Meet Inspirational Author Sherri Wilson Johnson

I have had the great pleasure to speak with inspirational author, Sherri Wilson Johnson, about her darling romance, To Dance Once More. Sherri is a charming and talented author, whose descriptions will transport you right into the midst of her character’s lives. To Dance Once More was a story of love and growth. It was very warm and hopeful, two traits to lift your spirits and give you a wonderful journey to love. I truly enjoyed this sweet romance and recommend it to anyone who would like to escape back into 1800s Florida for a few days.

Collette: Thank you for joining me today, Sherri. Can we start with a little bit about your background? When did you start writing?

Sherri: I was born, raised, and still live in Georgia, northwest of Atlanta. So I am Southern down to my very core. Writing has been a hobby of mine since I was a little girl. As a young adult, I read a lot of romance novels. After feeling the need to write books that were suitable for young readers, I began writing Inspirational Romances, which quickly became my favorite pastime and grew into a calling. I wrote my first novel when I was about eighteen during slow times at work. I took the writers course through the Christian Writers Guild, learned a lot about how to write well, and have never looked back.

Collette: Where do you get your ideas?

Sherri: I have two young adult children in my home so I don't have to look far to find ideas for novels. I also have lots of single adult girlfriends who keep my ears full with their dating stories. I read a lot and watch movies, too. I'm a sucker for romance.

Collette: Were you inspired by someone/something to write the genres you’re writing in?

Sherri: I write Inspirational Romance because I feel the need to help single people in their quest to find true, pure love. I want to encourage my readers to wait for the best. I have worked with teens at my church and seen the heartbreak they go through while looking for love at such a young age. They have inspired me to write something for them.

Collette: What is your writing process?

Sherri: My writing process seems to change with the wind. I used to write at night because I homeschooled during the day. Now that I am through with homeschooling, I write in the mornings. But I am a night owl by nature and often wake in the middle of the night to write. When that happens, I use a spiral notebook and pen to write. In the mornings, I type everything in and begin again. These days, I do a lot of marketing too so that takes up a good bit of my writing time. When starting a new novel, I usually write an outline/timeline and often find pictures in magazines or on stock photo sites to represent my characters. I draw up a character description sheet with mannerisms and physical characteristics. I usually write a few chapters and then go back and edit and then start writing again until I'm through.

Collette: Do you write full-time now?

Sherri: I have a part time job, working from home for a friend. Other than that, I work full-time at writing.

Collette: Tell me a little bit about To Dance Once More.

Sherri: My debut novel, To Dance Once More (OakTara), is set in Victorian-era Florida, bringing the romance of the beach, Victorian times, and debutante balls together (some of my favorite things).

April 1886 -- Debutante Lydia Jane Barrington lives a carefree, protected existence on Live Oaks Plantation in Florida. But while her sisters happily learn the traditional tasks of women and talk of courting, Lydia dreams of adventure and independence. Even her friendship with handsome Hamilton Scarbrough isn’t enough to hold her back. Then one day Hamilton opens Lydia’s eyes and her heart to love. But before they can receive permission to court, Lydia overhears a secret conversation about an unscrupulous business deal. Worse, it has everything to do with her and her future. Now she’s faced with the biggest decision of her life—to concede or to fight. Either choice will require great sacrifice…and, perhaps, countless rewards.

I hope to prove that true love still exists and that it is worth the wait. I never shy away from speaking candidly of the purity of not only the heroine but of the hero, as well, because I believe in today's world, we need to encourage both men and women to live pure lives. I believe that writing is so much a part of who I am that I must use it to share what I am passionate about. I desire to point others to Jesus through my words.

Collette: How long did it take you to complete?

Sherri: I began writing To Dance Once More in 1993 while on a trip to Panama City Beach, Florida with my family. It took me about a year to write and about ten years to perfect. Then another five years of marketing before it found a home with OakTara.

Collette: Your settings and descriptions were very detailed. Can you describe your research into your subject?

