Just Released! Charity's Heart is now on sale.

So pleased to announce the release of my latest novel, Charity's Heart!

Marriage, murder and mayhem in 1888 London. Who could ask for more in a book? Well, if you love a little suspense mixed in with your romance, then Charity's Heart is the book for you.

Click here to buy now from Amazon!

 

I’m very happy to introduce Krysten Lindsay Hager and her latest novel True Colors.

Krysten is an author and book addict who has never met a bookstore she didn’t like. She’s worked as a journalist and writes middle grade, YA, humor essays, and adult fiction. TRUE COLORS is her bestselling debut novel from Astraea Press. She is originally from Michigan and has lived in South Dakota, Portugal, and currently resides in Southwestern Ohio where you can find her reading and writing. She received her Master’s in American Culture from the University of Michigan-Flint.

SDG: What inspired you to write this book?

I saw the quote in a class that you should write the book you want to read and that got me to thinking about what I would have wanted to read back when I was the age of my readers. We all deal with “frenemies” and fair weather friends—those friends you thought were true blue and then aren’t there when you need them. It’s difficult to deal with things like jealousy or being left out, but when those negative feelings are coming from people you considered good friends…well, it hurts all the more. I used to like to read about girls I could relate to and I hope someone reads TRUE COLORS and feels a little less alone in the world, too.

SDG: Nicely said! What was your approach to writing True Colors (did it just flow or did you use an outline or other preparatory method)?

I really just began with the idea and the writing flowed. I didn’t use an outline. I never begin with an outline, but after I finish a draft, I often go back and do one to check the plot structure.

SDG: How long did it take to write the complete novel from first draft to edited final?

I honestly can’t say because I took breaks during the writing process due to several moves (including one overseas) and an accident, too.  

SDG: Glad you managed to finish it with all of that turmoil. Can you tell us a little about your book and if you have had book signings or readings?

The book is about Landry Albright, who just wants to be one of the interesting girls at school who always have exciting things going on in their lives. She wants to stand out, but also wants to fit in, so she gives in when her two best friends, Ericka and Tori, push her into trying out for a teen reality show modeling competition with them. Landry goes in nervous, but impresses the judges enough to make it to the next round. However, Ericka and Tori get cut and basically "unfriend" her on Monday at school. Landry tries to make new friends, but gets caught up between wanting to be herself and conforming to who her new friends want her to be. Along the way she learns that modeling is nowhere as glamorous as it seems, how to deal with frenemies, a new crush, and that true friends see you for who you really are and like you because of it.

SDG: That sounds like an awesome plot! Are your family members supportive of your writing and what do they think about your writing career?     

My mom is a great sounding board when I’m working on something. She’s a reader, not a writer, so it helps to have her perspective and she is not an “everything you write goes on the fridge” type of mothers. She’s completely straightforward and honest. She’s currently not happy with me because I wrote another story where the character ends up with, as she would say, “the wrong guy.”

My dad likes hearing me read my work. When I started out writing for newspapers, he read every article I wrote—even the boring ones about where to buy organic eggs in the local area. If my name was in the byline, he read it and acted like it was the great news story ever written.

SDG: I love to hear how supportive and proud families are. Do you have any advice or words of wisdom for budding writers?

Take literature classes as well as writing classes to learn from the best. Read as much as you can and attend conferences and workshops, and get into a critique group.

SDG: Totally agree with that list! What are you working on now? Is it in the same genre?

I am writing a sequel to TRUE COLORS that picks up right where the previous story left off. I am also working a women’s fiction novel as well and another MG/YA and an older YA one.

SDG: You sure are busy! What is the best time for you to write and does it ever interfere with your day job, if you have one? Also, how long on average do you write each day?

Writing at night works best for me when the interruptions are gone from the day and I can focus better. I don’t have a set period of time I write for or anything. Some days I might work for hours, others I take to just think on the story and go over a scene over and over in my mind until it feels right.

SDG: We certainly do need quiet time, don’t we? Is writing, to you, a lonely occupation?

