Where were you when you heard you had won the Lesfic Bard Award?
At home. I was tagged in a post by another winning author.
What was your reaction?
I couldn’t believe I’d won one let alone two awards. It took multiple checking to reassure me I had.
What is the one thing that surprised you about becoming a published author?
That people read my book…then read the next one…and then left lovely reviews.
Do you think a book can have too much detail it? Do you think it can detract from the story?
Personally, yes. I have a great imagination and no patience, so just give me a grain of an idea and I’ll create the world in my mind myself. Stories need to keep moving to hold my interest so if it pulls me out, I’ll usually put it down. I’m not keen on being told too much about a character either. I prefer to imagine what they look like myself, so I’ll often skip these details. I have a lot of respect for people’s time, so I try to be creative and concise in my writing.
What are you working on now?
I’ve just finished my latest book and it will be off to the editor shortly. It’s a standalone story but feeds into a larger world. Fans of Bea, Syd and Gertie will be in for a little treat at the end.
Do you write full-time or part-time?
Full time and then some. I only need 5-6 hours sleep and I’m happiest when I’m busy so if I’m not asleep then I’m generally working.
Do you write every day, 5 days a week or as and when?
When I’m writing a book it’s every day, when I’m not then I’ll be publishing and marketing one which is just as time consuming.
Do you work to an outline or plot, or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?
I heavily plot. I need to know exactly what is happening and when, so I will often have every chapter laid out with 500 words of notes before I start.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I was quite surprised when I received that first email from a reader, and every one of them takes me by surprise. I’m grateful to anyone who takes the time out of their day to contact me and share how a story has affected them or how they connected with a character.
If you could actually meet the character of one of your books, the exact woman you’ve conjured up in both looks and personality, which one would it be and why?
Katherine from The Nunswick Abbey Series. She’s intelligent, confident, compassionate, and above all, courageous. Did I mention unbelievably sexy? She’s been through so much and still she is amazingly strong and positive but with an underlining vulnerability. I’m sure we’d have a lot to say to one another over a cup of peppermint tea or a glass of champagne — hopefully Virginia her cat would be in tow.
Does your hero/heroine, take after you? Or is she/he someone you wish you could be?
I write elements of myself into each of the younger MC’s. Either their passion for a subject, the way they behave or how they deal with an issue. Anna from the Nunswick Abbey Series is very similar to me in respects of her love of history, she’s always frantically busy and she adores Katherine almost as much as me.
For your own reading, do you prefer eBooks or traditional paper/hard back books?
I prefer eBooks because I usually read in the dark before I go to sleep. If I have a favourite, I will always buy the paperback for the ‘special’ shelf, but never read it in case I crease it. Don’t worry, I hate myself for my preference.
Do you proofread/edit all your own books, or do you get someone to do that for you?
I would never do it myself. I like a fresh set of eyes and a different perspective which is where my amazing editor comes in. I have several proof-readers who are great at catching everything.
Who designed your book covers?
Thankfully, I have experience in design so I can create my own covers, which makes winning the cover award even more rewarding. I’m very visual and a control freak so it’s easier just to do it myself. Sometimes small elements like the buildings are best left to an illustrator, so I have someone else do those.
Did you format your own book?
Yes, I press about two buttons in Vellum, and it’s done. I can’t recommend investing in good software enough.
How do you relax?
My ADHD brain needs constant stimulation and when it’s not engaged with work it generally freaks out and my anxiety goes off the scale. My worst nightmare is a beach holiday…unless I have my laptop.
What is your favorite book and why?
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters. I love historical books and with this books twists and turns, it’s everything I want from a book. It’s even inspired a historical story of my own which one day may see the light of day.
What is your favorite positive saying?
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. That’s still positive right?
If you could have one and only one super-power, what would it be and why?
I have one already, ADHD. It fuels my creativity and drives me to work hard. When I’m in hyperfocus mode, I can lose myself and write for hours. I’m not sure how I’d cope without it.
If you could make out with one character from a movie, who would it be and why?
Don’t make me choose between Carol Aird and Miranda Priestly, that’s just unreasonable. Can I have both?
Is there one scene from your book that is the most memorable?
The one that always sticks out to me was the hardest one to write emotionally. In Forgive Not Forget, the final instalment in The Nunswick Abbey Series, Katherine confronts the man who killed someone close to her, and it was the hardest thing I’ve written.
Where were you when you heard you had won the Lesfic Bard Award?
I was on a road trip with my daughter and grandsons to watch my son-in-law play professional baseball. While catching up on emails, I noticed I was tagged in a social media post by another author so wondered if I’d done something wrong. I clicked on the post and it led me to the Lesfic Bard Awards website where I was astonished to see my name among the award recipients.
What was your reaction?
A surge of disbelief and elation bubbled up in my chest. I half-suspected I was getting pranked but once I checked and double checked, I realized that, indeed, Lady Hawthorne had married up and won two Lesfic Bard Awards. For all of her covert ops and steamy sexpionage, she grabbed the attention of the judges, so I was thrilled for her.
As for me, I’m humbled and honored to receive an award for chronicling Amanda Hawthorne’s badass behavior. Amanda is my favorite character to write about because she can go from the political stage to rehab in subsecond time, but she’s introspective and loves Dr. Jen, so she’s capable of spectacular turnarounds and victories. As any author knows, we pour our hearts and souls into our books then edit and polish them until we can’t even see the words any longer.
When you are writing each novel, are the experiences based on someone you know or events in your own life?
For both my San Francisco Mystery Series (SFMS) and Monica Spade Series, I draw heavily on the legal and personal experiences of my life. I lived in the San Francisco Bay area and practiced law in Silicon Valley at a very impressionable age. In fact, I wrote my first book while working there but never published it. Then I moved to the Midwest and became in-house counsel at an international healthcare organization.
Now that I’ve practiced law for 34 years, I’ve been intimately involved in a few chilling murder trials where my providers had to testify. Those make for high stakes drama but can drain good cheer pretty quickly. As a result, I use them sparingly in a broader storyline. I also like to incorporate geopolitical events in my stories, so they feel current and beg the question: “That could really happen, couldn’t it?” Finally, I have a reservoir of medical trials where I’ve experienced some courtroom theater that spices up my characters and finds its way into subplots.
Suffice it to say that I use some of my own war stories to fuel my thrillers, but I take a ton of poetic license (and imagination) to blow up the action to a new level. I want my readers’ hearts to race as they connect with strong female characters who know their way around courtrooms, operating rooms, political stages, guns, and fast jets.
By the same token, my characters aren’t cold and calculating off the battlefield. I’ve dug down deep for a few of them to tap into vulnerabilities that are so tender they make me cry. A good example is Amanda Hawthorne doing some soul dredging in #SandyBottom, Book 6 in the SFMS.
In Lady Hawthorne, Book 7, Amanda is thrown into the trappings of an international spy, so I play around a little bit, sometimes parodying James Bond movies, while continuing the steamy, unpredictable thread of the sizzling relationship triangle among Amanda, Jen, and Roxy that has sustained the series. I also added a sprinkling of fantasy in Lady Hawthorne because who doesn’t love an unexpected tangle with an otherworldly beast?
What is the hardest part of writing a book? And, what is the easiest part of writing a book?
For me, the easiest part of writing a book is sitting down and typing 40 chapters for the first draft. That usually takes about three months. The absolute hardest part is the next six months that I spend rewriting, editing, discussing, polishing, and proofreading it. I have a new editor and she’s REALLY hard on me because I asked her to be. When I get the manuscript back from her, I usually have a month’s worth of work to do. The purpose behind the hard work is to publish the best book that I can possibly write at that period in my life because my readers deserve that. They’re spending money on entertainment and I’m competing for their attention. I want them to experience the thrills, adventure, and a range of other emotions while devouring my books, leaving them completely satisfied. When I’ve experienced that sense of connection and a thrill ride while reading books, I’m so grateful to the author.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on Book #8 in The San Francisco Mystery Series. Even though I’ve mentally mapped where I want to go with the series, I’m doing something I haven’t done before. I’m rereading (and polishing) the entire series myself to make sure I continue with the tone, pace, personalities, subtleties that my readers have come to expect, and the overall energy that drives the star of the series—Amanda Hawthorne. When I set out to write this series five years ago, I had a specific character trajectory in mind for Amanda, and she has crushed her role better than I could have imagined, but she isn’t finished dazzling us yet.
Readers tell me that they’re so drawn into Amanda, Jen, Tommy, and Roxy’s lives that they consider them friends by the end of the series. I do too. I think these characters resonate because I’ve stripped them down to their innermost selfish desires, then have driven the plot through all-out war as these characters fight for each other as much as they fight the bad guys. There’s nothing like life-or-death circumstances to bring out the true nature of a character—their grit, wit, kink, vices, and sexual desires. It all bleeds onto the page, and we’re just voyeurs of their exciting lives.
