My Life As a Writer interviewed me about self-publishing. Check it out.
Category Archives: Author Interview
Feature February Author G. K. Moore
Today is the final day of Feature February. It has been such an honor getting to know all these wonderful authors.
I am very pleased to introduce G. K. Moore. I can’t really remember where we met, but we’ve been friends ever since. I am a big fan of her writing and I’m anxiously awaiting her next book.
J-Thanks for joining me today. Can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?
G-I’m messy, spontaneous, and passionate. I’m also an avid reader and a tea addict.
J-What genre do you write and why?
G-Romantic suspense! Because I like to keep readers on the tip of their toes, always wondering what will happen next.
J-Yes, you are very good at that. When did you start writing?
G-I had a wild imagination as a child, I would always make up stories and tell them to anyone who would listen. When I realized I could write them down, I did.
J-What books have you published?
G-My debut, Covert, came out in December. It’s a romance and it’s also a suspense novel. There’s quite a bit of action and mystery in it.
Here is the trailer:
J-I love that trailer. You can find Covert on Amazon US and Amazon UK. What are you working on next?
G-Covert is part of a series called CHICAGO ANGELS and I’m working on the second book. The sequel will be action-packed and a lot of secrets will be revealed!
J-Squeee! I can’t wait. Okay, Are you traditionally published or self-published and why?
G-I’m an indie author all the way! Making a book is a creative process, from start to finish. I like being part of it, every step of the way. Thankfully, I have a wonderful team supporting me.
J-I love that. Do you use experiences from your own life in your writing or does it all come from your imagination?
G-I think my imagination uses my own experiences and feelings to create new and inventive stories. So a bit of both.
J-Do you plot or outline when writing?
G-Both. Before I sit down to write an outline, I’ve usually plotted the story in my mind. I know how it starts, how it ends, and what happens to lead to that particular ending. The details of the story come to me while writing, but the general idea is ready before I type the first word.
J-Do you listen to music when writing? If so, name three songs on your current playlist.
G-Yes! When I’m writing, I need to feel what the characters are feeling, music helps me bring out all those emotions. Three songs? What about the playlist I used while writing Covert:
https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:user:11150243945:playlist:7gmsg5LrBBQCuLuyNT1SGj
J-Thank you, G. K., for joining me today. I loved Covert and can’t wait or the sequel. You can find my review of Covert on Goodreads here. You can find G. K. online at the links below.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GKMooreAuthor
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/GKMooreAuthor
Website: http://www.readmoorebooks.com/
Thank you, everyone, for joining us today and all month long for Feature February. Have a great weekend.
You can find me online at www.jennifersenhajiauthor.com
Share this:
Feature February Author Eeva Lancaster
Today, I am talking with the lovely Eeva Lancaster. We met through a mutual friend, and I immediately joined her group on Google+ Alliance of Self Published Authors.
J-Eeva, can you tell our readers a little about yourself?
E-I was into freelance writing even before I became a self-published author. I still am. I get hired to write articles, blog content, edit, proofread… I maintain several websites, I’ve ghostwritten dozens of books – anything that has to do with writing and eBooks, you’ll find me there. I used to be corporate but I recently quit my job so I’m into freelancing and writing full-time now.
J-What genre do you write and why?
E-For now, I write poetry and non-fiction. I have many lessons to share and maybe someone out there is travelling the same path I’ve travelled and would find value in my work.
J-That’s great. What is different about your writing style?
E-I tell it like it is. I want to inspire and motivate but I also believe that we need to accept the reality of things first before we can do anything about it. I want to name the elephant in the room and remove the mystery. My books are honest to a fault and straight to the point, unlike many non-fiction books that are too idealistic and not applicable to real life at all.
J-Excellent. When did you start writing?
E-I wrote my first published poetry book 20 years ago. But I didn’t write again until I started freelancing in 2013.
J-What books have you published?
E-My first book is a compilation of poems called “In Loving You: A Journey of Love and Self Discovery”
The 2nd book is the first of my Now What? Series. “You’re Getting Married Soon… Now What?” was written for new couples. It’s a list of questions that couples need to discuss before taking their relationship to the next level. See, I believe that the foundation of good relationships is the ability of couples to talk about anything. It minimizes unrealistic expectations and the frustrations that result from it.
J-Very cool. What is a typical day or week like for you? How do you find time to write?
E-My author community, the Alliance, freelance writing projects and my own books take up 80% of my time. I should live on another planet where the days are longer. I’m always pressed for time.
J-I can imagine, yet you are always reading something. What are you reading right now?
E-I’m reading Awaken from R.E.S Tidmore. It’s part of the review rounds in the Alliance.
Anne Rice’s Prince Lestat is waiting for me on my Kindle. That one is a personal preference and I can’t wait to get to it.
J-I love Anne Rice. What are you working on next?
E-The 2nd book of my Now What? Series is going to change the lives and mindset of many freelancers. I’m sharing my own experience and clarifying a lot of misconceptions about working from home and making money online. This book will be like a template for everyone who wants to start online freelancing, but don’t know where to start. It will contain proven freelancer websites and strategies that have worked for me.
“You Want To Be An Online Freelancer… Now What?” will be released first week of March.
J-I know quite a few people who will be interested in that book. Are you traditionally published, self-published, or with a vanity press? Why?
