FAQ

How Long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing fiction for over fifteen years. I started writing romance a little over five years ago.

Where do  you get your ideas?

All over. It can be a newspaper article or something someone says. The Hired Hand developed when I came up with Marlow Smith’s character. I thought of the one thing that would screw with her mind and tilt the axis of her world, and there was Liam Campbell.

How do I become a writer?

 That’s up to you. The best advice I ever received was from Professor James Hoggard who said to read everything you can get your hands on. Read your genre. When I picked up my first romantic suspense thinking it was a straight mystery, I fell in love with the whole genre of romance. I went and picked up as many books from that author that I could. Then, I moved to someone else, and read like that for several months. I still read constantly. Anything from Christina Dodd to Angela Knight to reference books to Jennifer Crusie. Also, join some writers groups, critique groups or take a writing class at your local college or online. Then, sit your butt in a chair and write. You will not learn how to write unless you first try. Each book I write is a learning process.

How long does it take you to write a book?

Until it’s done. No really, some writers can write a 350-400 page mss, final edit included, in less than two months. I know a few. Right at the moment, I am leaning toward smaller works, and I write upwards of 30 hours a week, so I get a lot done. For me, a lot of it depends on my family’s schedule. Everyone writes at their own pace.

I tried to write, but I didn’t have the time. How do you do it?

Can you try your best to write one, two, three pages a day? Even if you can only get half a page written, then you can finish a book. It will take longer, but you can do it. And, if worrying about writing it perfect the first time is worrying you, don’t. You can’t fix what you haven’t written. Get it on the page then fix it later.