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Interviews by Dante

Welcome to Interviews by Dante the home of Romance Author Interviews. Enjoy. If you're an author and wish to be interviewed by me then click the link below to send me an email and I'll get you on the list.
Interviews post on the 10th, and 20th of each month. As of June 1st 2015 Interviews by Dante is exclusively interviewing Romance Writers. 

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SK Thomas Interview

2/25/2015

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Today's guest author on Interviews with Dante is SK Thomas. SK Thomas prefers to leave a little mystery about himself so I don't have a photograph of him to share with you. Enjoy learning a bit about this wonderful author.
A little about myself:
SK Thomas is that unique, one of a kind person who takes life experiences to a new level, resides down the street in any town or neighborhood. She spent the first many years of her life helping others in her travels while discovering all life had to offer. These days, she can be found writing, editing and marketing while she explores other business ventures. She has published two books in her Pawned Queen series, "Pawned Queen & Transcending Queen" while residing in California. Currently, she is starting the 3rd novella in the series.

My latest book is Transcending Queen:
Transcending is the act of rising above limitations of ordinary experience to pass through emotions that extend beyond our understanding, enabling one to emerge aware after great struggle.
Jack and Melissa find themselves in another challenging investigation of broken promises and lives manipulated by someone people should have been able to trust. They are hired to find the truth about Father Clayton and the communities’ beloved church. He welcomes them under the assumption Melissa needs help after losing her husband, John. Problems arise when she falls in love with the priest in question while she genuinely desires a normal life. She tries to push through her emotional problems as her whole world seems to come crashing down around her. The more she struggles to do the right thing, the deeper she digs her own grave as her past haunts and the future is unknown. There comes a time when she has to face facts and try to rise above it all.
"They just want the truth." Jack demanded.
"The truth is never what is seems." Melissa cried out.

My preferred writing environment:
I have found the perfect environment to be a strip club. But seriously, I love to write at home. Sometimes I’m at my computer dressed for the day. Other times you can find me in my pajamas writing on my laptop in bed. Once in a while, you can find me writing on the road while somebody chauffeurs me around.

I knew I wanted to give writing a shot when:
I wanted to be a writer since early on, it just seemed like a hard road with isolation. I truly like to be around people and share. So, for quite a few years, I denied myself the opportunity to be who I truly was as a writer. My life was very busy and hectic, the right time never happened until one day. That fateful day, when my life slowed down and the opportunity presented itself. I grabbed on and have never let go since.

Plotting Stories:
I tend to lay out the general outline in my head before starting and then go with the flow. It naturally comes out how it’s supposed to. But if it doesn’t, that’s what the editing process is for.

Doing when Not Writing:
I like to stay active and do anything while tapping into more creative channels. I am very mindful with my time and energy, getting the most out of every day. I stay very in tune with the important people and activities in my life.

Real Life Experiences Influences Writing:
Of course, everything a writer sees, experiences, and hears is part of their writing. I personally have always been interested in studying people and psychology. So that gives me an advantage of getting into the characters head and helping them along into existence through my books.

Drawing Inspiration:
I needed to get the voices out of my head and for my imaginary friends to shut up already. Honesty, inspiration comes from everywhere. It comes from ideas, dreams, real life, living your own trials, watching others and their inspiring stories, history. I cannot emphasize enough that inspiration will come from the most outrageous and awkward of places.

Genre Enjoy Writing:
Thriller/Suspense, it just comes naturally. There is no explanation for it, I write and it works. As writers, we are always looking to practice, push our creativity farther and hone our craft. So on it goes…

Coming Out in the Future:
I have a 3rd novella I just started working on. It will be in the same Pawned Queen Series, but much different. The reader will still be going on a journey with Melissa, the main character, however her life takes quite a different turn with the thrills and chills being a different beast completely.

Awards for Writing:
2015 Bookbzz.com Prize Writing Finalist, but it’s not over yet. You can still make a difference & support by voting at http://bookbzz.com/prize-writer-conte … …...Pawned Queen Series-5th Title down on the list until Feb. 28, 2015.