I had a wonderful English professor named Dr. Jacqueline Zeff who assigned us to read, A Journal of Solitude by May Sarton as undergrads. It changed the way I looked at writing and made me realize the importance of solitude for a writer.

SDG: How wonderful that you had such an inspirational teacher. What is your website and where can readers purchase your book or books?

My website: http://www.krystenlindsay.com/

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/True-Colors-Krysten-Lindsay-Hager-ebook/dp/B00L2G0YJS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403419976&sr=8-1&keywords=krysten+lindsay+hager

Barnesandnoble.com: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/true-colors-krysten-lindsay-hager/1119742726?ean=2940149747658

itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/true-colors/id890673002?mt=11

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/true-colors-17

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/449308

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/True-Colors-Krysten-Lindsay-Hager-ebook/dp/B00L2G0YJS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403420109&sr=8-1&keywords=krysten+lindsay+hager

SDG: Author social media sites:  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KrystenLindsayHagerAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KrystenLindsay

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/krystenlindsay/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/krystenlindsay

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22444090-true-colors

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96jxcUH54hU

Google+: https://plus.google.com/+KrystenLindsayHager/posts

Thank you, Krysten, for stopping by and telling us a bit about yourself. I look forward to reading your book, and will definitely watch out for others you write!

An Exotic, Romantic Adventure: Holiday in Paradise

I'd like to introduce Holiday in Paradise, an S. Cuppari Romance Mini. For a little romantic adventure, check it out. Purchase links and a book trailer link is listed below.

 

Holiday in Paradise:

 

Sabina Calli is in Vanuatu for a summer holiday. Two of her friends tag along for the week but when they return home to new jobs, Sabina's future is left undecided. That is, until her summer holiday turns into a hunt for treasure - Star of the Sea, a precious diamond that belongs to the Vanuatu people.

Max Callaway is living the bachelor life as he takes in the surf and works at the local bar. But it is not all a bed of roses as he sees suspicious behavior from his boss, Steveo, in connection to the Star of the Sea. He joins forces with Sabina to find it. Can this diamond bring them closer together or is it too hot to handle?

ABOUT THIS SUMMER SERIES

"S. Cuppari Romance Minis" is a new romance line dedicated to reading romances on the go as they are romance novellas jam-packed with romance, mystery and adventure and are based in exotic locations around the world.

AVAILABLE AT:

Print Store: www.scupparipublisher.com
Digital Store: scupparipublisher.selz.com
International store: www.lulu.com/spotlight/scuppari
Facebook Store: http://www.facebook.com/SCuppari

Watch the Book Trailer Here

Front Porch Romance Tailgate Blog Hop

My publisher, Front Porch Romance, is having a Tailgate Blog Hop featuring their fabulous authors, including me. Please check out their blog for information on incredible giveaways!! My book, Charity's Heart, will be one of the prizes, so go to the Front Porch Romance Blog to enter!!

Here's a brief blurb about Charity's Heart:

Charity Llewellyn, 19, looks forward to her wedding, but upon learning that her intended groom is Mathias Baptiste, the immoral son of a wealthy banker, she runs away from home to avoid the betrothal. Angry at her attempt, her father appoints a handsome and mysterious man, Alexander Sutton, as her constant chaperone.

Furious, Charity plots an escape with help from her friend Lillian, although that leads to involvement in an unsolved 20-year old murder and a shallow burial of human bones. As she tries to unravel the secrets of the old murder, she meets a frightening man who could be Jack the Ripper.

But that’s not her only obstacle. As she and Alexander grow closer, she learns a dark secret he’s been keeping and when Mathias finds them together, he’s overcome with rage and will stop at nothing to get her back, not even murder.


Here is just one of the reviews posted on Amazon:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Purity of "Charity's Heart" June 20, 2013

By Susan Marie Molloy

Format:Kindle Edition

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Charity's Heart
"Charity's bedroom windowpane was chilled and wet from the cold evening air . . .she was locked inside the house like a prisoner . . . [h]er position was to marry well and provide an heir to the Llewellyns."