Sherri: I grew up going to the beach. I love, love, love the beach. If I don't get to take at least one trip a year, I feel drought-stricken. I also love Victorian times. In addition to using personal experience, I do a lot of Internet research, watch videos, and read lots of library books in an effort to be historically and geographically accurate.

Collette: Let us talk a little bit about Lydia, a young woman who wants so very much to taste freedom and be free of restrictions. Can you tell us about her inner motivation?

Sherri: Lydia has been told what to do and when to do it since birth. She has watched the women in her family sit home and raise children with very little social respect. She has also watched the former slaves that live on her plantation suffer because of their race. She wants to do something to change the world for women. She does not want to fall into the trap of marriage until she has had a chance to make a difference in the world. She views love and marriage as a form of slavery. Of course, as the book moves along, Lydia matures and sees that love isn't all bad. She has failed to see the many benefits of being loved by someone. It is when she discovers a secret about her future that she battles with her choices and must make great sacrifice.

Collette: Are any of your characters based on real-life friends or acquaintances?

Sherri: Some of my characters have sprinklings of people I know in them. After all, aren't we all characters in this big story called Life?

Collette: Do you ever incorporate yourself into your characters?

Sherri: I do incorporate myself into my characters. I'm a little feisty like Lydia. I'm also stubborn like Hamilton. And as a parent, I find myself playing the part of Lydia's mother and father at times.

Collette: Lydia struck me as quite the groundbreaker for her day. Without giving away too much of your story, can you touch on the message in your story?

Sherri: As I said before, To Dance Once More is a book in which the theme of purity runs through it. However, there is a lot more to it than that. Lydia is an independent young woman. You're right, she is a groundbreaker for her day. (Wait till you see what she gets into in the sequel). She has in mind what she wants her life to be like once she is old enough to leave her father's plantation. But there are many obstacles and it seems that the harder she tries to get away, the stronger the pull is to keep her at home. She is faced with the decision of whether to submit to her father's will or to rebel. Her rebellion has the potential to affect her entire family, yet the sacrifice would cost her greatly. Decisions, decisions.

Collette: Are you still writing? If so, what will your future projects entail?

Sherri: Oh, yes, I am still writing. My next book, Song of the Meadowlark (OakTara), will be out in May 2012 and the sequel to To Dance Once More should be out by the end of 2012. I just finished a third novel, After the Raging Storm, and also have a legal mystery and a sequel to Song of the Meadowlark in the works. In addition to fiction, I also write homeschool resources and Bible studies, which I self-published, and are available on my secondary website www.sherrijohnsonministries.com . I guess you could say that there will be plenty of books to read in the future and I would be honored if people chose them for their libraries.

Collette: Does your reading inspire you?

Sherri: Yes, reading inspires me. I love to read a variety of writers, both male and female, and learn from their techniques and plot lines.

Collette: Where can we find you online?

Blog: http://sherriwilsonjohnson.com/
http://sherrijinga.wordpress.com/
Website: http://sherriwilsonjohnson.com/to-dance-once-more/
www.sherrijohnsonministries.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Sherri-Wilson-Johnson/138396456193536
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dance-Once-Sherri-Wilson-Johnson/dp/1602902860/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318455213&sr=8-1
Amazon.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dance-Once-Sherri-Wilson-Johnson/dp/1602902860
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6762282-sherri-johnson
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/swj_thewriter
Book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAzh8X3NPaI

Collette: Where are your books available for purchase?

http://www.christianbook.com/to-dance-once-more/sherri-johnson/9781602902862/pd/902862?item_code=WW&netp_id=961019&event=ESRCG&view=details

http://www.amazon.com/Dance-Once-Sherri-Wilson-johnson/dp/1602902860/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317834254&sr=8-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-dance-once-more-sherri-wilson-johnson/1105877054

http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Dance-Once-More/Sherri-Wilson-Johnson/9781602902862?id=5209476941309

http://www.bookdepository.com/Dance-Once-More-Sherri-Wilson-Johnson/9781602902862

http://www.superbookshop.net/index.php?page=book&ean=9781602902862

Collette: What formats are your books available in?

Sherri: To Dance Once More is available in print and Kindle format.

