Oct 15 2021

Author Eileen Troemel #interview

Please give a warm welcome to author Eileen Troemel

Tell us a bit about yourself…

Eileen Troemel – I’m an author… I’d rather talk about my characters than myself. I write in a variety of genres. I like the different challenges of different formats. I’ve got scifi romance, fantasy romance, contemporary romance, paranormal romance… I like romance. Give me the magic of falling in love and I’m happy. I also produce crochet patterns, a self help book and poetry. I grew up on a farm which makes me independent and determined. I’ve been married to my wonderful husband for forty years. We have three wonderful adult daughters.

I write under two more names as well.

RJ Stone – writes children’s books. When I started writing, I wanted to start with children’s books. So many ideas for them but my stumbling block – I’m a horrible artist. But I returned to this and have two items out and will have more soon.

Ava M Taylor – write erotica. I’ve written in many of the sub-genres from contemporary to scifi and fantasy. I like the sexy stories and find it challenging to write. In fact, I started writing erotica because I needed a break from a current work in progress. My head needed to think on a plot point in one of my other stories and so I wrote a rather explicit sex scene. From there it grew into a story.

Have you always wanted to become an author?

In third grade our teacher assigned us to write a short story. I wrote something silly but it was the first time I realized you could make up stories. From there, I knew I wanted writing to be part of what I did. I’ve done a lot of business writing in my life but I took up writing again in my late thirties and found myself again.

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

Current – well okay so I write in multiple books at a time so it’s hard for me to limit this to one.

Celtan Dilemma – out next year – this all started with a conversation about some current event (no idea which one) and the person was stuck between a rock and a hard place. My female main character was given an order (in the military) and if she carried it out, she would become a war criminal. If she didn’t carry it out, she was a traitor. So she had to choose. This is a science fiction space war story.

The Moon Crossing – due out in November – is a co-write with Jan Selbourne. She’s a lovely author from Australia. I read her book Perilous Love. She kept me on the edge of my seat. We talked and I thoroughly enjoy talking to her. She writes historical fiction and she said she had no idea how to write in scifi. So we landed on an alternate history of the moon landing. We talked through a good portion of the plot – which is pretty amazing because we are both people who write off the cuff. Once we got started it took off and the ideas and collaboration was wonder. The premise is during the moon landing the astronauts found something that advanced our society technologically. But now in 2030, scientists were disappearing. Our two main characters are looking for their missing family members and end up in a pile of intrigue and mystery as they track down their family.

On the Line – due out in January – is a contemporary romance in the K Bromberg world of Everyday Heroes. Allison is a 911 operator and Chandler is a computer programmer. His parents called 911 and were so grateful for the help, they wanted to meet the operator who helped them. Chandler works with the cybercrimes division so he got an intro to Allison. From the moment he met her, he wanted to spend more time with her. Allison is recovering from a bad marriage. She wants to do her job and have a quiet life. She’s older than him and has two adult daughters. She was injured in a car accident, leaving her with some mobility issues. He doesn’t care about that.

Ava M Taylor just published Captain’s Companion. This is book two in the Sexy Sinivite series. Prospecting is the first book. Cade is tired of sex bots. He’s off prospecting in space and he wants a real woman to go with him to all the remote locations while he works. Sheridan needs money to help her family so she hires out essentially as a sex toy. Cade is part Sinivite and well they have a way with their women. In Captain’s Companion, Ulrik is a captain of a ship and has met his mate – sort of. He’s required to have a companion. He doesn’t really want one but it’s required. So when he looks through those available, he find Gwynn. He knows. When he finally meets her, he knows as well. He’s mostly Sinivite so his pheromones go into hyperdrive with his mate. These are two stand alone books but share a theme and world.

RJ Stone wrote a short story for the anthology To the Moon and Back. Princess on the Run is a short story geared toward 8 to 10 year olds. She’s run away to visit her dragon friend Nuria. But Nuria reminds her of what happens when a princess visits a dragon… trouble.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on a scifi romance which is a little darker than I normally go. The working title is Escape the Gray. These men were dumped on a planet as prisoners of war and struggle to survive. Then a ship of their enemy crashes and they discover a woman. It’s an RH scifi romance.

I’ve also got about four other projects I’m working on. I move back and forth among the projects until one of them takes off. Then I just write.