Sofia Diana Gabel's opening lines to "Charity's Heart" grabbed me and kept me wanting to know more about Charity, her stifling life, her friends, her enemies, and life in 1880s London.
I cannot say enough positive comments about this novel and the author. I wished I could read it through in one sitting, but other components in life forced me to break it up in segments, to read when I knew my time would be interrupted.

Gabel's writing style is perfect for this type of romance novel. She writes with clarity, beautiful descriptions, correct tone, and she conveys her characters' emotions so well that the reader experiences the controlling nature, cruelty, intrigue, heartache, the up-and-down-adventuares, true friendships, and love right along with them. One -- one of many -- passages haunts me, yet is in a way, comforting: "When the clouds, parted, the scant moonlight revealed sadness in Alexander's eyes." I saw this, I felt this. The emotion came through perfectly in the overall description.

Gabel has 1880s London down pat: the societal structure, language, the current events, clothing, and character names. Indeed, this novel briefly reminded me of Anthony Trollope and his novels of British society.

Indeed, I felt I was right there with Charity, Lilian, Hiram, James, Alexander, et al, through good and bad. I did not feel like an intruder to this novel, but rather, an invisible participant.

What I most liked about "Charity's Heart" is how Gabel showed every emotion, every scene, every problem, every resolution with such beauty that the reader is left to form the picture in his/her mind; enough was left to the imagination to make this a truly lovely romance novel -- and the surprise ending was the piece de resistence! I smiled and was happy with that sparkling ending.

I highly recommend "Charity's Heart" by Sofia Diana Gabel. I have it set aside, ready for another reading this summer; but this time, I'm setting aside enough hours to read it through straight!

Interview with Children's Book Author Sharon C. Williams

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m honored to have today’s interview with Sharon C. Williams, author of the children’s book Jasper, Amazon Parrot: A Rainforest Adventure. Welcome, Sharon!

 

 

Can you give us a brief bio so the readers can better understand you and your background?

 

Growing up, I never thought of becoming a writer. To me, it was for people who had the skills to transfer amazing ideas onto paper. My husband, however, mentioned to one of our friends that he felt I wrote really well. Soon, I started thinking of a story in my head, and it just would not go away.  In 2009, while recovering from two surgeries, I started placing my thoughts on paper. It’s been a wild ride since then.

 

I tend to write long hand. The low-tech method is harder with my disability but I feel more creative and the flow works better for me this way. I have used this technique to complete a multitude of short stories, a novelette, and a children’s book. It still amazes me how writing has taken over my life.

 

Two of my short stories were published in the anthology, Cassandra's Roadhouse. My children's book, Jasper, Amazon Parrot: A Rainforest Adventure, was released by Fountain Blue Publishing, on Sept. 7th of this year.

 

I love to read, take pictures, sketch, walk, exercise, go to the movies, and listen to music. I’m a budding bird watcher, and knit on the side. I am a huge fan of all sports, and especially of baseball, basketball, hockey, and football.

 

I’m a native of New England, raised in Northern Maine and live in North Carolina with my husband and son. I’m owned by a flock of eight birds and have a B.S. Degree in Chemistry.

 

What inspired you to write the book?

 

Hearing for the longest time, “Write on what you know” I came up with an idea of writing a book based on my Amazon parrot, Jasper.  Having been with us since 1999 I have had years of learning how this animal ticks and his quirks around us. He gave me so much material. All I had to do was write the story and infuse Jasper into it.

 

What was your approach to writing it

 

I write everything by long hand. I have found my creativity truly flows better this way.  I didn't create an outline or worked on my character development. In the Fall of 2009 I had two unrelated surgeries within weeks of each other. Being stuck in bed for a while I decided to take the time to start writing. There was no rhyme or reason or scheme of things. I just started and kept at it until I wrote the famous words, The End.

 

How long did it take to write the complete novel from first draft to edited final?

