Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a multi-genre, Amazon bestselling author who has published seven novels, two novellas, and many short stories in anthologies as well as standalone offerings. I’m a founding member of Story Empire, a site for other authors that posts about writing, publishing, and marketing. I also contribute to Romance University on occasion. I’ve worked for publishing houses as an editor and a marketing director, and I’m currently a freelance editor in addition to writing. I love helping other authors as much as I enjoy writing my own work, and I’ve found both jobs fulfilling.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Pride and Fall. It’s the third book in the Keller Trilogy, which is the beginning of the Cathedral Lake Series. I was inspired to start the series because of an erroneous result my husband received after a standard blood test. I started researching blood types, and the series was born. The first three novels follow the Keller family. Subsequent novels will branch out and focus on other members of the town.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t have any unusual habits, but I do have a ritual. The first thing I do in the morning is deal with social media. Then I put on an ambient noise track or instrumental music and start to write. Coffee is a must.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Nora Roberts, Catherine Anderson, and J.R. Ward top the charts for me with respect to romance writing. I like Anne Rivers Siddons for mainstream work. And I’ll always love Stephen King for a thrill. All of these authors write strong characters, and I’m a big fan of character-driven stories.
What are you working on now?
Right now I’m writing Body Armor, book three of my Medici Protectorate series. This series stems from a story my grandfather told me about his heritage, so it will always be a favorite of mine. I was able to add in martial arts elements as an homage to my children (my son is a second-degree black belt in taekwondo, my daughter a first-degree). The saga begins in Western Pennsylvania, where I’m originally from, and I created two families of Italian American characters, a nod to my own heritage.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use Triberr to network with readers and writers. I get a lot of sharing from posting there. I also belong to a Facebook group that often runs cross-promotions. They’ve helped me expand my newsletter subscribers.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. The best thing you can do is build a quality backlist. You likely won’t see much traffic from your first novel. Or maybe even the second or third. But when you can offer fans a body of work, you’ll start to see some traction. The key word in this answer, though, is QUALITY. If your work is riddled with errors, no one will look at the rest of your list. So write, but write well. Revise. Hire a strong editor. And repeat over and over.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Build a quality backlist. None of your promotion efforts will matter if readers don’t have a large selection of your work to read.
What are you reading now?
I just finished a thriller by John Howell called My GRL, and I’m about to start a paranormal romance called She Lights up the Dark, book 2 of the November Snow series by A.M. Manay.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I have to finish Body Armor, then I’ll finish the series with Tortured Soul. When the Medici Protectorate series is complete, I’ll work on more of the Cathedral Lake series. The next installment there is Ben’s. He’s a fan-favorite, and I can’t wait to tell his story.
What is your favorite book of all time?
Can any author answer that question? I couldn’t possibly. I love too many books to try. But see my answer about the authors who have influenced me. Many of their books are on my favorites list, as are the Harry Potter series and a lot of the classics.
Author Websites and Profiles
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