Under Ava M Taylor I’m working on a sea monster story. I bought a cover that inspired me and I’ve been building the story. The title will be Sacrificed to the Sea Monster. There’s a bit of adventure, humor, and a lot of sexy time.

Under RJ Stone, I’m working on Dragon of Frendur 2 – lots of ideas for this one but nothing solid for a plot.

Do you have any quirks while working?

I don’t know about quirks. I am usually in my recliner with only one light on and classical music playing. If the words are flowing, I can write as much as 10 to 15,000 words. Most often I write anywhere from 500 to 5000 words. Even though I work in Word on my computer, I use my phone to research topics that come up while I’m writing.

What are your hopes for the future?

I hope my stories will bring readers enjoyment and escape from their world. If they find a lesson in there – great. I hope I continue to produce stories which people find engaging, sexy, and fun.

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

Listen to those who are better at writing than you are but always make your own choices and decisions about your writing. Write often. The more you write, the better you’ll get. But don’t just drop words on a page. When you edit, pay attention. What words are you overusing? What phrases are you repeating? Analyze your work so you become a better author. Know you’re not done once it’s published. From there you have to promote and market your work.

Do you have anything to say to your followers?

Thank you. Thank you for picking up my books and reading them. Thank you for connecting with me. You’re key to my story telling process.

RJ Stone Twitter

Website

RJ Stone – Children’s Book Author

Eileen Troemel Website

Oct 2 2021

Author Eva Ashwood #interview

Please give a warm welcome to author Eva Ashwood

Tell us a bit about yourself…

Eva Ashwood has been a reader her whole life and a writer for several years. She loves telling stories of alpha males and the fierce women who bring them to their knees.

She’s a sucker for reverse harem, bully romance, enemies to lovers, heroes who redeem themselves, and all the drama and passion of new adult love.

Have you always wanted to become an author?

No, but I’ve always been a huuuge reader! For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a voracious reader, and the moment I discovered romance novels, it was all over, lol. I got hooked and never looked back. The first book I ever wrote was because I was dying to read a certain trope in a book and I couldn’t find it, so I decided I would write it myself. And the rest is history!

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

My current series is called Dirty Broken Savages, and the inspiration for that one sort of hit me upside the head, lol. The blurb for the first book just popped into my head one day, and I had to scramble to find a pen to write it down as fast as I could. Then I knew I had to write the book, since the characters were screaming at me to tell their story.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on Reign of Wrath, the third book in the Dirty Broken Savages series. There will be four books total in the series, so up next will be the final book. And then I’ll be starting a brand new series! I don’t want to say too much about that one yet, but it will be a dark contemporary romance.

Do you have any quirks while working?

I often speak the dialogue out loud as I type, to make sure it sounds real and flows right, and I also make faces as I write – happy or sad or whatever the characters are feeling. So basically, I look like a crazy person, lol! My husband has learned to just ignore me while I’m in the middle of a writing session.

What are your hopes for the future?

To keep writing for as long as I can. It’s all I can imagine myself doing now, and I have sooo many more stories in my head that I want to tell. I hope to write another paranormal series at some point, but right now, my muse is pulling me strongly in the direction of contemporary romance. So that’s where I’ll be for a while!

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

Take the leap! It’s soooo scary at first, but if I can do it, you can too! Write the story that’s been in your heart and in your head, the one you’ve always wanted to read that hasn’t been written yet.

Do you have anything to say to your followers?

Thank you!!! I get insanely nervous with every book I release, and it’s honestly the messages and comments and reviews from readers that keep me going. Thank you for taking a chance on my work, and for loving the damaged, broken characters my mind comes up with!

Eva Ashwood’s Sinners

Website

Newsletter

Jun 3 2021

Author Elizabeth Brown #interview

Please give a warm welcome to author Elizabeth Brown

Tell us a bit about yourself…

My name is Elizabeth Brown, I prefer to go by Beth! I’m a thirty-something mom of a toddler and fur babies. I live in southern New Hampshire but grew up in the Boston area.

I’ve got both an education degree and a law degree. Before I became a stay-at-home mom, I worked for corporations drafting, negotiating, and editing their legal contracts while also doing immigration work on the side.

When I’m not writing or chasing after the tiny human (or sleeping), I’m reading, sassing my husband, annoying the cats, walking the dog, or hiding in my hammock. I also advocate for mental health awareness, ending the stigma, and getting support. I suffer from CPTSD, Depression, Anxiety, and Panic disorders. My journey certainly wasn’t easy, and I want people to know that they aren’t alone during their journey. It isn’t easy, but it’s worth it!

