Blakely’s Friday Interview with Tracy Lee

Posted on May 30, 2014 by blakely

Please give a warm welcome to Tracy Lee, author of Personal Experiences and Personal Possessions.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working or promoting.
I am a mother of 4 children. I am originally from Tampa, Florida. I now live with husband and kids outside Tulsa, Oklahoma. My most recently published book is book 2 in the Personal Series, Personal Possessions. Book 1 is Personal Experiences.

What genre is your book? Do you write in other genres as well?
My genre has been erotica but I am having ideas of a project down the road that would be transitioning over into YA, this makes me nervous. Continue reading →

Blakely’s Friday Interview with Nicky Jayne

Posted on May 23, 2014 by blakely

Please give a warm welcome to Nicky Jayne, author of Embracing Life, Embracing Love, Footprints, & Taking Flight

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working on or promoting.
Hi all! My name is Nicky Jayne. I am 31 yrs old, living in Las Vegas with my husband and two boys. We have been stationed in Las Vegas for 8 years. I am a lover all of all things fluffy, I have 2 cats and 3 dogs. Who keep me company when I am holed up in my office writing. I have three books out right now, Embracing Life, Embracing Love which are the first two books in the “Embrace Series” I also have Footprints which is known as my NanoWrimo novel, which I completed in 23 days. Taking Flight is my latest release, out on Amazon as of February 14th. I am currently working on my 5th novel “Grounded” which will release in the next couple of months. Continue reading →

Blakely’s Friday Interview with Brandy Jellum

Posted on May 15, 2014 by blakely

Please give a warm welcome to Brandy Jellum, author of If I Say Yes.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working on or promoting.
Let’s see, what can I say about myself, this is always a tricky one. First off, I’m married to a wonderful man who is truly my other half. We are a blended family, four kids ranging from 2-13, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love people’s reactions when I tell them I have a 13 year old child and I’m only 24 years old –is it bad that I find it humorous? When I’m not writing, I chase after my husband and kids, and just enjoy life to the fullest. Right now, I’m currently working on the second book of my series titled If I Say No and promoting the first book, If I Say Yes. Continue reading →

Blakely’s Friday Interview with Dana Littlejohn

Posted on May 9, 2014 by blakely

Please give a warm welcome to Dana Littlejohn, author of Tri-Romance.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working on or promoting.
I am Dana Littlejohn, author of I/R and African American sensual erotic romance. I have always said when I grew up I wanted to be an author. I was the kid the grown folk used to say was born with a book in her hand. I wrote my first story when I was 12. My books are always rooted in romance, but have been in other sub-genres as well. At the moment I am doing a vampire novel.

Do you write in other genres as well?
Though I have done books fantasy, historical and off world planets, I prefer to write books taking place on this planet and this day so I lean toward contemporary. Continue reading →

Blakely’s Friday Interview with GL Giles

Posted on May 1, 2014 by blakely

Please give a warm welcome to GL Giles, author of Water Vamps.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working on or promoting.
I have recently finished (edits and all, thankfully!) a short story for an anthology with my fellow BlackWyrm Pub authors. If all goes according to plan, it’s slated for an April 1st (2014) release—no foolin’! 🙂

What genre is your book? Do you write in other genres as well?
My WATER VAMPS (2nd ed.) is YA Horror, but it also has some paranormal romance (for the target audience of 12-16 yrs.) in it. I have also paired up with wonderful illustrators to create children’s picture books—including HURRICANE HOUND, THE CLEVER CAT THAT COULD, THE BOULDER’S RAMBUNCTIOUS LITTLE ROCK and I WANT MY KITTY CAT TV!

Who or what inspires you?
I am inspired by those who work tirelessly to make the world a better place for all animals.

Has a dream every inspired any of your stories?
Yes, the Prologue in my WATER VAMPS (2nd ed.) was inspired by a dream (well, more like a nightmare 🙂 ) I had.

Do you have an agent and/or publisher or are you self-published? If self-published, do you use a professional editor? If traditionally published, who is your publisher?
I was happy to sign on with BlackWyrm Publishing in 2012, and they published my WATER VAMPS (2nd ed.). BlackWyrm Publishing is a traditional publisher, and I was also traditionally published through Alexandrian Archives in 2009. Before that, I was nontraditionally published.

