L.A.A. Law Author Bio:
Living on the east coast, I love to travel to Maine. It is just far enough away to feel as if I am escaping the demands of work to enjoy time with my wonderful family while being close enough that most of the short time we find in our competing work schedules to escape is not taken up by travel. The beautiful scenery, national park, and abundance of rocky beaches offers peace and tranquility. I am the mother of three wonderful children and work in a law firm. Writing is something I never thought I could do. My vast work experience is more in accounting and legal work dealing with figures and asset allocation. Writing became a way to allow my mind to escape for short periods of time while my body stayed anchored to care for two dying parents while still attempting to ensure that my children could have a somewhat normal childhood.
What inspires you to write?
I love reading romance stories and cannot wait to see how the couple ends up with their happily ever after. Yet, as I read them, a lifetime of exposure to the darker side of what life can bring twists the characters and scenes into something more sinister, and new characters with emotionally darker tales to be told are born. When this occurs and the new story or scene forms, I feel compelled to give the character their voice or the story its reveal.
Tell us about your writing process.
The process started truly as a complete surprise. Speaking to a client who had gone through a similar experience that I was in the midst of, she suggested that a way to deal with the warring emotions short of therapy, would be to sit at the computer and write my feelings down, especially when you can’t really talk to those closest to you because they are experiencing the tough time requiring you to be strong and to spread yourself thin between aging and sick parents and young children. Sitting down, I had every intention of trying her suggestion, but how do you complain about a situation that you chose to enter into, were not mad about, but felt guilty over because you could not be there for everyone 100% of the time? Sitting there, staring at the screen my mind suddenly drifted toward a road that became the escape route in the prologue of my first book. My fingers began flying across the keyboard, but truly, I wasn’t reading the words, I was describing the images that began forming in my head and the feelings of a character who sprang from thin air. The next evening, when everyone was asleep, I opened the computer and was absolutely shocked at what was before me. I’m not saying that it was well written, some may say it still needs help and probably does, but for a numbers’ person, I was truly astonished that anything even somewhat creative came from me. As I got to the end of the writing, the pictures began forming again. I could see what happened next and my fingers began flying once more.
The process which started my writing is still with me as characters and storylines play like a movie in the background of my thoughts, regardless of what I am doing. If I am near my computer, I will place it as a side note to the outline which I draft and continuously re-draft. Otherwise, I will jot down a thought or character on a sticky note and then at night, when my world settles, I will see if the character, scene, conversation, or thought enhances my growing outline or needs to be put aside.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Throughout the workday, when I am involved with performing the tasks necessary to ensure I can put food on the table and a roof over my family, my characters are always whispering in the background. When they say something that I am desperate not to forget, I will take a moment and jot it down on a sticky note and place it in my briefcase or quickly type it into the note program on my phone. At night when the day is finally mine, I sit in a quiet spot, close my eyes and envision and speak with the character as my fingers fly across the computer describing their journey.
Who are your favorite authors?
My favorite authors change with the beautiful stories I come across and read. However, I must say that throughout it all, I love stories from Melody Anne, Ruth Cardello, Catherine Bybee, Jennifer Probst, Kristen Proby and my all-time favorite, J.S. Scott. These wonderful authors bring romance to life with characters who have depth and something to say. I have enjoyed a laugh and many times a cry when reading the couples’ tales of passion which many times touch my soul.
What genres do you write?
Romance, Paranormal
How did you choose the genre(s) you write?
The genres I write in choose me. The first story I ever wrote was in the paranormal realm and took me completely by surprise. When it was completed, I was reading romance stories like they were going out of style and listening to romantic audiobooks. It was no surprise that my writing took me in the same direction as my reading habits, but with a bend toward mature themes and emotionally dark characters and tales.
What three things are on your writing desk at any given moment?
My laptop is ever present on my desk along with a notepad and mechanical pencil on a good day. On a bad one, my computer will still be there, but it is usually surrounded by dozens of yellow stickies and a red pen used to x out the stickies that I thought were good when I wrote them, but will end up causing the story to absolutely jump the shark.
What hobbies do you have when you need a break from writing?
I love to cook. At Christmas time, my kitchen looks like a bakery and my dining room is filled with empty containers waiting to be filled so that I can send them to friends, families, and local organizations. Cooking also allows me to share something with my children while teaching them a skill they need. I also love to kayak on the water because it offers such a sense of peace and freedom.
What formats are your books in?
eBook
Website(s)
Home Page Link
Follow On Amazon
Link to Author Page on Smashwords
Author’s Social Media Links
Goodreads
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All information is provided by the author and is presented as it was submitted so you the reader get to hear the author’s own “voice” in their interview.