What kind of books do I like to read:
I enjoy writing book reviews for indie authors, so I like most genres. I give back when I can and this is one way to do so, especially indie author who need those book reviews. I like the phrase, “If you’re reading what everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone is thinking.”

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The Queen is one of, if not the most powerful chess piece on the board. But her strength amounts to little more than a pawn if she is caught by the enemy.

"Jack?" Melissa yelled out in question after she heard a knock on the door. No answer came. The floor creaked when she knew someone else was in the house. "Jack?" Her voice shook as terror crept in asking her to play. Every stranger has a purpose and the game is just beginning so take a step in any direction, I dare you.

Melissa leaves her hometown of Tupelo to start anew in the city of Barrington escaping haunts of her childhood. Little did she know a run-in with Max, a police officer who doesn't play by any set of rules, would change her future. Her best friend, Alice vanishes and Max is the main suspect leaving Melissa insistent to find the truth. She teams up with her husband, John and a detective named Jack for an investigation to find out what has happened to Alice. As the game continues, promises disintegrate into a pile of deceit and lies. This leaves Melissa to question who she can trust as she desperately searches for answers because in reality, it's not a game at all.

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find it on Amazon kindle
Transcending is the act of rising above limitations of ordinary experience to pass through emotions that extend beyond our understanding, enabling one to emerge aware after great struggle.

Jack and Melissa find themselves in another challenging investigation of broken promises and lives manipulated by someone people should have been able to trust. They are hired to find the truth about Father Clayton and the communities beloved church. He welcomes them under the assumption Melissa needs help after losing her husband, John. Problems arise when she falls in love with the priest in question while she genuinely desires a normal life. She tries to push through her emotional problems as her whole world seems to come crashing down around her. The more she struggles to do the right thing, the deeper she digs her own grave as her past haunts and the future is unknown. There comes a time when she has to face facts and try to rise above it all.

"They just want the truth." Jack demanded.
"The truth is never what is seems." Melissa cried out.

Another installment in the series making you question belief and faith in humanity.


Sk Thomas website
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sk thomas on goodreads
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Heath D. Alberts Interview

2/21/2015

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I'm happy to introduce you to Heath D. Alberts, another wonderful writer. I hope you enjoy getting to know a bit about him and his work.
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I’m proud to say that I’ve lived the sort of life that permits me to recount a great story about an experience in just about any crowd. I’m a college dropout. I manage a $3m company during the day, and try to find time to write in the in-between spaces. My wife and I are partners in a turnkey mixed media enterprise, which also includes a third partner (who is an independent filmmaker). I’m involved in the Represent.Us movement, as well as with my wife’s not-for-profit, Tailored to Hire. My resume makes no rational sense, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve held a number of unique jobs over the years, including comic store lackey, major medical claims adjudicator, Unix systems administrator, and alarm dispatcher. I’m not afraid to take risks – I’ve successfully flipped houses, and walked away from lucrative jobs that didn’t ‘fit’. I have friends all over the world, thanks to my having been on the Internet since 1988, in one form or another. I actually met my wife at a ‘geek party’ in the early 90’s. I collect rare and unique, first-edition books, often inscribed or association copies. I also have a cat, who I’m fairly certain is bent on world domination.

Tell us about your latest book.
My latest is called, ‘Not on the List’ (due out in late February). It’s my first comedy/fantasy, and also the first in my stab at a series. It centers around an entire universe of beings, Gods, creatures, and concepts who all live among us, though we cannot see them. The premise is that a demi-god was killed, but that Death was not responsible for his demise. This leaves him more than miffed, and develops into a world-wide search on the part of his retainers to determine who the offending party was. 

What do you have coming out in the future?
I’m working on the second in the series, mentioned above, called, ‘Uncharted’. It follows a lot of the characters that I developed in the first work, while introducing new ones through a new premise.