One of my biggest idols is Ruth Bader Ginsberg. She did a lot for women in the States and I was devastated when she died. So much so, I named my car after her. I have a weakness for strong female characters who kick ass, take no names, and are fully comfortable with their sexualities.

I also believe in having a diverse cast of characters in my novels. So while I’m the definition of a white girl (seriously, when I go outside I’m surprised y’all can’t see me on the other side of the damn planet), I want my books to reflect the world around me. This means that I talk to friends and family members about their struggles and triumphs to make sure that I can reflect them as accurately as possible. I also do an insane amount of research (no, straight up google doesn’t count).

Have you always wanted to become an author?

Funny enough, yes! I actually wrote it down on a class project when I was in middle school and out of the “I want to be a princess,” phase. I’d always had a higher-than-average reading ability and always carried a book around with me wherever I went. And this was before ebook readers, so my bitch-ass was lugging around massive books for fun.

When I originally entered undergrad, I went in with the intent to become an author. I was turned from that path when all my family ridiculed me and said that wasn’t a real job. I’m still a bit salty about that, but we’ve all come to terms with the fact that being an author is an actual job.

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

For the Resurrection of Queens series, had actually been a dream I had a few years ago. I wrote down the details I could remember and then it took off from there.

Blood Crown, I was looking through Pinterest one day (I like to look at the art on there sometimes), and I found this amazing piece of art of a woman in gold on a black throne. And I wanted so badly to write her story. Torri and I had been friends for a while. I sent her the picture and told her I wanted to write her story. She got excited and then I told her that we should do it together!

What are you working on now?

Blood Crown is being released June 15. Vengeance of a Queen is being released July 1. I’ve stopped writing for a few weeks to make sure those releases go well. But next on the list is the sequel to Blood Crown, and the solo PNR RH I’ve been working on—Reign.

Do you have any quirks while working?

There are times when I will listen to the same song over and over again because it just feels like the scene I’m writing. I also 100% have to write the book in order. I’ve tried to jump ahead… It does not end well.

What are your hopes for the future?

Torri and I would love to do an audiobook for the Blood Crown books, and we’re also looking to do special editions.

I’ve got a long list of joint projects with Torri and solo projects. I’d love to see those lists continue to grow!

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

Always, always, always, invest in an editor. You want to do the rest yourself? Go for it. But get a damn editor! Every book needs at least line edits. Every. Book. You’re far too close to your project to do it yourself.

So make sure that you request sample edits. You can find an editor that won’t break the bank and is still amazing, but you need to vet them first.

If you can also swing it, pay for a professional to do your book covers. I haven’t once regretted having both an editor and a cover artist. When my first book came out, I had saved money specifically for those two expenses. And I make sure that whatever profit I get off my books get saved until I hit the amount I need for both for the next project. Sometimes I have to dig into personal funds (if I’m publishing a few in close timeframes). But I see that money back in book sales.

Finally, make sure you have one hell of a good blurb. You could have an amazing cover, but if your blurb isn’t edited and it’s poorly written, it’s a pass for a lot of writers. I—personally—am drawn in by the cover. Then I read the blurb. And I’ve stopped myself from purchase what could have been an amazing book because the blurb was just…eh… Writer groups on FB help with that a lot! All you have to do is ask. I always run my blurbs by my author friends and my beta readers to make sure that they are impactful enough.

Do you have anything to say to your followers?

The comments and reviews we’ve seen about Blood Crown has honestly been so amazing. I know how hard it is for indie authors to “make it big” so never in a million years did I expect this. And a lot of you have also gone back to order my solo works after Blood Crown. I am so damn humbled and so very grateful that I have you guys.

There are days when imposter syndrome hits hard that’s when I turn to my reader groups. I love interacting with you. I love seeing private messages on any of my social media platforms. I love just talking (doesn’t have to be about my books) with all of you. So please, don’t be shy. I can promise hearing from you will make my day!

Beth’s Resurrected Queens

Queens of Smut

May 30 2021

Author Emmy Dee #MoonlitFalls #interview

Please give a warm welcome to author Emmy Dee

Tell us a bit about yourself…

I’m just a small-town girl. Hailing from Arkansas, I spend most of my time wrangling my two toddlers and hanging out with my mom. I’m a firm believer in the use of finger guns and the phrase “cool beans.” I am definitely hip with all the cool kids. If you want to befriend me, I can be bribed with Dr. Pepper and gummy candies. I’ve always loved books and the side character Biff Hooper from the Hardy boys series was my first book boyfriend. I have plans to write in multiple genres, but the people in my head are crazy, so I’ll have to see where they take me

Have you always wanted to become an author?

I don’t think I have always wanted to be an author. I always hated writing essays in school, and my high school English teachers never really had a lot of faith in me. I have always loved reading though and I thought that people that wrote books were amazing. I was first struck with the inspiration to write in 2018. I went to my first ever book convention. Penned Con in St. Louis. I met several of my favorite authors and the author that got me into Indie books. I am normally very shy, but I felt so comfortable with all of the people I met and talked to. I instantly wanted to immerse myself in this community. On the way home after the convention, I told my husband that I wanted to write a book. It took me a couple of years to get going. I would have an idea, but wouldn’t write it down and then forget. Or I would write something down, and then stop because I didn’t want to make time to develop it. It wasn’t until late last year that things changed.

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

I saw the 13th jewel contest in Silver Springs and I almost decided to enter, but I didn’t have any confidence in myself. After it was over, and they announced the winner, I felt regret. Then the Moon Dust Library contest came up. I thought about skipping it too. I waited until right at the deadline and I told myself “If you do this and don’t get picked, then so what? Nothing in your life will change and you at least tried. But what if you do get chosen?” I didn’t even read all the rules. (oops, sorry guys) I just jumped right in. I wrote almost four thousand words in almost four hours and submitted my info. When I got the message that my entry had been selected, I believe my exact words were “I think I’m going to throw up.” The MDL ladies have been my inspiration. They’ve helped me find myself. I am more confident in who I am now than I was when I started this journey, and I think they play a large part in that.

What are you working on now?

Right now I am working on my short story for the Fearless Anthology. It’s an amazing anthology about strong women who struggled, fought, and survived. My story will be a prequel to my Moonlit Falls book. I also have Citrine’s second book mostly planned out and would like to release it around Christmas time. I have another anthology scheduled for next May ( it will definitely be paranormal but I haven’t decided if it’s gonna be RH or not.) and I have a couple of other projects that are in their very beginning phases. One is another paranormal reverse harem and the other is MF contemporary rom-com. Next year is looking pretty busy!

Do you have any quirks while working?

HAHAHA! Yes! A few. I have eaten a crap-ton of candy since January. If I’m writing, I’m probably snacking on some sort of gummy candy. My current favorite is sour lifesavers, but I’ll probably burn out on them soon if I keep eating them at this rate. I get distracted easily, and eating helps me focus. While I’m on the subject of distractions, I have to put my phone away and I can’t have any noise while I’m working. I also write the best at my desk staring at a blank wall. It’s all or nothing with this brain. Also, when I’m stuck on something or having problems with a character or scene, I take a shower. Shower thoughts with Emmy should be a podcast. I actually completely rewrote Citrine three times because of ideas I had in the shower. It looks nothing like my original entry, and the MDL ladies have banned me from taking showers more than once. (Don’t worry, I didn’t quit taking showers. I love them too much.)

What are your hopes for the future?

I don’t know what the future holds, but I really hope this writing thing works out for me. I hope people love Citrine as much as I do and they feel like they can follow me on my new journey. I’ve discovered a new love, and I don’t really want to stop. I think I’ve found my calling.

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

I am not good at giving advice, but I will say this. Find your crew. Doing this is so much better with other people. I don’t think I would have been able to finish Citrine’s story so quickly if it wasn’t for my girls. They pushed me and helped me when I wanted to give up. I don’t know a lot about the publishing world yet, but I’m not as scared as I would be if I was doing this completely alone.

Do you have anything to say to your followers?

If I have any… No, I’m kidding. Seriously, I love you guys. This community is the reason I even wanted to be an author. Don’t quit being you, because you are the best dang group of people in the world!

May 28 2021

Author Elle Lee #MoonlitFalls #interview

Please give a warm welcome to author Elle Lee

Tell us a bit about yourself…

I’m 24 years old and currently live in Colorado. I have a Corgi-Mini Australian Shepherd mix named Peanut. In addition to being a new author, I’m also a medical student.

Some things about me are I like to write sweet and funny romances that always give my characters a happily ever after. I’m a huge soda addict and dessert queen. When I’m not writing, you can usually find me outdoors or spoiling my dog.

Have you always wanted to become an author?

I have always loved reading books, and when I was younger, I dabbled in writing short stories. I was never confident that my writing was good enough, but it gave me an escape from reality as I pursued a career in medicine. Now that I have this opportunity to it’s surreal that I’m an author.

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

I love reading the books of Silver Springs Library, and when Mia sent an email about the opportunity to write in her spin-off series, it was something I couldn’t pass up. When I sat down to write Moonlit Jade, I wanted to draw experiences from my own life, so Jade has a little bit of me in her.

What are you working on now?

I’m still finishing up Moonlit Jade to get her ready for release, but I’m also working on a contemporary short story for the Fearless Charity Anthology.

Do you have any quirks while working?

When I’m writing, I need to have a soda and candy next to me. I think the sugar helps my brain work, or I’m just running on a sugar high.

What are your hopes for the future?

I hope everyone enjoys reading Moonlit Jade. I wanted to make Jade a character people could relate to and find connections with their own lives. I plan to continue writing and publishing my books.

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

There is a lot of work that goes into publishing your work, and the easiest part is writing. The hard part is the social media aspect. Make sure you’re interacting and respectful to your audience because they are the ones supporting your dreams. But other than that, if you want to start publishing your work, do it. Don’t let anyone stop you or convince you otherwise.

Do you have anything to say to your followers?

Thank you so much for supporting my dreams and following me along this crazy journey. Love You, Mobsters!

Elle’s Mysterious Mafia
(Elle Lee Readers Group)

Facebook page:
Moon Dust Library

May 22 2021

Authors Mia Harlan and Eva Delaney #MoonlitFalls #interview

Please give a warm welcome to authors Eva Delaney and Mia Harlan creators of the Silver Springs universe.

Tell us a bit about yourselves…

Eva: Mia is married to a vampire and has a mini-vampire, who is very cute.

Mia: First of all, NOT a Vampire. But yes, our mini-MORTAL is very, very cute.

Eva: Lies! If he’s not a vampire, why do we never see photos of him?

Mia: It’s perfectly normal for people to dislike having their pictures taken. Plus, you’re a vampire, and there are pictures of you, sooo….

Eva: You’re projecting! Just because my fridge is full of jars of red liquid doesn’t make me a vampire. That is juice, not blood!

Mia: My Not a Vampire loves tomato juice, too. But he’s not the one who’s up at all hours of the night!

Eva: How would you know if I’m up all night unless you are too? We wrote Nephrite until 2am every night.

Mia: That was fun! And a good way to keep you from hunting humans.

What was your inspiration for Nephrite?

Mia: Eva and I came up with it on a park walk. It was freezing out and pitch dark, but that was the only way the two of us could get together during quarantine.

Eva: It sucks that the sun sets at 4pm in the winter, which was why it was dark on our walks.

Mia: *cough* vampire *cough*

Eva: You still have all your blood, don’t you?!

Mia: Friends don’t bite friends?

What are your plans for the Silver Springs universes?

Eva: To keep launching new series as long as people keep reading them.

Mia: I really hope people keep reading them. They’re so much fun to write!

Do you have any quirks while working?

Mia: Well, as you know, Eva writes all night long because VAMPIRE.

Eva: As you know, Mia also writes all night because she’s married to a vampire. She needs to be awake at night or she’ll never see him.

Mia: NOT a vampire. One quirk we had while writing Moonlit Nephrite was we’d take ten minute breaks and disappear for an hour and a half. But then it’s much harder for Eva to hunt down dinner.

Eva: I assumed those long breaks were because Mia had to recover after her husband bit her.

Mia: That kind of biting has nothing to do with vampires.

What are your hopes for the future?

Eva: To write in cafes again.

Mia: Definitely that. I miss it so much.

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

Eva: Publish sooner rather than later. I’ve been writing for most of my life, but only started publishing a few years ago. I wish I had started earlier.

Mia: Make friends with other authors! If we hadn’t done that, Silver Springs and Moonlit Falls wouldn’t exist.

Do you have anything to say to your followers?

Eva: Thanks for your support! We only get to do this because of you.

Mia: Thanks everyone! And be sure to go to Eva’s Facebook group Eva Delaney’s Starship Crew and tell her to finally admit that she’s a vampire.

Eva: While you’re on Facebook, visit Mia’s group Harlan’s Harem and help her end her delusions about her vampire husband.

Amazon:
Moon Dust Library

Facebook group:
Moon Dust Library

Facebook page:
Moon Dust Library

Amazon:
Silver Springs Library

Facebook group:
Silver Springs Library

Facebook page:
Silver Springs Library

Apr 21 2021

Author Erin O’Kane #interview

Please give a warm welcome to author Erin O’Kane

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Erin and I live in the UK with my husband. I’m always reading, writing or napping, and have an obsession with cake and other baked goods! I write RH fantasy and paranormal romance, and also co-write with K.A Knight and Loxley Savage.

What has happened work wise since our last interview?

Since our last interview I’m now writing full time! I used to work part-time in health care, but last year in July, I quit and I’m now a full time author.

Interview

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

Fires of the Fae came about as I was finishing my War and Deceit series (fantasy RH). Although the character’s story arc came to an end, I knew that I wasn’t ready to let this world go yet.

What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on finishing up A Lady of Embers

Do you have any quirks while working?

I often speed through the dialogue, jotting down the words and then coming back and filling in the actions and the ‘he said’ ‘she said’ parts. I have a very short memory, and I can almost visualise the scenes, so I have to jot it down quickly!

What are your hopes for the future?

Ooh, that’s a deep question that I don’t have an answer for! Instead I can tell you what I’m looking forward too? I can’t wait for book signings to start again and meet some of my readers.

What have you learned about publishing since our first interview?

Oh gosh. I feel like I learn something new everyday! I’ve learnt it can be a pretty harsh place, and very isolating. However, if you can get a good author tribe with other indie authors and amazing readers, it can also be so rewarding.

Do you have anything to say to your followers?

Yes, thank you! Without all of you, I wouldn’t have this amazing job. Your support allows me to get lost in my fantasy worlds, so thank you ♡

Facebook O’Kane & Knight

Erin O’Kane’s Shadow Realm

Feb 21 2021

Author E.L. Rose #interview

Please give a warm welcome to author E.L. Rose

Tell us a bit about yourself

I am a mommy of five children and four fur babies. We are an active duty military family. I have a large family who I adore with all my heart and am thankful for everyday. I have parents that fully support my work and cheer me on everyday. I am married to my best friend who also supports what I do. For fun, I like to camp, hike, fish. I also do photography on the side, another passion of mine.

Have you always wanted to become an author?

I have always wanted to be an author, but because of my ADHD I never thought I could become one. It has been a learning curve for me.

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

I love shifters and I love women who learn to love, and trust again. Honey is one who has been so hurt by someone she thought was supposed to love her. I love how through the book she heals and trusts again. I like showing people it is possible, even in bad situations to still have a good heart and learn to love again.

What are you working on now?

I am working on a few different WIP, the main one is actually a Rockstar Harem and will be announced soon.

Do you have any quirks while working?

Yes, while writing I have a book bible that I use to write down different plot ideas, things to remember when writing, and any new book ideas, but it basically holds all my thoughts on my books and characters, and I have to have character in my head and their names before I even begin to write.

What are your hopes for the future?

The hope for my future is to continue to write books, enough to where people get excited to know that I am coming out with another book. I want to be a very involved author, so people can reach out to me and ask me questions, or just to chat. I want to create books that make lasting impressions on readers, and eventually I want to create a whole world.

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

For Authors coming up, my biggest advice is to not rush. Let your stories and characters come to you. If you get discouraged, take some time to yourself and then come back to what you were working on. If an idea pops up into your head, write it down, don’t push it back to work on just one WIP. You don’t want to miss an idea just because you are already working on something. Overall have fun, write what speaks to you, don’t try and conform to what others think you should be writing. Make friends, having true friends in the author community is something irreplaceable and I highly suggest making some ones who you can always ask for help and will give you honest opinions.

Do you have anything to say to your followers?

To my readers, I hope my books make you laugh and cry like they made me as I wrote them, I hope you fall in love with the characters like I do. I hope my books take you out of your own head for a while and into mine. I hope that you love the books so much that you are bursting at the seams to read the next book.
For my readers, every book is a journey and I hope you follow along this path with me. Without all of you, this would not be possible.