E-Self-Published. It’s just wonderful that people can easily publish their books nowadays without having to go through traditional publishers. Yes, self-publishing has been getting a bad reputation due to the quality of some of the books being released, but on the other hand, many good writers are also given the opportunity to share their stories and ideas. It’s harder to be a self-published author, but I love the creative freedom that it offers.
J-Do you use experiences from your own life in your writing or does it all come from your imagination?
E-I use experiences. I’ve been through a lot and there are many lessons that needs to be shared. I write Non-Fiction – I believe that I should be writing about real stuff. Not ideals but real problems and real solutions. Actionable. Realistic. Yeah most of my books will have this tone. They will name the elephant in the room and remove the mystery.
J-What is your favorite curse word?
E-Errrr…. “F**k!”
J-What is your favorite word to use in writing?
E-Really and Just are my favorite stress words. I just believe that they are really necessary to stress a point! Hahaha!
J-Really true. Haha. Do you Plot or outline when writing?
E-Yes, I create an outline… Otherwise, I’ll ramble and lose my train of thought.
J-Do you listen to music when writing? Name three songs on your current playlist?
E-No, I like the TV to play in the background while I write, but not music. I’ll be singing along with it and it will distract me. I need to hear myself think.Demons and Try are my current favorites.
J-I’m the opposite. TV seems to be more distracting for me. Are you a cat or dog person?
E-I’m a cat person who love dogs. Big dogs.
J-If you had your choice of writing retreat would you choose, a. Villa in Italy, b. Cabin in the woods, c. English estate in Derbyshire (think Pemberly) d. Beach house in the Virgin Islands
E-Definitely Beach House in the Virgin Islands. Love the ocean.
J-Thank you so much, Eeva, for joining me today. You can find Eeva online at any one of the links below.
Website: http://eevalancaster.weebly.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eevalancaster
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/113202841259064736747/about
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/eevalancaster
Twitter: https://twitter.com/eevalancaster
You can find me online at www.jennifersenhajiauthor.com
Thanks for reading.
Share this:
Feature February Author Katharine Grubb
I’m and pleased to have Katharine Grubb on the blog today. She is one of the first authors I met on Twitter. I joined her group, 10 Minute Novelists on Facebook, that same day where she offers up helpful advice or resources to other authors and writers.
J-Can you tell our audience a little about yourself?
K-I am a stay-at-home, homeschooling writer mom with five children between the ages of 9 and 16. I live in Central Massachusetts where I cheer for the Patriots and long for an early spring. I bake all my bread from scratch, I’m left-handed, I really don’t care for animals and I have freakishly thick hair.
J-You are a busy woman. What genre do you write and why?
K-I write in a variety of genres. My first book was a romantic comedy and I self-published it. I’m very proud of the success it had. I love comedy and my books will always have humor in them. My second book is non-fiction, a how-to: Write A Novel In 10 Minutes A Day. I’m also very proud of it because unlike my first book, it was commissioned by a publishing house, which required me to get an agent. The nature of this book— practical help and encouragement is also something I love to do for others. Maybe that’s the homeschooling mother in me talking.
J-I love it. What is different about your writing style?
K-I’d like to think that my writing style has traces of dry, self-deprecating humor and I LOVE the one-liner. I could write those all day. Even in the non-fiction book, I threw a few jokes in. My thought is everything is better when it’s fun!
J-It is. I love to laugh, even when reading non-fiction. When did you start writing?
K-I’m one of those annoying people who say that they’ve been writing since they were four. It’s true. I wrote about very helpful kittens whose mother had trouble carrying their groceries out the store. That gripping tale led to more stories —in 1977 I was obsessed with Laura Ingalls Wilder and I was sure I could write about my own experiences building a cabin in the American West. Then I totally Lisa Simpsoned it on my high school newspaper and yearbook. I was a writing major in college and failed miserably. It wasn’t until 2013 that I figured out why: I had PTSD. Anxiety and depression from an abusive childhood sounds like a great past for a writer, but it isn’t really. So I went without writing for a good long while. It wasn’t until 2006, when my youngest child was just a few months old, that I decided to write again. That’s when I started setting my timer for ten minutes increments and became the 10 Minute Writer and subsequently, the 10 Minute Novelist.
J-Amazing. Very inspirational that you found a way to get back to writing. What books have you published?
K-My debut romantic comedy, which was a quarterfinalist for the ABNA in 2014, is Falling For Your Madness. The link is here.
The Kindle version is only $.99 through March 1. Then, my nonfiction book, Write A Novel In 10 Minutes A Day is here. This book will be released March 26, but pre-orders are now available!
J-What is a typical day or week like for you? How do you find time to write?
K-A typical day for me is up early! I make breakfast for all seven of us, and then make the teenage girls clean up. I get my husband out the door and put my younger three kids on their independent school work. As for me, I get on the treadmill. When I’m done there, I sit the younger three down (the older girls do their high school work independently) and we do our Bible, Poetry, Vocabulary, Science, History and French lesson. Then we all do our own lunch, and the boys have to clean up. The afternoon is spent blogging, writing, marketing my books, taking care of my Facebook group, 10 Minute Novelists, and in between there, I do laundry, bake bread and make dinner. I found that cleaning the kitchen, alone after supper, has a relaxing effect on me. Then I spend the evening reading. I’m kind of a homebody and don’t drive my kids all over creation to take classes. We also do our homeschool co-op on Fridays, clean the house on Saturdays, go to church and watch Patriots football on Sundays. Oh no! Football season is over! What are we going to do now for Sunday afternoon entertainment?