I also have a revised edition of my second work, ‘Guerrilla Business’ hitting the shelves in late February as well. It contains roughly 40% more content than the original, and also updates a few spots that have changed since the initial publication in 2012.

What genre do you enjoy writing the most and why?
It’s funny. When I began writing, I never considered that I might actually write a second book. To date, I’ve written a mystery, a fantasy, a magnum dystopian opus, a theological/philosophical piece of science fiction, a marketing book, and some other odds and ends. I challenged myself to try new genres, just because I desired the expanded capacity that it could potentially afford me as a writer. In fact, all of my short stories are in first-person (rather than third-person omniscient) as a test of my ability to write in that manner. I also never name the protagonist in my short stories. No idea why – I just don’t.

From where do you draw your inspiration?
I read voraciously, so I think I pick up bits here and there. I have vivid dreams. And I’m talking about ‘blockbuster film with a cast of thousands’ dreams. If someone could record their dreams for the big screen, I’d be rich. My mind is a crazy place when I’m sleeping. My dreams, too, have led to moments of insight that have inspired me.
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Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life?
No. Though, I have been told by many that they see a lot of me in odd places. My brother pointed out that, in one of my works, a sixty-ish, African-American nurse reminded him of me. I never saw that coming.

What authors inspire your writing?
It depends on the genre. With that being said, the big guns, for me, are Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, Ayn Rand, Haruki Murakami, Robert Charles Wilson, and David Mitchell.

What kind of books do you like to read?
I read everything, and try to ‘mix it up’ a bit. Mostly, I enjoy thought-provoking fiction, mild science fiction, mild fantasy, and philosophical works that don’t insist upon being so, too much.

How have your real life experiences influenced your writing?
As I mentioned before, I’m blessed to have had a fairly unique life. I’ve pushed myself hard to be where I am today. Along the way, I went out of my way to be a social butterfly, to take an interest in anyone who might be around me, and to try new things at every opportunity. This has led to a veritable cornucopia of life experience to draw upon, and a lot of what goes into my books – even if it is just a snippet – stems from those experiences.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I try to read, but time just sort of drifts away. Between working my day job, and then working on my business endeavors at night, I just don’t have the time that I once did. I love to travel, though, whenever the opportunity presents itself.
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What was your road to publishing like?  Tell us about it.
It was ridiculous, it was humbling, it was heartbreaking, and it was cathartic. My first novel was awesome (or so I thought). When I re-wrote it a year or so back, I was almost ashamed. I learned quickly that the world of the writer is all about who you know, perseverance, luck, and some backdoor shenanigans to get yourself on the right people’s radar. I waited almost 5 years after the completion of my first novel to publish it. Since then, I’ve had seven published works, and have several more in the pipeline. I’ve been offered the opportunity to yield the rights for publishing to a third-party, but so far it just hasn’t felt right. I’m sort of interested to see how far I can push this experience on my own.

How did you come up with the title of your book?
I’ve tried to be tongue-in-cheek with my novels. With the forthcoming one, I sort of gave up on that. I just noodle around a number of ideas and – when the right one hits – I feel it, and I roll with it.

Is your book a stand alone or a series?
All of my works, to date, are stand-alones (much to the consternation of those who wish to see an expounding on a character, or a love interest). My upcoming work will begin a series, though I don’t know that I’ll remain solely committed to writing that series. I tend to get distracted by new ideas.

Do you read the genre you write for or do you prefer other genres?
Yes, and yes.
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What celebrity would you chose to play the main character(s) in the movie rendition of your book?
OoOoOo, I’ve never been asked that! The main characters in my first novel, Emil and Laura, will suffice for this answer, I think. I’m picturing Emil as a suave, Matt Bomer type, and Laura as a gawky-but-loveable Amanda Peet.

Have you joined any writer’s groups?
No, not to date. I’ve actually developed a lot of my own writer’s resources on Facebook, however. I saw a need, saw that no one was filling it, sighed, and – like a masochist – set them up myself. It’s a labor of love, and it’s gratifying, but it is, at its core, work – a whole lot of work.