Thank you so much, Sherri! I wish you all the best with your writing projects and I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

And here is my review of To Dance Once More:

What a delightful read! From the very first page, I was caught up in 1800s Florida plantation life, from the smell of the flowers to the sounds of nature. Ms. Wilson Johnson captured the setting to perfection, casting me back over 100 years as I watched the charming Miss Lydia Barrington come of age. As a young, idealistic teen, Lydia has high hopes of travel and freedom. However, society’s restrictions and a sneaky business deal threaten to steal it all away. Caught between duty and hope, Lydia is a tormented soul, struggling to determine which path she should take and how she must face it all while presenting herself with charm and grace. As she grows, she feels heartbreak and joy, love and pain, and ultimately learns that life is what you make of it. But the Lord works in mysterious ways, and in the end Lydia is able to find love and happiness in this charming, historical story that will warm you to your toes.

Happy Holidays to All

It has been quite a year! From Forever Sunshine being nominated in the Heart Press' Best Women's Fiction poll, to the raving compliments I've received from my fairytale romance, Hannah's Blessing, to topping the charts with my new release If We Dare to Dream, I feel as though 2011 has not only been extremely fortunate for me but also hopefully a sign of what is yet to come. If someone had told me a year ago that I would be an international Kindle bestseller, I would have laughed aloud. However, here I am today, still reeling and stunned to see my books selling over in England, even a few in Germany, France and Spain. Wow. Hanging out in the top 100 for the US and England has been awe-inspiring for me.

Writing has always been my dream. If you have viewed my brief bio, you would have read that I have been writing my entire life. I always kept it private, for when I did express my dreams to others most of the time I was met with derision and mockery. But I was suddenly granted the opportunity to go public with my writing, and with my close friends' and family's support and encouragement (and at times, force) I did it. It's been a busy year, a lot of hard work, a lot of learning and fumbling my way through, but I did it. And I have never been happier. What makes it all worth it is that people like what I write. How much better can that get?

So for the rest of 2011, I will continue to watch those numbers and hope more and more people jump on the Collette Scott bandwagon. With The Evans Family, Book One selling so well right now, I am polishing up Book Two, Through Winter Skies, and will strive to keep that date set for February 14, 2012 as planned. Book Three (as yet unnamed), has a tentative date in June 2012, and Book 4, Kat's Last Chance is set for October 2012. So come along and read about Zach and Emery, Hayden and Dani, and Ian and Kat over the next year. I hope you enjoy those as well.

To finish up the year strong and hopeful is a great feeling. To all my friends, old and new, and family, thank you so much. To my readers, you have given me purpose, and I hope I can continue to grant you a great ride in the upcoming years. My wish to all who visit my blog is that you have a safe and happy holiday season. May 2012 be happy, healthy and prosperous. My thanks and best wishes!

Happy Holidays!

Forever Sunshine Nominated in Best Women's Fiction Poll

Much to my pleasure, Forever Sunshine has made the list of Heart Press’ Best Women’s Fiction Books. Needless to say, I am humbled by this honor. To be included in a list that sports magnificent classics like Gone With the Wind, Wuthering Heights, and Pride and Prejudice along with more recent titles such as The Secret Life of Bees, My Sister’s Keeper and Nights in Rodanthe, fills my heart with joy and excitement.

To know that my story touched enough hearts to draw a tear and spur the reaction to vote gives me hope that ForeverSunshine will continue to inspire others for a long time to come. My deepest heartfelt thanks to Heart Press for including me in this poll, and many more thanks to my readers! I love you all!!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Meet Linda Hawley, author of Dreams Unleashed

With the passing of the Patriot Act in what seems a lifetime ago, I think many Americans thought everything would be okay. However, Linda Hawley presents a different spin on the invasion of government into the private sector. What if the government was monitoring us via microchip inserted in our driver's licenses? What if the government was listening to every word we said at every time? Ms.Hawley has taken that line of thought one step further with the first book in her series, Dreams Unleashed. I am very please to announce that the lovely Linda Hawley is here to share a little more about her spine-tingling, edge-of-your-seat thriller, the first in her series The Prophecies.

