Tell us a little more about yourself. Where did you grow up and what were some of your aspirations as a child?
Some of my happiest memories as a kid in California were of going to the local library near our house. It had a (very small) childrens' section, and I must have read every book on the shelves there. It's probably not a surprise that I grew up wanting to be a writer.
As a teenager, what were you obsessed with?
As a teen, what WASN'T I obsessed with? Teens are ALL about obsession, ha ha. Aside from boys, the top two things occupying my mind were my writing... and vampires. (I must've watched Interview with a Vampire a zillion times.)
How were you first introduced to writing?
Through reading - and then, one day, I just picked up a pencil (or a crayon - I didn't use pens when I was 4) and wrote my first story. It was a wonderfully illustrated (stick figures) and terribly gripping (or just terrible) tale about the monster in my closet.
What got you into paranormal romance?
I like to write pretty much any genre - so I've written romance, science fiction, fantasy, literary, poetry... you name it, I've probably written it. At its heart, genre doesn't matter - each story an author writes is about people. And if you can make the reader feel like your characters are real people who they can care about, then you've done your job.
What were some obstacles you had to overcome to get to where you are today?
I can't say that the obstacles I've faced are much different than what every writer has faced. There's a lot of rejection in this biz, so you have to learn to take your lumps and keep on going. You just can't give up.
Do you think there is a lot of stigma associated with paranormal romance? If so, why and how do you hope to change it?
Romance in general is looked down upon by the other genre writers. Speculative fiction also tends to be. So I guess if you squish the two together and write paranormal romance, you'd be on the bottom of the bottom of the barrel. However, you can't live your life (or write your books) without facing someone's opinion of "Oh, I would never read THAT." It's always okay with me if you don't read a particular genre that I write - there are a lot of other genres in the sea. Not everything will fit every reader.
Have you planned all the books in The Rose Trilogy?
Yep. I'm about 35,000 words into the sequel, which is called The Rose War. If I do say so myself, it's even more exciting than the first novel. Remember the sorcerer Rouf Drakkar? Well, he's still around, and he's a bit of a sore loser...
Who are some of your favourite characters from the When to Now: A Time Travel Anthology?
All of them, I have to say. Since this is an anthology of a number of authors that I edited, I can't pick just one good story. They're all fabulous. I do have to say that it was a winner of several awards, so you'll have to check it out to find out why it's considered such a good read.
How is writing a standalone different from writing a series?
It's hard to get back into the world you've created in a series, especially if there's been a break between when the first book was published and when you're attempting to write the sequel. A standalone is a "one and done" type of endeavor, sort of like writing a short story. You can be very intensely invested in the world you've created and the characters who are living through your words, but then when the story's over, you get to put them all away on the shelf and dream up new worlds.
Who is an author you really look up to and why?
Ooo, that's one of the hardest questions you can face as a writer because there are WAY too many authors who serve as inspiration for different reasons. But if I have to narrow it down to one, I'd have to say Tanith Lee. She was writing fearlessly about taboo subjects and in a male-dominated genre in a time when many women weren't, and her beautiful and lyrical writing style is probably one of the strongest influences on how I developed my own style. From her, I learned that words can sing off the page, and that a dream can be as powerful as reality.
What sort of research was involved while writing Science Fiction? Which book (or series) was the most labour intensive in terms of research?
My most recent book The New Empire has got to be the one that required the most research. It not only has a variety of cultures, but I wanted to make sure I got every detail right - from the language to the clothes, from religious ceremonies to building houses. I have two shelves in my office that are filled with books I had to read in order to get everything down as accurately as possible, and I'm sure I still made some mistakes. (But hopefully no one will ever catch them.)
If you were given a million dollars and one chance to change the world, how would you do it?
The pessimist in me has to say that I don't think a million dollars would change the world - if it could, someone would have already done it, since there are enough people around the world who have a million dollars or more. However, the optimist in me would give it a try. I would start a foundation to help give opportunities to young writers who are otherwise unable to tell their stories, whether because of poverty or discrimination or bias or some other reason that is holding them back. So while I wouldn't be the one to change the world myself, I would hopefully be able to help the next generation have their voices be heard... rather than silenced.
As someone that writes everyday as a means of living, how do you keep the passion alive and keep it from becoming dull or routine?
Ahh, where to start? First off, I DON'T write every day. I wear a variety of hats that have to do with the publishing industry - so I'm an editor and writing coach in addition to being an author. Authors aren't islands anymore - to be successful, we also have to be marketers extraordinaire. So we have to give interviews, go on podcasts, make connections with other writers and readers, submit our work to awards (or have our publishers submit it to awards), promote our writing on social media and our websites, and a zillion other things I do on a daily basis. Once you see a bit of success, a lot of your day (well, I won't speak for ALL authors, but just for me) is spent in non-writing endeavors. Writing is therefore my "fun" time and something I look forward to quite a bit - never a dull moment.
Are you working on a new book? Is it going to be a series or a standalone?
I'm working on about 5 books that are in various levels of completion. Several are series: a contemporary romance series set in a small town, where the first book is written and I'm working on the sequel (probably about 5+ books total); the sequel to The Rose Queen (trilogy); and the first book of a far-future story about revolution and racism (2 books). I'm also working on one standalone, which is a paranormal #ownvoices romance set in New York City with a half-Japanese protagonist.
Lastly, when did you join AllAuthor and what is it about this site that you love or hate?
I hate that I've never won the monthly book cover contest! LOL (just kidding). I think AllAuthor is awesome. I can't remember when I joined, but I've been on here a number of years - I think ever since my first book came out in 2018. There's a good community of writers and lots of opportunities for book promotions. This interview is one good example - thank you so much for the interview!