Similarly, I think my books have intimidated a few readers who are looking for easy-going sapphic romance. My story descriptions foreshadow serious material that involves the mafia or murder mystery or international spy games. I get that. Even so, when readers take a chance on my work, they discover romance, struggles with drug addiction and grief, and dark humor set against a backdrop of cops, docs, spies, and lawyers.
I encourage you to take a chance on Lady Hawthorne, SFMS, Book 7 for a dive into action, steamy sapphic sex, betrayal, cool spy gadgets, celebrities, fast horses, and even faster jets.
What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews?
Some authors don’t read their reviews. I do. I love reviews—good, bad, or ugly. My readers express strong opinions about what’s happened in the series and where they want the storyline to go. I listen to those opinions.
For example, after reading Lady Hawthorne, a reviewer wrote: “WTH with Roxy!! One has a love/hate about her!” I smiled when I saw that because I love to hate a character in a book only to have that emotion challenged later when the character does something endearing. Roxy is connecting with readers, so I must be doing something right.
Also, readers have begged for Amanda and Dr. Jen to get married, so there’s that. I want them to get married too but obstacles keep popping up. I swear on my life, though, there will be a wedding ceremony in Book #8. It’s time. You’re all invited. Please take a seat on the bride’s side😊
Where were you when you heard you had won the Lesfic Bard Award? I got on Facebook, in the wee hours of the morning, because I knew the award winners were going to be announced and wanted to see who won.
What was your reaction? I was very happy and extremely gratified to be honored with the award.
Where were you born? San Antonio, Texas
Where did you grow up? In San Antonio mostly, but spent my summers in Marble Falls where my mother’s family was from.
Do you have any siblings? I had two brothers and one sister, but only have a brother that is still living.
What were your parent’s professions? Both my parents were in Accounting, and that was also my primary profession until I retired and started writing.
Why do you write? Because I have stories to tell that I hope will touch people’s lives.
What do you think makes good writing? Authenticity
How do you choose the names for your characters? I sometimes choose them based on their cultural background or the popularity of the name during the year they were born. And sometimes the characters choose their own names and tell me.
What is the first piece you ever wrote? The first creative things I ever wrote were poems.
When you are writing each novel. Are the experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life? Yes, to both. I draw from my own experiences and those shared with me by others. I’ve also find inspiration in cultures that I research.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? No. The book took on a life of its own from the very beginning, and the characters shared their story and emotions with me.
What is the hardest part of writing a book? Not to push myself if the story isn’t unfolding in a way that is satisfying to me or finding the words that encompasses what I want to write.
What is the easiest part of writing a book? Coming up with the basic story for the book.
Who do you have fans compare you to (other authors)? I don’t know if my fans compare me to anyone because I am very much a niche genre author.
What are you working on now? I’m actually, working on two books. The third book in the Mystic Meteor series is the one that is the furthest along at this time. The other is a time travel book that I have outlined and partially written, but it is research intensive and would require more focus than I can give it now.
How do you keep your different characters separate in your mind? By the time I start to write my stories my characters already have well established personalities and backgrounds. They are real people in my head and they speak their minds to me so it is easy to keep them separate.
Do you write full-time or part-time? I write as the spirit moves me. So at times it is full tilt and other times just a few hundred words or not at all.
Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured? I am a morning person. So, I have a little coffee while interacting on Facebook, which gives my brain time to come online before I start my writing day.
Do you write every day, 5 days a week or as and when? Again, I write as the spirit moves me. Sometimes if the story is flowing well, I don’t notice the days flying by.
Do you aim for a set amount of words/pages per day? I do set a goal of 500 words a day on Scrivener. But I don’t get upset if I don’t meet that. There are times when I exceed those goals as well.
Do you write on a typewriter, computer, dictate or longhand? I’ve written all my books on small 13” laptops while sitting on my couch. lol
Have you written any other novels in collaboration with other writers? No I haven’t had the pleasure of doing that yet.
Where do your ideas come from? Very simply they come from my overactive imagination.
Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you? All three.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Astronaut
What genres do you normally write in? Romance blended with a mystical twist.
What genres do you typically read? Fantasy and Science Fiction
Is there a genre you haven’t written in that one day you’d like to tackle? I plan to write a Historical Time Travel book that will also have something of a mystical twist to it.
Are there any authors who have influenced your work? Fletcher DeLancey and Caren Werlinger, because they are both superb storytellers.
What was the first book you ever published? Lost & Found
What was the craziest thing you’ve ever done when it came to a storyline in your book? It depends on how you define crazy. But I don’t think I’ve gone down that road with my stories.
Do you have any specific things (or rituals) that help you to write or that inspire you? Not really. I just wait for the inspiration to hit me and spill out onto the page.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated? After I retired, I spent almost every waking hour reading, and started thinking up stories in my head. One idea really stuck and fired my imagination. I began writing it down just to see if I could craft a story as good as the ones I was reading.
Tell us about your new release. Evermore was really close to my heart because of some of the issues I see in the world today.
What kind of heroine isin your current book? The heroines of my current book Evermore, are the spirits that bring the characters together.
Is there someone famous she resembled when you wrote her? Or is she based off someone you personally know? No, the spirits in both my books and my belief in soulmates come from my spirituality.
What are your favorite character traits that you cannot resist? All my characters are strong, resilient women who are at the same time compassionate and loving.
What part of the female physique captures your attention? Eyes. They truly are the windows of the soul.
As an author and essentially the “creator” of your character, do you find yourself attached to her/him in a personal way? I’m attached in a personal way to all my characters. But I think the question is geared more toward a romantic nature. So yes, I do find the emotional connection of my characters to be quite stimulating.
Tell us what kind of heroines you prefer to write about. Ones that overcome adversity.
Out of all your books, do you have a favorite? They are like children so no I don’t have a favorite.
What is your biggest distraction when you write? When I am really focused on my writing nothing distracts me.
What are your major sources for research? Do you use books or google? Even movies? Everything is a resource for me but mostly online search engines take me to sites that will answer most of my questions.
Which grammar rule is your favorite to break? Which one do you never break? Comma placement is my nemesis and using passive voice at times. I rarely write fragmented sentences, and I’m very careful with pronouns.
If you could do a DREAM job (other than writing) what would it be and why? Have you used it in any of your stories? I would love to learn to be a computer programmer and create games like Raven did in Evermore.
What kind of jobs have you have in the ‘real’ world? Food service, Navy Electronics Technician, Accounting and Business Management.
If you could rewrite a CLASSIC novel as a lesbian fiction novel, which would you choose and why? Bid Time Return––a 1975 science fiction novel by Richard Matheson. It was made into a movie Somewhere in Time as well. I love the concept of two soulmates being kept apart by no living at the same time. I’m currently working on a story time travel story that will use that concept.
Some quickies (pardon the pun—pick twelve):
Satin or Lace? Both
Hot or Cold? Cold
Camera or Canvas? Canvas
Denim or Leather? Denim
Talking or Texting? Talking
Irish or Italian? Irish
Thunder or Lightning? Both
The sound of a heartbeat or a crackling fire? Heartbeat
Holding hands or Holding her attention? Holding her attention
Crayons or Paint? Paints
Mountains or Beach? Mountains
Rain or Sunshine? Rain
Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members that ‘surprised’ you? Other Lesfic authors have been a tremendous help. They’ve encouraged me to keep writing as served as beta readers for my books
If you could meet anyone famous, PAST or PRESENT who would it be, and why? I would love to meet Katherine Hepburn. I think she was phenomenal in every respect and I would love to ask her if she was gay or bi.
What were you like at school? A jock so I hung out with teammates.
Were you good at English? Not especially I was good at mathematics. lol
What are your ambitions for your writing career? To continue to improve my writing and tell stories that readers will enjoy.
If you could have anyone play the main character of one of your books, any actress/actor, who would you choose and why? When I was writing Lost & Found I used Megan Fox as my model for the character Selina. She’s mixed race with some Native American in her background and her blue eyes were the clincher.
How long on average does it take you to write a book? At least a year and then another six months for beta readings and editing.
Do you ever get writer’s block? Not really writer’s block, but there are times when the characters stop speaking to me.
Any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block? Spend time exploring new stories or working on another WIP will be enough to jump start the process again.
How do you think you’ve evolved creatively? I think I gained confidence after I wrote Lost & Found and it was well received. That helped me relax into my writing more which made the way I told the story flow better.
Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors? I do read as much as possible, but when I’m writing I mostly reread favorite books so that I don’t get distracted. As to favorite authors I can’t answer that because there are so many I enjoy.
For your own reading, do you prefer eBooks or traditional paper/hard back books? Ebooks because my eyes get so tired by the evening and I set the print to the largest setting.
Do you proofread/edit all your own books or do you get someone to do that for you? I hire an editor, and I have some very good people that will proofread them for me after the editing phase.
Do you let the book stew – leave it for a month and then come back to it to edit? No I didn’t because I was trying to get it published before the GCLS Conference so that I could take print books with me for anyone that might want an autographed one.