Have you won any awards for your writing?
Not a one. I don’t know what awards I’d even be considered for, given the expanse of genres that I travel through.

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Finding time, and editing. The comedian Mitch Hedberg (God rest his soul) once said something that I’ve always recalled. It was (and I’m paraphrasing for brevity), “Sure you’re a good chef, but can you farm?” To me, editing is like that. I’m a storyteller and a facilitator. Those are my strong points. Editing - and doing it well - are things that I’ve begun to master out of necessity. I have a long, long road ahead, however, and I’m not ashamed to say it. Thankfully, I have a great group of folks who help me, gratis. Apparently, they’re sympathetic masochists. I also do all of my own layout, and cover design. I wanted to learn how, so I just did. It turned out that I love cover design, and I’m glad that I do these things on my own. It’s gratifying, and something that I can be proud of.
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What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
I’m fortunate to seldom reach a point of writer’s block. I can hammer out a story on almost any given day, and find ways to make things tie together; make them work. I’m lucky, in that regard, and I know it.

Which of your characters is your favorite and why?
I think Myrtle ‘Dora’ Groves (from ‘Last Rights’) wins that title. She’s a snarky, no-nonsense, teen hacker with a grudge against anything she can find. I really want to say more but – in her case – we’d be getting into spoiler territory.

Who or what are your inspirations/influences?
In no particular order: Gene Kranz, Cal Ripken, Henry Knox, Ayn Rand, Neil Gaiman, Nikola Tesla, and Thomas Stanley.

What is your preferred writing environment?
I have an inoperable back condition (apparently, modern medicine hates me). I used to write in my office, but I now do so in an oversized chair with a laptop podium. I actually quite like it. I have a large window to my left, and the room is cozy, and filled with books.
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How would you describe your writing style?
It’s quirky. I’m not afraid to push the limits on some things, but I’m also a sucker for a great, ‘unexpected’ love interest. Most of my novels have at least one love interest (some of them more). I also like an open-ended ending. I’m not afraid to make situational endings unexpected (which really gets under the skin of some of my readers), but I also dole out closure, too. In the end, I don’t want my novels to be expected, or like everyone else’s.

Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
This is humiliating. Ready? I have a general idea of where I think I want to go. To date, I’ve never gotten there. Every novel I’ve ever written, I’ve written without an outline, etc. I just let the story take me where I feel like it wants to go. I know I’m in a super-minority on this point, but I enjoy writing unfettered, in a manner where I can change things up on a whim, and see where it goes. Frankly? It’s liberating.

With many publishing routes available today, which felt the most reliable to you when it came to the many choices? 
I only had once choice, and that was to self-publish. I’m blessed to have a day job that takes care of my needs, as well as a wife who has grown from humble beginnings, to taking calls from the White House. We’re a symbiotic pair that is so rare in this day and age (and I’m obscenely mental for her). As such, I write as a hobby, but also to attempt to ‘make it big’ on my own. I feel as though I have the God-given gifts to ‘get there’ by my own hard work and perseverance alone. Perhaps that’s a fallacy, but I’m willing to give it a go, just the same.

When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
I’ve always written. When other kids were asking for toys or bikes for Christmas, I was asking for a typewriter. I used to hammer our stories to amuse myself, my family, my friends – anyone who would bother to read them. I don’t even remember a time when I wasn’t crafting a story.
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Ju Ephraime Interview

2/15/2015

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I'm happy to introduce you to Ju Ephraime, a fellow romance writer. I hope you enjoy getting to know a bit about her and her work.
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Please tell us a little about yourself.
I am a multiple genre author. I write children’s books, ages 9 to 12, high heat romance novels—contemporary and paranormal, short stories and school textbooks. I’ve been writing for more years than I care to admit to, but I love it. Writing to me is therapeutic and I hope to be doing it for a long, long, time. 