J-Again, you sound like a very busy woman, but I admire your for finding time for your writing even when taking care of everything else. I guess congratulations are in order as far as football goes.What are you reading right now?
K-Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. Whoa. What a book. I’m right in the middle and trying to wrap my brain around it. I love books like this: ones that challenge me as a reader. I want to be a writer like that.
J-That book is on my list. I’ve been wanting to read it for a while. So many books, so little time. What are you working on next?
K-This summer, I’ll be releasing Soulless Creatures which could be considered NA fiction, if NA fiction was ever set in 1986. It’s the story of Roy, a working-class college freshman who takes up his pretentious and wealthy roommate Jonathan’s offer: if Roy can prove he has a soul, then he will win Jonathan’s new car. I can’t wait for my readers to get it! Then in 2016, I want to write Market Your Book in 10 Minutes A Day and another novel —possibly a thriller.
J-Cool. I love how you are balancing fiction and non-fiction. Soulless Creatures sounds like a comedy in the making. Do you listen to music when writing? Name three songs on your current playlist?
K-I DO listen to music when I write, but it has to be lyric free. The Piano Guys and Lindsey Stirling have been very helpful in the past. Right now I’m listening to the movie soundtrack station on Pandora. Sometimes, though, the mood of the writing isn’t quite right for the words I’m putting down. For example, you’d think listening to the soundtrack to Downton Abbey would be perfect for this assignment, but it only makes me want to conspire against my sister, dress like a flapper and make a pot of tea.
J-Ha, I love Downton Abbey, but I can see how that could happen. Maybe for writing the thriller. Are you a cat or dog person?
K-This is where you judge me. I am neither. I am highly allergic to animals and I can’t pet them or touch them, or God forbid, get licked by them. My children know the answer to the question of, “can we get a puppy?” is always, “no, but how about a baby sister?” It is possible to be a writer without a furry muse. And without cigarettes. And without a drug problem. Golly, does this make me sound BORING.
J-Not at all. I think it makes you sound like a responsible adult who is allergic to animals. In any case, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to join me.
You can find Katharine online at the links below.
Thank you, Katharine. I’ll see you soon.
You can find me online at www.jennifersenhajiauthor.com
Happy reading.
Share this:
Feature February Author Meredith Tate
My friend and fellow author, Meredith Tate is here today to talk about writing and her brand new book releasing March 3rd, Missing Pieces.
J-Thank you for being here today, Meredith. Can you tell our readers a little about yourself?
M-Sure! My name is Meredith, I’m a twenty-something New Hampshire girl currently living in St. Louis, Missouri with my husband. I have a master’s degree in social work, and worked in the mental health field for several years. I love books, traveling to new places, playing the piano, and going on adventures. My life goal is to travel to all seven continents. I’m allergic to potato skins (isn’t that the most random allergy ever?). I’m probably Dunkin Donuts’ best customer. I’m currently working as a full time writer, and I love my job. My first novel MISSING PIECES comes out on March 3.
J-That may in fact be the most random allergy ever. Congratulations on your upcoming release. What genre do you write and why?
M-This is such a tough question for me because I’m struggling to pick a single genre. MISSING PIECES is a New Adult Dystopian Romance; my second book I recently finished polishing is a Young Adult Sci-fi Thriller; my two “work in progress” projects are a Young Adult Fantasy and a Young Adult Psychological Thriller. I also have ideas for a Horror book, a Romance book, and a Sci-fi that takes place on the moon. Basically, I’m all over the place. I think I tend to gravitate toward writing speculative fiction (anything that doesn’t take place in our current world as we know it) and darker subject matter, because that’s what I usually like to read. Stories full of twists and death? Yes please! But who knows? I love books of all genres, and can see myself in the future writing across the boards.
J-That’s great. I love reading about places and times different than my own. What books have you published?
M-My debut novel MISSING PIECES comes out on March 3rd through Omnific Publishing (a partner of Simon & Schuster). Here it is: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Missing-Pieces/not-available/9781623421793
You can also add it on Goodreads here! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24903132-missing-pieces?from_search=true
J-And… it’s added to my Goodreads list. When did you start writing?
M-I’ve been writing since I was little. I was the nerdy kid who got excited when our teacher made us write poetry in class. I used to write short fantasy stories a lot in high school, only 4-5 pages, and then never finish them. I wrote my first novel in college, and it’s currently in a drawer where it belongs (although someday I’d like to go back and rewrite it!). It’s something I’ve always loved, and always knew I wanted to someday pursue!
J-What is a typical day or week like for you? How do you find time to write?
