Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My government name is Joyce Thomas, however I write under the pen name, J.L. Sapphire. I self-published my first book earlier this year and I’ve since written and self-published five more…so six books in total, so far.
I was born and raised in a small town in southern Arkansas, 15 miles away from where former President Clinton was born. I still live in Arkansas and I have two children and a husband…which translates to- I have three children at home with me.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest novel is called Masquerade: Nina’s Revenge. I’ve always loved costume balls and masquerade masks. It may sound weird, but the inspiration to write this book came only after I saw a picture of a mask that I loved. I associate masquerades with not knowing a person’s true identity, as their faces are hidden. The plot of this book centers around a scorned woman whose husband leaves her on their 20th anniversary, to go be with his best friend and their lovechild. She vows revenge and after altering her physical appearance drastically, she shows up at her former husbands masquerade ball, which is part of her revenge plot, to seduce his now adult, son.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m new to this, so I’m not sure what works for other people, but for me I keep two or three browser pages open while I’m writing- in case I need to research something real quick. Also, I rarely write outlines. I come up with a plot in my head, what I want the beginning, middle, and end to be and I simply write. Now along the way, the characters seem to take over and the story I may have planned changes. If I get writer’s block, I simply walk away for a while until I can focus again. Once I get the story written, which is kind of like my rough draft, I go back to the beginning and read it out loud to myself…to see how it would sound to a reader and not the person writing it, which is difficult to do, actually. This is where I tend to re-write over half of the story, either adding or deleting things to the book. Also, as I’m writing, I envision that I’m watching a movie on tv, which helps me develop scenes and characters better.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love all genres of books. I’ll read paranormal books one day, then urban fiction the next day. However, erotica is my favorite. I love a good erotic thriller, which is more what I tend to write.
I love Stephanie Meyer (yes, I’m a Twilight fan). A few of my other favorite authors are Zane, Electa Rome Parks, Angie Daniels, and Allison Hobbs. I grew up reading books from these authors and they have been a huge influence in my writing style.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on the sequel to Masquerade: Nina’s Revenge. The first book was meant to be a stand alone book. I’m not a fan of cliffhangers and books with three and four different parts…at least not when it comes to writing them. Because I have so many stories and characters living in my head, I like to finish one book and move on to something else. However, I had several readers request that I follow Masquerade: Nina’s Revenge up with a sequel. I realized there was more to that story that needed to be told, so I’m working on it now.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook has proven to be very helpful for promoting my work. But I’m a social media junkie, so I have Twitter, Instagram, Google Plus, Tumblr…I advertise my work on all of these sites. I also have my own website.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t second guess yourself in terms of worrying about if your books will sell. Write what you know and like. Also, do your research, whether self-publishing or going with a traditional publisher. There is lot’s of information out there to help you along. And lastly, if you don’t have a thick skin, get one because once you put your work out there, people are definitely going to critique you while leaving reviews, and some of them can be pretty harsh. You have to accept that not everybody will like your work, and you have to be okay with that and not let it discourage you.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be yourself; don’t worry about what everybody else is doing or try to be something that you’re not. This especially applies to the literary world.
What are you reading now?
Well, one of the books I’m reading is called A Christian Christmas. I love holiday romances. This is my at-home book. I have the Kindle app on my phone and when it’s slow at work, I like to read. So I’m also reading a book called Days Of Desire, which is a collection of erotic shorts.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, aside from writing the sequel to Masquerade, I’ve just finished writing the sequel to another book that I wrote earlier in the year, called Two Can Play That Game. Again, my readers asked for it, so I’m delivering. Having people ask for more, let’s me know that I’m doing something right.
What is your favorite book of all time?
Just one? Well, if I just have to choose….I guess I’ll say a book I read many, many years ago, called The Coldest Winter Ever. It’s an urban fiction book written by Sister Souljah and one of the fist urban books that I ever read.
Author Websites and Profiles
J.L. Sapphire Website
J.L. Sapphire Amazon Profile
J.L. Sapphire Author Profile Other Bookseller
J.L. Sapphire’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account
Malika Dews says
Great interview Joyce!!! Ready for that followup you mentioned.
Melinda says
So proud of you Joyce! You are very talented and I look forward to reading more from you. Keep up the good work.