Tell us about the cover’s and how it they came about. I have a very talented cover designer May Dawney. She did my first cover for the Mystic Meteor series and used some of the same elements for Evermore with the spectral Raven. As far as the rest of the design she asked for an overview of the story and brought all those elements together.
Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process? Absolutely. If the cover is eye catching a reader is more likely to stop and read the synopsis or download a sample.
How do you market your books? Facebook groups mostly. I also advertised the release in a few of the Lesfic marketing sites like the Lesbian Review and I Heart Lesfic.
Why did you choose this route? They are both sites that promote Lesfic books and make it easy for readers to find something to read.
What part of your writing time do you devote to marketing your book? Not a lot. Mostly just post in Facebook groups.
What do you do to get book reviews? I have done give-a-ways and always ask if they enjoy the books to leave a review. That only works about 10% of the time from what I can tell.
How successful has your quest for reviews been so far? Not as many written reviews as I would like but at least I get rating in Amazon so it makes the books more visible.
What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews? I try to learn from both what the readers like and what they didn’t, then just try and keep improving.
What’s your views on social media for marketing? I think using Facebook groups are good for marketing as long as you don’t overshare because that tends to tick off the readers.
Did you get interviewed by local press/radio for your book launch? No
Is there any marketing technique you used that had an immediate impact on your sales figures? Well not a marketing technique, but when The Lesbian Review showcased Evermore, I noticed an uptick in both it and Lost & Found. That got both books some really good publicity.
Did you make any marketing mistakes or is there anything you would avoid in future? Not that I know of.
Do you think that giving books away free works and why? I’ve done several book give-a-ways, but I really don’t think that it garnered reviews or made the books standout more.
Did you format your own book? Yes, I use the Vellum software for that and love it.
In what formats is your book available? Both ebook and print.
How do you relax? Read and listen to music.
What is your favorite positive saying? This too shall pass.
What is your favorite book and why? I have more than one and for different reasons.
What is your favorite quote? Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get – only with what you are expecting to give – which is everything. Katharine Hepburn
Where can you see yourself in 5 years time? I will be living the best life possible with my partner and traveling. Hopefully I’ll still be writing books that will lift people up and look for the positive in life.
What is your favorite movie and why? Fried Green Tomatoes because of Idgie Threadgood and I love Tawanda.
What advice would you give to your younger self? Figure out sooner who and what you are, then go for it.
If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why? The Chronicles of Alsea by Fletcher DeLancey because I would love to be that good an author.
‘Borrowed’ permanently from James Lipton on The Actor’s Studio:
What is your favorite word? Türklingel (doorbell in German) What is your least favorite word? Cunt What turns you on? Tenderness
What turns you off? Intolerance What sound or noise do you love? Thunderstorms What sound or noise do you hate? Screeching sounds What is your favorite curse word? Shit What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Computer programming What profession would you not like to do? Sales and marketing
If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? You did good.
If you had to use THREE words to DESCRIBE yourself and you were looking from the outside, how would you describe yourself? Loving, compassionate, and joyful.
If you could have one and only one super-power, what would it be and why? Seer. If I could tell the future I could play the big lotto jackpots and become rich enough to spread that wealth out to those who really need it.
Have you ever Googled yourself? If you did, what did you find out about yourself? I do for time to time just to see what new things might have been added.
Pen name vs no pen name? What was your rationale? I decided to use a pen name because at the time I wrote my first book I wasn’t out yet with any in my family. But it also adds a layer of protection against those pesky copy cats on Facebook cloning accounts.
Besides writing THE END, how do you KNOW a story is over and you should conclude it? It depends on if you are writing a one-off book. Even though Evermore can be read as a standalone it really is the continuing story of Lily (the lead spirit) bringing new couples together with the power of fate and the mystic meteor.
What do you think of the ‘explosion’ of available titles for the Lesbian Fiction Reader that have come onto the market vs say 5-10-20 years ago? Is this a good thing or bad? It’s great but harder for an author to get noticed at first.
Are you a quiet person or verbose in person? Depends on the situation. Quiet at first until I get to know someone then I get chatty.
If you were stuck on an island with only three books, which three would you like them to be? The Stand by Stephen King, The Chronicles of Alsea by Fletcher DeLancey, and the Anne of Green Gables book series by L.M. Montgomery.
If you were stuck in an elevator with three people, who would you like them to be? My lady love, our cat Lexie, and Little Debbie because she will have treats with her.
20 years from now your books are assigned to a women’s studies class. What would you want them to say about your body of work? “I really connected with the diversity of the characters in Elle Hyden’s books.”
Do you consider yourself successful at this thing called writing? What makes you think that? Yes. After several of my short stories being included in anthologies, along with two full length novels (both of which were recognized with Lesfic Bard Awards) being published, I feel I can considered myself a success at this writing thing.
Were there any teachers that stood out through school? Anyone that made it bearable and that you remember fondly? Yes, my 4th Grade teacher Mrs. Orson who taught me to love reading which opened my mind the world around me. Also, my Government teacher Mrs. VerSteeg. She made me want to use the system to make things better for all. Too bad politics don’t work that way.
If you had a time machine, would you go forward or back in time and why? I wouldn’t go backward or forward. I am very happy with the way my life is now.
Do you believe in astrological signs and what they mean? Do you think you follow your own and are stereotypical of what it says about your birth day/year? I think it is fascinating but not sure I believe in them. I was born on the cusp between Cancer and Leo and share traits of both. I once had a natal horoscope done and it was pretty accurate, so who knows.
What is the scariest thing you have ever attempted in your life? Writing. You really put yourself out there when you do that.
If you could make out with one character from a movie, who would it be and why? Catherine Bell from The Good Witch, because I find her oh so sexy.
Is there one scene from your book Evermore that is the most memorable? The scene where Raven is feverish and begs for love. At that point Lynn has to decide if she can open her heart and give Raven what she needs.
What is the one thing that surprised you about becoming a published author? That both books have done well in the ratings. Lost & Found made the 100 Club a few weeks ago and Evermore is close to the 50 ratings mark.
Where were you when you heard you had won the Lesfic Bard Award?
I’d just woken up and checked my email on my phone from bed early on Sunday morning. Still half asleep, I saw a message from my dear friend and fellow lesfic author, Edale Lane (whose encouragement was the sole reason my book was even in the running to begin with), congratulating me on my win. What? I’d seen the email announcing the runner-ups the day prior and figured the winners would have been notified by this time (I had no idea how the process worked), so I’d not expected I even still had a chance. To say it was a surprise would be an understatement! A very happy one, indeed.
What was your reaction?
I honestly was in disbelief, plus running on little sleep, so I didn’t yet have much energy for excitement. My girlfriend was the first person I told, and she was more excited than I was—but she’s also a morning person, and I’m not. It wasn’t until the day went on and I shared the happy news with more people that the reality of it set in and my excitement grew.
Where were you born?
Singapore. My parents lived there for two years, and I was born at the tail end of that time.
Where did you grow up?
In a quaint little town in Southern Germany, near the Swiss and Austrian border.
Do you have any siblings?
Yes, three.
What were your parent’s professions?
They were both teachers.
Why do you write?
Because I love it, and it’s my soul’s calling.
What do you think makes good writing?
For me, it’s painting the scenes and emotions so vividly that you feel like you’re in the story. You can feel, hear, see, taste, smell what the character experiences as you read.
How do you choose the names for your characters?
They tell me what their names are.
What is the first piece you ever wrote?
Hmm, define piece… I wrote my first diary when I was around 6 years old and my family took a trip to England. I didn’t speak any English then, except the few words I learned on that trip, and I had some very creative spelling for bacon and eggs (“begegnenegs”).
When you are writing each novel. Are the experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
My novels definitely have a lot of personal influences. They say write what you know, right? But the characters, at the end of the day, are fictional and have a life all their own.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
No, because I went into writing my second (latest) book (Awakening Souls) knowing a lot more than when I set out to write my first book (Awakening Hearts). I’d definitely approach the first book differently if I were to do it over again, though I don’t feel the need to change it now.
What is the hardest part of writing a book?
Disciplining yourself to sit down and write when there are a million ways to distract yourself and just the busyness of life to keep up with.
What is the easiest part of writing a book?
Hmmm… Is there an easy part?
Do you think a book can have too much detail it? Do you think it can detract from the story?
Definitely. I learned that the hard way! My editor encouraged me to take out a LOT from my first book—and even so, I could have taken out more. Murder your darlings! Now when I write, I constantly ask myself: Is this necessary? Does it drive the story forward?
Do you have any writing rituals? And can you tell us about your writing discipline.
Oh, boy… My writing discipline is very poor at the moment because my energy has been focused elsewhere. But what helps me most with discipline is accountability and feedback. Having a deadline with my editor to work towards. Having alpha or beta readers anticipating the next batch of chapters. Tracking word count and reporting back on my progress to a friend. Rewarding myself with little things when I reach milestones along the way.