Tell us about your latest book.
My latest books, I have two, a paranormal romance and a contemporary romance.

What do you have coming out in the future?
I have a children’s book coming out in April, and a contemporary romance in April also.


What genre do you enjoy writing the most and why?
I enjoying writing my children’s books because I love working with the graphics, next to this, is contemporary romance.

From where do you draw your inspiration?
All around me. In everyday situations, life experiences, there’s always a story to be told.

Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life?
Not at a general rule, but sometime, the main character, if he is hot. I’ve had some hot guys in my day.

What authors inspire your writing?
Virginia Henley, Elizabeth Lowell, Lisa Kleypas, just to name a few. 

What kind of books do you like to read?

Funny. High heat romance. I’m not partial to exotica, but I love heat.

How have your real life experiences influenced your writing?

My life experiences are reflected in a great deal of my writing.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I love to read. I actually love to read more than I love to write, so if I’m not doing one, I’m doing the other.

What was your road to publishing like?  Tell us about it.

Very smooth. I submitted two manuscripts and was told I wrote for a niche market. I went to my school, they offered to publish my books, and the rest is history.

How did you come up with the title of your book?

I don’t stress about the title; it pretty much represents the story.

Is your book a standalone or a series? I do have a series, these two books are standalones, although the paranormal is a sequel to a prior book.
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Black Magic Man Blurb:
In the village of La Souf, Jean Louis is known as “Black Magic Man,” but his feats of magic as a sorcerer are nothing compared to the abilities he keeps hidden from human eyes. Jean Louis is under the tutelage of a Master Magician, and telepathy is only one of his many talents. It’s a talent that leads him to beautiful, sensual Solange Esnard, who instantly triggers all Jean’s primal urges. He recognizes in Lange the spirit of his long-gone love, but convincing her of that will take every bit of skill and talent he has, maybe even his death.
Solange has known about the powers of the Black Magic Man ever since she was a child. She has no reason to believe she would attract the attention of one, especially one as powerful as Jean Louis. She is happily married and loves her husband to death. When she is subjected to the unwelcome attention of Jean Louis, will she be strong enough to pit her will against that of a Black Magic Man? Only love, true cunning, and a bit of luck may possibly prove her successful in this battle for the one she love.
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One Dance With A Stranger Blurb:
Mesmerized by the sensuous moves of the stranger who danced with her at the Lucian Club, Caitlynn Pilgrim has been trying for almost two years to get him out of her mind, with no success. Until that night, she was perfectly happy with her single life and was not looking for a man to complicate it, but this stranger with his seductive moves has her rethinking that decision. So, for over a year, she has been returning to the club, hoping to run into him and have one more dance with him. Alas, Caitlynn does not know the stranger's name or even what he looks like. She was so taken with dancing with him, she’d neglected to look into his face, and when she was suddenly called away by her friend, Esther, she’d returned to pick up where she left off only to find him gone. 
Andre Cunningham burns with memories of the beautiful, passionate woman he danced with two years ago at the club. He had spotted her as soon as she walked in, waving her hand in the air. He’d danced up to her and, without uttering a word, fitted his body against hers. They moved together as one. She was as fluid as honey, weaving her magic over him, until he was intoxicated. Just as he was about to ask her name, she separated herself from him and went to talk to her friend… she did not return… he was devastated. From that day to now, he has haunted the club every chance he gets, searching for his mysterious dancer, but so far, it has been an effort in futility. This Labor Day will be two years since that unforgettable dance. He hopes this will be the night he reconnects with his mysterious dancer, even if he has to search every corner of the Club. He will not give up until he finds her. She has branded him with her magic, and ruined him for all others. 

Ju Ephraime's website
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Angela Dawn Vesely Interview

2/5/2015

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I'd like to introduce you to author Angela Dawn Vesely. Not only is she a fellow Fountain Blue Publishing author, she's also a fellow Nebraskan. 