Collette: Welcome, Linda. I’m so happy to have you here. Can we start with the basics? Tell us a little about your background. How was The Prophecies Series born?

Linda: I was an executive on a plane flying from Dallas to Seattle when, upon landing, the plane nearly crashed. (I have flown all over the world in all kinds of weather, and it was the very worst experience on a plane that I'd had.) In the airport later, I wrote down the experience while it was fresh in my mind, amazed that I was alive. I then emailed it to my assistant. When I got back in my office the next day, my assistant said, "That was incredible; you should write a book." I was shocked by his words, but let them marinate in my mind. Not long after, Ann Torgeson (my protagonist) was born. The final chapter in Dreams Unleashed (book 1 of The Prophecies) was inspired by my experience.

Collette: That’s some scary stuff. What is your writing process?

Linda: I'm a night writer. Some of my best scenes I wrote at one in the morning. I pretty much write every day. I usually know the first and last chapter of every book, and often write them first. For the rest of the novel, I write down 12 phrases of milestones in the story, and then write to them chronologically. I never get more detailed than that, because I need to keep it open to activate my creative juices. For the most part, I fly off the seat of my pants when writing stories.

Collette: Do you write full-time now?

Linda: Yes

Collette: Were you inspired by someone/something to write the genre you’re writing in?

Linda: Dystopian thrillers are what I love; both in books and movies. Nothing could be more exciting for me.

Collette: How long have you been working on the series?

Linda: I started Dreams Unleashed (book one) three years ago, but in March 2011, I discarded all but 1/8 of the book, and rewrote it; it was published two months later. I wrote Guardian of Time (book two) in three months; it was published Oct 2011. I am writing book three now; it's the final book in the series. I'm comfortable writing three novels per year.

Collette: Can you describe your research into your subject?

Linda: I'm a news junky; I read about five news sources every day. I understand what's going on in the world. I look for trends of discord to use in my dystopian thrillers. I research like crazy, because most of the technology, locations, and historical information are real. In The Prophecies, the fiction includes the characters and the things that they do. However, Remote Viewing, Project Stargate, RFID tracking, and many other things are real--all of them discovered in my research.

Collette: Are any of your characters based on real-life friends or acquaintances?

Linda: All except Chow Lai, and a couple of new characters in Guardian of Time.

Collette: Do you ever incorporate yourself into your characters?

Linda: Ann's character includes the best parts of me.

Collette: That’s pretty cool, Linda J.

Moving on to Dreams Unleashed. Here’s the blurb for the story:

Book 1, The Prophecies, A Dystopian Thriller Series

It’s the near future, and society is government controlled. Technology tracks everyone, and personal privacy does not exist. The hope for freedom lies in the operations of an underground organization, GOG, which fights against worldwide oppression. Their most powerful weapon is Ann Torgeson, a paranormally-gifted operative. When her powers release the seal of The Prophecies, she becomes a weapon against the government, which relentlessly pursues her.

Question everything is the theme of Dreams Unleashed.

Collette: Your series is a mixture of adventure and intrigue, yet Ann still manages to remain a ‘woman’. She’s a female Jason Bourne but also a mother who loves her daughter and a wife who loves her husband. Can you tell us how you managed to balance her tough and soft sides?

Linda: I think women are amazing--smart, intuitive, joyful, spiritual, thoughtful, aware, loyal, sensual, funny, etc. In movies, however, women are rarely multidimensional, especially with their sensuality. I wanted to create a powerful, feminine woman who did not wear high heels, stockings, or a little black dress, but who was not a tomboy. I wanted her to be a thinking woman who considered the state of the world, and for her to be a warrior who was willing to risk her own life to fight for what she knows to be right. With all this intensity, I softened her character by making her laugh at her boyfriend's jokes, and to be enticed by compliments from her boss.

Collette: Yes, she is a multi-dimensional character, for sure. One of my favorite things about Ann is that she’s a tough and capable character with a strong sense of what is right. Can you tell us a little about Ann’s message?