 

It took me under three months to write the first draft which consisted of a little over 3000 words.  Once it was completed I let it sit there for a few months. Not being in a writer's group at that time or knowing any writer I started to seek any potential groups in the Spring of 2010.  It did not take long as a writer's group was soon forming out of the local library.  Soon afterwards a second group formed in town. Sharing a few chapters of my manuscript with the members I started the tedious job of editing and revising my manuscript while starting on volume two. Months went by as suggestions and rewrites came and went. By the end of 2010 I was nearing my final revision.  The year 2011 prove uneventful as life took over and I had to concentrate on more pressing matters.

 

Deciding to test the open waters, in 2012, I started to submit the book to potential publishing houses in hopes of getting a nibble. What I got was rejection letters but they were laced with compliments and encouragement. But one stood out. A publisher had requested the entire manuscript saying I would know in 4-6 weeks since they were a small press. Three months came and still no word.

 

Reaching out to the company they stated that it was taking so long for they were going back and forth on whether to pick it up. But in the end it was a no. In that rejection letter there were listed three reasons why the book was turned down. I was encouraged to work on the areas mentioned and to resubmit.

 

I did just that. What happened was a manuscript that started out at just a little over 3000 words ended up as one that was slightly under 10,000.  That meant more revisions and editing to get it in the place it needed to be.

 

That brought me to July of 2012.  I took a small break from this book and started to work on other projects. Starting fresh in 2013 I started to actively submit the new and revised book. It was picked up by a small press out of San Francisco in March of this year.

 

Congratulations! Can you tell us a little about your book and if you have had book signings or readings?

 

The title of my book is Jasper, Amazon Parrot: A Rainforest Adventure. It is a children's chapter book.

 

Synopsis: Jasper, the Amazon parrot, is no ordinary bird. He lives within the rainforest, whose secrets he’s eager to explore. He loves his life, his home, and his family - grateful for the blessings he’s discovered. Learning how to fly, he learns to appreciate the world around him. When he meets a spider monkey with a penchant for food and a laid back attitude named Charlie, he realizes he’s in for an adventure he never thought possible. Exploring the boundaries of the forest, Jasper soon understands that there is more to the world around him. Most especially the strange new creatures that have come to live there

 

My book came out September 7<sup>th</sup> of this year however I have the possibility of two book signings in the upcoming months.  One of my writing groups was meeting at a coffee shop. When it was over the manager asked what the meeting was about. When we told him we were authors he asked if any of us had a book coming out. When I told him I did, he mentioned his coffee shop had hosted in the past book signings and asked if I would be interested. A few weeks later two fellow writers were meeting at a different coffee shop. Again the manager asked them what they were discussing. They brought up my name and book and he wondered if I would be interested in hosting a book signing there.

 

So I am in the process of making those happen.

 

Do you have any advice or words of wisdom for budding writers?

 

Don't be afraid to write outside the box or your comfort level. Explore photo and

written prompts. Any critique you receive, always remember you can take some or take none. At the end of the day it is your story.  And for me a rejection letter is a badge of honor.

 

What are you working on now? Is it in the same genre?

 

I am working on a paranormal short story. The first attempt at this genre. The writing group that I started is putting together a book of short stories to publish hopefully later this year.  But I am also preparing for NaNoWriMo 2013. This will be my third straight year of participating. I won in 2011 and 2012.

 

What is the best time for you to write and does it ever interfere with your day job, if you have one? Also, how long on the average do you write each day?

 

The best time for me to write actually varies. I keep a small notebook with me always just in case an idea or the mood hits me. I don't have a set time to work. However, when I am writing for NaNoWriMo I tend to write early in the morning so I can get it out of the way. Else the day and life will take me away from it being successful. How long I write varies. However, if there is a thought or scene in my head that needs to be written down, I can write for hours.

 

Is writing, to you, a lonely occupation?

 

Absolutely. What doesn't help is I am the only writer in my family so it is hard for them to understand what one goes through when one is an author.  What has helped me is the writer groups that are located in my area. Plus I also started my own. Who better understand what you are going through than another writer? It helps break the monotony but it also gives me a chance to exchange ideas and encouragement.