What is your greatest fear as an author?
More so than a fear, it just feels intensely vulnerable to have something so near and dear to your heart out in the world for public consumption and criticism. But I think it’s all worth it if even a few readers are positively impacted by your story and find a little healing in it.
What are you working on now?
A best friends to lovers (lesbian, of course) college romance set in the late 1990s—practically historical at this point.
Do you write full-time or part-time?
I was able to fulfill my lifelong dream of writing full-time for about a year and a half and loved it! I couldn’t sustain it financially (yet?), but I also realized I missed working with people in person and having the instant gratification of making a difference in someone’s life. The gratification of writing is so delayed, and it can be challenging to feel a sense of accomplishment in the day-to-day. I’m hoping I can strike a good balance between writing and my in-person healing work going forward.
Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?
I’m a total night owl and most creative late at night. When I was writing full-time, there was a stretch when I’d be up working on my book through most of the night and then sleep well into mid-day. I loved it, but I was kind of a recluse during that time, and I’ve had to force myself to write in daytime hours for the sake of becoming a participating member of society again.
Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?
Mostly, I let the story and my characters lead me. I’ve never liked doing outlines!
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A writer! Among many other things, including a vet and a pediatrician.
Are there any authors who have influenced your work?
Definitely. All of the authors I’ve read over the years! Some of my favorites include Sue Monk Kidd, Shirley MacLaine, and Mary Alice Monroe.
What was the first book you ever published?
Awakening Hearts: A Tale of Love Across Lifetimes
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
From my love of reading. Delving into another person’s life for a short period of time and experiencing other worlds through their senses.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I do hear from readers, and nothing makes me happier! They tell me bits of their own stories, and that, to me, is a huge privilege. Those who have reached out have also told me their hearts were touched by my books, and that makes all the hard work, blood, sweat, and tears worthwhile.
What part of the female physique captures your attention?
What most captures my attention isn’t so much a woman’s physique as it is her essence. The way she inhabits her body. The way she moves in the world. The way she engages with others. The way her smile lights up her face and her eyes lock with mine in an brief moment of connection.
What is your biggest distraction when you write?
Oh, boy. Texting friends and checking Facebook.
If you could do a DREAM job (other than writing) what would it be and why? Have you used it in any of your stories?
I’d say I have my dream job, helping people to heal physically, emotionally, and spiritually through Reiki and spiritual coaching.
What kind of jobs have you had in the ‘real’ world?
I am a Licensed Acupuncturist by trade and practiced acupuncture for 15 years before taking a sabbatical to publish my first two books. I’ve since started my own business and am currently focused on Reiki and spiritual coaching—though I may eventually reincorporate acupuncture.
Earlier in my life, I did all kinds of service jobs, including waiting tables, working in a bakery, a health food store, a test prep center, and at the front desk of various acupuncture clinics.
Some quickies (pardon the pun—pick twelve):
Satin or Lace? Cotton!
Hot or Cold? Hot
Camera or Canvas? Camera
Denim or Leather? Denim
Talking or Texting? Talking
Irish or Italian? Luck of the Irish!
Thunder or Lightning? Both!
The sound of a heartbeat or a crackling fire? Both!!
Holding hands or Holding her attention? Both!!!
Crayons or Paint? Crayons
Mountains or Beach? I love both! But the ocean is my first love.
Rain or Sunshine? Mostly sunshine, but I love a rainy day once in a while.
Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members that ‘surprised’ you?
My girlfriend (before she became my girlfriend). She hates romance (makes her want to puke ), and yet she read my first book to support me, then became my most dedicated beta reader for my second book, and now she reads every single chapter I write and every subsequent revision and brainstorms ideas with me. She’s become my biggest supporter, and I couldn’t be more grateful for all that she brings to my life. She’s also purchased numerous copies of my books to give to others and leave in little lending libraries across town.
Were you good at English?
Yes! I learned English as a foreign language in Germany starting in 5th grade, and it was my favorite subject. I’ve always loved the English language. It feels like home to me.
Do you speak any foreign languages? Which ones? What, if any, would you like to learn?
I grew up speaking French and German (my mom is French and my dad German). I also speak a bit of Spanish.
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
I had big dreams of being a full-time writer, but at this point, I think I’ll be best off (both financially and in terms of personal reward) finding a balance between writing and my healing work. I hope to keep on writing and publish many more books—but only time will tell.
If you could have anyone play the main character of one of your books, any actress/actor, who would you choose and why?
I’d have Kate Moennig play Alex and Sarah Shahi play Sage.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
Yikes. Awakening Hearts (my first book) took 6 1/2 years. Awakening Souls (my second book) took less than a year (while also finishing Awakening Hearts and having it produced as an audiobook). But. I was authoring full-time then and had a better idea of what I was doing.
Do you ever get writer’s block?
Uhm… Does anyone not?
Any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block?
I go for a walk, do the dishes, put on some music and dance… Anything to get my body and energy moving. Then get back to it. Or bribe myself by promising myself a reward if I can get a certain number of words down on the page.
Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors?
Yes. Since becoming an author, I primarily read books from other Indie authors I meet along the way. I’m a sucker for a good romance, but it has to have depth to it. Ideally, a spiritual component, too. Over the years, I’ve read tons of nonfiction—mostly spiritual and personal growth-oriented. I do love a good lesbian romance! Preferably with some well-written sensual scenes.
For your own reading, do you prefer eBooks or traditional paper/hardback books?
I’ve been a bit of a paper snob, but I finally gave in and bought a Kindle a couple of years ago, and now I read most of my books on it.
Do you proofread/edit all your own books or do you get someone to do that for you?
I hire an editor and a proofreader after doing multiple rounds of self-editing—and even so, a few things still fall through the cracks.
Who designed your book covers?
The cover for my first book, Awakening Hearts, was designed by a talented artist I discovered on Instagram, Ximena Vasquez (@womensmagick), whose art I fell in love with. While her art is amazing, she didn’t have much experience with book cover design, and she was busy being a social media influencer, so the process brought some challenges and took much longer than I’d hoped. But I absolutely love the image she created for my cover! It captures my main characters, Alex and Sage, exactly as I’d imagined them.
She wasn’t available to work with me again for the second book, so I sought out an experienced book cover designer this time (Mary Ann Smith), hoping she could create a cover to match the theme of the first book, using her own style. She did an amazing job doing just that and was timely and reliable in her deliveries. I will definitely work with her again in the future!
Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?
Absolutely! It’s the first impression a potential reader gets from your book.
What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews?
Soak up the good ones and let the bad ones roll off your back. Learn from them if you can, and just remember that everyone likes different things. No one can take away the value of the amazing body of work you’ve created.
Did you get interviewed by local press/radio for your book launch?
No, but I got to be a guest on several podcasts and talk about my books. That was awesome, and I’d love to do more of that!
Here are the links to my three podcast interviews:
Yes, using a software called Vellum. It made it super easy!
In what formats is your book available?
Paperback, hardcover, ebook, and audiobook
Where can you see yourself in 5 years time?
Hopefully having authored several more books and thriving both in my writing career and healing work.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Keep on dreaming big and taking small steps towards your dreams. Eventually, they’ll add up to big things!
‘Borrowed’ permanently from James Lipton on The Actor’s Studio:
What is your favorite word? Shenanigans!
What is your least favorite word? Should What turns you on? Being passionate and living with intention What turns you off? Victim mentality
What sound or noise do you love? Waves, wind rustling through leaves, birdsong (not the mockingbird!) What sound or noise do you hate? TV noise What is your favorite curse word? Uhm… favorite, or most used? What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Podcaster What profession would you not like to do? Mortician If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? You changed lives for the better during your time on Earth.
If you had to use THREE words to DESCRIBE yourself and you were looking from the outside, how would you describe yourself?
Determined, authentic, caring
Are you a quiet person or verbose in person?
Depends who I’m with. I’m only talkative if I sense the other person is genuinely interested and creates a space for me to share—otherwise, I prefer to listen. The relationships I enjoy most are the ones where there’s a healthy reciprocity of listening and sharing.
What is the scariest thing you have ever attempted in your life?
Being a published author! Okay, maybe not the scariest… But it took a lot of guts, determination, and grit.
What is the one thing that surprised you about becoming a published author?
How many amazing people I’ve met along the way and how supportive the author community has been. Also, that publication day came and went without my life changing dramatically. It was kind of anticlimactic, really. I think, as an aspiring author, you have this naive notion that finally having your book published and out in the world will change your life. It does—but not overnight. It’s lots of little changes over time.
Where were you when you heard you had won the award and reaction.
I was doing my early quick check on FB and another author had posted the winners. Curious, I scrolled and did a double take when I saw my name at the bottom. I was stunned, but unsure since I hadn’t received official notification. Received that email a few hours later and went from stunned to over the moon. A huge moral boost even at age eighty one.
