1. How did you get started writing?
My family has always been creative. My Mom is an artist, my brother is a musician, and I’ve just always been a writer. I’ve told stories as long as I can remember.
2. Out of all your books, which one is your favourite and why?
I have to choose Brimstone Born. It’s the first novel I ever finished, and the characters I create in that story are close to my heart.
3. If your friends were asked to describe you in one word, what would it be?
Good-natured
4. What is your favorite thing to do outside of writing?
Snuggle with my kids, husband and animals.
5. What do you love most about the genre you write?
The happily ever afters! No matter what I throw at my characters, I know everything will be okay in the end.
6. What do you want readers to take from your books?
I hope I transport them for a little bit to a place of action, adventure, true love, and laughter. If my stories help someone tune out the world and escape for a bit, I feel like I’ve done my job.
7. Describe yourself in 3 words.
Curious, empathetic, and Southern.
8. What made you decide to write in your current genre?
From the moment in high school when I picked up a Johanna Lindsey novel, I’ve wanted to write romance. It’s what I enjoy reading, and writing the sub-genres paranormal, fantasy, and sci-fi allows my imagination to run wild and create whole worlds, populating them with amazing characters who go on grand adventures, and the law of romance means there will always be a happy ending.
9. Tell us about your current release/or new release?
My latest release is Brak, the second book in my sci-fi romance series, Ka’atari Warriors. This series is a lot of fun to write. I’m working on book 3 now.
10. What does your writing space look like?
A hot mess. I have a desk and another table/shelf thing shoved into a corner of our bedroom. I do have a nice window, though. And usually one or three of my animal writing assistants nearby.
11. What’s the one piece of technology you can’t live without?
The internet. I could live in a fairly remote place with few modern comforts as long as I had access to the internet.
12. Do you find it hard to kill off your characters?
Not so far, because the only characters I’ve killed have been villains. A good character’s death is looming in a future book, and it’s going to be very hard.
13. How much of your characters are based on your traits or someone you know personally?
There’s a bit of me somewhere in every book, but I think that’s inevitable as a writer. Some characters are based on people I know, or have known. I’ve been asked by friends to base characters on them. I’ll never tell who’s who, but there are definitely some “names have been changed to protect the guilty” characters in there.
Most of the time though, my characters are an amalgamation of many different people and personality traits.
14. What are you working on now? Can you share a teaser of it with our readers?
I’m working on the third Ka’atari Warriors book, Droscal. Here’s an unedited excerpt:
Droscal slammed his fist on the table, leaning over the alien negotiator until the creature nearly tipped its chair over in a bid to escape. “We agreed on five thousand credits. Alliance credits.”
The alien stammered, its long tongue flapping about as if it had no control over the appendage. “I will contact the buyer again.”
“You do that.” He growled as he straightened. “Remind him I’m not a patient warrior.”
The thin, scale covered head bobbed up and down before the creature turned and scurried into a back room. Annoyed by the wait, he flopped back in his chair and studied the rest of the bar patrons. From his position in the corner he had a clear view of the establishment. He didn’t want to add to his back’s collection of scars.
He had used Grets as a go between before, but past relationships held no loyalty in this line of work. If he was killed, Grets would shed no tears and another pirate would take his place in the smuggler economy. Come to think of it, he wasn’t sure if the Aunkro could cry.
The communicator in his thigh pocket buzzed. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen. Sucaen. He’d have to call him back later. He knew why the Ka’atari chief was calling and it wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have in public. He slipped it back into his pocket and willed Grets to return. Thin stripes of silver that patterned his skin flashed in the low light as he tapped his fingers on the table. He saw surprise in the eyes of the alien’s at the table to his right. They’d been staring at him curiously since he’d walked in. He cultivated that air of dangerous mystery, outfitting himself in dark colors and keeping a hood pulled low.
He didn’t deliberately hide his race, but his size alone was generally enough to command respect. When others saw the telltale silver that marked him as an Azar, the reactions weren’t always ideal. His race were known for being efficient and calm killers. Another carefully cultivated stereotype.
For the most part, Droscal was even tempered. He had the skill to kill, but not the desire. He’d rather charm and talk his way through a situation. Right now, that trait was being tested. His pocket buzzed again. He stopped tapping and slapped his palm on the table, just hard enough to reach the back room.
Grets appeared, his lanky body snaking along the floor, curving around tables until he reached Droscal’s corner. He stood on his hind legs, his hands wringing in front of his belly, that lifeless tongue flapping in every direction. “The buyer wishes to renegotiate.”
Droscal stood, waited several heartbeats and said, “No.” His boots made a hollow sound against the metal floor as he turned to leave. He could find another buyer later. Right now the communicator in his pocket and what it could tell him was his main priority.
Grets scurried after him, slinking around to block the door before standing again. “Very well. Five thousand alliance credits.” He waved a clawed hand and another, smaller Aunkros appeared carrying a case.
Droscal opened it, briefly inspected the contents and then dug the jewel out of a coat pocket. A deep purple color, it sparkled from a million facets.
Grets closed his fist over it and disappeared into the back room.
Droscal’s stride ate the distance between the pub and his ship. He dug out the communicator and opened a line as soon as the hatch closed. Switching to the ship’s systems, he gave the hologram of Sucaen a wide grin. “Chief! So good to see you well. I trust you have good news?”
“Anela is on her way to Ladegantu.”
He tsked at the transparent form. “Anela is rhun. She is not what we agreed upon.”
“I’m aware.” Sucaen scowled. “She is escorting Zoranna, another human survivor who serves as my personal aide and close adviser.”
15. Is there one genre that you have not written in yet, but would love to try writing?
Paranormal cozy mystery seems like it would be a lot of fun, but I have so many ideas for the genres I’m writing in now it’ll be a long time before I try a new one!
16. What do you do when a flash of inspiration hits you at an inopportune moment?
I write it down. I have notebooks in every conceivable place, and hundreds of notes in my phone.
17. What keeps you going while writing?
Diet Coke and my readers.
18. What’s next for you?
Lunch.
19. Where can we find you on the internet?
Awesome!