Angela Dawn Vesely resides in rural northeast Nebraska. She and her husband, Jason, are thankful for the blessing of raising their two beautiful children, Gage and Ember, on her husband's family farm. Angela, a licensed massage therapist, is a stay-at-home mom, who loves spending time with her husband and children, cooking, reading, listening to music, and life on the farm.

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What inspired you to write your book? 
Originally I wrote this book for myself. I had so many bottled up feelings, and I felt that I really couldn’t talk to anyone about them. So many unbelievable things had happened, that it almost didn’t seem real. I needed to let it all out, and it seemed as though my story just poured out of me when I began to write. 

How did you come up with the title? 
I came up with the title, “Not What We Were Expecting,” because my husband and I thought we’d be able to get pregnant and have a baby easily, just like “everyone” else. We never would have imagined what we would go through to try and have a family together. It’s also kind of a play on the word “expecting”. 


How much of the book is realistic? 
Although it definitely may seem as though my story is fictional, it is an entirely true story.

   
What made you decide to sit down and actually start something? 
It was hard to talk to people, even friends and family, about everything that had happened to us. The topics of infertility, difficult pregnancy, miscarriage, infant loss, failed adoption, and micro preemies make people very uncomfortable. I didn’t know what else to do to free myself from the heartache I was still feeling, so I decided that maybe if I wrote it down, it would help me release some of the pain. 

Is there anything you found particularly challenging in writing this book? 
I made many mistakes in using incorrect punctuation and grammar. Also, going over court documents to make sure everything was exactly correct was tedious.
  
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What was the hardest part of writing a book? 
I suppose it would be the time involved with the editing process to get things “just right”. 

How can readers discover more about you and your work? 
People can connect with me on my Facebook page and my website, www.notwhatwewereexpecting.com. I would love to hear from interested readers! 

Why do you feel you had to tell this story? 
After writing this book only for myself, and it being such a healing experience for me, I decided that I really wanted to share my story with others, hoping in some small way it could begin the healing process for someone else, too. I want people to have hope, even if they are going through something they think seems impossible.   
Though ours is an extremely unique journey, there are elements that I think just about everyone will be able to relate to, or identify with. You may have been through one of these issues yourself, and if you haven’t, you most likely know someone who has, even if you aren’t aware of it. People don’t talk about these things, it is almost taboo. It’s hard to understand, if you haven’t been through it. I want to provide some incite. I want people to know they are not alone in their struggles. I also think that if you are a parent, or want to become one someday, this story is for you, as well. I have hope that my story will inspire someone to not give up on their dreams, whatever those dreams may be. 

Has your journey inspired you in other avenues of your life? 
Most definitely! I try very hard to not take anything for granted. I feel so blessed and I am grateful every day for the life I have. I try to live my life to its fullest. I spend time with the people I love, and do the things that make me happy. 

What did you learn about yourself, through writing your story? 
I have learned that I am a strong person. I have learned to forgive myself and forgive others. I know that I do not want to be a bitter person, I want to be happy. I feel that writing my story brought me peace, and I have let it all go.  It ended up being a wonderful way to heal. 
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Sharon C. Williams Interview

2/4/2015

2 Comments

 
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Please tell us a little about yourself.
I'm a native of New England, raised in Northern Maine. But now I live in North Carolina with my husband and son. I'm also owned by a flock of seven birds.

I have a B.S. degree in Chemistry. 

I started to write when my husband told my good friend Debbie that he felt I could really write. Upon her telling me this I mulled it over in my head during the summer of 2009.  In the Fall of the same year I had two unrelated surgeries within six weeks of each other. Seeing I had time I began to write and it's been a passion of mine since.

I'm a member of four writing groups, one of which I formed, a member of the NCWN and also the SCBWI. In 2013 I won a literary grant from the Art Council for my county. In May of 2014 I was hired as a freelance writer and photographer.