Rose’s Ravenous Readers

Linktree

Sep 16 2020

Author Emma Luna #interview

Please give a warm welcome to author Emma Luna

Tell us a bit about yourself

So my name is Emma and I have an addiction. No wait…that’s the opener to something different – a very bad joke. Apologies, there’s a reason I don’t write rom-com. But actually the start is very true because I am addicted to books; writing, reading, editing – you name it and I like to do it.

I am in my early thirties (can’t stress the importance of the word early enough here!!) and I am originally from East Yorkshire. So yes I do have a northern accent, but I wouldn’t say I have a gravy obsession. Now I live in Cambridgeshire with my long suffering boyfriend, Mr Luna. He is my biggest support and he also helps out with anything technical because that’s not my area of expertise. He created my website as a surprise – I know that’s relationship goals right there!

I have an obsession for buying novelty notebooks and they are scattered all around the new house, filled with book ideas. I use adult colouring books as a way to relax – currently I am completing Alan Robert’s The Beauty of Horror colouring book and it is frickin epic. It’s filled with page after page of gorgeous horror graphics. I have the next two in the series to complete too. But I also have the Disney colouring books to do too. That tells you everything you need to know about me; I love things dark and scary, but you have to have a bit of romance with it. That’s exactly what my books are like. I also drink far too much diet coke, have an amazing yet crazy family and am obsessed with Harry Potter!

Have you always wanted to become an author?

This is a hard question because there has never been a time that I haven’t been a writer but at the same time, I’m not entirely sure I ever saw this as a realistic option until it happened.

When I was a small child and my dad would take me into bed, I would always make him read me a story and pretty soon we had gone through all the stories and so I asked if we could make up our own. We took it in turns saying a line each and creating these funny books. Pretty soon that became my routine and Mum joined in too. Now, this is something that I watch my dad do, and I get to do with my nephew! So creating stories is just in my blood, but I never thought I would be able to publish and be an author. Instead I went down the traditional job route and became a midwife. I worked as a midwife for years and then started doing extra training to teach because that was an area I loved doing. Whilst doing this training I did some editing courses and that sparked a love in me that I didn’t even know I had.

Meanwhile, in my spare time I started integrating into the community and I started my own blog. I met some amazing people; readers, authors and Pa’s. But a couple of them particularly took it upon themselves to push me to do more and so I did.

Unfortunately for health reasons I’m not able to practice midwifery as much as I would like to do and so I threw myself into both writing and editing. I loved it so much that I began to wonder why the hell I hadn’t been doing it all along. But fear and lack of self-confidence can be a real evil and it held me back for too long, until now. And the rest as they say is history.

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

Honestly, I have no idea. I wish I could tell you some elaborate story as to how I came up with the characters and the plot but I don’t have one. They were just the voices in my head that were shouting the loudest when I sat down to start writing. When I write I have a rough idea of what I want to happen but mostly I just let the characters have free reign and do as they please, which they do love to do.

What are you working on now?

Ohhh, shush, it’s a secret. I am working on a super secret project that I am not allowed to tell anyone about just yet. But I can promise you that when you do find out you will love it. You won’t have long to wait either because I’m going to be dropping hints in The Asylum very soon.

Do you have any quirks while you work?

Yeah, doesn’t everyone haha. So because when I start to write I can go for a while, I like to be comfy because my body does not thank me for it afterwards if not. So, I sit on the sofa with my legs up all relaxed and use a laptop tray desk. It’s not the most conventional desk but it works for me. Then I eat far too many white chocolate chip cookies and drink lots of Diet Coke, while I ignore the world around me.

What are your hopes for the future?

Honestly, right now I feel so incredibly blessed that I am in a position where I am able to write and edit at home, full time. Mr Luna is so supportive of my goals and he works so hard so that I can stay at home and concentrate on my writing and my health. So I want to make him proud and keep writing. I aren’t going to sit here and say I dream of becoming a USA Today Bestseller, although that would be nice. Hell, I would take just an International Bestseller badge and be grateful. But all that I want is for people to read my books and enjoy them. When I read I get transported into a whole different world and I love escaping my own. I want to be able to write worlds that people want to escape into. I would also love if my editing business Moonlight Editing continues to do as well as it is at the moment.

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

My biggest piece of advice would be to keep writing. There will be times when you get despondent and times when you think that you can’t do it, but ignore that voice in your head and just keep writing. Don’t publish because you want to make money or because you want to be famous, publish because you want people to read what you have written.