M-Last year when I was working full time in social work, my schedule was a mess. I’d wake up at 7am, get to work at 9, get home from work around 5:30-6, have dinner, and then literally sit and write or edit until 11pm-midnight every night. My social life was abysmal (although my characters’ lives were hopping). I was also in the process of planning my wedding. I really didn’t have time to write, so I had to make time, squeezing it in whenever possible. In June when we moved across the country I was lucky enough to have the chance to start writing full time. I think my friends think I sit at home on Facebook all day in my pajamas, but I really do spend all day working (although sometimes in my pajamas). Usually I break up my day into writing, editing, working on promo stuff for MISSING PIECES, reading manuscripts for my critique partners, and responding to emails from my publicist / reviewers / editor / critique partners. If I can’t focus at home, there’s this great local coffee shop I’ll sometimes go to with my laptop (although they recently took the kids’ menu grilled cheese off their menu, not cool).
J-I recently spent two weeks at home on sick leave, and I can tell you just from those two weeks that I didn’t get as much writing done as I thought I would. Writing, blogging, researching, editing, plotting, marketing, all take up so much time. It really is a full time job. What are you working on next?
M-My current work in progress is a young adult fantasy story. After that? Who knows! One of the other eighteen ideas burning a hole in my “book idea” folder.
J-Are you traditionally published, self-published, or with a vanity press? Why?
M-I am traditionally published. I really wanted the experience of having a team collaborate on my book, so I was really lucky that my awesome publisher liked the story and wanted to offer me a contract.
J-Do you use experiences from your own life in your writing or does it all come from your imagination?
M-I write mostly speculative fiction, so most of the settings and plots come from my imagination. However, I pull a lot of character quirks and dynamics from my own experiences. I think that’s why for authors, sharing your writing is so personal and often difficult, because there’s a big chunk of yourself in there.
J-Do you plot or outline when writing?
M-Yes, always! Before I start any new book, I always write a page(ish) long summary of the characters and plot. For MISSING PIECES, that’s all I used, although the original ending changed four times. My second novel, the YA sci-fi I recently finished polishing, has a more complicated plot, so I drafted out a chapter-by-chapter outline of the whole thing before I started; otherwise, I’d never be able to keep track of everything.
J-Do you listen to music when writing? Name three songs on your current playlist?
M-Always! In fact, it’s nearly impossible for me to write without music. I usually make a playlist for each story I’m working on, and listen to it while I’m writing or editing it. I’m planning on putting up a blog post with my whole playlist for MISSING PIECES, but here are three songs from my list:
Sorrow by The National
Terrible Love by Birdy
Silenced by the Night by Keane
Awesome. Thank you Meredith and congratulations on your new release.
You can find Meredith online at the links below.
Website / Blog: http://meredithtate.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormeredithtate
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mltate24
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13491569.Meredith_Tate
You can find me and all my links on my main web page www.jennifersenhajiauthor.com
Share this:
Feature February Author Suzie Jay
Today I’m talking with my awesome Aussie friend, Suzie Jay.
J-Thank you, Suzie for speaking with me today. Can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?
S-Hi there, my name is Suzie Jay. I am a wife, a mum of 6, an ex-school teacher and I used to own my own business baking and decorating elaborate cakes. I enjoyed it but it wasn’t something I was really passionate about. I got to the point that I needed to go culinary school and get some qualifications to extend my business. I was really dreading it. That’s when I realized, if I was going to put my money into anything it should be something I really love and am passionate about. That’s when I decided to start writing novels for a living. I am new to writing as a career. So be gentle.
J- Good for you for going after what makes you happy. What genre do you write and why?
S-I write Chick Lit because I love it. I love reading it, I love the cover art and I love writing it. It comes so naturally to write in that style that I actually may be incapable of writing in any other way. If I ever try I’ll keep you updated.
J-What is different about your writing style?
S-I think the most obvious thing is that I write romance without the romance. I am so romantically challenged and it shows when I write. I really want that sweet romance with the happily ever after but I’m just too awkward to pull it off. So I suggest the relationship but focus more on other aspects. It’s the same situation when I nag my husband all year to be more romantic and the second he is, I get embarrassed and tell him to stop it. Yep, romantically challenged.
J-Ha. When did you start writing?
S-I started writing long involved stories when I was 5. Looking back on it now, I really feel for my 1st grade teacher. You sign up to teach the little ones to avoid spending the weekend grading papers. Sorry, 5 year old me didn’t get that memo.
J-What books have you published?
S-My First book, ‘Walk on the wild side, the Re-invention of Violet Monte.’ Will be out so soon I can taste it. I am also part of 2 Anthologies that are due out this year. One of them is a summer romance set on a cruise ship and one is an April Fools day anthology that is full of humor and love. I am really excited and just want one of them to get out there.
J-Well, we are going to have to do another interview about your book(s) once they come out. What is a typical day or week like for you? How do you find time to write?
S-I did mention I have 6 kids right? There is no typical day when you have that many individual personalities running around. Some days I start to wonder if I have actually been captured and held hostage by a mini army of shitting machines. There are days I long for escape. I understand the purpose of the big 18th birthday celebrations now. It’s not for them, it’s for us. Hooray you are an adult- why aren’t your bags packed yet? No I joke, the only constants for me right now are cooking, cleaning, wiping bums and lots and lots of love and laughs.
J-Funny. What are you reading right now?
S-Interview questions. Seriously, I have always wanted to answer this question by saying something like War and Peace or the complete works of William Shakespeare, but let’s face it.. That’s never going to happen so I will have to go with the back of the cereal box and my son’s homework.
J-Well, I have to assume you are between books, since I know you are always reading something, Ms. Smarty Pants. What are you working on next?
