Please give a warm welcome to author AJ Mullican

Tell us a bit about yourself…

“A little bit about me …. That always is a tough one, because it’s hard to pin myself down to one essence. I’m an author, a finance clerk, a wife, a catmom, a SCAdian, a sewist, a costumer, an embroiderer, a hobbyist rapier fighter, a painter, a graphic designer, a friend, a nerd, a geek, a gamer, an introvert, and so much more. I’m shy, funny, sarcastic, smart, loving, scared, confident, ditzy, scatterbrained, forgetful–sometimes ALL AT ONCE. It’s a real trip living inside my head, but I don’t think I’d want to be anyone else. I’m constantly changing and evolving, and that is such a cool thing about the human experience.

Have you always wanted to become an author?

Not always. I’ve always loved stories, though, and have always had a rich fantasy world existing within me. I started writing with poetry and short stories in high school, and in the “olden days” of MySpace I would use that poetry as a way to work out some tough emotions I was going through. Now, though, I mostly write steamy paranormal reverse harem romance, with some M/F romance and poly sci-fi romance thrown in. I don’t know what Freud would say about that! Haha

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

I am really digging the monster romance vibe that’s prevalent these days. I LOVE the concept of “monstrous” beings that end up getting the girl. It’s a modern-day “ugly duckling” story, but instead of changing into a swan, the monsters get accepted just as they are. It’s beautiful.

What are you working on now? Do you have any quirks while working?

As I mentioned above, I’m currently working on a monster romance. I have this fictional town I’ve created called Nowhere, North Carolina. (Funny story: There’s another author who has a series set in a fake town of the same name, same state—but we wrote them independently of each other, and I wouldn’t even have known if not for the fact that she won one of my ebooks in a Facebook giveaway, and I just happened to look up one of her books and see the similarity.) In Nowhere, there are hundreds of ley lines running through the town, which attract some strange beings and cause some major weirdness. This most recent story follows a girl who bumps into three “monsters” at a bank, where they get mistaken for robbers. Calamity ensues, and she gets kidnapped by them. She learns that there’s more than meets the eye to these guys, however, and comes to love each of them despite their monstrous appearances.

What are your hopes for the future?

Ideally, I’d love to be able to quit the day job someday in favor of writing full-time. It’s a tough biz, though, and not every indie author is able to make that leap. I’m super happy for those who have broken through and found their calling, and some day I hope that I can join their ranks.

Do you have any advice for new authors about the publishing world?

It’s going to be tough. If you’re not a marketing genius, you’re going to have a tough time of it … but don’t give up! If I’d given up when my first book didn’t hit the big time (or the second, or the third…), I never would have made the progress that I’ve made or met the friends I’ve come to love talking with. Not every book has to be a best-seller straight off the press, and not every book will. Very few books will, but that’s not the point. The point is to do what you love, write what you love, and find your tribe.

Do you have anything to say to your followers?

Y’all have no idea just how much I truly appreciate each and every one of you. Every like or share, every preorder, every page read, every single bit of support is met with undying gratitude. I couldn’t continue doing what I love without all of you.