LGBTQ Connection
Our oldest son is a gay man. I kind of wondered, when he was about eleven, if he were gay. He was just different than our other son. I was sure by mid high school, but was unsure what to say or ask. (One of the regrets of my life.) He made it official when he went to college. He told me later he was scared because he knew two other boys who were kicked out of their homes during high school. He was our beloved son. I hardly knew how to handle the heart crunch I had, knowing he lived with that fear every day for several years.
I became very active in PFLAG for the next seven years.
Years later when we retired to Palm Springs (which has a large Queer community) I was astonished to become the listening tree for those in our community who found out I was happy with a gay son. The stories which poured out – from more men than women – were often heart breaking. Rejected by families, beaten up family members, dealing with hatred and discrimination. It was impressive how they survived and built their own lives.
I wanted to make my book, Takes and Tales, a tribute to all of them.
Family and growing up
We were a farm family in the Flathead Valley of Montana. I’m third oldest of nine children – five sisters and three brothers. Did all the usual stuff a farm kid does: fed livestock, milked cows, showed heifers at the county fair, drove tractor, shoveled a lot of manure, and had my own horse. Often doing these chores or riding my horse, I was alone. The solitary periods gave a lot of time for my mind and imagination to roam. I lived amid the beauty of open fields, woods, and mountains where one also tunes to sounds and smells. A grass field in the spring smells very different from that field on a hot summer day.
Due to location, we never had TV and both parents and siblings were avid readers. (Knock on bathroom door: “I have to pee. Are you going to be long?” –“I just have half a page more, then I’ll be done.”) I attended a small country school. There were two grades in each classroom and all the kids read books from the small library. The teachers read to us when we had to rest our heads on our desks after lunch.
I had the good fortune of Mrs. Winters in sixth grade and Mr. Kirokoff in eighth grade for learning grammar and diagraming sentences. I loved school partly because this was where I could get together with friends and I was very curious about everything and a super student. I was that annoying girl who always raised her hand in class because she always knew the answer. Our long school bus rides were social hour.
My initial life interest was art and I graduated Seattle University with an art degree. Later, with my family and children, we lived in Washington state, Alaska, and finally California. I learned architectural drafting and did that part-time for twenty-five years from my house. I also painted during that time.
On becoming a writer
I exhibited paintings in galleries for a number of years. On moving to Los Angeles from Palm Springs and not having studio space, I decided to write and illustrate children’s books. (My book “Squawk – A Story in Fowl Language” received the SCBWI Sue Alexander award in 2012). Additionally I took a five quarter class on comics and sequential art and did a lengthy graphic art book. I loved doing the writing and artwork.
I happened on a life story class using the Bernard Selling method (Writing From Within). Stories are written first person, present tense. Put yourself back in the life event: write what was happening, what people were present, how did they look, was it happy or unpleasant, and how did you feel about the event. I wrote a book of life stories for the family and published it via a local printing company. (Later I condensed and partly fictionalized it as a mid-grade novel, “A Farm Called Someday” about growing up on a Montana farm after WWII.)
This was a mind training asset which has helped me create characters. That is “becoming” a character and building a background around them. The background may never be explicit, but affects how that character lives, acts, and reacts.
Using people or aspects of people, situations or parts of situations, and general observation of humanity is what writers do. Being old gives just one more scope.
On Writing
I keep a number of notebooks where I jot multitudes of story ideas, new words, funny comments and observations. Usually I work on several stories. If I expand on one, I take it to the computer. I write scattered scenes as they develop. Sometimes I hang them together into a story. Sometimes they sit – saved somewhere – on my computer.
I have a sister with editing background. We go over each book word by word.
Early on, I learned to scan my water color illustrations, do the sizing, add text, etc. via Artrage. I’m reasonably computer literate and love my Mac. I figure out what to do as I need for whatever I want to accomplish. (There is always Google and I give thanks to the multitude of people who make those YouTube videos.) I upload all my books to Amazon. I can’t imagine my life without my Mac.
I do my book covers – both design and execution.
I do some writing nearly every morning, maybe it’s jotting notes or rereading previous work. The dog and I take our walk late afternoon. Being retired gives one more flexibility. I read a lot. We cut the cord and only have internet, so I usually watch a video in the evening.
Marketing
No advice. Not remotely good at this. Spent a month studying the Amazon algorithms and set up a three month ad campaign with very little results. Had very little results with social media so I got on YouTube for info and tips. A young man (who had a very successful self published book) reviewed his experience with the various sites. His conclusion: using the social sites didn’t make a noticeable difference for his sales. Sometimes a book just catches on and sells. (Remember Pet Rocks?)
Conclusions
The biggest distraction in my life is that. Life stuff – housework, laundry, grocery shopping.
My biggest fear is after I die all my notebooks and disparate computer files will be opened, and in dismay, people will be shaking their heads and saying, “What the fuck are we going to do with all this?”
Where were you when you heard you had won the Lesfic Bard Award?
I was having a lazy Sunday morning and just about to jump in the shower when a friend messaged me to ask if I’d seen the Lesfic Bard Award announcement?
I hadn’t.
She asked if I wanted to be told the results or sent the link so I could see for myself. Given she was the
only person I’d told about entering I thought she was letting me down gently. But then she told me the results. I just stood staring at my phone. This was the first year I’ve entered any awards, and I had no expectations so to end up with two awards gave me a real high.
What was your reaction?
Disbelief. Excitement. Wow. Grateful to everyone who helped me because there’s a whole team who get involved when I publish a book.
Where were you born?
Scotland
Where did you grow up?
Scotland/England
Do you have any siblings?
One sister (who like my mother, thinks I write porn)
Why do you write?
I love reading a really good book and raving about the great ones with people I love (or anyone who will listen) and I wanted to be able to give that high to other people. I’m also a story teller by nature…
What do you think makes good writing?
Well-developed, flawed characters with a desire to change (conscious or unconscious) everything else grows from there.
How do you choose the names for your characters?
I google names (first and surname) that relate to my characters birth date, country they were born in etc and then combine then and say them out loud to see how they feel, and ask myself the question… Does that sound like my character? I’m sure there is an easier way but that works for me.
When you are writing each novel. Are the experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
The idea that I might be leading Victoria’s life makes me laugh. Oh, for an Aston Martin DBX!
Seriously though, my stories are a mixture of everything, real life (others and my own), exaggerations, articles I read, or born from my over active imagination… I live in a world of what if’s.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
I never ask myself that question, rather what will I do differently in the book I’m currently writing. What has passed is past.
What is the hardest part of writing a book?
Writing the blurb!
What is the easiest part of writing a book?
Losing myself in my characters heads, although it’s a tad annoying when they wake you up at 3am to tell you what they are doing the next day.
Do you think a book can have too much detail it? Do you think it can detract from the story?
It’s all about pacing. When the detail slows the pacing so that it doesn’t match the plotline then it’s too much.
What are you working on now?
I’m plotting Awakening of Desire book five and writing a domestic thriller.
How do you keep your different characters separate in your mind?
They all sound different when they talk to me… I’m aware of how odd that may sound for people who don’t write.
Do you write full-time or part-time? Full-time
Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?
I treat my day as though I’m doing a nine to five job, but one that has an excessive amount of overtime.
Do you write every day, 5 days a week or as and when?
It depends on where I am in the process and what else I have going on in life but I write at least 4-5 days a week, if not more as well as market my books etc.
Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?
I have a half page rough idea and then I start writing. The characters tell me where to go. It’s back to those voices again!
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A journalist
What genres do you normally write in?
In terms of my Sapphic writing it’s Romance and Erotic Romance.
What was the craziest thing you’ve ever done when it came to a storyline in your book?
The affair with the therapist was fun… but read Mistress of Desire and you’ll find an imaginative and fitting end to one of my less good characters.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I love hearing from readers. I get all sorts of messages and emails, as well as gifts. Sometimes we chat about what they are reading, or what they liked about a book I’ve written, or travelling. I have lots of conversations about travelling. I love travelling.
Tell us about your new release.
It’s the last book in the Awakening of Desire series and it’s called ‘Commitment to Desire.’ It’s continuing on with Victoria and Abby’s journey as their wedding day approaches and we meet Victoria’s best woman. It’s a huge amount of fun.
What are your favorite character traits that you cannot resist?
Integrity, understanding and a love of anything sensuous… I do love a villain though.
As an author and essentially the “creator” of your character, do you find yourself attached to her/him in a personal way?
Yes, absolutely. We have an ongoing conversation throughout the writing of the book and I’m genuinely sorry to have to leave them at the end.
What is your biggest distraction when you write?
Well, there’s my phone, then there’s the washing which has just finished and needs hung out, then there’s the Amazon delivery guy who rings the bell and runs (we have a game to see if I can catch him… not really but I like to play it anyway) then there’s Bailey (our terrier) who needs to go for a walk, then there’s the shredding bin that needs emptied, then there’s the… you get the idea.
Which grammar rule is your favorite to break? Which one do you never break?
I never capitalize the word god, unless they are the first word in a sentence. It’s a personal thing.
Some quickies (pardon the pun—pick twelve):
Satin or Lace? Satin
Hot or Cold? Hot
Camera or Canvas? I don’t understand
Denim or Leather? Neither, give me something softer
Talking or Texting? Texting
Irish or Italian? Vietnamese!
Thunder or Lightning? Lightning
The sound of a heartbeat or a crackling fire? Heartbeat
Holding hands or Holding her/his attention? Both
Crayons or Paint? Paint
Mountains or Beach? Beach
Rain or Sunshine? Sunshine
What were you like at school?
Far too worried about what everyone else thought of me.
If you could have anyone play the main character of one of your books, any actress/actor, who would you choose and why?
Cate Blanchett so I could meet her
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
Two to three months
Do you ever get writer’s block?
No
How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?
I’ve definitely found my voice, which is a mixture of all the aspects of me, emotion, humour, imagination.
For your own reading, do you prefer eBooks or traditional paper/hard back books?
I read in every medium.
Do you proofread/edit all your own books or do you get someone to do that for you?
Oh, god no. Others do that. I suffer from word blindness. My brain reads what it wants to see on the page not what I’ve actually written.
Do you let the book stew – leave it for a month and then come back to it to edit?
No, I write it and launch fast. When it’s done it’s done or else I’d tinker with it forever.
Who designed your book covers?
My wife, Angie.
Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?
The cover is crucial. Amazingly some people buy the book on the cover alone.
Do you think that giving books away free works and why?
I think you have to be very careful. Constant sales, and free books within a genre could result in authors work being devalued. It’s important to respect the time and effort you put into a book and the price you set tells readers how much you value your own work.
Did you format your own book?
Yes, I use Vellum
In what formats is your book available?
Ebook and Paperback
How do you relax?
Travelling, cooking, walks on the beach, just spending time with my wife and of course reading.
What is your favorite quote?
Be the change you want to see in the world. Courtesy of Mahatma Gandhi.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t give a fuck what other people think, as long as you know how to belong to you everything will be okay.
Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?
David Attenborough
‘Borrowed’ permanently from James Lipton on The Actor’s Studio:
What is your favorite word? Dreich or Hoolie, both Scottish words that describe weather perfectly. What is your least favorite word? Cunt (It’s used too often with negative emotions) What turns you on? I can’t tell you that! Only, Angie knows that…and darling, if you’re reading this then I’m ready when you are… What turns you off? Not much What sound or noise do you love? My wife opening the front door What sound or noise do you hate? Anything repetitive, or the sound of someone eating What is your favorite curse word? Fuck What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? I’ll give anything a go. You want a gallbladder removal? I can give that a go! What profession would you not like to do? Sewer worker. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? I’m a humanist.
Pen name vs no pen name? What was your rationale?
Pen name, I wasn’t ready to mix my writing with my real life at the start. Now everyone knows who I am and I’ve no qualms about that.
If you had a time machine would you go forward or back in time and why?
Back to find me at sixteen, to tell her ‘Don’t be frightened, forget everyone else and just try it.’
What is the scariest thing you have ever attempted in your life?
Publishing books.
Have you ever stolen anything?
My wife’s heart and I am refusing to give it back.
What is the one thing that surprised you about becoming a published author?
How much support there is in the LGBT+ community for authors who want to represent the community. It surprised and gladdened me.
Where were you when you heard you had won the Lesfic Bard Award?
We were in New York, having a grand time with my sister and her husband. Periodically I ducked in and out of Social Media, but didn’t get a chance to post much. Fortunately others did and tagged me!
What was your reaction?
Obviously, I was thrilled. It’s always a good feeling to learn that other people have a positive reaction to what I write. I had such a fun time writing Georgetown Glen and had hoped others would enjoy the book.
Where were you born?
Galesburg, Illinois
Where did you grow up?
Illinois
Do you have any siblings?
Two sisters and I am the quintessential middle child.
What were your parent’s professions?
My mother was a special education teacher and my father a child psychologist (yes, that did create an interesting childhood for us).
Why do you write?
I started because I was bored when I lived apart from my wife, but I continue to write because there are those loyal readers who periodically remind me my books have touched them for various reasons. I like the idea that when I’m long gone, I’ve left a little part of myself for the world to discover.
What do you think makes good writing?
I believe if an author can create characters, a story, or a world that captures my attention and makes me care about what happens or keeps me up at night to read one more chapter, that is good writing. I also believe good writing either deviates from the formula or has an interesting twist—something that I remember versus same old story and plot.
What is the first piece you ever wrote?
Love Forever, Live Forever is my debut novel. It’s a paranormal book that wasn’t a great seller. Who knew that at the time paranormal wasn’t a big seller!
When you are writing each novel. Are the experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Sometimes the scenes or experiences are frightening close and other times they are complete fiction. However, there are always scenes, events, or characters that are based on my life or people I know. None of my books are 100% fiction without taking something from my life.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
I try very hard not to go back and think about what to change after I send the final draft for publishing. I have severe enough OCD during the editing process where I go over the book a minimum of five times at each stage and there are four editing stages the book goes through. If I don’t put those limits on myself, I’d never complete a book because I would always be changing something.
What is the hardest part of writing a book?
The sex scenes.
What is the easiest part of writing a book?
Usually the first thousand words.
Do you think a book can have too much detail it? Do you think it can detract from the story?
I tend to write in a style that I enjoy most and that means I’m not heavy on scene details because I can get bored easily with too much detail. This is probably why I’m not very good at the details and is an area I should put more focus into. I truly admire those authors who provide the level of detail that puts a person right inside the scene where they can almost hear, see, touch, smell or taste the detail created.
Do you have any writing rituals? And can you tell us about your writing discipline.
No rituals, but I find I write best in the mornings or the middle of the night.
What is your greatest fear as an author?
That people don’t tell me the truth and are just being kind when they provide positive feedback.
Who do you have fans compare you to (other authors)?
Not sure the readers compare me to anyone. I’m not sure if that is a good or bad thing.
What are you working on now?
The second book in The Next Generation Series which is a spinoff from my San Diego series that is in the universe of The Organization.
How do you keep your different characters separate in your mind?
Typically the two main characters are very different from one another, so it is easy to keep them separate.
Do you write full-time or part-time?
Very part-time
Have you written any other novels in collaboration with other writers?
I wrote The Organization with the late Erin O’Reilly who was my mentor and I’ve written several with Ali Spooner. I love writing with Ali. She keeps me motivated.
Where do your ideas come from?
Dreams, social media, news stories, life in general.
Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?
I am a total pantster…I never know where I am going to take a story. I start with a vague idea and off I go.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A physician.
What genres do you normally write in?
I have tried just about every one. I even wrote one short story that would be considered erotica (way out of my comfort zone). Although many of my stories have humor in them, I’ve never written what I might consider a true romcom.
What genres do you typically read?
I read everything, but my least favorite is probably heavy erotica where there isn’t much story and mostly a collection of sex scenes. I enjoy graphic sex scenes, but if there is too much I tend to get bored and start skimming.
What was the craziest thing you’ve ever done when it came to a storyline in your book?
Toss between writing about a person who can brings dreams to life or writing myself into a book as the author of the book that the Book Witch uses to bring the characters to life. And then I created a question of what was real…were those characters truly a figment of the author’s imagination or an alternate reality?
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I do hear from my readers quite a bit and that’s what keeps me writing. Some have been very poignant messages.
Tell us about your new release.
Politics of Love is the second book in the San Diego series and would be considered a political thriller. There is a lot of action rolled inside a love story or visa versa…a love story embedded into an action packed plot. I’ve brought back some of the favorite characters from my The Organization because who doesn’t love badass women?
What kind of hero/heroine isin your current book?
I don’t have just one heroine…I have several.
What are your favorite character traits that you cannot resist?
Shy, nerdy, intelligent women
What part of the female physique captures your attention?
Smile
As an author and essentially the “creator” of your character, do you find yourself attached to her/him in a personal way?
Some I am more attached to than others. For whatever reason, the characters is my debut novel show up in several short stories and the characters in The Organization show up in several other books. I can’t seem to let them go, especially Val who is an especially complicated character.
Tell us what kind of heroes/heroines you prefer to write about.
I like to write about confident, strong women, both physically and emotionally. But I also like to write about humble, shy, nerdy, intelligent heroines who grow into their strength but don’t start out that way.
Does your hero/heroine, take after you? Or is she/he someone you wish you could be?
Don’t take after me at all, but I am not sure I would wish to be them either. I think they’re more the kind of woman to fall in love with.
Out of all your books, do you have a favorite?
I have several that are special to me for different reasons. Locked Inside, Unconventional Lovers and Sculpting Her Heart are probably my favorites.
If you could do a DREAM job (other than writing) what would it be and why? Have you used it in any of your stories?
I used to think being a librarian would be my dream job…but not anymore with all the pressure on librarians with the ridiculous book banning currently going on. Yes, there was a librarian in Out of This World.