Do you use test readers? If so, how many?
I plan on having two beta readers for the novel I’m currently working on. Fortunately, I’ve already roped one of my fellow BlackWyrm Pub. authors into being one, and I’m trying to get another. As I love their writing, I really want them to inspect mine and give me pointers. I’ve had issues in the past with things like pesky misplaced modifiers, so it’s great to have ‘fresh eyes’ look over my work.

What book are you currently reading?
I am currently reading (and greatly enjoying) DESCENDING LINES by L. Andrew Cooper.

Is there a message in your book(s) that you want readers to grasp?
If there are any hidden messages/agendas, then it’s for readers to deduce. 🙂

What do you do when you’re not writing?
I love listening to music, as I’m also a lyricist. I wrote the lyrics to “Don’t Just Sit on Your Laurels” after being inspired by the Dogs in Brazil cause; you can check them out, at Target Audience Magazine. And, I also wrote the lyrics to “Medusa’s Revenge” and “Don’t Ask” (these were both set to music by the New Zealand band Beltane). Plus, I love checking out bands via YouTube videos, etc. in my spare time. In addition, I really enjoy all of the what I call ‘kitty cat parkour’ (compliments of our 7 cats: Eclipse, Luna, Vega, Anubis Star, Comet, Bo Aries and Dyson Mars) in our home—on the cat boards, through the tunnels, et cetera. As a matter of fact, I’ve been working on a children’s picture book entitled KITTY CAT PARKOUR for about four years now; it’s based on my cats’ antics and acrobatics. Then there’s great fun to be had in walking with my ‘pittie’, Dejah Thoris, and going to watch movies with my husband.

How much time a day do you spend on social media?
Too much! 🙂

What do you do to stay sane as a writer?
Strangely enough, I stay sane by embracing my insanity, and then turning it into great plotlines. 🙂

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?
Since A WILD AND WONDERFUL WALK has already been done, I’m thinkin’ IT’S A SPRINT NOW would be applicable as, at nearing 50, I’m ‘sprinting’ to have my dreams fully realized.

I have found the writer’s community to be very supportive and welcoming. Please share writers that you recommend for us to check out.

I had the pleasure of interviewing author L. Andrew Cooper in 2013.
I had the pleasure of interviewing author Georgia L. Jones in 2012.
I had the pleasure of interviewing author Hunter S. Jones in 2012.

You can find GL on Twitter, Facebook, & blog.

Blakely’s Friday Interview with A.M. Madden

Posted on April 24, 2014 by blakely

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. Continue reading →

Blakely’s Friday Interview with Blue Stour & Sidda Lee Rain

Posted on April 18, 2014 by blakely

Please give a warm welcome to Blue Stour & Sidda Lee Rain, authors of Stranded at Third.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working on or promoting.
Blue: My name is Blue Stour; I’m a 43-year old, born in TX, and lived mostly in MI and FL I graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in writing and British Literature (Big Shakespeare fan, NOW stop laughing at me).

I recently began writing w/Sidda Lee Rain on an erotic romance series, Game Time, where sports and sex collide. The first book, “Stranded at Third,” is a baseball novella, which has been a chore, but we think the blending of our styles has worked.

Sidda: I’m Sidda, Sidda Lee Rain or S.L. Rain depending on which of my series we’re talking about. I’m a true blue-actually purple Minnesota girl (little Minnesota Vikings reference there). I’m on my fifth year at age twenty-nine and loving it. I’m currently working with Blue Stour on the Game Time Series, our first novella, will be released Saturday, January 25th. This is my first co-writing experience and so far nobody is dead so we are managing. I also just started working on my third novel Roping Him In in my Dirty Denim Series. Continue reading →

Blakely’s Friday Interview with Andrea McKenzie Raine

Posted on April 11, 2014 by blakely

Please give a warm welcome to Andrea McKenzie Raine, author of Turnstiles.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working on or promoting.
I have been writing since childhood, as many writers do, and studied Creative Writing and English Literature at the University of Victoria. I earned a B.A. in English Literature, and have been actively writing poetry and attending a successful long-standing poetry series called Planet Earth Poetry (formerly known as Mocambopo) in Victoria, BC since 1997. I published my first book of poetry, A Mother’s String, through Ekstasis Editions in 2005. I am also a member of a poetry writing group called The Waywords – we have been meeting every second Sunday for 11 years. I’ve also studied with Canadian poet and novelist Patrick Lane at several Glenairely writing retreats held in Sooke, BC. My first novel, Turnstiles, was published by Inkwater Press in December 2013. Currently, I am promoting my novel, as well as revising the first draft of a prequel novella to Turnstiles. Continue reading →

