Tell us about yourself.:
When asked if I always knew I'd be a writer, the answer is NO, never.
In fact, as a kid I used to pretend to race horses around our yard. Yup, neighing, jumping the fence, the whole nine yards. As a teenager (14) that dream became reality when I started to work with racehorses. And even though I also became a professional animal artist as well, most of my jobs were physical. So you can imagine the surprise when I decided to write a book in 2008. 😲
Of course, I've always loved to read, so maybe it isn't such a stretch…?
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I was born in Toronto Canada, then lived in Montreal until we moved west to Calgary Alberta when I was nine. That's where I got to presue my love of horses, which expanded into reading. My grade six teacher made us read each day, so of course I read horse books. My favorite being Walter Farley's Black Stallion series. Later on, I discovered romance, time travel, and then books with people who had abilities so when I discovered Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, I knew I'd found my home.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
not really unusual, but I have the bad habit of writing, then going back and editing, adding more, which leads to more editing before I can move on.
What authors have influenced you?
I was born in Toronto Canada, then lived in Montreal until we moved west to Calgary Alberta when I was nine. That's where I got to presue my love of horses, which expanded into reading. My grade six teacher made us read each day, so of course I read horse books. My favorite being Walter Farley's Black Stallion series. Later on, I discovered romance, time travel, and then books with people who had abilities so when I discovered Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, I knew I'd found my home.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Use a GMC chart. (I read about this from Debra Dixon on Amazon) Find Beta readers in your genre. Get an editor, no matter how good a reader you are, you will miss stuff. Get an editor you can work with, get sample edits to find the right one. Get one preferably who will do a couple passes. Get a professional cover. If you have too, save up until you can buy one. You also want to make sure your cover hits the style for your genre, so be sure your cover artist knows the trends/colors/styles ets for your genre. Build a Newsletter following, there's so much more, but this is the start.
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
If you do no other plotting, at lease use a GMC (Goal Motiviation Conflict) chart. It's simple, easy, and helps immensly to understand what your characters want. Then have beta readers to go over your story, let you know if there's any unanswered questions, or other problems with your story. I now call these my Alpha readers and they get a questionair from me to fill out when done. After I send my MS to my editor, then my beta readers get it, and they find anything my editor and I missed.
What are you reading now?
I'm reading King of Midnight by Lara Adrain, one of my favorite authors.
What’s your biggest weakness?
my health.
What is your favorite book of all time?
Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon (McQueen) it will rip your heart out and then put it all back together amid a pile of mush, lol. Her Dark Hunters and League series are my #1 favs and I highly recommend to all who love the genre!
When you’re not writing, how do you like to spend your time?
I'm also a cover designer, so I spend a lot of time creating shiny pretty covers for my books and other authors. After that, I love to read, and watch tv shows, they offer so much inspiration. If it's summer and warm, then I love to go to the lake and play on our seadoos. I occassionally go riding, but not as often anymore.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
I don't remember the first, but The Black Stallion probably had the biggest impact, it inspired so many dreams. I'd go out to the farm where I kept my first horse and race her around the training track. Sometimes at night, with the stars out and the moon reflecting on the pond in the middle of the track. We'd race the wind~ it was amazing.
What has inspired you and your writing style?
I'd say that Sherrilyn Kenyon's (McQueen) stories have had the biggest inspiration on my writing. I like to write deep tortured characters who find their life mate, or get a second chance. I love vivid exciting worlds filled with magic and magical beings, both good and evil.
What are you working on now?
Too many, lol! I'm working on the 9th book in my dracones series; Beat of my Heart. It's an MM story. I'm also working on "Loki of Moonlight" it tells of the creation of my magic wolves. I have a bunch of others that I've started as well, some set in other realms, and I tend to work on whichever I feel that I just 'have' to work on~whatever one is 'talking to me at that time.
What is your favorite method for promoting your work?
Mostly I use Newsletter swaps, though I've started up my facebook ads again, which were doing good while I was in Kindle Unlimited, but now that I've gone wide with my books, I'll see how well that works.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I've opened up one of my worlds to a shared world. It's my league of Supernatural Assassins. I and the writers who've joined are super excited about this, and I may do more depending on how this one goes. Other than that, I have so many stories in my head, and new ones always popping up, I don't think I'll ever be done.
How well do you work under pressure?
I tend to ignore other things until I'm done what needs to be done, as I'm always afraid I'll forget.
How do you decide what tone to use with a particular piece of writing?
I don't, I've never thought of this, I just write and it happens.
If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be?
In todays world authors really need to capture the readers interest. I'm a reader, and if you don't capture mine, I move on to something that will as I have limited time to read. So, I strive to do that in my writing. I do my best to keep the reader engaged. I know my books aren't for everyone, they tend to be a little darker themed, not in the sex area, but due to past tragedies, or battles with either the villain(s) or even themselves, and I do my best to create stories and worlds that a reader will fall in love with, just like I would. Plus, I love twists.
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