Linda: Ann's message is to open your eyes and look around. Take something mentioned in one of the books, and Google it to find out what's happening in your own country. You're likely to be surprised. In The Prophecies, I'm not trying to scare you, but it's likely that I will do just that if you consider that most of the technologies in the book are real--right now.

Collette: What's the biggest surprise readers can expect from reading this series?

Linda: Adventure. Ann travels all over the globe, and I've described these adventures visually, so the reader can see it in their mind's eye. It's an armchair traveler's delight.

Collette: Without giving away too much of your story, can you tell us what’s in the works for Ann in later installments of The Prophecies Series?

Linda: I can't answer this one very well [without giving too much away], but I'll give you a little teaser. The final book in The Prophecies series (yet untitled) will answer all of the open questions from Dreams Unleashed and Guardian of Time (books 1 and 2). The ending is quite spectacular; I suspect readers will be thrilled.

Collette: Do you have plans to continue writing following Ann’s final chapter? If so, what will your future projects entail?

Linda: I have a stand-alone novel I'm writing. My dad's father (my grandfather) died a hero in a notorious battle in Germany right before the end of WWII. The first scene in the novel is the final battle scene, and as he's dying, his life flashes before his eyes. Since it's historical fiction, I'm working hard to present a visual story (like all my writing). It's called 'An American Orphan.' It's a surprise for my dad. I expect to be finished in March 2012.

Collette: Ok, so make sure you don’t tell him we’ve posted this interview - haha. J Where can we find you online?

Book Trailer on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctR4NDgwSSc&feature=youtu.be
Author Website: http://www.lindahawley.com/
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/ThePropheciesSeries
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Unleashed-2nd-Prophecies-ebook/dp/B005YIQYIU/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1319555407&sr=1-2
Amazon.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005YIQYIU
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/98527
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dreams2-unleashed-linda-hawley/1106955115?ean=2940013306615&itm=2&usri=linda%252bhawley
CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/3696178
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12973680-dreams-unleashed-2nd-ed
Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/books/23896326/Dreams-Unleashed-(The-Prophecies)
LibraryThing: http://www.librarything.com/work/book/79452349

Collette: What formats are your books available in?

Linda: All eBook formats and of course Print.

Collette: Thank you so much, Linda! I wish you all the best with your writing projects!

I have read and reviewed Dreams Unleashed, and I have to say that Linda is right. It is an eye-opening experience, much in the same way as Will Smith’s 1998 movie, Enemy of the State, startled many of us.

With the passing of the Patriot Act in what seems a lifetime ago, I think many Americans thought everything would be okay. However, Linda Hawley presents a different spin on the invasion of government into the private sector. What if the government was monitoring us via microchip inserted in our driver's licenses? What if the government was listening to every word we said at every time? Ms.Hawley has taken that line of thought one step further with the first book in her series, Dreams Unleashed. In this tale, Ann is a normal every day woman with special powers that lives in the not too distant future. She resents the government spying on her and is secretly a member of the GOG, an anti-government rebellion group in her secret life, while maintaining an average daily existence as a technical writer in her public one. Our classy heroine also has another secret, and that is that her dreams are potent and powerful and could be used as a government weapon. So there is where the drama begins...

In this first installment we meet Ann: woman, widow, mother of a college student, and hard-worker with a mysterious past. That prior life consists of work in the CIA, where she has been taught remote viewing. With that career long over, she tries to fit into a normal existence, fending off her flirty boss, struggling with the decision to begin an office romance, and making sure her home is safe from government spies. Suddenly she begins having dreams again, and the next thing she knows the government is after her. By the end of Book 1, we are anxiously gripping our seats wondering what is going to happen next. Will she meet the GOG parents? Will the FBI really catch her? Most importantly - is she going to be used as a weapon?

This story flashes back from the past, e.g. 2011 to the present 2015, to fill in the gaps of Ann's existence and give credence to her current plight. In a world that is truly a possible future, Ms. Hawley adds a taste of the paranormal into a frightening social concern. A woman with powerful dreams that leaves the reader unsure who really is trustworthy and who is not, you will eagerly turn each page to find the answers. This is a suspense-filled journey into our potential future that leaves you hanging for more and eagerly awaiting book two.