Two of my short stories were published in the anthology, "Cassandra's Roadhouse."  In September of 2013 my children's book “Jasper, Amazon Parrot:A Rainforest Adventure” was released by Fountain Blue Publishing. With members of the writing group I started, The Wonder Chicks, we released an anthology called " Dragons in the Attic."

Tell us about your latest book.
My first book is entitled “Jasper, Amazon Parrot: A Rainforest Adventure” which is based on my Amazon parrot Jasper. 

The story is located in the Amazon rainforest where our main character Jasper, along with his brother Willie live. The book starts off with the hatching of Jasper as he is born, grows and soon learns to fly. Which is important, for once he can do that he can explore a  place that has many adventures and dangers if he isn't careful. Along with his brother and his friends Charlie, a squirrel monkey, and George, a sloth, they learn about family and friends and what it means to belong.

What do you have coming out in the future?
I was fortunate enough that volume 2 to my Jasper series has been picked up and will be released  hopefully in 2015. Also I will be releasing a self published book called “Squirrel Mafia” which is based on my true life war with my backyard squirrels and the havoc they have done to Jasper and me. I will be releasing this short novel in January 2015. An anthology of short stories has also been picked up by a small independent house and we hope to have that released in 2015.
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From where do you draw your inspiration?
This is such a good question. I draw it from gosh just about everywhere. In my home from just being around my bird Jasper, I created my Jasper series and the squirrels in the back I created “Squirrel Mafia.” In my environment, now that I am a writer, I look at things differently just like as a photographer I view my world differently. I see my world, wherever that may be at the moment, as opportunities to stories and adventures. I have a short story called “The Door in the Tree” which was part of an anthology that was released in 2014. I had seen a picture prompt and we were to write a paragraph on that alone. From that came the story. Give me a picture or photo prompt I will most likely make it into a short story if not a book. 

The world and everything in it, if you look at it with new eyes and outside the book, will give you so many things to write about. 

What kind of books do you like to read?
The authors you will see on my bookshelves are Stephen King, Agatha Christie, James Patterson and Bentley Little. I have majority of their works some I have all. I love horror, drama, mystery and action. Anything that will take me away from my surroundings and transport me to a new world any world. If a book can't do that for me, it won't get finished. I want to laugh, I want to cry, I want to be scared and I want to experience things I never would experience and I want all of this to happen when I read. I been an avid reader since the age six and it has been a fun ride.

I been reading and reviewing books since 2010, I started with Booksneeze but now I review for a few sites and also on my own. This has given me the opportunity to read books I would never even consider picking up. I love that.  So my genre of books I read is expanding.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I love to read, sketch, take pictures, walk, exercise, go to the movies, and listen to music. I'm a budding bird watcher, and I knit on the side. If that doesn't keep me busy, I'm a huge sports fan of baseball, basketball, hockey, and football.

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Forthcoming from Peaceful Musings Publishing, an LDB Press imprint
New cover forthcoming
What was your road to publishing like?  Tell us about it.
When I first started writing my Jasper book it was meant for my future grandchildren. Attending my writer groups I started getting really inspired. I decided to go for it and try to find a publisher for the book. I did the research with the purchase of the Writer's Market and the Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market as I made a list of possible publishers to submit my manuscript to. I checked online for other list of people I could use. 

Once that was done I had to learn how to do a query letter. I was fortunate that in my Twitter family there were wonderful editors, publishers, and authors who had gone down this road or who were in the position that they read queries and submissions. They helped me out.

I also researched online and in reference books. I wanted it I needed it to be perfect. I did the same thing to learn how to do a cover letter.

I didn't go with an agent, for I had seen that there were many publishers who took on writers without agents so that is the route I went. 

My mentality then is still what it is today. My mantra is, “All I need is one yes, just one yes.” A phrase I tapped to my computer screen to remind me of my goal. The rejection letters came, oh boy they came. But you know what? I took that as a badge of honor. It meant I was still submitting, I was not letting the rejections slow me down or even stop me. I was determined as I kept on sending submission after submissions.