What kind of jobs have you have in the ‘real’ world?
Switchboard Operator, Pre-school Teacher, Telemarketer, Nurses Aide, Bartender, Cocktail Waitress, Breakfast Cook, Dishwasher, Office Manager, Resident Hall Director, Adjunct Professor and Human Resource Executive.
If you could rewrite a CLASSIC novel as a lesbian fiction novel, which would you choose and why?
East of Eden. I loved John Steinbeck growing up and I thought his novels had such depth.
If you could meet anyone famous, PAST or PRESENT who would it be, and why?
Michelle Obama. She’s an amazing woman who is not only kind and compassionate, but intelligent and funny. I think she would be an extremely interesting person to talk with.
Is there anything in your life you would delete? Anything you would replay?
Only one thing…I would have flown to Florida sooner and spent more time with my mother before she died.
What were you like at school?
Very shy and awkward.
Were you good at English?
I was a good student in general.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
Three months.
Do you ever get writer’s block?
All the time! It was what inspired one of my novels. Inspiration Takes a Vacation was born out of a very dry spell where I joked about it.
Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors?
I read all the time and I can’t list my favorites because I have too many.
For your own reading, do you prefer eBooks or traditional paper/hard back books?
Definitely ebooks because I don’t have to lug around a ton of paperbacks.
Do you proofread/edit all your own books or do you get someone to do that for you?
Both. I have editors, but I also go over my books to make sure nothing is missed or at least the obvious typos don’t remain.
Do you let the book stew – leave it for a month and then come back to it to edit?
Affinity’s editing process lends itself well to leaving the book while it is in the hands of each level of editing.
Did you do a press release, Goodreads book launch or anything else to promote your work and did it work?
I have a mailing list and send something out whenever I have a new release. I also blast all the different Facebook groups. I also have a weekly blog. Something brand new for Affinity is the Triple A (Affinity, Ali and Annette) Podcast: On the road to good storytelling. We will do this once a month and post on our new YouTube channel — @TripleAStorytelling
Did you get interviewed by local press/radio for your book launch?
I wish!
Pen name vs no pen name? What was your rationale?
I have a pen name because when I worked as an HR Executive I wanted to keep that life separate. Now that I am retired it really doesn’t matter.
Besides writing THE END, how do you KNOW a story is over and you should conclude it?
I don’t write The End and honestly no story is ever completely done…I could always write a short story or a spinoff, but most of the time I choose not to.
What do you think of the ‘explosion’ of available titles for the Lesbian Fiction Reader that have come onto the market vs say 5-10-20 years ago? Is this a good thing or bad?
Good….I love the variety.
Are you a quiet person or verbose in person?
Quiet, but I can play the extrovert when required.
Is there something in life you wish you had been braver about?
I wish I had started writing before my mother passed. She was an avid reader and I wish she would have had the opportunity to read something I had written.
Do you consider yourself successful at this thing called writing? What makes you think that?
By most people’s standards, probably not, but I’m satisfied with what I’ve been able to accomplish since I began writing. I’ve one more goal to meet before I die. I hope to reach the #1 spot for either Lesbian Romance or Lesbian Fiction. I’ve done it is the smaller categories, especially in new releases, but only reached #2 once.
If you had a time machine would you go forward or back in time and why?
I would go back in time to before my mother died and redo that time.
Toe ring or belly button ring if you HAD to have one?
Toe…ouch on the belly button. Nope not piercing anything but my ears.
Have you ever stolen anything?
A piece of candy from one of those open bins when I was three. Got a spanking for it and never stole again!
Is there one scene from your book that is the most memorable?
I’m guessing that most people would say the very first scene of Locked Inside.
What is the one thing that surprised you about becoming a published author?
How hard marketing a book is.
Read more about Annette Mori and order her book here.
In our continuing efforts to help the authors who are runners-up and winners in the Lesfic Bard Awards, we buy their books (yes, we have the copies they sent in, but we do this for a very specific reason). I don’t know if or of any other awards site that does this. We do this so that we can leave a review on Amazon and part of their rules is that you must have bought the book. This doesn’t mean they will put up the review, they seem to be arbitrary about which reviews they allow up on what.
Now, our reviews are basically the same for every winner and then every runner-up. What I have tried to do is space out the reviews so whoever (or whatever, bots) that reviews the reviews before they are allowed up on the site, might not notice the similarity in reviews. But the day before we announced the runners-up, we bought all of their books (kindle). Then, the day before we announced the winners, we bought their books too. This gives us time to start reviewing the books after they are announced.
We hope by reviewing the books, those who read reviews, see that they have been runners-up or winners of our prestigious awards. That is, if Amazon allows it up. For some reason, it takes days and days or they simply do not put them up. I have put up the reviews, it’s up to them now. I know with the system Amazon put in place the ratings system has gone through the roof. This makes reviews that much MORE important to be seen.
When we review the book, we also put a picture with said review, making it even more noticeable. Those that won an award, get the award beside our review. The same with those who were runners-up, which is just as important. We want to promote their book and support it. They did a lot of hard work to get it to this stage and we are doing a lot of hard work to promote it.
To those authors whom Amazon allows the review to be seen, please, capture and promote it further. It helps your book to be seen, at least that is our hope.
Here is a sample of one of the reviews they allowed:
I would encourage anyone and everyone to leave reviews regardless of where you buy your books.
If you haven’t seen the list of winners and runners-up, check them out here!
Read ~ Review ~ Support our Lesbian Literature authors!
On behalf of the 2022 Lesfic Bard Awards, I want to express my gratitude to our judges who gave selflessly of their valuable time to read the many, many entries we received this last year.
Not only did they read the entries, they graded them using the system we devised that we feel is almost perfect for lesbian literature. While the judges’ names can’t be announced, I want them to know how much we appreciate their efforts on behalf of all the authors who entered our awards.
We are delighted that many of the judges who served in 2022 have already committed to return in 2023 for our sixth year of the Lesfic Bard Awards.
If you have published since January or are planning to publish in 2023, you will want to enter your book in our awards as quickly as possible as outlined on our website because we anticipate our judges will be especially busy as the year progresses, especially because we allow authors/publishers to enter novella’s as well as novels.
to everyone who participated in our fifth year, and we look forward to meeting and welcoming those who will participate in future awards.
Amanda Hawthorne, Dr. Jen Dawson, and Detective Tommy Vietti volunteer to help in the aftermath of a terrorist attack in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Dr. Jen treats victims in the hospital, including someone once very special to her, but makes a new friend in Nurse Denni Russo.
While on a dark ops mission, Amanda summons her inner strength to avoid falling into old habits as she learns earth-shattering revelations about her Scottish ancestry.
Tommy feels like he’s walking on shifting sands as he transitions from a city detective to an international agent, relying on his gut instincts, drinking abilities, and shooting skills.
Roxy performs a highwire balancing act by revealing something life-changing to Amanda while deftly training Tommy and Amanda to operate in her clandestine world.
Roxy, Tommy, and Amanda might be outgunned and outnumbered on foreign soil, but they’ll never be outsmarted as they attempt to save humanity.
Drama
Awakening Souls: A Tale of Love Recovered
Angie K. Love
A serendipitous reconnection. A trip to France. A powerful attraction that never waned. Does true love grant second chances?
Alex: There’s my Sage, looking more beautiful than ever! What are the odds I’d run into her the first time I’m on a date—with a woman? My heart and body have always wanted her, but my faith led me to walk away seventeen months ago . . .
When she asks me to join her on a trip to France, my head spins. Is this God giving me a second chance? Will I be able to show up in the way Sage deserves if I say yes, or will my old demons and guilt come back to haunt me?
Sage: My body and heart respond to Alex as strongly as ever, while my mind’s apparently already on vacation. I hear myself invite her on my trip to France . . . What am I thinking?!
I know the pain of losing her intimately—but she’s clearly been working on herself, and I, too, have been doing my own healing. Still, is it crazy to risk my heart a second time?
Can love overcome all obstacles and mend old wounds?
Erotica
Mistress of Desire
Ruby Scott
When healing the past to find your truth means tearing down everything you thought you knew about yourself, would you have the courage to face the challenge?
Having escaped Mhairi’s clutches, Alison is on a journey of self-discovery supported by her polyamorous lovers (Victoria and Abby) as well as Dr Eleanor Hopkins, her charismatic therapist. But the path to a bolder future is never straight, and as she delves into the depths of her desires, every twist and turn means navigating unchartered territory.
Where will her journey take her, and will her current relationship be able to withstand the inevitable change that follows?
Fantasy
Persephone’s Mare
Iza Moreau
Persephone Gwilt lives with her mother, Alice, and their horses on a small farm in rural North Florida. Alice had intended to wait until Persephone turned 18 to reveal to her that their real home was a magical place called Equidona, which they had fled because Alice was being hunted by Rogue Wizards. But, when Alice is killed several months before Persephone’s birthday, the 17-year-old finds herself whisked away to a world that uses magic instead of technology and where the management and training of horses is the main enterprise.