Blakely’s Friday Interview with Stephanie O’Hanlon

Posted on April 4, 2014 by blakely

Please give a warm welcome to Stephanie O’Hanlon author of Affaire de Coeur & Out of My Grave.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working on or promoting.
I have just completed a new manuscript, so I’m focusing now on catching up with the promoting I missed while I was in writer La-La Land! I’m excited for my next release, which is a werewolf-horror novel titled The Beast of Bradley Downs from Damnation Books forthcoming this year.

What genre is your book? Do you write in other genres as well?
I have done historical romance, vampire romance and horror. I’d like to try my hand at other genres as well though. Whatever sparks my interest!

Do you have an agent and/or publisher or are you self-published? If self-published, do you use a professional editor? If traditionally published, who is your publisher?
I am with an indie publisher, Eternal Press & their sister publisher Damnation Books, which provide high quality eBooks and paperbacks. I am always on the hunt for an agent though!

Is being an author your dream job? If so, how long have you been chasing the dream? If
not, what would be your dream job?
It really is my dream job! I never really thought of writing being an actual career for me until I attended film school. It turned out I wasn’t very good at anything but writing scripts & doing continuity! So, I got more into writing and that turned into actually diving into writing full-length novels. I hope to take my screenwriting abilities with me on my career.

What has been your best moment as a writer?
My first five star review for Affaire de Coeur! I felt validated as a writer, even though I had a publisher and the book was released. There’s nothing like a five star review!

What challenges have you faced in your writing career?
Mainly finding an agent and promotions. Every agent that I query loves to gush about how talented I am, but then say it’s not the right time or right for them at this time. It gets a little discouraging, wondering when IS the right time? But I don’t let it get me down. On promoting, it seems to take a lot to get things out there, a lot more work than I had anticipated. I’m very serious about making this my career though, so I take the time to do it.

Do you see yourself in any of your characters?
I think there’s a piece of me in every single one. A lot of the time they are private pieces that no one else really gets to see. I also think that perhaps my past lives come through in my stories. I’m kooky like that!

Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
Oh, yes! In one of my unpublished manuscripts, a character named Donatien, a libertine in 1766 France. He’s so much fun! He’s cocky, adventurous, sexy, daring. I can’t wait to share his story with everyone.

Do you base your characters on people you know?
I have, yes. Sometimes in not a very flattering light either! But, I never regret it, even if the person is upset by it. I held up a mirror, apparently they didn’t like what they saw!

What do you do when you’re not writing?
I work on promoting, as well as read, watch my favourite movies, spend time with my mum, snuggle with my cats and play with my dogs, try to work in some time with friends. Normal things!

How much time a day do you spend on social media?
Probably far too much! Haha. It’s hard not to when you rely on it for promoting your work.

What do you do to stay sane as a writer?
How silly, writers aren’t sane! We talk to imaginary people & tell real people about it. It takes a special kind of crazy to do it!

Do you read your reviews and if so, how do you cope with a bad one?
I love every review I get, whether it is a good or bad one. If it is a negative review I simply wish the person well and hope they will like something I write in the future. You can’t please everyone, sadly.

I have found the writer’s community to be very supportive and welcoming. Please share three writers that you recommend for us to check out.

You can find Stephanie on her Facebook and Twitter.

To buy Stephanie’s books click on the covers or links provided:

Blakely’s Friday Interview with Meredith Wild

Posted on March 14, 2014 by blakely

Please give a warm welcome to Meredith Wild, author of Hardpressed.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working on or promoting.
I’m currently promoting the sequel in my Hacker Series, Hardpressed, and I’m working on a new novel, On My Knees, which will be the first in the Bridge Family trilogy that will highlight the stories of three siblings in a seemingly perfect family and their romantic adventures.

What genre is your book? Do you write in other genres as well?
Right now I’m exclusively working in the erotic romance genre. I do plan to venture out of it at some point. I’m not sure when though, because I am having an awful lot of fun writing angsty smut at the moment. Continue reading →

Blakely Bennett

Author of erotic romance, erotic suspense, and romance.

Category Archives: Author Interviews