If We Dare to Dream is Finally Here!

“If We Dare to Dream is captivating! Collette Scott delivers an emotional roller coaster ride of love, anger, guilt and suspense…. Addictive to the very end!”

- KC Stone, author of Replaced by a Stranger.

“Wow! I have to say after reading Forever Sunshine I didn't think I would read a book as well written as that again. Collette has done it again!... Collette writes so well that you can visualise what is happening in your head, as though seeing the action on TV or in a film, but better! I feel so privileged at being allowed to read this book before it has even officially been published.”

-Jeanzbookreadnreview.blogspot.com

Meet the Evans family:

A family torn apart by war and misfortune meets a family held together by the bonds of love.

Two families entwine after one fateful night changes their lives forever. Andrew Sheehan, former elite soldier, returns home from war and is suddenly accused of murder. Only Jamie Evans can prove his innocence.

What would you do?

A single meeting, the memory of one night, holds the key to a murder. If Jamie is correct, she gives a hero back his life. If she is wrong, she risks freeing a murderer from prison. Trusting her instincts, Jamie puts her life on hold and strives to free Andrew despite her family’s misgivings. Determined to do what is right, she vows to help him get his life back on track.

Andrew, feeling betrayed by the country he nearly died protecting, fights the demons he carries in an effort to make things work with Jamie and repair the fractured relationship with his brother Adam, who bears his own battle scars.

Dare he dream?

With Jamie and her family’s help, Andrew begins to pick up the pieces of his shattered life. Realizing that there is more to life than bitterness and resentment, he starts over again determined to make the best of his experiences. But the killer is still out there, and Andrew soon finds that he is haunting him still.

Only $2.99 for the eBook and $13.95 for the print edition. Great holiday gift! Great holiday read!!

About the Author

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Always composing stories in her head, Collette began her first novel at the age of eight. Since then, she has obtained her bachelor’s degree in English literature and master’s degree in education while squeezing in her writing whenever she can. If We Dare to Dream is Collette’s third novel and the beginning of the highly anticipated Evans family series. The New England native now resides in Arizona with her husband, three children and multiple family pets.

For more information on the series keep an eye out on my website or right here on my blog!

Facebook page: ColletteScott

Twitter: @collettescott

Amazon Author Page

Amazon UK Author Page

Smashwords

Stephen England the Blog Tour de Troops

Not so long ago, I was fortunate enough to feature Stephen England, author of Pandora's Grave on my blog. You can read the full interview here. I really enjoyed his book, and when he asked me to spread the word about the Blog Tour de Troops I was eager to jump at the opportunity. Stephen is hosting a giveaway with multiple other authors and many bloggers, and for each giveaway they are also donating books to go to our troops. Please join Stephen as he rallies to this cause. Visit his website at StephenWrites.com for more details and to take part in a worthy weekend effort!

Here is my review of Pandora’s Grave:
When I first opened this book, I grew very excited. A thriller lover at heart, I began a ride that kept me belted in my rollercoaster car from the very first page. All the while I kept thinking, oh my goodness, this story is great! Stephen England has written an intense, powerful and exciting thriller that seems so realistic that you feel as though he has seen it with his own eyes and survived it to sit down and tell the tale.

Meet Harry Nichols, a CIA operative, sent all over the world with his team to prevent a terrible attack that could kill millions. His job is not easy. His life is not perfect. Yet his loyalty to his country sees him willing to kill and be killed to save it. While Harry is completing his job, governments, military agencies and other operatives are all working either with him or against him.

England has written a thoroughly researched story that is so vivid and realistic that you will truly believe you are reading a first-hand account. His characters are human, his governments are shallow and tricky webs of lies and personal ambition woven among the brave and stouthearted, and his agencies are a tenuous balance of trust and mistrust. On top of that, Mr. England has also integrated the different ideologies and religious beliefs of the Middle East in such a knowledgeable way that I could not believe how well thought out and brilliantly written this book was. Move over Steve Berry, James Rollins and Lee Child!