 

What is your website and where can readers purchase your book or books?

 

My website is:

 

www.newenglandmuse.wordpress.com

 

Where my book can be purchased:

Fountain Blue Publishing:

Signed copies are available here

http://www.fountainbluepublishing.com/book-store.html

 

Amazon

Soft cover/e-book:

http://tinyurl.com/msjvkxw

 

Print hard cover:

http://tinyurl.com/lwhk9z3

 

Barnes and Noble:

Hardcopy and e-book:

http://tinyurl.com/lj2w4ll

 

Smashwords:

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/354935

 

 

Author social media

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NewEngland_Muse

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Sharon-C-Williams/195232693863109

Linked:

http://tinyurl.com/mdgt5s7

 

Pinterest

http://www.pinterest.com/newenglandmuse/boards/

 

Goodreads:

 

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7078132.Sharon_C_Williams

 

Amazon page:

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00CSAFL8Q

 

 

 

 

 

Blog Hop for Tara Fox Hall and her Promise Me Series

Author Tara Fox Hall has released another installment of her Promise Me series, Taken for His Own. You can check it out at Amazon.

Biography

Tara Fox Hall is an OSHA-certified safety and health inspector at a metal fabrication shop in upstate New York. She received her bachelor's degree in mathematics with a double minor in chemistry and biology from Binghamton University.

Tara's writing credits include nonfiction, horror, suspense, action-adventure, erotica, and contemporary and historical paranormal romance. She is the author of the paranormal action-adventure Lash series and the vampire romantic suspense Promise Me series, as well as other novellas. She also coauthored the essay "The Allure of the Serial Killer," published in Serial Killers - Philosophy for Everyone: Being and Killing (Wiley-Blackwell, 2010). Tara divides her free time unequally between writing novels and short stories, chainsawing firewood, caring for stray animals, sewing cat and dog beds for donation to animal shelters, and target practice.

 

 A little about Taken For His Own:

After learning Theo is alive, Sar immediately embarks on a mission to find him. Reunited, the lovers return to New York, Danial, Terian and Theo uneasily combining forces to protect Sar from Al's assassins who still seek her. But when Sar is taken prisoner in an all-out attack, only one man can save her—her old adversary, Devlin.

Interview With Author Maggie Bishop; her writing and her new novel One Shot Too Many

SDG: Welcome, Maggie. Would you like to tell us a little about yourself?

MB: Certainly. I hike, ski, garden, swim, explore and write in the mountains of North Carolina where I settled in 1993 with my husband and cat. Every time we travel, we seek out other mountains but none are as exciting as the ancient Appalachians. When asked, "What do you do?", my answer is, "Entertain with word pictures."

SDG: That's a great answer! What inspired you to write this mystery series?

MB: I started with romance and turned to murder. My second novel had a cold case mystery and I became hooked on CSI and TV. Jemma chase is the main character in Murder at Blue Falls (1st in the Appalachian Adventure Mystery Series) and I couldn't let her go. My publisher liked the idea of a mystery series and I wanted to keep the same two main characters. Detective Tucker came to me when I was vacationing at the beach with my parents. While up early one morning and sitting on the balcony overlooking the ocean, a small deer walked by in the dune grass. Shortly, a bob cat followed. Detective Tucker flowed through my fingers and onto the page at that moment. My mind's eye saw him clearly but his motivations only come out when I'm actually writing.

SDG: What a wonderful story. What was your approach to writing it (did it just flow or did you use an outline or other preparatory method)?

MB: Once, I outlined a book and became bored with it because I already knew the ending. Lesson learned-my writing has to entertain me during the process so I'm 90% pantser (write by the seat of my pants). Most of the time, I don't know who committed the crime until the last third of the book, which means more revisions.

SDG: I know exactly what you mean. How long did it take to write the complete novel from first draft to edited final?

MB: It usually takes me a year to complete a novel. The first draft is mainly action and dialogue and is written while sitting on my sofa putting ink on paper. I work in spurts, which is not the most efficient method of writing. The much revised second draft comes when I keyboard it to my computer.

