorful characters that will mesmerize your soul. I absolutely love Siera's writing style and anxiously await her next novel!
What does the word “story” mean to you?A sequence of logical events that allows the reader to enter the story world and experience the emotional journey of the characters. If my work fails to evolve an emotional response from the reader, then I've missed the mark as a storyteller.
What are you working on now?I'm working on two of the Bachelors of Shell Cove stories as well as a new short story series. The Purse Diaries, A Madelaine Spencer story. Madelaine is my thirty-one year old Punky Brewster like heroine. She runs head long into disaster with no plan of what to do next. She's the world's best friend, always ready to lend a hand. She's a lovable queen of chaos.
Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?Motivation, Fear, and Creativity. I struggle with two of these anti-writing demons on a weekly basis. This is where my writing ritual kicks in. My morning starts with a two minute tension tamer breathing exercise CD and prayer. These two behaviors act as a mental and physical reminder that I am preparing myself to write. I spend 15 minutes on social media, eat my breakfast, then I grab my laptop, put my feet up and begin to write. This routine helps me to focus on the task to come–writing–, not the fear of what will I write today. I'm a pantser so if I'm having trouble with a scene, I stop and take my character on an unexpected adventure. I pick up the trouble making character in my imaginary Shelby GT and take them to a new setting–lunch with stranger, to a movie with a visually impaired blind date, or to the gun range with their grandmother. The point is, there is always fresh dialogue waiting to be explored with my characters. It may not be relevant to the current scene, but it keeps the character talking and evolving within the story world. I gain more insight into their personality and what makes them behave in a certain manner. Maybe, I'll use the scene later or maybe I won't, but I'm still writing. You get the picture, right? Don't be afraid to write a bad scene. Writing a good story is a process. The first words you write are not the final words in the story. Notice, I didn't jump to another work in progress. A part of the process of becoming a prolific writer is finishing the story. Write, Revise, Edit, and Repeat equals WRITER.
How do you promote your work? How Quotesrain help you in your book promotions and sales, would you like to refer this platform to your author friends?I had hired marketing companies to help me with promotion and marketing of my debut release. CHASING AVA was #1 in several Amazon categories and I'm thankful I sought professional assistance. Quotes rain has been a integral component of my visibility strategy. I'm not a promotion guru, so the service that Quotesrain provides allows me to focus on what I enjoy most about my writing journey–writing.
Would you like to share something with your readers and fan?I love writing. Everyday I'm working to improve my craft. My goal when I crack the lid on my computer is to create stories filled with relatable characters that you want to laugh with, cry with, and shout with when they finally get their happily ever after. I appreciate you sharing this journey with me. When you finish reading on of my books, leave a review at your favorite online retailer. Thank you for being interested in my work.