It took a while but I kept at it. I knew that I had a second plan in my pocket. I could always self publish, something authors a few years was unheard of or was just so expensive. But I was relentless to find someone who loved my manuscript as much as I did.

This is where having a nice social platform came in handy. From Twitter I found my amazing editor Nancy whose work has received praise from publishers I submitted to. That wasn't all. On LinkedIn, after joining related writing groups, I started seeing publishers mentioning they were open for submission. I compiled a new list.

At this point my folder of rejections was starting to grow. Happily in 2013, in March, a publisher from San Francisco wrote me. She wanted to see the first chapter. I complied. She wrote back, She wanted to see the next two chapters. I complied. Soon she asked for the whole manuscript. She had the afternoon free and her business partner and she wanted to read the entire book. Again, I complied.

To coin a phrase, “The rest is history.” In March of 2013 I received the letter I been waiting to receive since I started on this journey, I had found a publisher for Jasper. It took me a while but I kept at it and was the stage that I wanted to be at.

Is your book a stand alone or a series?
My children's book is a series. It was not meant to be a series when I first started writing it down on paper. But the adventures just kept popping in my head. At the moment volume two has been picked up for publication and volume three is about 80 percent done. In my head I have ideas for the fourth.

Do you read the genre you write for or do you prefer other genres?
I do read the genre I write in, primarily because I been a reviewer since 2010. So when books come across the site that is in the genre of my book I happily pick them up.  It gives me a change to explore writers and read their techniques and styles which are different from mine.

I do love mystery, action and drama for I love the suspense of trying to figure out what is going to happen at the end of the book. 
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Have you joined any writer’s groups?
Yes I have and I recommend them highly to anyone who is a writer. My first group is run out of a local library and I been a member since day one. My second group I found through meetup.com while searching for my local area. Each of these groups meet twice a month. I formed my own writing group of ladies and we call ourselves The Wonder Chicks. 

And  if that wasn't enough I joined yet another group so at the moment I  stand at four. They are very helpful and supportive and brings my work to the level it needs to be at.

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Editing. I simply hate it. I rather be sitting down at my desk, in a chair, at a coffee shop, heck anywhere that does not involve editing. I am getting better at it but I am truly grateful for my editor Nancy who is a wonderful and talented woman. While I will do the best I can to get it in good shape for her, I am clearly not at her level. Plus who wants to waste time editing? I know there many people who do, but not me. I rather be writing, plotting, scheming and developing a WIP instead of taking time from to edit.

How would you describe your writing style?
I write everything by hand. It just works better for me, it flows better. I rarely plan much on any given project, or at least not to the extent that I have an outline or extensive notes per WIP.  I could write anywhere, so long the ideas are in my head waiting for me. I write on what I know. That could be just one line and writing a story about it or it could develop into a novel where majority of the themes and plots I pull from experience. But it all comes down, for me, on writing what I know, regardless how much that is or isn't.
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Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
I don't carefully plan my stories per say.  I tend to have the ideas in my head and just go for it. Before I even start on page one I know the ending and the ups and downs I want to include in the story. Granted, once I start writing there are times the story takes over and it decides where it wants to go, something I have not figure out how it does that. At most, I will write down short choppy paragraphs on what my chaos will be and the major events that needs to occur. I will do a slight bio on each of my main characters. This is something I learned in a character developmental writing class. It gives me or rather it helps coordinate the story that is in my head. So while I do write portions down I don't really consider it careful planning.

When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
When the stories in my head started begging me to let them out. The time came when all I wanted to do was write. I couldn't explain it to myself or to my family. It was only when I joined a writing group that I realized I was not alone. It's a need that is inside of me, to have all these story lines, characters forming scenes and epic battles to where my mind gets so crowded I need to release them. But now my stories won't let me stop at just putting them on paper. They want more. And soon so did I.

I think the only people who get this feeling, this urge, this need is fellow writers. You know, I started writing late in my life, never once considered myself a writer, an author even. But now I can't imagine me without this being a part of my life. Writing.

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