But the Rogue Wizards are still on the hunt—this time for Persephone. So together with a small band of her new friends, Persephone sets out across Equidona on horseback, following the steps that her mother had taken twenty years earlier. She learns that Alice was once a member of the Pathfinders, seven wizards and witches who had banded together to search for ancient magical powers. She also finds that she can communicate with the Old Ones—gigantic, almost-mystical horses that still roam Equidona.
Armed with this newfound knowledge, Persephone begins to discover that it is she who must undertake a bold and very unlikely plan to defeat the Rogue Wizards before they can subjugate and forever destroy Equidona.
Fiction
Evermore (A Mystic Meteor Tale Book 2)
Elle Hyden
In Book Two of this Mystic Meteor Tale, the meddling spirit Lily is back in matchmaking mode, working with a few new cohorts to help two women find their Evermore.
Raven, a reclusive but wealthy video game developer, needs more than just a paid caretaker; she needs true healing to melt the cold core of her deeply wounded heart. She’s lived her entire life without love and trusts no one. Only once did Raven allow anyone close, but it wasn’t to be, and she vowed Nevermore!
Lynn, a gifted empath, seeks a safe haven not only for herself but for a little girl that she’s sworn to protect. Like Raven, she experienced an early childhood rejection. Although she didn’t close herself off to others, Lynn has never shared herself entirely with another. It has kept her moving on from one relationship to another.
The advent of a spectral raven starts these women down a path that can potentially redress these old hurts if only they can open their hearts to each other. Join these two women in their quest to discover if the spirits and fate will bring them together or tear them apart.
***** THIS BOOK CAN BE READ AS A STAND-ALONE NOVEL *****
Historical
Once In Berlin
Jo Havens
Could you spy on the woman you loved?
It’s 1938 and Europe teeters on the edge of war. In Berlin, life for Mila Nessian – genius mathematician, billionaire and womaniser – is one long party. A spot of rocket science by day, the Third Reich’s prettiest daughters by night. She knows what they whisper behind their hands – that Germany’s most dazzling mind has nothing but a calculator where her heart should be, a sliver of ice instead of soul. She smirks through yet another boring cocktail party and hopes they’re wrong.
Cecelia Balfour is dragged to Berlin by her socialite mother – and it’s the last place she wants to be. Cecelia has lost a lover and worries that her heart is too bruised to ever properly love again. To distract her, to maybe get her back in the game, her cousin at MI6 sets up a play: flirt with Mila Nessian, capture her secrets, lure her back to London.
Because what Mila is working on could steer the course of the coming war. The Nazis want her brilliance, British Secret Intelligence wants her silence, and Cecelia – once she has laughed with her, slept with her, sipped champagne on a zeppelin with her and lost her heart to her – Cecelia wants her love.
Can she win Mila’s trust and save her from the powers that control both their lives?
Mystery
Lady Hawthorne, SFMS, Book 7
Alexi Venice
Amanda Hawthorne, Dr. Jen Dawson, and Detective Tommy Vietti volunteer to help in the aftermath of a terrorist attack in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Dr. Jen treats victims in the hospital, including someone once very special to her, but makes a new friend in Nurse Denni Russo.
While on a dark ops mission, Amanda summons her inner strength to avoid falling into old habits as she learns earth-shattering revelations about her Scottish ancestry.
Tommy feels like he’s walking on shifting sands as he transitions from a city detective to an international agent, relying on his gut instincts, drinking abilities, and shooting skills.
Roxy performs a highwire balancing act by revealing something life-changing to Amanda while deftly training Tommy and Amanda to operate in her clandestine world.
Roxy, Tommy, and Amanda might be outgunned and outnumbered on foreign soil, but they’ll never be outsmarted as they attempt to save humanity.
New Author
Joi Lansing … A Body To Die For: A Love Story
Alexis Hunter
“Joi Lansing: A Body to Die For colorfully chronicles personal and intimate details of the last four years of the talented ‘50’s “blonde bombshell” star’s fascinating life. After three decades of successful TV and movie appearances and Vegas singing stardom, Ms. Lansing died far too young at just 43. Though her funeral was attended by luminaries of the day (Frank Sinatra sent a huge floral display), her light went out relatively unceremoniously. Always just on the verge of “making it big,” Joi packed them in with standing room only in Vegas, but when the curtain came down and the audience was gone, who was she? Sadly, the one relationship where she was loved for the sweet, gentle woman she really was, the friendship that might have given her the strength to finally cross the finish line for that one moment of glory for which she had run since she began in show business as a little girl of 14, was ended at her death from breast Cancer in the arms of her dear friend, “Rachel.” “Author Alexis Hunter (“friend/baby sister”) was the only person who really knew Joi and knew how she struggled with a suicide-obsessed self-image and deadly drug problem after being a child star at MGM where “uppers” were a common way to keep the kids working 20 hour days.
Paranormal
Georgetown Glen: Queermunity Living At Its Finest
Annette Mori
Lucy Manetti is positively euphoric over her recent purchase of an old ghost town. Unfortunately, she failed to consult with her wife, Bea, before buying the abandoned village. Predictably, Bea is not as enamored with transforming the ghost town into a sapphic retirement community, but Bea’s love for her wife trumps her displeasure over Lucy’s impulsiveness. The mature couple hires Fiona, an expert at restoring old houses, and Saville, a certified electrician, to bring the ghost town back to its glory days.
According to the adorable real estate agent who recommended the pair, Fiona and Saville have history. Lucy detects a spark between the two young women and decides, against the advice of her wife, to play matchmaker, bringing her beautiful niece into the mix. As the ragtag team begins their work on the old saloon, they discover a lot more than they bargained for, including ghosts, long-buried secrets, an abused golden retriever, and maybe even love.
Romance
Broken Beyond Repair
Emily Banting
An age-gap, celebrity ice queen romance that will pull at the heart strings — even the icy ones!
Sydney MacKenzie, personal assistant to the rich and famous, is looking forward to a well-earned break to go travelling in her beloved VW camper van, Gertie — that is, until Gertie cries off sick. When her boss calls in a favour, one that will pay Sydney handsomely and put Gertie back on the road, she can’t refuse.
Internationally renowned actress Beatrice Russell — adored by her fans and despised by those that know her — is splashed across the tabloids, all thanks to her broken leg. She limps back to her palatial English country estate to convalesce for the summer, where she finds herself in need of yet another new assistant.
Enter Sydney, who doesn’t take kindly to the star’s demands, attitude, or clicking fingers — much less her body’s own attraction to the gorgeous diva. If not for that, and Gertie’s worn-out engine, she would leave tomorrow. Or so she tells herself.
As the summer heats up, the ice queen begins to thaw, and Sydney glimpses the tormented woman beneath the celebrity bravado, drawing her ever closer to the enigmatic actress — sometimes too close.
Can Sydney reach the real Beatrice and help heal her wounds before the summer ends and she returns to filming in the States, or is the celebrity broken beyond repair?
Cover
Broken Beyond Repair
Emily Banting
NOVELLA
Erotica
May I Call You Mistress?
Ruby Scott
If the woman that filled your teenage sexual fantasies walks back into your life seventeen years later, more beautiful and bolder than you thought possible, would you be able to resist?
Photographer Abby Mason comes to her friends rescue, stepping in at the last minute to cover a product shoot, but when she meets the client, the stunning redhead, Victoria Fraser, Abby’s world changes forever.
When the power of fantasy consumes reality, Abby has only one question, “May I Call You Mistress?”
The most intoxicating moments in life are ones we earn. But how hard would you work for one of those moments?
NOVELLA
NEW
Takes and Tales
Penelope Merrell
One day in the life of Nadine Raider. A photographer, she prepares photos for a retrospective during Pride Month. The black and white photos are her seldom seen LGBQT home portraits. Each portrait session required a number of takes. Between the takes, she heard tales of people’s lives. Nadine recalls their stories as she reviews files and selects photos. Memories from her own life surface and intertwine as she looks back to those times.
There were her early days among girl friends and finding herself as a lesbian. There was a wrenching love affair. There was the ongoing work to develop her career and the years of being alone. Now mature, Nadine muses on the years before meeting Marlys. Marlys who likes oatmeal and is a willing assistant handmaid to their Abyssinian cat.
By day’s end Nadine settles on 17 photo groups. Among their stories are a lesbian couple dining with seemingly clueless parents, two house proud gays who spiff up their neighborhood, and a gay man dealing with a death threat at work. The stories range from humor to heartbreak, AIDS to Pride Parades. Whether older or younger, they experience love and loss, acceptance and rejection. But romance also blooms and humor threads their stories as they shape their lives.
Follow as Nadine recalls these defiant, courageous, and colorful people who lived through the cultural struggles and triumphed. And finally Nadine’s story as she finds love in middle age.
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It wasn’t until the day went on and I shared the happy news with more people that the reality of it set in and my excitement grew. 
Lesfic Bard Awards News 