Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an Army Brat who grew up during the Cold War. I later went on to serve myself and later worked for AAFES. I then met my British husband and we’ll have our 20th anniversary next month! We live in the UK with our two children, two Newfoundland dogs, and 7 cats. So far, as Loretta Johns, I’ve written three books. I am currently writing a book with my sister, the first book in a new series.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Kranow (Mate the Stars Book 3). I’ve always loved fantasy and science fiction. I developed a crush on several human, alien, and supernatural leading men so it felt natural to fall into writing romance stories that featured attractive men, the species less important than how they treat others.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I always have to have a drink by me. At home, it has to be in my Hello Kitty ceramic travel mug with the silicone lid on (otherwise one of our cats will come by and dip her paw in it have a taste to see if my drink is worth stealing). If we’re on holiday and in our caravan (a camper), It has to be in my special caravan mug. If I’m at a cafe, I just need to have a decent coffee! Hubby thinks it’s weird, especially since every but at the cafe, I’m just as happy to have a soda, juice, or tea (iced or hot) in my mug!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness, Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire, Anne MacCaffery’s works (especially Restoree), and C.J. Cherryh’s works have all had a lasting impression on me.
What are you working on now?
I’m collaborating with my sister on a road trip story. It follows the Dade sisters, who are both gold star widows entering middle age. They buy a classic Thunderbird convertible and have it restored and take off to visit their brother and father before heading off on a dream trip down Route 66. They encounter all manner of oddities, from a ghost haunting the gas tank of a Honda Civic to an interdimensional traveler who body hops hoping to escape bounty hunters on his trail. It’s a bit of a comedy.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I try to find ways to engage with readers. I share pictures of my pets, interesting places I visit, chat about current events that catch my eye, and I talk about books I’ve read that I like. All in addition to talking about my work. I try to use social media to do these things and recently began building a newsletter (GDPR compliant, naturally!). I also try to network with my fellow authors and with bloggers because they often will give my books a mention, too.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes! Get your book written. You won’t ever be an author if you don’t actually sit down and write the book and by write it, I mean from start to finish. Now find a good editor and proofreader. Do NOT try to do this yourself as you will miss errors no matter how good you are at noticing them in other people’s work. Don’t skimp on getting a good cover either and check out the most popular books in your genre to make sure you have one that fits in but will also stand out. I also advise to NOT do pre-orders unless you can put up the final, ready to release version at the time of listing. I’d gotten that advice and ignored it to my peril, despite several authors telling me they fell prey to the incorrect file publishing. My rating on Amazon for Gundar shows the sordid tale as the unedited placeholder file went live. The rating is recovering slowly, thankfully, on Goodreads, but if I had just listened, I could have avoided the problem entirely. Waiting until you have the final file ready also means you don’t have to panic and race against the wire to get those final edits and proofread done and uploaded in time. Also, be patient. It takes time to build a readership and brand.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I ever heard was to stop listening to why I couldn’t/shouldn’t take up writing and get myself out there. Somewhere out there were readers who’d enjoy my work, but I’d never know if I didn’t put out a book.
What are you reading now?
Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince. I am already getting excited about reading a sequel. I LOVE this book!
What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, I’d like to write more books in the Mate the Stars series and of course, the Dade sisters books with my own sister. I’d also like to write some supernatural romances.
What is your favorite book of all time?
That’s a tough one. I’m going to go with The Ship Who Sang by Anne MacCaffrey.
Author Websites and Profiles
Loretta Johns Amazon Profile
Loretta Johns’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile