Please give a warm welcome to A.M. Madden, author of Back-up and Front & Center.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working on or promoting.
I am a wife, mother, and new author. I am currently working on releasing my second book in The Back-up Series, Front & Center. It’s been an exciting, scary, whirlwind of a journey to get here.
What genre is your book? Do you write in other genres as well?
Romance. I’m a romance junkie and only aspire to continue writing in this one genre.
Who or what inspires you?
My family mostly. But I’ve met so many awesome people since writing Back-up…bloggers, readers, and other authors. They have all been a huge inspiration to me.
Has a dream ever inspired any of your stories?
Yes, as a matter of fact, that’s how I started Back-up. I dreamt I was at a rock concert and the lead-singer and his back-up singer were smoking hot on stage together. It actually woke me up.
Do you have an agent and/or publisher or are you self-published? If self-published, do you use a professional editor?
I am self-published, no agent, and learning the hard way every single day. As an indie author, you don’t have the security net that comes with having an agent or a publisher. Affording editing, marketing support, even legal advice is very difficult. We are all human and we make mistakes.
Do you use test readers? If so, how many?
For Back-up, again, I had no idea what I was doing or where this project would lead. I wrote the story haphazardly, and then went back to fix and edit, which is very difficult to do. I only had one beta reader and a few friends review it before publishing. Live and learn. For Front & Center I have a few dozen beta-readers as well as a proofreader, all helping me with the editing process.
What advice do you have for writer’s just starting out?
Patience. It’s not something I possess and it’s necessary in this business. Also, to not be so sensitive. It is a very daunting thing to put yourself out there and wait for strangers to judge your work. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, no matter how much it hurts to hear. Thick skin is a must.
Do you set writing goals and if so, what are they?
I am an extremely organized person and I am OCD. The combination keeps me on a very strict schedule.
Do you outline your stories or just go with the flow?
I outline. Once I had my characters and the main plot set in my mind, I created an outline from start to finish.
What does your writing space look like?
Usually, I write in my kitchen. Sometimes, I write in my family room. Maybe one day soon, I’ll kick my family out of our office and make it mine.
Do you have any writing rituals or interesting writing quirks?
I never start writing without reading the previous four chapters.
Is being an author your dream job? If so, how long have you been chasing the dream?
Yes it is my dream job. I started writing about a year ago. I worked full time for the same company for twenty-three years. I started Back-up as a hobby, at nights and on weekends. I am a serial reader/romantic and wanted to see if I could tell my own story fueled by my dream. I have recently been laid off from my job and feel things happen for a reason. I now have plenty of time to write and hope to make this my new career.
What has been your best moment as a writer?
Hearing from fans that they wish my characters were real. That is the single best compliment I can receive as a writer.
What challenges have you faced in your writing career?
Time constraints. I was working up until the end of December. I’ve stayed up many nights, well past a decent hour, to write Back-up and Front & Center. It was difficult and exhausting.
Do you read your reviews and if so, how do you cope with a bad one?
I read every one. The bad ones can be hard to take, but I’ve improved in letting them get to me. Like I mentioned earlier, everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. I just wish some weren’t so nasty about voicing it.
Is there a message in your book(s) that you want readers to grasp?
True love conquers all.
I have found the writer’s community to be very supportive and welcoming. Please share writers that you recommend for us to check out.
You can find A.M. on her Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.
Click on the links or book covers to buy A.M.’s books:
