Meet debut author, Katie Alexander

Welcome debut author Katie Alexander, who along with her writing partner Kelli Lee Mosley, will have their first book out in June from Rebel Press. I loved getting to know her better and hope you check this talented author out.

Can you tell us a little about how you started writing; was it something you have always wanted to do?

I think it is something that I have always done.  When everyone else groaned in English because we needed to write I was the one that got excited.  I really started just a few years ago on a author web site and found others just like me.

What do you consider to be the key elements of a great story?

First, you need a good hero but instead of just having an alpha attitude I need to have him be somewhat beta too.  He can be assertive but he also knows when to just listen when my heroine gets pissy.  I like me heroines to be somewhat assertive but not to the point where she is carrying the hero on her shoulders.  They need to complement each other.

Could you tell us a little about how you develop your characters? Who has been your favorite character to write? The most challenging?

With Another Chance I started off with Megan and used bits and pieces of myself at the time.  Since then she has grown into who she is now.  Ali’s character was the easiest because she was based on a friend of mine who has some serious road rage.  The worst was Grayson.  I wanted him to be kind but also have that back bone but my writing partner kept telling me that he was a wus.  By the time we finished Grayson I decided that he would be my perfect man.  Too bad he doesn’t exist. L

Have you ever found that you didn’t like your Hero or your Heroine? If so, what did you do to change that?

Grayson kept coming off as a wus and I have to admit that he was, don’t tell Kelli because I will never be able to live that down. Lol By the time I was finished with Grayson he became the man that can show he loves his woman and not care what his friends think but he can also be assertive enough to fight for what is his.  It is such a fine line between an all out alpha hero and a wus.  Everything else fell into place.

If you were to start again, with the knowledge you have now, what would be the first thing you do?

Just follow my instincts.  I tried so hard to do everything in order but my mind and muse didn’t want to work that way.  This time around I will write whatever scene they throw at me instead of trying to write them in order for the book.

Can you tell me a bit about your most recent/upcoming release?

*squee!*  It is still so surreal.  Basically Another Chance is about a young woman, Megan, that has just recently been divorced and has moved back home to be with her family.  Grayson has loved her for years but she is his two best friend’s sister and she was married.  Now that she is back, does he keep his friends or try for the woman of his dreams?

Is there a genre you haven’t done that you would like to explore in the future?

I would love to try historical but that would require a lot of research and I just don’t have the time to do it right now. I may try it in the future.

If you could throw a party with any five people (living or dead) who would you pick and why?

Kelli would have to be there because she is my writing partner and we could use the party for some material for the next book. Another would be Michael Buble but he can’t bring his wife.  He just can’t! Julia Roberts is one of my favorite actresses so she would have to be there.  My grandma because she never got to see the finished book and I think she would be proud. I would also like Mike Rowe because he would be funny and of course dirty. ;)

Do you listen to music when writing? Do you feel like some stories write themselves a soundtrack with specific music? If so, what book and what kind of music influenced it?

I do listen to music while I write.  I think the music that I listen to makes a big difference because with Another Chance I used a lot of pop/alternative but with a vampire book that I have been writing I listen to a lot of alternative rock.  Certain music can put you in just the right frame of mind. 

What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels, do you find them difficult to write?

The first love scene is always the hardest to write.  I love reading them but hate writing them.  I think love scenes are important in romances because this is where the feelings and emotions come into play.  The feelings of closeness that the two characters share can be one of the best parts of a romance.

What are some of your favorite things or hobbies to do?

My mom and I bought my daughter beads to keep her occupied while I went to school and I have to say that going through all the different colors and shapes can be very relaxing.  I have yet to make anything though.

What do you have coming up next for you? Care to share any details with us?

Well, Kelli and I want to write Dylon’s story next but we have yet to sit and talk about it. I live on the west coast and she lives on the east coast so the time difference has been an issue along with family and well, just life in general. I do have a paranormal in the works but it isn’t finished or titled yet. 

Who are some of your favorite authors, and if we were to visit your home, what books would we find on your bookshelf, end table, floor or e-reader?

Favorite authors for me would be Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Judith McNaught, Lorie O’Clare, Mya Banks, Cynthia Eden, Catherine Bybee, and many many more. Most of the books that I buy are romance and I have a mixture of all sub genres.

If you could be any character of any book or movie, who would you be?

I think I would want to be me right now.  I am in a place in my life where I am happy so I am sticking to it. J

Where can readers find you on the web?

Katie Alexander...sometimes sassy but always sweet
 Blog ~ http://katiealexander1.blogspot.com
Web Site ~ http://members.cox.net/katie_alexander/Index.shtml

Facebook Page ~ http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=100001957442121

Publisher ~ http://www.rebelinkpress.com/

Another Chance
By Katie Alexander and Kelli Lee  Mosley
Coming to Rebel Ink Press
June 2011
Contemporary 2011

Megan Mason had a fabulous family, a wonderful husband, amazing friends, a great job and a beautiful home. All she needed was a baby to make her life complete. Little did she know, however, that asking her husband for a child would end her marriage. Suffering the ultimate betrayal, Megan returns to her childhood home to rebuild her life.

Grayson Burke had it all. His family’s construction company was financially sound business was booming. He loved his job and better yet, he worked with two of his best friends.  To an outsider looking in, Grayson's life probably seemed perfect.  But in reality, Grayson's dream woman wasn't only married to someone else, she was his buddies little sister which meant she was untouchable in every sense of the word. 

When Grayson learns that Megan is headed home, everything in his world seems to flip upside down.  There's no way he could ever approach a woman whose life has been destroyed.  Right?  And besides, his friends would kill him.  Wouldn't they?

Talking with Debut Author AJ Best

I am chatting with a soon to be author named AJ Best. AJas a bit nervous to sit down with me (I have no idea why???) and chat about how the publishing business is to a new author and more. So without further adieu, welcome soon to be published, AJ Best.

1)     1) Tell us a little about yourself.

I’ve been told it’s rude to talk about yourself; but I’ve never seen it. So, let’s talk about me. I’m really a transplanted southerner living in the frigid arctic North Country of upstate NY. I never saw myself coming up here and living a life of down coats, mittens, hats and scarves. But it’s amazing what a bald man will make you do. I have two wonderful biological children who I am very proud of, though I do wish they would stop growing up. I have 3 near stepchildren that will be mine someday, just haven’t nailed down the date. And in the may lay I have 4 cats, 2 dogs, 20 fish, 1 bird and a fiancé.

2) What got you interested in writing?

Wow, I’ve been writing since my teachers forced me to in elementary school. I wasn’t very good at it, but I kept on trying. Schools seem to force the 3 Rs on us:

                   Reading

                   wRiting

                   aRithmatic

I mean seriously what kind of illiterate monkey came up with that? But then again, I am not one to judge, much. Now that I am an author, because I write, I make up my own words.

But I digress. I didn’t start writing anything with meaning until I was in 7^th or 8^th grade. My mother decided to get me a typewriter. And for you young folks, this was a manual typewriter where you put the corrective paper into the spot and had to line everything up JUST SO. Never mind….another generation spoiled. 

It was then that I wrote my first poem; I have it memorized if you care to hear it. Oh of course you care to hear it. **clears throat**

Lazily we walk along the beach

You and I hand in hand

Nature has its things to teach

We listen and learn

But never turn

To see what we left behind.

**takes a bow** Thank you very much – please throw dollar bills instead of coins, they hurt less.

Again, I digress. I turned into a budding writer a little later in life. Twelfth grade brought on another writing challenge. I still remember the first line of that as well; though I can’t remember my children’s names sometimes.

December spreads its snow-filled wings and covers our world in cold despair.

Ingenious right? Wrong. I got a B on the final paper and never wrote again until I was 29. I started a story, which is still not finished, and everyone loved it. I was told to keep trying and finish. But when my husband died, I lost all desire to write. I didn’t pick up a ‘pen’ again until 2008.

And now, in early 2011 I have a story sitting in the stacks at Ravenous Romance awaiting a final yea or neigh. **still biting fingernails**

3) As a first time author, do you find the publishing process a little daunting?

Daunting? It’s scary as heck? I am an impatient little twit, and I want everything done right now. I’ve unfortunately realized that I can’t have it that way. Impatient twits don’t get writing contracts. They get thrown in file 13 and then they cry themselves to sleep. I just want things to make sense, and the time frames don’t yet. I guess I will have to patiently learn how to be patient, and how to deal with the publishing process.

4) Do you have a crit group or a select group of friends you bounce ideas off of or read over your manuscripts?

I have two friends who read things for me, and I read the manuscripts out loud to my loving fiancé. He’s great and gives me the male point of view and makes my writing a whole lot more realistic. I’d like to thank Kissa Starling (www.kissastarling.com) for helping me read over things and not being too Simon Cowell on me.

5) What do you like to read? Any authors you love to enjoy?

I’m an avid reader. I read about 600 words per minute and manage to read about 3 books a week. I love ALL things vampire, so I read the Vampire Academy series, Mortal Instrument series, and House of Night series to only mention a few. I also adore Nora Roberts, and Piers Anthony. I own about ½ of the books that he has written. I’m working on getting all of them, but he keeps writing.

6) What is your favorite genre to read/write?

My favorite genre to read is paranormal. I have a dream to write paranormal right now, but I keep getting all these sweet romance and women’s romance and erotica in my brain. So I will have to get them out so I can work on some paranormal. I actually am fleshing out a vamp book right now. I had a great dream several nights in a row and finally got up and typed some things on my iPhone and went back to sleep.

7) What feature do you start with when writing a description of your hero/ine? Eyes, age, hair color, personality, name, etc?

I have to work on my hero and heroine’s personality first. If I can’t see who they are, then their appearance doesn’t mean a thing to me. I don’t care what their hair is like. If my hero is a bad ass guy who cares about nothing, then I will probably have him have dark messy hair, maybe greasy or something. I would make him someone I wouldn’t want in my life.

8)Picture yourself as a store. Considering your personality and lifestyle, what type of products would be sold there?

If I were a store, I would have candles, incense, books, and things that sparkle. I would make bookmarks, necklaces, and all kinds of bobbles. I would have all kinds of comfy clothing that would enable me to just kick back and write. I would make sure that I sell Mac laptop computers. Finally I would make sure that there were all kinds of baked goods around so no one goes hungry.

9) If you came with a warning label, what would it say?

DON’T PISS ME OFF, I HOLD A GRUDGE. WANT A BROWNIE?

10) What do you enjoy doing for fun and relaxation?

Fun and relaxation? Hmm, I love to paint, crochet, knit, watch TV, and READ, READ, READ.

11) February...the month of love and romance. What was the worst/best/funniest valentine gift you ever got from a significant other?

Don’t tell my fiancé this, but last year he got me a stuffed anatomically correct heart that beats (once I learned the meaning – him giving me his heart I liked it), bacon lip balm, and an I LOVE MY GEEK t-shirt.

12) Where can we find you on the web?

I would love for you to come by and pick on me any time at www.ajbestwrites.com or email me at ajbestwrites@gmail.com . Thanks for having me Dawn.

Guest Author Day with Ike Rose

Ringkasan ini tidak tersedia. Harap klik di sini untuk melihat postingan.