Blakely’s Friday Interview with Deanndra Hall

Please give a warm welcome to Deanndra Hall, author of The Celtic Fan. I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to chat with her and I know you will find her to be another accessible author.

DH1Tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working on or promoting.
I’m a hard-working author living out my dream here in far western Kentucky with my partner of 30+ years and three crazy miniature dachshunds. I’m currently promoting my newest book, The Celtic Fan.

What genre is your book? Do you write in other genres as well?
I write in both the erotic romance and erotica genres. This summer I’ll be starting a new series that will be a paranormal romance and it’ll be unlike anything I’ve seen. I’m looking forward to that. Continue reading

Blakely’s Friday Interview with Evi Asher

Please give a warm welcome to Evi Asher, Author of the Eternals Series: Burning Ember, Burning to Ashes, & Forever Burning.

EviTell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working on or promoting.
I’ve got three projects running at the moment. The Eternals Series—The first miniseries in that is out, The Burning Mini. A YA book called More Things in Heaven and Earth, and a new series entitled Echelon that will be a bit of a post-apocalyptic paranormal romance series.

What genre is your book? Do you write in other genres as well?
I love Paranormal-Romance, but I do write other genres, Young Adult being my second favorite.

Who or what inspires you?
In one word: EVERYTHING. It could be a line in a movie, or a song on the radio or a dream. My inspiration comes from all around me.

Has a dream every inspired any of your stories?
Oh yes, the young adult book I’m working on More things in Heaven and Earth is based on a dream I had when I was a teenager, that I never forgot.

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 have a publisher. I work with Extasy Books. They are fantastic.

Do you use test readers? If so, how many?
I don’t have “test readers” as much as I have a writing circle. It’s a small circle, only four of us, but they do read my work, or bounce ideas off each other.

What advice do you have for writer’s just starting out?
Don’t give up! (and I can’t stress that enough) That is the thing that kills more writing careers than anything else. Keep trying no matter how many rejections you get. If they (the publisher) address the rejection to you personally instead of “Dear Author” count it as a win, and keep going.

Do you set writing goals and if so, what are they?
Yes I do, I try and write a minimum of 1250 words a day. Life gets in the way and I have many other things, but there are days that I have written 5k or more.

Do you outline your stories or just go with the flow?
Outline and then some. I start with what I call “the bones” it’s the skeleton, the base story idea and where I want it to go. Then I do chapter breakdowns, but I don’t let it stifle me, if I come up with a good idea while I’m writing, I’ll go with it.

What does your writing space look like?
PINK haha, I have a small desk and everything is organized. Pink makes me happy so it’s my dominant color.

What project are you currently working on?
I’m currently writing Book 6 in the Eternals series.

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?
Yes, I’ve wanted to be a writer my whole life. To be a published author is a dream come true for me.

What book are you currently reading?
Grave Peril by Jim Butcher. It’s part of the Dresdan Files. I love Harry Dresdan.

What has been your best moment as a writer?
When my EIC contacted me to get my series title so she could send me my contract. It was payoff for a heap of hard work

What do you do when you’re not writing?
I’m a mom and wife, but that’s my other day (night 24/7 ) job. I love crafts, I knit and cross stich and sew teddy bears (of all things)

How much time a day do you spend on social media?
About 2 hours a day, maybe more.

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

You can find Evi on her website, Facebook, Facebook page, and Twitter.

Blakely’s Friday Interview with Tracy Lee

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

tracy1Tell 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

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

PROFILETell 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

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

authorpicTell 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

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

resizedTell 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 A.M. Madden

Please give a warm welcome to A.M. Madden, author of Back-up and Front & Center.

photo-9Tell 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

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

bluesiddaTell 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

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

Turnstiles cover photoTell 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

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

21df20c117070ad8976fd8.L._V367839575_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.

  1. Leanna Harrow
  2. Em Epe
  3. T.H. Mulvaney

You can find Stephanie on her Facebook and Twitter.

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

AffairedeCoeur_150dpi_eBookOutofMyGrave_150dpi_eBook