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What inspired you to start writing?
I’ve always loved creative writing, but one day, while reading a novel, I stumbled across a glaring factual error—one that a bit of research could have easily prevented. That’s when my inner voice spoke up: Do you think you could do better? My answer was "Well, yeah. Maybe." I buckled down and started my first novel that same day.
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Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
My new Celtic romantasy is K9 Mine, the tale of an aspiring K9 officer who catches a faery in his kitchen, turning his life upside down. As a diehard animal lover with a special soft spot for working dogs, Travis and Saoirse's story is near and dear to my heart.
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How do you create your characters?
I do internet searches for photos of people using vague descriptions, and save the ones closest to how I visualize the character. Once I have a face to put with the name, the character traits come much easier.
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What does your typical writing day look like?
I'm usually up before sunrise to get started. My furry overlords do not permit sitting for hours on end, so I'll get a couple walks in before noon, which is great for puzzling out plot snarls. I'll write until midafternoon, then put it away and play in my toybox of ideas I've jotted down or started work on. Last is email and business type stuff. I do the social media posts throughout the day.
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What has been the most rewarding part of being an indie author?
When a reader leaves a review saying they enjoyed my book, shares their favorite moment, or tells me how the story touched them, it reassures me that I’m on the right path.
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What’s one challenge you’ve faced in your writing journey?
Wishing my fingers could keep up with my thoughts! Learning how to keep distractions to a minimum was/is challenging, and I will forever struggle with procrastination. I don't always write scenes in order, and I usually have one or two that get pushed back as long as possible.
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Do you have any favorite writing tools or apps?
I'm a big fan of Scrivener! I love the way you can break the entire project into scenes and put it on a storyboard. I also use Grammarly and Word. I use ChatGPT for specialized research when Google doesn't provide enough information. For example, what foods would 6th-century Irish monks serve for a feast day, and how would they be prepared?
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What advice would you give to new or aspiring indie authors?
Read as much as you can. Check out the writing and editing courses on Audible or your local library. Step out of your comfort zone and read different genres. And don't be afraid to make mistakes - it's how we learn.
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How do you handle book promotion as an indie author?
It's a challenge because it takes away valuable writing time. I do the major social media platforms for my indie books, while the publishers handle the traditionally published ones. My advice is to conduct your own marketing research and develop a plan that suits your time and budget. Don't be afraid to ask for references and read company reviews. I highly recommend Kindlepreneur for their amazing tips on the business end of writing.
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What’s next for you? Are you working on a new book?
I actually have four! But as the saying goes, chase four rabbits and you’ll catch none. So I finally picked one to stick with, and it’s about halfway done. The story follows a newly widowed woman whose late husband blames her for his untimely death—and decides to haunt her house. Sounds grim, I know… but believe it or not, it IS a romance, albeit slightly...unconventional.