Meet Author Roxanne Smolen

I am having the great pleasure in featuring author Roxanne Smolen, a fantastic and exciting author of such descriptive and entertaining sci-fi novels that once you start you cannot put them down. I am thrilled to have been able to speak with her about her novels and her writing, and it has been a great joy to learn more about this skilled author.

Collette: Wow, Roxanne! You are an imaginative writer! Can you tell us how that came into being? When did you start writing?

Roxanne: I was a young teenager when the writing bug bit. In those days, I thought of myself as a poet/songwriter. Poetry taught me to be precise and concise. I didn’t get into fiction until my twenties. I wrote short stories about space and distant planets, and was published sporadically in magazines. In 2000, I made the leap into novels. I remember the date because that was the year I lost my day job. I figured it was a new millennium, time to start a new life as a novelist.

Collette: Were you inspired by someone/something to write the genres you’re writing in?

Roxanne: Television. Without a doubt. I grew up with Star Trek, Twilight Zone, and The Outer Limits. They stretched my imagination and set me dreaming. On top of that, watching television shows taught me to end my chapters with a bang, because every commercial break has a mini cliffhanger.

Collette: That’s very true. What is your writing process?

Roxanne: I’m a fan of outlining. It’s not a structured thing, more stream of consciousness with bits of conversation thrown in as I think of them. When I have the entire story plotted, I start fleshing it out. I have a laptop just for writing. I use parental controls to limit my Internet access—no Facebook or Twitter, not even email. Fewer distractions that way. I split the screen and put my outline on one side and my novel on the other.

Collette: Do you write full-time now?

Roxanne: Yes, I do. I get up at 6:00, make myself a pot of tea, grab my laptop, and write. On a good day, the tea will grow cold because I’ve forgotten to drink it. On a very good day, I’ll forget to eat lunch as well.

Collette: You have written quite a bit so far. You have two series going in different genres. Can we start with those? Tell us a little bit about the Anneliese-Thielman and Colonial Scouts Adventures series.

Roxanne: The Anneliese Thielman Trilogy is a science fiction romance about a spoiled rich girl whose new husband takes her to a far-off world and sells her into prostitution to settle a gambling debt. The story was inspired by a photo I once saw of a woman in a cage, her hand snaking out, beckoning.

The Colonial Scouts Adventures is Young Adult science fiction about a group of teenagers who scout out habitable planets for colonization. The plot grew from a short story I once wrote. I loved the idea of using collapsed wormholes as transportation devices and stepping onto an alien world as easily as stepping through a door. This series is limited only by the number of stars in the sky and my imagination.

Collette: How long did they take you to complete?

Roxanne: It takes about a year for me to write a book. I aim for 100k words, although The Colonial Scouts were shorter.

Collette: Can you describe your research into your subject?

Roxanne: You’d think that creating a world completely out of your imagination would require no research. Unfortunately, a reader can’t connect with those worlds unless there is something basic they can identify with. You want your settings to be plausible and your alien cultures to be rich. That takes research. I’ve read everything from scientific journals to the Bible. The Internet is a marvelous tool for research, but I keep in mind that I don’t always know where the information is coming from, so I use it as inspiration rather than fact.

Collette: You also have sci-fi horror, e.g. Satan’s Mirror. What inspired you to delve into that genre?

Roxanne: Satan’s Mirror came from a nightmare that wouldn’t leave me. For years, it sat in the back of my mind, demanding to be heard. Finally I said, what the hell. Literally. The story is about a woman whose daughter is kidnapped by the devil and she must break into hell to rescue her. It is based loosely on the story of Persephone, the goddess of spring, who was stolen by Hades. My granddaughter’s name is Persephone, and I would go to hell and back for her.

Collette: Oh, I hear you there! Was writing horror harder than writing romance or young adult?

Roxanne: I think so because to write a convincing book you have to become your character, put yourself entirely in their situation and write through their eyes. Teenage angst and love’s first kiss are easy compared to the fiery pits of hell. That said, I think all genres should incorporate elements of suspense and urgency.

