This is such an odd question for me because I don’t really remember a time when I didn’t want to be one, but there was a long, long, long time when I didn’t believe it was actually a viable profession for me.
But I’ve been a writer for a long time and was writing for a free website long before I was publishing books.
Did you have any influencing writers growing up?
Probably ever author I ever read. I would say Tamora Pierce was one of my biggest ones though.
Her Lioness Quartet, and later books set in the Trebond world, heavily influenced how I saw the world and how I wanted to write.
Are any of your characters based on people in real life?
Often. Especially in my Stronghold Doms series.
When I first started writing it, I was also still learning how to write books instead of serials (which is what I’d written on the website) and I based a lot of the characters on my friends.
There’s vast differences between the characters and my group of friends, but the similarities are definitely there.
I also use real conversations that my friends and I have and put them into my books.
Where do you draw your book inspirations from?
Everywhere! Other books, tv shows, advice columns, and sometimes my own brain just throwing an idea at me for fun.
Do you use have a basic outline when starting a new story or do you let the characters lead the way?
I always have a basic outline, however the characters absolutely lead the way.
I will have to rewrite my outline multiple times as the book is in production because the characters do not FOLLOW the outline.
I have tried to write a book without an outline before, but I stalled out very quickly… apparently my characters need the outline so they have something to rebel against.
When you are picturing the characters in your book, do you have a cheater photo for inspiration?
Not usually actually – a lot of the time I’ll find a photo afterwards.
Lately, though, I’ve been trying to get my covers done way ahead of time, which means I do have a photo of at least one of the main characters!
Many people read as a form of escape and relaxation. What is your favorite way to sit back and relax?
Other than reading? I’m actually not great at relaxing, but if I am having some downtime without a book, I’m probably on the couch binge watching HGTV.
Who are your favorite current authors to read?
Ah, so many. I’d say at the top of the list are Lexi Blake, Erin Nicholas, Cherise Sinclair, and Amanda M. Lee, but there are so many others as well!
What are your favorite books by others?
My all time favorite book is out of print, which makes me so sad – The Merro Tree by Kate Waitman. It is an utterly stunning book.
My other top favorite books are Tamora Pierce’s Lioness Rampant Quartet and the original Dune by Frank Herbert.
Do the locations in the stories have any meaning to you?
My Stronghold Doms series is set in Washington DC, and I live in the area, so it’s got that kind of meaning for me…
I do love being able to have my characters visiting some of my favorite places.
Do you write in single or multiple POV?
Almost always multiple – I think I have one book, under my second pen name (Sinistre Ange) which only has one POV.
What do you find to be your best research tool?
My undying curiosity about everything.
I love a good rabbithole – and I go down some very interesting ones. I end up learning all sorts of things that make it into my books without me meaning to.
I do love the internet – Youtube videos especially.
Do you write under a pen name? Also, do you write under more than one name?
Yes! Golden Angel is my main pen name – it’s a holdover from when I wrote for Literotica (a free erotica website), I wanted readers from there to be able to find me easily.
My other penname, Sinistre Ange, writes erotica and dark romance.
What genre do you write and why is this your preference?
I write romance! Lots and lots of romance in many subgenres.
I love romance because I love happy endings. I think love is one of the most powerful forces in the world – and not just romantic love.
So that’s what I love to write: friendships, relationships, and how love can bring us joy.
Tell me something about yourself outside of writing. Jobs, accomplishments, family, quirky trait...what led to you being you?
I am a people person. I love my friends and family and spending time with people.
I love meeting new people and learning from them. And I also love being able to be creative with people.
Every year I go to Renn Fair and AwesomeCon where I get together with my friends that I have who share those interests and we have a great time.
I love sewing, dressing up, and doing photos for those.
What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?
Writing the book is the easy part, finding readers is the hard part.
I see a lot of new authors become easily dissuaded after their first, second, third book because they aren’t doing as well as they think they should.
Authors are always hard on themselves, but I think new authors are the hardest on themselves because they have expectations, they have goals that they want to meet, and it’s hard not to feel like a failure when getting new readers is so difficult – even though that’s usually the case.
Keep writing. Keep learning.
Take some classes on marketing (David Gaughran’s free web course, Starting From Zero, is the one I recommend most often).
It’s a lot of work and writing a great book is only the first step within it.
While it would be amazing to be the author whose first book does amazingly well and exceeds all your expectations, that’s not what usually happens. And I’m not saying don’t dream – sure it could happen for you – but you are NOT a failure if it doesn’t.
You’re just in the position that the majority of us are when we first start writing.
From what I’ve seen, the authors who make it are the ones who continue to persevere.
How do you deal and process negative book reviews?
Ha! It depends. I’m fairly well known for thoroughly enjoying certain kinds of negative reviews, especially those complaining about the amount of sex and kink that I have in my books.
The main thing I do is I look at the review and I decide whether or not the reader was my intended audience (if they’re complaining about kink / etc then they definitely are not) and whether or not I think they have a valid point. The other thing to remember is that even if they have a valid point, that doesn’t mean you have to take it to heart.
After one of my releases this year, some reviewers made some very valid points about the book… but when it came down to it, those points were still based in their personal preferences. And that wasn’t how I wanted to write that book/series because my personal preferences were different.
As for people who have nothing nice or constructive to say, I tend to be sad for them that they can’t even find joy in reading.
What is the most difficult part of your writing process?
The ending. I always struggle to keep writing as I get closer to the end of a book.
I love the beginning, and then middle, but wrapping everything up is the hardest part for me.
What do you need in your writer’s space to keep you focused?
Silence.
I am so envious of authors who get to make music lists for their books. I can’t listen to music at all when I’m writing. I’ve tried, but even classical music distracts me.
What is your naughty indulgence as you are writing?
Taking breaks to read lol. It always feels naughty, like I’m goofing off when I’m supposed to be working, but honestly it always ends up helping me write better and faster if I take breaks to read throughout the day.
Though, there are times when I get too immersed in the book and have trouble stopping to write my own!
If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose? And why?
Lexi Blake! She’s probably my biggest author-hero.
I would love to just hang out with her and soak up all her awesomeness. And probably try to work in a few questions while I’m at it.
What is your schedule like when you are writing? Do you have a favorite writing snack or drink?
I am now a full time author and I write mostly in the mornings, though sometimes it makes its way into the afternoon too (especially depending on how many morning breaks I take).
I need my daily dose of caffeine midday to keep me energized, so I always have a soda with lunch.
What is your kryptonite as a writer? What totally puts you off your game?
Facebook. Once I start scrolling, it’s all over.
Have you ever killed off a character that your readers loved?
Not yet…
How do you celebrate after typing THE END?
I say “woo hoo!” tell my friends, maybe read a little bit, and then start outlining my next book lol. I know, I need a better celebration.
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