SDG: Can you tell us a little about your series and if you have had book signings or readings?

MB: The publishing industry is changing and I don't do as many book signings and readings as I did five years ago. Most of my "appearances" now are on the web.

The Start: In Murder at Blue Falls, when her horse finds a body, CSI wannabe Jemma starts to investigate, Detective Tucker comes in and it twists and turns from there.

And Then: Since pay is low in the mountains, Jemma has more than one job and is also a carpenter. In Perfect for Framing, trouble's a-brewing in the Property Owners Association where greed and a lust for power lead to murder in a clash of personal versus public needs.

Now: The photography group meets at Blue Falls Guest Ranch and soon there is One Shot Too Many which features Detective Tucker with yesterday's regret, leading to today's deadly fix.

SDG: What an interesting concept for a series! Is your family supportive of your writing and what do they think about your writing career?

MB: My husband doesn't read fiction (gasp!) but supports me in every endeavor. My parents are readers-so much so they became recurring minor characters in my novels.

SDG: That must be fun! Do you have any advice or words or wisdom for novice writers?

MB: Turn off the internal critic and write one scene. Don't reread it. Then write another scene. Keep doing that until you realize you are having fun creating.

SDG: Excellent advice. What are you working on now? Is it in the same genre?

MB: The working title of my next mystery in the Appalachia Adventure series is "Drilled by the Chef". There's a murder at a cook-off at Blue Falls Dude Ranch and Jemma Chase's new TomBoy carpentry tools make her a strong suspect.

SDG: Uh-oh! Can't wait to see how she gets out of that one. What is the best time for you to write and does it ever interfere with your day job, if you have one? Also, how long on average do you write each day?

MB: I wish I had a typical writing day. I write in spurts of two months. Way in advance, I begin thinking about my characters and plot. The setting is in the mountains of North Carolina which is perfect with the hollars and high peaks, the visitor attractions and sports, and the unpredictability of the weather. I liken it to the pressure built up behind a mountain damn-my head keeps filling up with a sense of what the characters will be going through. No details, just the anticipation of emotions and action. Once I have the emotional space and projects in the real world put off, I open the flood gates and write. I awake and begin writing long hand the next scene between fixing my, and my husband's, breakfast and lunch, feeding the birds and tending to the cat. Once my husband is off to work, I continue writing either long hand or at the computer.

After a few hours, I do a half hour on the elliptical machine, have lunch and return to writing. While exercising, my mind is on the story. I love it. This is the grand, expanding part of the whole experience of creating these people and events. The first two hours in the morning (5-7) are spent on the internet at various sites authors need to keep up with in order to market books. The creative work on my manuscript is from 9 to noon. Sometimes I'll work in the afternoon for a couple of hours. My brain shuts down at 5, so it's crucial that I write in the morning. I manage to arrange writing days 3 to 4 times a week.

SDG: That sounds like a schedule that works very well for you. Is writing, to you, a lonely occupation?

MB: Yes, writing is a solitary endeavor so I started High Country Writers in 1995 and now have an extensive group of writer friends throughout the North Carolina-Tennessee section of the Appalachians.

SDG: Wow! That's terrific and a great way to get feedback and build friendships. What is your website and where can readers purchase your books?

MB:

Amazon listing for all my books: http://dld.bz/maggiebishopamazon
My website is: http://maggiebishop1.tripod.com
Blog (shared with four other writers) is: http://damesofdialogue.wordpress.com

SDG: Do you have anything else you'd like to say?

MB: Readers ask, "Why do you use real people as minor characters?" I live in the South where uniqueness is more than tolerated, it's encouraged. It helps avoid using stereotypes. Plus it's fun for them and me. You read about them and see them in movies but I live near them, know them, enjoy them. Including myself, so I'm in my books like Alfred Hitchcock is in his movies.

SDG: What are your other social media sites?

