PUBLISHED ON SMASHWORDS ON September 9, 2013
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in many different places in Colorado and
Utah. I get a lot of inspiration from the Rocky Mountains, with its vast
beauty. I usually write about living in the mountains in fictional
towns that are based on real towns. In some cases I will research a
place that I have never been to before, but feel like I've been there
anyway through hours and months of looking into that particular town
both online and at the library.
When did you first start writing?
The minute I entered kindergarten and the teacher
taught me how to read and write, I was hooked on writing. I have some of
my earlier works laminated and compiled the collection in a nice
leather bound folder. In the third grade, my teacher let the whole class
perform in my first play. I was the writer, director and actor. I don't
know whatever happened to that particular story and to tell you the
truth, I don't really remember what it was all about, but I will never
forget how that teacher's confidence in me sent me soaring above the
clouds!
Later on, I wrote on legal pad notebooks. In junior high school, I would have my classmates read my stories and get feedback that way. I joined the literary magazine in high school and published many poems in the local newspaper and poetry contest books. Before the computer was readily available, I wrote my first short story on an electronic typewriter. In college, I spread my wings and wrote several screenplays and short stories on the computer. I also became a reporter/writer in several college newspapers. I also interned at a PBS station when I was a college senior.
After college, I worked at the local newspaper and several local radio stations. I didn't start becoming serious about writing novels until 2005. I still don't write as often as I'd like or should because of my personal obligations to my family, but I am very proud to say to people that I am an erotic romance novelist that has three books published. There are many stories that haven't been published, mainly due to the fact that I am a perfectionist.
Some day, I would like to publish my illustrated children's books. Some day...
Later on, I wrote on legal pad notebooks. In junior high school, I would have my classmates read my stories and get feedback that way. I joined the literary magazine in high school and published many poems in the local newspaper and poetry contest books. Before the computer was readily available, I wrote my first short story on an electronic typewriter. In college, I spread my wings and wrote several screenplays and short stories on the computer. I also became a reporter/writer in several college newspapers. I also interned at a PBS station when I was a college senior.
After college, I worked at the local newspaper and several local radio stations. I didn't start becoming serious about writing novels until 2005. I still don't write as often as I'd like or should because of my personal obligations to my family, but I am very proud to say to people that I am an erotic romance novelist that has three books published. There are many stories that haven't been published, mainly due to the fact that I am a perfectionist.
Some day, I would like to publish my illustrated children's books. Some day...
Who are your favorite authors?
My favorite authors are many in the romance novel
category. I read every day. This where a lot of my inspiration comes
from. My favorite author, Eloisa James, writes fairytales that I want to
be true. I am also a huge Johanna Lindsey and Lisa Kleypas fan. In the
erotic romance category, some of my favorite authors are Cat Johnson,
Sierra Dafoe and Leah Braemel.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
My first stories were all about baby bunnies and
ponies. I would make up bunny families who used to to talk and act like
humans and I was always wanting a pony, but of course never got to own
one of them for myself.
What was the first book you read that made an impact on you?
There were THREE books that I read when I was a
teenager that made a huge impact on me. The three books that I said to
myself, "Hey, I want to write like that."
SE Hinton's books, "The Outsiders," "That was Then, This is Now," "Rumble Fish," and "Tex," gave me the dream that I could someday write stories that I would love to read.
Judy Blume's book, "Forever," gave me the idea that I could write teenage romance and make a living out of being a writer. Although I am not making a living out of being a writer, I get tremendous satisfaction when I sit down to write about love.
VC Andrews gave me the inspiration that I could write a complex book about relationships, love and family in a dark despairing way. She wrote out of the box when "Flowers in the Attic" was published. I kept trying to figure out how I could publish something so deep.
SE Hinton's books, "The Outsiders," "That was Then, This is Now," "Rumble Fish," and "Tex," gave me the dream that I could someday write stories that I would love to read.
Judy Blume's book, "Forever," gave me the idea that I could write teenage romance and make a living out of being a writer. Although I am not making a living out of being a writer, I get tremendous satisfaction when I sit down to write about love.
VC Andrews gave me the inspiration that I could write a complex book about relationships, love and family in a dark despairing way. She wrote out of the box when "Flowers in the Attic" was published. I kept trying to figure out how I could publish something so deep.
What are your five favorite books, and why?
My top five favorite books are: 1. Nicholas Sparks ~
The Notebook. He writes like I would want to. He is why I started
thinking seriously about writing to submit my own works. 2. Johanna
Lindsey ~ Gentle Rogue. I love her character of James Malory. I want the
swashbuckling pirate to come and rescue me, every time I read this
book. Good thing he shows up in more than just one of her stories. 3.
Lisa Kleypas ~ Sugar Daddy. I love reading about the Travis family.
Lucky thing Ms. Kleypas likes to write about the Travis family. 4.
Eloisa James ~ Pleasure for Pleasure. Thankfully Ms. James has made
several of her characters book-hopping people. I just love the ever
lovable character of Rafe. 5. Cat Johnson ~ Rough Stock. My first
glimpse into the world of menage. I found myself always wondering what
April, Mason and Clay were up to and how all three of them could make
this unconventional relationship work out. As it is, my menage
characters all seem to make it work, as well.
What do you read for pleasure?
My pleasure comes from getting into a book that
takes me right where I want to go. I want to be the one stowed away on a
pirate ship or stranded on a desert island with a well-built brute of a
man. I want to be the character in a Nicholas Sparks book that finally
finds love after all the struggles are overcome. I want to be the
million dollar baby that has trust funds and mansions to wallow around
in.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
The greatest joy of writing for me is the last word.
The finished product. The submitted works. I have so many stories to
tell I am always anxious to move onto another story, but I always enjoy
going back and reading one of my novels to revisit a favorite character.
How do you approach cover design?
I am a struggling writer, in the sense that I don't
make a lot of money with it, so I have no budget to hire a cover design
artist. I use my own designs and get friends to pose for the covers. I
have a multimedia degree, so I believe that my college experience with
graphic arts has helped. It should be noted that I write for the
pleasure of it and not for the monetary value.
What is your inspiration to The Sweetest Thing?
The Sweetest Thing starts out as a fictional account
of my junior high school experience with boys and girlfriend
relationships. The story then depicts parts of my young adult years into
middle age. The inspiration for this story is based on my personal
experience and how I wanted my life to go if I were in charge of writing
my own happy ending. I just wanted the fairytale that I never got in my
real life.
Many people in my life helped shaped me into who I am today. I have fun fictionalizing situations and with permission from my past love interests, play around with scenarios as I imagined them to be. If you are a former classmate, current friend or former lover, read the story and try to guess all the players that made The Sweetest Thing possible. Thanks to one and all!
Many people in my life helped shaped me into who I am today. I have fun fictionalizing situations and with permission from my past love interests, play around with scenarios as I imagined them to be. If you are a former classmate, current friend or former lover, read the story and try to guess all the players that made The Sweetest Thing possible. Thanks to one and all!
