What do you miss the most about your childhood?
Honestly, I think I miss the innocence that comes with being a child. There is so much responsibility and stressed involved in being an adult. I also miss my childhood pets.
What hobby do you miss most from your childhood? Why?
I miss playing outside and I wish today's children understood the pure joy of being outside until the streetlights came on. Technology gets in the way of so much in today's world (and I am just as guilty of disappearing behind the screen of my laptop or computer). There is so much beauty in the world that I think gets overlooked. I miss running around with my friends just enjoying the sun.
Do you remember the first story you ever read and the impact it had on you?
I do. I remember reading the Sweet Valley High books. To a middle schooler, those characters were so cool and had the best lives.
How did your friends and family react to your first book?
My husband and two kids are the most supportive people ever. I remember when my first copy of Finding an Anchor was delivered. We all stood around the box in wonder as I pulled it out and held it in my hands for the first time. There were definitley tears. They have been with me every step of the way on my writing journey. My daugther is my proof reader. My son loves to help me name the books. My husband will sit and listen to my ideas any time.
What made you realize that you wanted to be a writer?
I have been an avid reader for a long time. At one point, a story started forming in my mind and the two characters (now Tag and Kennedy from my first book) kept nagging me and nagging me to write their story down. I knew at that point that I owed it to them to do it. I had no idea how it would turn out, but I figured what's the worst that could happen? I gave it a shot and fell in love with the joy of bringing people to life.
What challenges did you face while publishing your novel, Chasing Freedom?
Chasing Freedom is one of my favorite books because the love story is so beautiful and genuine. I knew that book would be a challenge because of the sensitive topic - abuse. A few of my books touch on things that I feel are important subjects. Abuse, rape, and suicide are just a few. With Chasing Freedom, Joey became so important to me. Her story is dark and disturbing at times, but her life becomes about the love and support she finds in Chase. I was extremely nervous publishing the book because I had to add a trigger warning. Some of what is in that book could be upsetting to people and I never want that to happen with my books. I hope that in some way, people who read that book come out of it with a deeper understanding as to what people in those situations can go through.
How did you begin writing the Fighting for Life and Love Series?
Many of my books start with one particular scene that appears in my mind. I write that scene and the rest of the story falls into place around it. With Viable, the first book in the Fighting for Life and Love Series, I had this idea of a world in which women become almost endangered. I had this picture of what Cassidy looked like and of her being an absolute badass. I don't want to give anything away, but the entire first part of Viable with her and Cooper in the prison is where it all started. I love their interactions and how their relationship comes to be and that is what I wrote to start. That series is really special to me because it is my first true romantic suspense. Since that came out, the majority of my books fall into that catergory because it is just so fun to write!
What helps you grow as an author?
Wow. Authors are constantly growing and changing. Each piece that you write turns into a lesson, especially an indie author like myself. I don't have an editor or publisher hanging over me with deadlines or changes to make to my work. All of that falls on me. As a self-published author, I wear all of those hats proudly. I think each time I finish a book, I have learned something new about myself not only as a writer, but as a person. I pour a lot of myself into my characters. I used to fight with them when writing. I would want them to do one thing, but then they up and change the way things are going to happen. It may sound crazy, but your characters have the ability to run away with your plot. I am learning so much in school as I work toward my MFA. I am part of a great writing community in and out of school and I love what I do. One of the things that I love is that when I go back and reread my own stories, I can see how much my writing has changed over time. There is always more to learn as a writer. Always.
What challenges did you face while writing your novel, Viable?
Viable, the first book in the Fighting for Life and Love series, was a challenge in the sense that it includes characters in the military, which I know very little about. I did a lot of research on ranks and the different branches of the military because I wanted my characters to act appropriately. (I just hope no one looks at my broswer history on that one because it could make me look bad.) I found that I often had to stop writing because I needed to look something else up. There is also a lot of action in that book. I wanted it to be authentic and read smoothly so it took quite a few rewrites to get it right.
When writing novels, is it better to have daily time-spent-writing goals or words-written goals?
I think the key is being consistent. I don't necessarily aim to write a certain amount of words or pages each day. I just want to write every day, especially if I have an active project. For me, I often struggle with having to force myself to stop writing. I am impetuous when I have a story in my head. I just want to keep writing until it is done. When all is said and done, though, it is important to have a writing routine. Write every day. Even if it is only one page.
What are you currently reading?
I just finished Struck Love by Lucy Darling and the next one in that series, Pure Gold is up next.
What is the best writing tip you ever received and who gave it to you?
One of my first classes in graduate school had me reading Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird. There are so many great thoughts in that book and I have many of them on post-its on a bulletin board in front of my desk. My favorite is "the only way I can get anything written at all is to write really, really shitty first drafts." That resonated with me because if someone like Anne Lamott can write something really shitty and turn it into one of her masterpieces, then why can't I? If you are a writer, I highly recommend you read that book!
How do you spend “quality time” with yourself?
Me-time for me is reading. It is my chance to disappear into someone else's world for a while. Like writing, I make time for reading every day as well. If I am having an exceptionally bad day, I grab one of my favorite books and read it again. I have so many books that I read over and over because they mean something to me. Whether it be the story or the characters, I have my favorite go to's when I need to disappear.
Which is the next book you are working on? Is it a series or a stand-alone book?
I actually just finished my next release Guarding Gwyn today! It is going up for preorder this weekend and will be out June 14th. I love this story because it is about getting back up when life knocks you down. I really think people are going to fall in love with Gwyn and Max. My intention was to have it be a standalone. But like the Healing Mountains series, one of the secondary characters ran away with a few of the scenes, possibly earning himself his own book.
Lastly, what are your thoughts and opinions on AllAuthor and its services?
I love AllAuthor! I have profiles for both of pen names (I also write under the name Michelle Rider). I think it is a great way to get in touch with readers and other writers. I love that they will Tweet on my books. The best feature is being able to create gifs and posts with the ratings I receive on Goodreads and Amazon. I recommend AllAuthor to everyone I know who writes.