MB: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/maggiebishop
Twitter: https://twitter.com/maggiebishop
"like" my Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/appalachian-adventure-mysteries/58689791452http://

SDG: Thank you so much, Maggie, for the interview and I wish you the best of luck with your books.



 

Interview with author Monica Garry-Allen talking about her writing, including her latest work, The Makeover.

SDG: Great to have you as a guest, Monica. How about a little background about yourself?   MGA: Hi, my name is Monica Garry-Allen. I'm a writer and lover of all things romantic. I reside in southern Mississippi with my husband. When I'm not listening to the characters in my head and jotting down their adventures, I'm busy working as a Clinical Laboratory Technician. I love to travel, preferably with my husband, so he can do all of the driving. I enjoy time with my family, who are just as silly as I am. I have no children...yet, wish me luck! My hobbies are reading, writing and shopping, though I hate trying on clothing. If I wasn't a writer or a Laboratory Professional, I would probably be a Secret Agent. But that's the beauty of being a writer: you can create you own world and be whoever you want to be. In my imaginary world, I am the Queen and my siblings are my minions.   SDG: Wow. That's a busy life. What inspired you to write this book?   MGA: My co-workers, lol. My co-workers and I are all corky and we say some of the lamest things during our eight hours together at work. Hanging with those ladies every day inspired me to write a series of short stories about nerd girls who love hard!   SDG: That sounds like a lot of fun. What was your approach to writing it (did it just flow or did you use an outline or other preparatory method)?   MGA: I let it flow. I usually write a synopsis of the story, but I rarely stick to it. I let my characters tell the story then I go back and edit it.   SDG: How long did it take to write the complete novel from first draft to edited final?   MGA: About two months on and off. I got distracted a few times during the process.   SDG: That's extremely fast! Can you tell us a little about your book?   MGA: The Makeover is a fun romantic comedy full of love, laughter and lipstick. It follows the life of April Parson and her two best friends as they realize that life outside of college is not as easy as people make it out to be. They thought they left bullies behind when they graduated high school, but they find out that adults can be just as mean. With the help of her best friends, April learns to be strong and stand up for herself. She also finds love and a new pair of high heels during her journey!   SDG: Well, who doesn't love a great pair of heels? Is your family supportive of your writing and what do they think about your writing career?   MGA: My husband and my family are super supportive. My sisters love reading my rough drafts and helping me brainstorm. My hubby is not a big reader, but he loves listening to me tell him what my characters are up to. On my release day for The Makeover, he got me a cake, a card, and made me breakfast in bed.   SDG: Okay, that's the best husband ever! Do you have any advice or words of wisdom for beginner writers?   MGA: Study the craft. Read and write as much as you can. If you can, attend writers workshops and conventions and always surround yourself with positive people. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do this.   SDG: Excellent advice. What are you working on now? Is it in the same genre?   MGA: I'm working on book two of my Nerd Girls Love Hard series and I'm also working on my Christmas novella.    SDG: Like I said before, you really are busy. What is the best time for you to write and does it ever interfere with your day job? Also, how long on average do you write each day?   MGA: I usually write in the mornings! I'm an early bird. I wake up, get myself together, fix me a pot of coffee and get to writing. I write for about two-three hours then it's time for me to get ready to clock in at my day job. By the time I come home from work I'm too tired to even think about writing, but that doesn't stop me from dreaming about my characters!    SDG: Is writing, to you, a lonely occupation?   MGA: It is a very lonely occupation. Though my husband supports my career, he doesn't understand why I enjoy sitting in front o my computer for hours at a time typing away. It amazes him that I would rather work on my story than go outside...into the real world. LOL!   SDG: I feel the same way. What is your website and where can readers purchase your book or books?   MGA: My website is: http://mgarryallen.wordpress.com I blog at: http://mgarrallen.wordpress.com My books can be purchased at: www.frontporchromance.com and from Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DIIKP2O You can find me on Twitter @monicagarry And my Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/monicagarryallen?ref=hl   SDG: Thank you so much, Monica, for taking the time for this interview. I look forward to reading all of your stories!