I find that between interviews, podcasts, and conversations with people who find out I’m a romance writer, that there are several common questions that invariably pop up in every one of these moments. Here are my top 10 most frequently asked questions (and answers).
What do you like to read?
First and foremost I’m a romance junky. I can read books without romance, but usually, I need a good love story to really lock me in. My favorites, of course, are the ones I write–contemporary romance, romantic comedy, and paranormal romance. However, I also get lost in just about every other genre of romance–historical, new adult, young adult, scifi, even erotic if done well. I also love books with history to them. I love learning about other cultures and/or other times. In the non-romance space, I also love science fiction, action/adventure, biographies, women’s fiction, mysteries, and some classics.
What is your typical day like?
All over the map. Hah! I work from home as a full-time author and mom, as well as running my own business, Authors On A Dime, to help other self-pub’d authors.
After I get the kids up, ready, and out the door, it’s walk the dog and then time to pick up the house, start laundry, etc. Then I spend several hours working on the latest book(s). I spend some time on social media for marketing purposes. Most days have Authors On A Dime stuff to do (run the business or work on projects–mostly book covers). I’m a VPA for Alyssa Day, so if she has anything for me, I also work on that. Kids get home and it’s activities for them (depending on the day) and homework. Then the night time stuff (dinner, downtime, bet time, etc.). My evenings are usually spent with my hubby in front of the TV binge watching shows, usually with my computer in my lap. While watching I work more on whatever didn’t get done that day, be it books, social media, or work. Phew!
Who or what inspired you to become an author?
I’m not sure there was any one point of inspiration. I’ve always been a writer. In 4th grade, I place second in a school essay contest. Maybe that gave me the bug to keep going. But there have always been stories in my head that wanted to come out.
When did you consider yourself to be a writer?
Ive always considered myself a writer. I feel like I became an author the day a total stranger purchased a copy of Blue Violet, my first self-published novel.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I was 90% pantser / 10% plotter. These days it’s more a 50/50 split. I’m a plantser.
Its an evolving process for me. My first completed book, Blue Violet, was 100% pantser. In fact, I didn’t even write the scenes in order, but skipped around. I do a lot more preparing ahead of time these days, using bits and pieces from various workshops and theories I’ve tried over time. After some amount of preparation, I write the first draft, and my characters take that opportunity to tell me how to get from A to B (and sometimes B becomes C). The end book never looks exactly like what I plotted to start with.
How long does it take you to write a book?
I write a very fast first draft in 4-6 weeks depending on the length of the book. The first draft for me is my least favorite part of the process so I try to get it over with as quickly as possible. The first draft lays out the bare bones of the book and is usually about 80% of the story. Depending on deadlines and how I feel about the quality of the first draft, I spend another 2-6 weeks on subsequent drafts where I fill the blanks, adjust any issues, and add the spit and polish. I LOVE the drafting and editing phases where I really get to tweak and then perfect.
How do you come up with your ideas?
All over the place. Sometimes its dreams. I have very vivid dreams. Sometimes it’s being inspired by one particular aspect of a book or movie and taking that detail and making it into my own world. Mostly I think in scenes. I’ll picture a moment between two characters, or a situation my heroine might be stuck in, and I build from there. I find the more I write, the more ideas pop into my head. I keep a list now for when I’m between books (though that’s rare since I write series).
Is there anything based on real-life experiences? Or is it all imagination?
Most of it is pure imagination. There are little things I take from real life. Funny moments from one of my kids or my husband. Quirks of my own. Most often it’s my personal goofiness that ends up in stories. Ellie, my heroine in Blue Violet, especially. I’m told by friends that reading her is like reading me on the page.
What genre have you never written that you’d like to write?
I would LOVE to write historical romance, but I have very little patience for all the research involved (despite the fact that I minored in history in college). And I like multiple eras – Regency England, Ancient Rome, Middle Ages, Vikings, Wild West, WWII.
What is your favorite book(s) that you’ve written so far?
Lol. It’s always the one I just finished or just released. This is partly because I learn more with each book written, and so feel like each new one is better than the last. It’s not always true, because some books are harder and some easier than the others to write. So I do have a favorite just for me. I love Taming the Troublemaker because of the dynamic between Beth and Autry. Writing that was some of the most fun I’ve had in a long, long time.
By the way, my answer on this is a little different for my other pen names. Check out the answers for Abigail Owen and Kristen McKanagh.
