What is a childhood memory that makes you smile?
It’s hard to choose just one memory because I had a really great childhood. I remember playing outside with the neighborhood kids and walking to school every day. When I was little, we had no Internet or cable TV. We listened to records, read books, played board games, visited friends, rode bikes, and had a choice of four or five TV channels. It was a very happy time in my life.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
I can’t recall the first story I ever read; however, I remember loving fairytales and science fiction stories when I was growing up. I’ve wanted to write a book since the first or second grade.
What inspired you to write your first story?
A strong interest in reincarnation. I’ve read a number of books over the years about people undergoing hypnotic regression to discover their past lives. One day it just popped into my head to use my interest in this subject to write Little Bits of Karma, my first novel.
Who inspired the character of Holly O’Rourke in “Little Bits of Karma”?
Me. I used some of my real-life experiences and expanded on them, making them much more dramatic than they really were. I’ve never experienced past live regression, but I thought I could live vicariously through the character of Holly as she discovered her past lives (which are completely fictional and from my imagination). Her physical looks were inspired by a lady I used to work with who had thick, fabulous, long, auburn hair.
Who all are a part of your family? How critical are they of your writing?
My family is supportive of my writing but they aren’t particularly interested in paranormal romance and reincarnation. Two family members read my first book but not the second one. It doesn’t bother me because we all have our own preferences of what we like to read.
Which one do you prefer: writing a series or standalone novel? Why?
It is hard for me to answer this question. I don’t necessarily prefer one over the other. I write what comes to me.
How did you begin writing the Karma Series?
I never intended to write a series, it just turned out that way. While finishing up Little Bits of Karma, the minor characters in that story let me know that they had a story to tell and I began writing Tough Karma: A Race Against Time while Little Bits of Karma was being published. Once I finished Tough Karma, the same thing happened again and the new, minor characters informed me that it was their turn and Dark Karma: Sword of Vengeance was born. This continued with my fourth book, Karma: The Resolution which is the final book in the series.
What is some common marketing traps a lot of new authors fall into?
Any advice on how to avoid them? Marketing is tricky and you have to find your own way. I feel that I spent too much money on marketing when I published my first book. My only advice is do your research when planning a marketing campaign and seek out other indie authors and find out what worked for them. Marketing is the hardest part of being an author… writing the book is the easy part!
Are you open to psychic phenomena being real?
Yes, I believe that it is very real.
If you reincarnate as a human will you always reincarnate as a human?
From the accounts I have read, I believe that to be true.
Would you rather see the future or change the past? Why?
I would rather see the future because I’m always looking forward and don’t live in or dwell on the past. I think we should learn from our past and take that knowledge into the future so we don’t make the same mistakes again.
Which is the next book you are writing? What is it about?
I have some ideas for a new romantic fantasy story, but the plot hasn’t solidified yet. At the moment it is about a male Angel of Fury named Pel, who falls in love with a mortal woman. It is tentatively titled Fury’s Fall. The character of Pel first appears in Karma: The Resolution, and he wants his own story but hasn’t given me the all the details yet. This will be a standalone novel although I might include a few characters from Karma: The Resolution if needed.
When did you join AllAuthor? What has your experience been like?
I think I joined about two or three years ago. It has been a great experience and I plan to continue my membership for the foreseeable future. I love the book mock-ups All Author provides for their authors! It is also a nice community of fellow authors.