S-I have a new book that I’m a quarter of the way through. It doesn’t have a title yet. I tried to write a nice romance but once again, I had to add the comedy. Hey, funny can be sexy!
J-I love funny. Funny absolutely can be sexy. Are you traditionally published, self-published, or with a vanity press?
S-When I finished my first book I was about to self-publish it but my nerves went on the attack and they called for backup from my brain and its bestie, self-doubt and I began to wonder if I could actually write at all. Thoughts of American idol flashed through my mind. You know the early rounds. Everyone thinks they sound like a superstar and the audience is left wondering how this person has made it through their entire life without a friend that would tell them how terrible they are? What if I was to writing what they were to singing? I decided to send it to a publisher. I figured if they even gave me some positive feedback it may be enough to help me get over my confidence stoop. Well that publisher did better than just give me feedback. They signed the book.
J-See, all you writers out there, it is possible. Suzie, do you use experiences from your own life in your writing or does it all come from your imagination?
S-Lots and lots of tiny little things in my book are like little salutes to friends and family. Things they say, names, colors they love. These extras add depths to my characters and give those I love a giggle as they know I was thinking of them. If any try to take me to court though I will totally deny this.
J-What is your favorite curse word?
S-I love the word ‘Fuck’ it’s just so darn versatile. It can be a good thing ‘This is fucking great’ it can be bad ‘What the fuck is this?’ ‘Fuck off’ etc or it can be a question ‘What the fuck?’ I could quiet happily add that little fucker to every single fucking sentence.
J-Fucking brilliant! Thanks, Suzie. You can find Suzie Jay online at the links below.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzie-Jay/1517547845161295?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeeyone3
Blog: http://suziejayauthor.blogspot.com.au/
Google + https://plus.google.com/u/0/+SuzieJayAuthor/posts
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9831659.Suzie_Jay
As always you can find me online at http://www.jennifersenhajiauthor.com
Happy Monday.
Share this:
Feature February Author Quenby Olson
Today I have the pleasure of introducing my ballet dancing, super mommy friend, Quenby Olson.
J-Quenby, thank you so much for joining me today. Can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?
Q-Oh, boy. I was born and raised in a small town (“small” meaning less than 1000 people) in Pennsylvania, where we were more likely to get stuck behind an Amish buggy than stuck in traffic. I was homeschooled before most people knew what it was (Does that make me a homeschool hipster?) and I was the classic book worm, burying myself in books and school work and writing all the time. I trained to be a classical ballet dancer, never went professional (bad knees, health issues, and being too old and too tall all worked against me), but I’ve been teaching dance since I was 15. Now I’m married to a man I initially broke up with before Valentine’s Day because he didn’t take me to see Lord of the Rings, I have three amazing children I adore (when they’re not driving me up the wall), and I still live in a small town… just a different one from the one in which I was raised.
J-What genre do you write and why?
Q-Honestly, I write in several different genres. I know they say an author should have a “brand”, sticking to a certain type of story to help build up a loyal audience, but since I devour every genre available (I’m in the middle of some Shakespeare, some Terry Pratchett, a Georgette Heyer romance, and a non-fiction book about Marconi and his work on the telegraph) I can’t help but want to write in every genre that’s out there. So the old saying, “Write what you want to read?” Yeah, that’s me, for good or for bad.
J-I love that. I think that is a great way to go about it. Write what you want to read is perfect. Why stick to just one? When did you start writing?
Q-Young. Very young. I didn’t even realize how young until I found stories pencilled into some of my old schoolbooks or remembered acting out my own stories based on my favorite cartoons before writing them down. Then, dance took over for several years, and I got back into writing heavily when I was in my early 20s.
J-What books have you published?
Q-Knotted (http://www.amazon.com/Knotted-Quenby-Olson-ebook/dp/B00DBT0MQE), my first novel, a YA/NA contemporary romance set in England. There are some odes to Pride and Prejudice, some terrible cooking, a wedding, and vampires. (Okay, one of those is not true.)
(It’s the vampires.)
(Maybe.)
J-I loved Knotted. Anyone interested can read my review on Amazon here.
Q-Also, Unwrapping Love (http://www.amazon.com/Unwrapping-Love-Grace-Ravel-ebook/dp/B00P72UUGK), a romance anthology of 21 different holiday-themed stories was published at the end of last year. My contribution, First Position, is a short story about romance, ballet, and Romeo and Juliet. But no vampires. Honest.
J-What is a typical day or week like for you? How do you find time to write?
Q-A typical day? Cooking, cleaning, homeschooling my two older children, running them to dance lessons, to gymnastics, working (teaching my own dance classes), and trying to find time for the less important things like sleeping, bathing, and eating something more nutritious than a half dozen Oreos bolted down in less than two minutes.
Finding time to write is tricky, but I’m getting better at it. Basically, I throw some Cheerios at my children, let them roam around the house with open cups of purple grape juice and sharp objects, and maybe change a diaper when the smell gets too bad.
Okay, obviously it’s not like that (all the time). The best way for me to find time is to keep my laptop open on the desk or the kitchen counter all day long, and when I find a spare ninety seconds (usually tucked somewhere behind the Holy Grail) I jot down a few lines before my youngest child has a chance to climb onto the cat and try to ride him around the living room.
J-Haha. Sorry. I was just picturing a cat riding toddler. What are you working on next?
Q-Several things, actually. My next novel, The Half Killed, is going through it’s final bout of proofreading (not by me, since I’m crap at finding typos) and will be released the end of this winter. It’s a paranormal mystery set in London at the end of the nineteenth century, complete with spiritualists and murder and demon possession. So, you know, just another day in Victorian England.
I also have several other projects that aren’t quite that far along yet. I always work on several things at once, so there are some Regency-era romances, some dystopian fantasy, a story that may or may not involve some Frankenstein-ian shenanigans, and chick-lit. Because sometimes I just want to write something frothy and fun.
J-I am really looking forward to reading The Half Killed. Do you use experiences from your own life in your writing or does it all come from your imagination?
Q-Oh, I cull from my own life all the time. I steal bits and pieces from the places I’ve traveled, from ballet, from my mother talking about her day at work, from things my kids say or people I meet while going to yard sales. It all finds its way into my stories, some way or another.
J-What is your favorite word to use in your writing?
Q-Apoplectic. Go ahead, look it up. It’s awesome.
J-Ha. I totally just looked it up. See below.
adjective: apoplectic
-
overcome with anger; extremely indignant.“Mark was apoplectic with rage at the decision”
-
datedrelating to or denoting apoplexy (stroke).“an apoplectic attack”
-
J-Do you listen to music when you write? Name three songs on your current playlist.
Q-Of course I listen to music. How else can I drown out that episode of Thomas the Tank Engine playing on a loop on the television?
And three songs? Okay, “I Found A Reason” by Cat Power, “Cosmic Dancer” by T-Rex, and “Seven Devils” by Florence and the Machine. The rest is all original movie scores and Mozart.
J-Are you a cat or a dog person?
Q-Imaginary turtle. He’s much easier to clean up after.
Thanks, Quenby. This was fun.
You can find Quenby online at the links below.
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/QuenbyOlson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/QEisenacher
Website: https://quenbyolson.wordpress.com
You can find me and all my links on my website at www.jennifersenhajiauthor.com
Share this:
Feature February Author Sonja Frojdendal
I am pleased to have my sexy Swede, Ms. Sonja Frojdendal here today.
S-Hi Jennifer! Thank you so much for having me here, I am excited to be here. This is my first author interview so be kind will you.
J-Of course. I love that picture of you, by the way. So cute. Can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?
S-Tell you a little about me? Where to start? I am born and raised in Sweden. Five siblings with two different mothers, I´m the only writer so far. No family of my own so it is very peaceful at my place. I get to be the cool aunt though, to four bundles of joy.
J-What genre do you write and why?
S-At the moment I write contemporary romance and that is all thanks to my lovely friends over at Writing Wenches. I have written poetry, still do at times. On my to do list is a few fantasy/paranormal stories, they wait for me to finish my current works. I might have a history novel in the mix somewhere too.
J-What is different about your writing style?
S-A swede trying to write in English without the help of a translator? Hehe. I have no idea what is different. My writing comes from my heart, I write what is dear to me. If that is different from others then so be it, not that I think so. I think we all write what is in our hearts.
J-When did you start writing?
S-I think I started as soon as I learned how to write. But it was only ten plus years ago I started writing with the purpose of publishing. With that said it took me until 2013 to publish my first book.
J-What have you published?
S-My first baby that saw the light, Young Years, it´s from my youth so it is an insight to my thoughts then. http://www.amazon.com/Young-Years-Sonja-Frojdendal-ebook/dp/B00GBJWSVS
Last December, I published a short story in the anthology Unwrapping Love by the Writing Wenches, we had a lot of fun writing this. http://www.amazon.com/Unwrapping-Love-Grace-Ravel-ebook/dp/B00P72UUGK
J-What is a typical day or week like for you? How do you find time to write?
S-A typical day/week is me going to the day job, which pays the bills so far. When I get home I take some time to unwind from the “boring” job and check up on my friends all over the world. That I use Facebook and Twitter for, sometimes that time gets a bit long but it always brightens my day. One or two of my projects are always open to work on, you never know when inspiration hits. Oh, pen and paper is following me around in case of an emergency. The voice recorder on my phone is a great tool if you can´t write anything down. Which has happened to me. I suffer from psoriasis arthritis in my fingers and hands and so they don´t comply with what I want all the time.
J-What are you reading right now?
S-I have a few books that I’m reading at the moment. Hammarsmans dotter by Ronnie Lundin, a Swedish author. Written in My Own Hearts Blood by Diana Gabaldon, love her books. I got an ARC from an author that I can´t mention yet, love when I find new books and authors. I am about to start Jump, Jive, and Wail by Kathryn R. Biel, one of the wenches. And I have to start Eldbunden by Ylva Lee Lindell, another Swedish author and a review copy. No one of them is from the same genre. Obviously I don´t like being put under a label.
J-Excellent. What are you working on next?
S-At the moment I am working on another story for a Writing Wenches anthology. This is due out this summer, no publishing date yet. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or on our webpage and you will get all the details.
I am also working on a fantasy/paranormal short for another anthology. This one will be released this fall sometime.
J-Are you self-published or traditionally published?
S-My first book is self-published. The anthology was published through PageCurl Publishing and Promotion. It seemed easier to do it this way and it was.
J-Do you use experiences from your own life in your writing, or does it all come from your imagination?
S-I put in experiences from my life into my writing, there is too many fun things going on not to make them last a lifetime or longer. My imagination is running wild so it happens that some of the things I see or hear gets written a bit over the top.
J-Ha. I love that. What is your favorite curse word?
S-My favourite curse word is bollocks but I use crap mostly. And I use the English word, have too many kids around to curse in Swedish. Hehe.
J-The children! Okay, as long as they can’t understand, although I wouldn’t be surprised if they go home saying Oh crap! one of these days. Kids pick up on stuff like that, even if they don’t know exactly what it means. What word do you love to use in your writing?
S-The word I use is just. I have a bad habit of putting that one in all over the manuscript.
J-I have been guilty of using just also. It’s just one of those words I just love to write. See what I mean. It’s on my editing checklist. Do you plot or outline?
S-I rarely plot or outline my writing. Having said that I found a story that I´ve done a somewhat outline on, I didn´t even remember writing it. My style is I get an idea and I start writing. I get as surprised as the reader of where it goes or when it ends.
J-Do you listen to music when writing? If so, name three songs on your current playlist.
S-I have music playing to get inspired. Paramore – Decode, Fall Out Boy – My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark, Ed Sheeran – Small Bump.
J-Okay, I have to tell you I went to see Paramore and Fall Out Boy last year together and they were amazing, although for me, Paramore stole the show. Are you a dog or cat person?
S-I am a dog person. Don´t mind cats though.
J-If you had your choice of writing retreat would you choose, a. Villa in Italy, b. Cabin in the woods, c. English estate in Derbyshire (think Pemberly) d. Beach house in the Virgin Islands
S-A writing retreat with only these four choices have to be the cabin in the woods.
J-Tell us a funny story that we can’t learn about you from your bio.
S-I embarrass my friends in public by starting to dance or play without warning.
J-Ha. Tell us something about one of your characters that was not included in the book.
S-Alex, from A Fresh Start, has quotes from her favourite books tattooed on her left arm.
That’s pretty cool. Thank you, darling for stopping by. One of these days we will need to get together in person somehow.
You can find Sonja online at the links below.
www.facebook.com/sonjafrojdendalauthhor
www.twitter.com/frjdendalsonja
Instagram: @Methis74
I’m all over the place, but my main address online is www.jennifersenhajiauthor.com
Share this:
Feature February Author Tami Lund
I would like to introduce you to one of my favorite authors, Tami Lund. She was one of the first authors I met when I got ready to publish and has been a friend ever since.
J-Thank you for joining me today. Can you tell our audience a little about yourself?
T-My name is Tami Lund, and once upon a time, I wanted to be a writer. Then life and insecurities got in the way. Then that same life threw me a curve ball (in the form of the recession, which caused me to be laid off from “the real world” for fifteen months), and the desire to write became all-consuming, until I finally gave in, wrote a few dozen manuscripts, decided they were reasonably good enough to be published, and I haven’t looked back since. Oh yeah, and I have a husband, two kids, a spoiled rotten dog, and when I peel myself away from the computer, I’m usually cleaning up after everyone else in my family, occasionally gardening, rarely cooking, daily walking my dog, and sometimes paying attention to the kids and husband.
J-For the benefit of our readers, what genre do you write and why?
T-I write contemporary romance – almost always with some sort of suspenseful aspect, and paranormal romance. Mostly, that’s what I love to read. And I have a crazy overactive imagination, so there is no way I could possibly continuously write “real world” stuff.
J-What books have you published?
T-I’ve published quite the selection of books, so it might be easiest to give you the Amazon link to my author page:
J-What are you working on next?
T-There’s always something! First, I’ve written a sexy short story called Separation Anxiety, which I am only going to make available on my website (http://tamilund.com) and through my newsletter (which you can sign up for on my website). My plan is to offer it up in time for Valentine’s Day.
After that, the third in the Lightbearer series (Light Beyond the Darkness) is scheduled for release in May. Then, I start a brand new shifter series in June. (If you’re a fan of the Lightbearers, don’t worry, there will be plenty more books.) After that, I’ll be part of a Halloween anthology about witches, which is scheduled to release on October first. I’m also working on the third in the Tough Love series, but I don’t have a scheduled release date for that one yet. I need to finish it first.
J-I can’t wait until Light Beyond the Darkness comes out, I love that series. Do you use experiences from your own life in your writing or does it all come from your imagination?
T-I use real life experiences all the time. Usually, my best story ideas – even the paranormal ones – come from real life experiences. Lucky for me, my friends all laugh whenever I say, “This is going into one of my books!”
J-What is your favorite curse word?
T-I’m not gonna lie. I love the f-bomb. There is no mistaking your passion, when you insert the word fuck into a sentence.
J-Do you listen to music when writing? Name three songs on your current playlist?
T-Oh my God, I am so much more focused when I have earbuds in my ears. Not that my playlist is particularly romantic. I listen to a combination of hard rock, blues, alternative rock, and (just to really confuse people) nineties hair bands. Yes, yes, I’m strange. Three songs on my current playlist? Words Are Weapons – Seether; This is the Time – Nothing More; My Songs Know What You Did Last Night – Fall Out Boy.
J-I love Fall Out Boy. Music is such a great way to tune out everything around you and write. Are you a cat or dog person?
T-I love both, I wish I had one of each, but the hubs has some weird, undiagnosed and therefore untreated issue with cats. So we have a dog. Just a dog. Which, to tell you the truth, is okay, because she is not unlike having a spoiled rotten, hyperactive third kid.
J-If you had your choice of writing retreat would you choose, a. Villa in Italy, b. Cabin in the woods, c. English estate in Derbyshire (think Pemberly) d. Beach house in the Virgin Islands
T-Beach house. Doesn’t even have to be in the Virgin Islands.
J-Tell us a funny story about you that we can’t find on your bio.
T-In the early years, when I was still treading the murky waters of self-publishing, I was embarrassed over my choice to write romance (crazy, I know). I had recently self-published the first in The Resort series, and had finally started admitting to my inner circle of friends that I had books available to read, if they were so inclined. At a party comprised of mostly friends I had met through my kids’ school, one of the dads came up to me, iPad in hand, and told me he downloaded my book and it was surprisingly good. A small crowd gathered, and he read a passage that wasn’t exactly PG… Resulting in at least thirty minutes of teasing due to the redness of my face. Yeah, that happened.
J-That’s a great story. Particularly because it was a dad. Haha.
You can find Tami online at the links below. I’ve read several of her books and I know you will enjoy them. I can’t wait for the next Light Bearer Book.
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTamiLund
https://twitter.com/TamiLundAuthor
You can also find her on Tumblr, Google+, Pinterest, Linked In…yep, she is everywhere.
You can find me online at http://www.jennifersenhajiauthor.com
Happy reading.
Share this:
Feature February Author Rachel Medhurst
Rachel is a friend and author from across the pond, and has agreed to stop by today for a little chat. She has several books published, and has a very hectic publishing schedule planned for this year.
J-Rachel, thank you so much for joining me. Can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?
R-My name is Rachel Medhurst and I’m typically British. I have pale skin with dark hair and dark eyes. I’m a little bit weird, but I think that comes with being a writer. I have a little dog and when I’m not writing, I’m walking him in the English fields.
J-What genre do you write and why?
R-I write mainly fantasy romance. I always like to have a message of hope in my stories and I think that’s why I write the books I do. I never really set out to write fantasy, but when I put pen to paper, that’s what seems to come out.
J-What is different about your writing style?
R-A friend of mine described my writing as innocent. I wasn’t quite sure what she meant by that, but I’ll take her word for it. I think simplistic is the style of my writing. Hopefully it’s simplistically good.
R-What books have you published?
I’ve published a trilogy called The Deadliners, which is about spirits that play fate with human lives: http://www.amazon.com/Deadliners-Spirits-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B00K5OKIYE
I love writing and publishing my serial Avoidables. I release one episode a month and it’s about Avoidables and Perfects trying to live in harmony. The first book is free: http://www.amazon.com/Avoidables-Dystopian-Fantasy-Rachel-Medhurst-ebook/dp/B00KSNK3NS
I’ve also published a novella with a British publishers called Salt Publishing. Choice! Is a Modern Dreams novella and is the only nonfiction book I’ve released: http://www.amazon.com/Choice-Modern-Dreams-Rachel-Medhurst-ebook/dp/B00P2RWCK2
J-I’ve read three of the Avoidables series which was good. I still have Deadliners on my shelf that I need to get to as soon as possible. What is a typical day or week like for you? How do you find time to write?
R-I’ve just started to write full time, so I get up at about 7am and start writing almost straight away. I write for 2 hours solid and then get up and have some breakfast and take the dog round the block. I then do some marketing or other author work for the rest of the day. I’m really enjoying it so far!
J-That is awesome, I’m somewhat envious of you, although I will need to sell a few more (read a lot more) books to write full time. What are you reading right now?
R-I’ve just finished Ticker by Lisa Manchev. I wasn’t sure at first, but once I got into it, I really enjoyed it.
J-What are you working on next?
R-I’ve just finished the first book in my new series called Zodiac Twin Flames. Pisces is the first novel and I really love the character because I’m a Pisces too. I will be started the next book Aries very soon and can’t wait for the series to start to be released in the spring.
J-Yeah, Pisces rule. Can you tell I’m a Pisces as well? Seriously, I love the idea of this series. Do you use experiences from your own life in your writing or does it all come from your imagination?
R-I use both experiences and imagination. No matter how much experience someone has had, a writer will be able to embellish it to suit their story telling.
J-Are you a cat or dog person?
R-I’m a dog person, although I would like to have a cat too! To be honest, I’m just an animal person.
J-If you had your choice of writing retreat would you choose, a. Villa in Italy, b. Cabin in the woods, c. English estate in Derbyshire (think Pemberly) d. Beach house in the Virgin Islands
R-I would choose a cabin in the woods in the summer in North America somewhere as I’ve only been to New York and I live next to an English Estate in Surrey.
Well, if you ever do, I have a copy of Deadliners I need you to sign for me. Thanks, Rachel.
You can find Rachel online at the links below.
Website: www.rachelmedhurst.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/rachelmedhurst
As always, you can find me online at www.jennifersenhajiauthor.com
Happy reading.
Exploring the Art of Writing and Self-Publishing 