Collette: Your latest book is about a shapeshifter… yet another genre twist. Can you tell us a little bit about The Amazing Wolf Boy?

Roxanne: The Amazing Wolf Boy is a perfect example of having your characters take over and write the story for you. I’d intended to write a Twilight-type book with werewolves instead of vampires, but instead of a moody, angst-ridden love story it turned out humorous and fun. Cody is a joy to work with. He is a bumbling, nerdy, soft-hearted teen who turns into a werewolf. His lady love is a goth girl who, when she discovers his secret, tries to cure him with magic potions. I’m currently writing the second of the series and hope to write a dozen more.

Collette: Are any of your characters based on real-life friends or acquaintances?

Roxanne: In The Amazing Wolf Boy, Brittany started out as my granddaughter, who also likes to paint her eyes, dye her hair, and listen to The Pink Spiders. But Brittany evolved from there and is still growing. Now there’s little resemblance.

Collette: Do you ever incorporate yourself into your characters?

Roxanne: At their core, I believe all my characters have a little piece of me. How else could I identify with them enough to see through their eyes?

Collette: Are you still writing? If so, what will your future projects entail?

Roxanne: I will always write. My WIP is the next installment of The Amazing Wolf Boy, given the working title of Problem Parents. It explains why Cody’s mother banished him after he became a werewolf.

Collette: Ooh, exciting! Considering how well rounded you write, do you have a favorite genre to write or do you write what stories come to mind?

Roxanne: I’ve always written within the science fiction realm. However, my Wolf Boy series is billed as Young Adult Romance, and I’m having a lot of fun with it. I think I’ve found my niche.

Collette: How often do you read?

Roxanne: I read in spurts. I’ll go a month without anything, and then the next month read everything in sight. Also, I keep audio books in the car. I never listen to music anymore.

Collette: What is your favorite genre to read?

Roxanne: I like to read books in series, i.e. The Dresden Files, Sookie Stackhouse, Dexter, The Game of Thrones, Harry Potter.

Collette: Does your reading inspire you?

Roxanne: Certainly. Even a poorly written book can inspire you to write something better.

Where can we find you online?

Blog: www.moonrox.wordpress.com

Website:www.roxannesmolen.com

Facebook:www.facebook.com/roxannesmolenauthor

Twitter: http://twitter.com/roxannesmolen

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1157902.Roxanne_Smolen

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Roxanne-Smolen/e/B002MA4XFY/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Amazon.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=roxanne+smolen

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/roxanne-smolen?keyword=roxanne+smolen&store=allproducts

Collette: Where are your books available for purchase?

Roxanne: I’m available at your favorite bookstore online or off. Just ask.

Collette: What formats are your books available in?

Roxanne: My ebooks are formatted for any ereading device. In addition, both Satan’s Mirror and The Amazing Wolf Boy can be bought in paperback.

Collette: Thank you so much, Roxanne! I wish you all the best with your writing projects J.

Roxanne: Good luck to you as well, Collette.

I was lucky enough to pick up and read Roxanne’s sci-fi thriller/romance, Mindbender. I have to say that I loved every second of it, and I’m not an avid reader of sci-fi! Here is a review of one of her wonderful stories:

Mindbender was such an imaginative and exciting tale that I zipped through this book eagerly and excitedly all the way to the end. While this story is definitely sci-fi, the author did a magnificent job in keeping it realistic enough that you could visualize the planets, taste and smell the volcanoes of Io and feel the cold of Mars. Beyond these descriptions, we have a strong and powerful psychic, Taralyn, whose love for her adoptive daughter is so maternal that you can feel her pain when she thinks she has lost her. There is also the child, Gloriana, whose possession is so creepy that I was actually frightened of her, and our handsome hero, Asher, who you’re not entirely sure you can trust due to his past but who does everything he can to help, for better or for worse. Add to that the persecution and discrimination of the people that Earth views as ‘dangerous’, and you have quite a tale! My experience with sci-fi is limited, but Roxanne Smolen’s gift with writing prose has definitely hooked me as a reader. I can’t wait to read the rest of her books!

Five Stars!