But I also cannot stress the importance of finding a good team to work with. You cannot produce an amazing book all by yourself, you need to have people who can help you. You need alpha or beta readers to go over your words and make sure that a reader will interpret it the way you want them too. You need a kick ass cover designer because people do judge books by their covers. You need to use an editor and/or a proofreader. This is often the step that a lot of people miss out because it can be one of the more expensive steps. But it is also one of the most important. If your book is not grammatically correct with good flow and readability then it doesn’t make a difference how great the plot is, people will not read it. Then you need a team to help spread your name and get people knowing who you are. Having all of these people in place are what will make you a massive success! I am lucky to have a great team and the reason I am here producing this interview is because of all their love and support.

Do you have anything to say to your followers?

I don’t think that there are any words that can accurately describe how grateful I am that you would be interested in following me and my work. It is so humbling to me that you have either read something I have written, seen one of my takeovers, or maybe just stumbled into The Asylum and have decided that you saw something in me that you liked. I hope that I can live upto your expectations. I can promise you that I will continue working hard to bring you lots of new stories that you will love. So the only thing that I can think to say, which by no means is enough, but thank you. Thank you for taking a chance on a newbie author and for listening to me ramble on. Thank you for reading my big, big book and hopefully loving it. Thank you for being a kick ass LUNAtic!! I am very lucky to have each and every one of you as followers.

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Bio:

When she’s not adulting or chasing her writing dream she loves dog-napping her Mums shih-tzu Hector, chilling curled up on the sofa with her Boyfriend binge watching the latest series or movie, drinking too much diet coke (it’s her drug of choice), buying too many novelty notebooks, and completing adult colouring books as a form of relaxation. Oh and she is a massive hardcore Harry Potter geek. Ravenclaw for life!

In her spare time she likes to create new worlds and tell the stories of the characters that are constantly shouting in her head. She also loves falling into the worlds created by other authors and escaping for a while through reading.

Emma Luna is a midwife and lecturer who lives in Cambridgeshire, UK, despite her heart still very much being Northern. She lives surrounded by her crazy family; her Mum, who is her best friend and biggest fan; her Dad who helps her remember to always laugh; her Grandparents and Brother who can never read what she writes, her gorgeous Nephew who lights up her world and her long suffering man-child Boyfriend who she couldn’t live without (but don’t tell him that!).

May 18 2020

Author Eva Blackwing #interview

Please give a warm welcome to

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Eva and I like long walks on the beach! Just kidding, kind of. I do love going to the beach, but I’m more of sit with a whisky and lemonade. I love being outside, whether it’s in a forest for a hike, hanging on a lake, or chillin at the beach. Spending time with in nature with my family is very centering.

I love reading everything from epic fantasy to erotica, as long as there is a fun story behind it.

I’m also a super nerd – or geek? I love Star Wars – Leia defines ‘Princess’ for me! – Marvel, Harry Potter, and all the fun in between.

Have you always wanted to become an author?

I have wanted to be a an author since about age eleven. Before that, I could barely read, but it was right around then that my mom gave me a copy of the Hobbit by JRR Tolkien. Ever since then, I’ve been a voracious reader and have been wanting to tell stories to others.

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

I’m not totally sure what inspired my current series, but it felt like an important story to tell. It’s all about how you can find yourself and really reach your own potential, even if you think you are stuck in a rut. Retrospectively, I think it had a lot to do with my day job. I love my day job, but I was feeling a little bit stagnant. I also really wanted to show my kids that you can absolutely follow your dreams!

What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on a book called Shield in Time. It’s part of the Women of Time Collection, book 8 coming out July 31! It’s a fun book about a woman who gets tossed back to the Viking age, meets some hot Vikings, stirs some shit up, and then finds out her truth.

Do you have any quirks while working?

I love watching movies while I write, but it’s always something comfortable. Something I’ve watched lots of times over and feels like an old friend.

What are your hopes for the future?

I’d like to eventually be able to write full time. I love telling stories and have so many on my WiP list, and I love the flexibility it gives me. Being able to work every day from wherever I am doing something I love? Literally my dream come true! I’ve also gotten to start my own publishing company, so I’m going to keep working on that too!

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

Be patient with yourself and study your genre! It’s important to tell your story but you also want your readers to be happy.

Do you have anything to say to your followers?

I LOVE YOU ALL! Seriously, I know all authors say this but I really don’t care – I truly care about my readers, and some of them have become friends. I feel incredibly blessed and lucky to be in this job, and it’s because of the amazing readers.