What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused and inspired?
I need Spotify because I’ve always got to have something on in the background. I also have tons of sticky notes all over. And I’ve got a notebook to write ideas down in. Other than that I need a cup of coffee and a sleepy pup or two and I’m ready to work.
You’ve written 80 books in the last 10 years. 80! How is that even possible? More specifically, how do you come up with so many great ideas, and what does your process look like?
I had at least nine of those books ready before I ever started publishing so that makes it sound more impressive than it really is. But I do tend to write at least four full-length books and two novellas a year. I work six days away from roughly 8 to 4 or so. I go into a book with a general idea of how it’s going to go and then let the story and the characters take it from there. I will plot but only loosely. If I get stuck that’s when my assistant and editor and all-around girl Friday Chloe Vale gets a call. We’ll talk it out and I’ll move on.
How do you celebrate finishing a novel?
Usually by taking a day or two off and getting to sit and watch some movies with my dogs cuddled up on a couch. Sometimes we’ll go out to dinner but that’s usually a release day indulgence.
Out of the protagonists you’ve written about so far, which one do you feel you relate to the most?
That’s hard. I think I relate to all of them in some way–even the bad guys–or I wouldn’t write them. I think there’s a lot of me in Zoey from Thieves. I also took heavily from my own life as an author with Serena from The Men with the Golden Cuffs. She’s got many of my quirks. There’s a lot of me on those pages. I find the writing process very cathartic. It’s my therapy.
What’s something you are really good at that few people know about?
I’m actually really good with accents. When I was younger I did a lot of theater work and I always learned dialects quickly. So I’ve got a couple of great accents. I think that shows in my dialogue. I like to study how people from different places talk and have my characters reflect that.
What’s next for you? Are you working on a new project? If so, can you give us a teaser and/or an expected release date?
I’ve got several fun projects coming up. Right now I’m working on a Thieves book. It’s called The Rebel Queen and is kind of a reboot for that whole series. In June, I’ve got the next Sanctum Nights book coming out. It’s called Treasured and it’s going to be a fun play on Romancing the Stone with a kick ass heroine in the Michael Douglas role. I’ve also got another Butterfly Bayou book coming out in August. It’s going to be a fun year!
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