Where did you grow up? What kind of child would you say you were?
I was born and raised in Chicago, IL. I was an adventurous and creative child, I’d say.
Your website offers a range of content, from books to merchandise and even movie and TV reviews. How do these diverse interests influence your writing?
I want to allow readers the opportunity to own a piece of my many worlds through my merchandise, I think it’s fun. Whether it’s t-shirts, key chains, or books. For my reviews, fans understand what kind of entertainment I enjoy… or don’t. I try to be entertaining in my reviews so that they are funny and insightful.
Have you always wanted to be a writer? When did you first realize you wanted to be an author?
I’ve been writing since I was 11 years old and it’s something I’ve wanted to be, that or an actor. Lol. If my books ever become movies or TV series, I’d love to do a cameo, at least.
What is the hardest thing about writing paranormal fantasy? Why did you choose this genre?
The hardest thing about writing paranormal fantasy is trying to be original. I compete with myself when I write because I’m my biggest critic. I write a lot of paranormal, so my goal is to make sure that my books are unique to their own worlds. That means, I put a lot of effort into creating the mythology, species, their abilities, the rules of their universes, and no two worlds must be alike. Also, consistency is very important. Another thing I focus on is making sure that my villain is as powerful and smart as my hero. The challenge needs to be there for the victory to be satisfying. And it’s that challenge why I love the genre.
You mentioned wanting to engage readers in adventures that keep them captivated. How do you approach crafting compelling characters and immersive worlds that draw readers in?
I like to hook readers in the first paragraph of my first chapter, which means I drop them right into the story. I want readers to immediately want to know what’s going on? Who are these characters? And as they read on, I want readers to be captivated by the personalities of the characters, because for me… that is what makes me want to finish a book. If the characters are relatable and feel like they are real. Second, I want the situations they find themselves in to also be engrossing, which means you have to have real complexity. Ask questions the readers are asking and then have the answers.
What made you decide to write and publish "Theoden: A New Haven Series Prequel"? Are the events described in the book in any way inspired by real life?
The fans of the New Haven Series made me want to write prequels and Theoden’s was my first. Readers of that series fell in love with him and wanted to know more about where he came from, and how he became who he was in the series. So, that made me interested to find out more about him, too. That’s why I wrote his prequel, was to explore his character. Real-life inspiration was general knowledge, not anything from personal experiences. Just all my imagination.
Your newsletter is a key tool for keeping readers informed about your latest releases and updates. How do you ensure that your newsletters are engaging and valuable to your subscribers?
I offer a free anthology book that I periodically update with short stories and snippets. I also give behind-the-scenes insight into my writing process, early reveals, and giveaways in addition to keeping readers up-to-date with releases.
How was your experience of collaborating with Aimee Nicole Walker when writing "Undisputed"?
It was a lot of fun. I came to her with the idea of a MMA fighter romance and that got the ball rolling and we just connected so smoothly to tell that tale. I am forever grateful to Aimee for that experience and we are two peas in a pod and have even traveled together for my birthday to Las Vegas. Had a blast. We have another collaboration with the Genisis Circle.
Who inspired the character of Lord Théoden in "House of Theoden"? What do you love the most about his character?
Theoden is a mixture of several inspirations, I’d say. Sometimes I’m inspired by a look, a vibe, a personality, a song, or a scene in a movie or show. You could say that Lucien LaCroix from “Forever Knight” as a master vampire who clung to his fledglings added to my inspiration. He also had some of the best lines ever written and recited them smoothly. Rob Lowe’s character in “Bad Influence” played a part with a sinister look during a scene. I recently wrote about this for my VIPs as part of my muse. The rest was just my imagination in creating the perfect vampire make/master. The kind of vampire I think is the sexiest, most ruthless, and most badass vampire I could think of.
Do you think writing stories with explicit language and adult content restricts the number of readers of your books? What more genre would you like to try writing in?
It probably does, but I clearly state that my books are for adults only. I strive for my books to reflect what the real world is. In reality, people curse, they fight, they’re vicious, they have a lot of kinky sex. They also care about each other, love each other, and will go out of their way to be kind to each other. So my stories are dark, gritty, salacious, and without regret. But they are also witty, funny, light, and sweet. In reality, it’s not all gloom and doom and it’s not all rainbows and sunshine, either. When you escape into a fictional world, it’s important to me for readers to have a good time as they relate to the story and characters and to be happy and satisfied at the end.
How important do you think a book title is?
Very important, because it’s one of the things that can hook a reader’s attention along with the cover and blurb. For me, my titles represent the story inside and are things a character will say or think. So, when people read my books, they will come upon the title at some point.
Have you ever edited a character or a scene from one of your books? How do you know what stories should stay and what should remain out?
I have, if the scene doesn’t fit. It could be a great scene that I put a lot of work into, but it has to go. It may end up as a “deleted scene” for my VIPs. I write in a way that it must flow, I don’t force anything into a story. My goal is to avoid what I call “Manufactured drama”, and that’s scenarios that aren’t logical for the sake of creating conflict. The conflict, if written creatively, will come naturally and your characters should tackle it realistically. Those are the best stories to me.
How do you maintain that equilibrium between writing what you want and what your readers want?
I have to write the story I want to read. Something I haven’t read before and once I’ve done that. I hope readers find the story and enjoy it as much as I do. I want to give readers a tale they can’t predict. To keep them on their toes and excited to read the next page and then the next book.
Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations as an author, and how do you plan to continue evolving and growing in your craft?
I get a lot of inspiration from movies, TV shows, manga, and anime… where some of the wildest ideas come together. I don’t try to force my imagination to go in one direction, rather I just let it go free. Whatever direction it takes me in, I’ll follow my passion.
When were you first introduced to AllAuthor and how? What were your expectations coming in and did the website manage to meet them?
It’s been a while, I think… at least five years, maybe more, I’ve been a member. It has grown over time and has become a wonderful resource for authors. I’m glad to be a member. I didn’t have any expectations in the beginning, I just wanted to be able to explore my option for marketing because that is the hardest part of his business. All Author has helped me a lot with that. I'm happy it’s here. I want to thank you for this opportunity.
