Read And Revel

Ivy’s Touch is coming out soon! How does it feel? 

• It feels absolutely surreal! When I started (and finished) writing the book 12 years ago, I honestly thought, “Welp! You did it.” I never even thought that anyone would want to publish it, despite knowing that it had great potential. Writing it was more of a self-satisfaction endeavor. Then, earlier this year, I knocked off the digital dust and figured I’d give it a whirl. I was lucky enough to be picked up by the first hybrid publisher I solicited, and I couldn’t be happier or more excited!

Why did you decide on Ivy’s Touch as being your title?  

• Ugh – what a nightmare! The title of your book is so important; I waited until it was complete before even toying with some ideas. I had to have gone through 50 before settling on Ivy’s Touch. It captures everything that I want in just 2 words, which is why I eventually landed on it. Ivy is a massage therapist who has a supernatural ability to touch people and experience their past traumas. The title tells you the name of my main character while also giving you just enough to peak your curiosity (I hope).

Can you tell me a secret about your book that no one else knows? 

• I once wrote for so long that I hallucinated and swore that I saw a black cat – I knew it was time to get off of the laptop at that point!

How did you know that you wanted to write in this genre?

• I didn’t know, to be honest. As an author, one of my fears is that I will be “trapped in a box”, being confined to a certain style or genre. After writing Ivy’s Touch, I actually started working on a horror novel, believe it or not. I would say that, above all else, I knew what I didn’t want to write. I’m not really into romances, non-fiction, or the classics, for example. As a rule, I think that you should only write what you would read, and for me, this was a natural trajectory.

How would you describe this book in 3 words?

• Witty, Entertaining, Gripping

Walk us through your process:

First idea: Do you remember the exact moment that you knew you wanted to write this story?

• My personal backstory is a little unique. I was in my twenties, working as a massage therapist (write what you know) when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I didn’t have health insurance, so I went and got a job as a sales associate at a bank to take care of myself. After it was all said and done, and I survived, I realized that life is incredibly unpredictable and short. I have always wanted to be an author, and I even majored in English and Creative and Critical writing, but I never bit the bullet. After the battle with my illness, I asked myself, “What the heck are you waiting for? Write it already!” So, I cashed out my 401k and gathered every last penny that I could scrounge, put in my 2 weeks notice, and spent 3 months writing every single day. 

Do you start with the character or plot first?

• I actually begin with a concept. My thoughts always start with, “Wouldn’t it be cool if…” as was the case in developing Ivy’s abilities. Once I have the general idea down, I start working on the main character next, and the plot kind of falls into place naturally. 

What is your method of outlining? 

• I’m absolutely ridiculous. Every time that I start a new idea, I will outline the story one major event at a time. However…I never stick to my outlines, and I’ve been called a “pantser” (flying by the seat of my pants). Ultimately, my thoughts tend to be very tangential, and my ideas often change as I start to ride the creative wave. I will refer back to my outline if I start to go off of the rails, though.

The Process: What is your writing routine?

• I start by zoning out to music with no lyrics, and I visualize where I want to go next. Then, I get down to business, and I write until I no longer feel inspired. I often set word count goals to ensure that I am making progress, and I set deadlines for myself. I tend to work best under pressure, so I apply some. 

What tech do you like to use? How do you set your environment up for writing?

• When I started out, I would write everything down by hand. Then, I felt the pain of re-writing the story electronically. Now, I use my handy-dandy laptop almost exclusively, coupled with Google Docs. I still also carry a journal with me constantly and jot down ideas and observations that will be valuable to me. Ivy’s Touch, and now Ivy’s Kiss, came to life from the comfort of my couch (which now has an imprint of my body in it)! I sit in the same seat religiously, and I almost always have coffee and sparkling water hoarded nearby to avoid having to get up during a writing session. I always pop in my headphones and listen to EDM, of all things, and I prefer that it be dark in the room for whatever reason.

Did you pull inspiration for your book from any real life experiences? 

• I most certainly did! As I mentioned in an earlier response, I was a massage therapist for almost 10 years. As a licensed massage therapist, you become very in tune with your clients, even breathing in time with them during sessions. Oftentimes, clients open up to you when they’re on the table, because they feel relaxed and vulnerable. There have been so many wonderful people who have had emotional releases on my table, sharing their deepest secrets, traumas, and fears. This is what inspired me to write Ivy’s Touch.

Write what you know – what does that mean to you?

• For me, this was quite literal due to my experience as a massage therapist, but it goes deeper than that. In order to truly communicate the feeling and the essence of your story, I think that it is important to be genuine. If you think it’s funny, for example, so will your target audience. If something strikes a sad chord in your heart, write it in a way that reaches out to the emotions of your readers. There is a balance required, however. One of my favorite things to do is learn new things as a writer through rigorous research. If everything that I wrote was solely based on personal experiences, you’d be bored!

What do you think your readers will take from your writing?

• My hope is that people will find some reprieve from the everyday circus of life when reading my stories. I want readers to feel consumed by the world I’ve created, and to crave the shenanigans on the next page. The ultimate goal is to entertain people and to leave them wanting more. 

What motivates you to keep writing?

• Self-care. Writing is my outlet, and without it, I am a mess. My favorite thing to do, after coming home from work and spending time with my family, is to hunker down and write. My stories are like little virtual pets that I need to feed and care for daily. Taking care of them keeps me sane and satiated. 

Post writing: Why did you decide to go this way in publishing vs another?

• It was like walking a tightrope. I researched traditional, self, and hybrid publishing extensively before choosing to explore hybrid agencies. I feel as though it gives me the best of both worlds, and the investment is well worth it for so many reasons. I didn’t have the time to invest in self-publishing, and to be honest, traditional publishing felt unattainable in the short-term. I was ready to publish now.

What has been community (or online community) involvement in publishing and promoting?

• It is hard for me to even articulate the amount of overwhelming support that I have gained from my online following. The people backing me really care about my success, and they make me feel like all of the blood, sweat, and tears are worth it in the end. I have cheerleaders all over Instagram, and whenever I start to feel overwhelmed, I will post something relatable, and my followers immediately make me feel so much better. The number of reposts, comments, opportunities (like this one), etc. have all contributed to my love of this community, and I know that my success rests heavily on engagement and honest communication. I have so many real life friends that started as followers, and I am very grateful!

What comes next for you?

• I’m working on my developmental edits right now for Ivy’s Touch, and it is challenging, but necessary. It’s never easy seeing a sea of red when you open your manuscript up! One of my followers convinced me that red is a beautiful color, and I try to remind myself that the edits were made with love and with my success in mind. Additionally, I am already 80,000 words into the first draft of Ivy’s Kiss, which is the second book in the series, and I am in love with it! I hope to publish it in quick succession.

About your writing life: 

How many book have you written, including those that weren’t published (or haven’t been yet)?

• The only full-length novel that I have written is Ivy’s Touch, but I have a lot of other stories in the oven. I know that I will write at least 2 more books in the Ivy series (Ivy’s Kiss and Ivy’s Flame). After that, I will determine if I want to keep it rolling with Ivy, but I think I’ll want to start a new journey and give my readers some variety. We’ll see!

Why do you write?

• The answer to this one is simple. Besides my family, I love it above all else. It keeps me grounded and gives me an opportunity to be creative, serving as a healthy outlet. I’ve been sober for 5 years, and writing plays a big role in my recovery. It continues to push me forward in a positive direction, and I feel refreshed after every encounter with my words on the page.

When did you realize you wanted to become an author?

• I was very young when I decided that I would one day be an author. While other kids were talking about being astronauts or firemen, I was the one who said that I wanted to be a writer. I am proud to say that I kept that dream alive, even if it lived rent free in the dark crevices of my mind for years; it all led to this.

What is the secret to being an author?

• This may sound silly, but if you have a desire to write, and you put your fingers on the keys or the pen – you’re an author. Whether or not you’re a good one is subjective! Go for it.

What is the hardest part about being an author?

• I am a very impatient person. It would be cool if people had my finished product in their hands and on their shelves already, and the anticipation is killing me! It’s important to embrace the publishing process and to listen to the experts, though – so I will try to chill out.

What would you tell a brand new writer?

• “Don’t be scared!” Writing can be overwhelming, and imposter syndrome is a very real thing for most of us. Do not let it stand in the way of your success; you can absolutely do this.

How do you tackle diversity and inclusion in your work?

• My hope is that I don’t have to put effort into this. My stories are naturally inclusive, because I am. Ivy, for example, is bi (which you don’t learn until Ivy’s Kiss – spoiler alert). My characters are diverse because the world is, and I stay true to my experiences and beliefs.

Are books still relevant in the modern world?

• I would argue that they are more relevant today. We are constantly inundated with screens and mind-numbing brain rot material. Books are an escape and add a bit of refinement to the world today. Without books, we’d be lost. Books teach us, entertain us, and ultimately breathe life into those who embrace them.

What is your favorite quote from another author?

• “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain

What authors or books have inspired your writing journey?

• I love Kim Harrison, Charlaine Harris, and Stephen King, but to be honest, other indie authors were the ones who pushed me to leap into the world of publishing and inspired me most. My new friends like Sonja Blanco, Kassandra Mullan, Dani Hoots, Rachel Yoldi, and others showed me that it is possible to follow your dreams.

What book made you fall in love with reading?

• The Stand by Stephen King

What are you reading at the moment?

• Sin and Chocolate by K.F. Breene…my TBR pile is preposterous.

If you could have coffee with any author dead or alive who would it be?

• Lord Byron and the Shelley’s (together – they were a wild group!)

What’s something you’ve learned from researching for this book?

• I learned more about the mob, Italy, and how to dissolve a body in acid than I can stomach!

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve had to Google for a book?

• Let’s just say that I have officially become “a situation” to my FBI handler (who no doubt exists).

If you could spend a month writing anywhere in the world, where would it be?

• As long as my family is with me, I can write in a heap of garbage, but if I had to pick a location, I would say somewhere in the middle of the forest here in Arizona or back home in Delaware. I love to be surrounded by the peace and silence of the woods. That might sound crazy when I could pick anywhere in the world, but I crave the comforts of home.

Something you really want to write about is?

• I’m itching to write my horror novel; it will be the first time that I get to write through the eyes of a MMC, and I’m so excited to experience that.

Reality vs fiction – is art really crazier than life?

• No. Real life is a wild ride, and it should inspire your art. Even in some of the best sci-fi books, reality exists in the characters, the dialogue, and the interactions between characters. Living in the real world allows us to escape into our deepest fantasies when we decide to write, draw, sing, etc.

Cats or dogs? 

• Can I say both? I have the best dog in the world (Luna), but I also have 2 cats (Cider – the young one, and Jade who is TWENTY years old). I honestly can’t choose! I love them all…but maybe Luna a little more (sorry kitties).

Coffee or tea? 

• Coffee all day, everyday. My Starbucks order is so annoying. I ask for a Blonde Iced Shaken Espresso with Ristretto Shots, Soy Milk, No Classic Syrup, 4 Splenda, and usually some sort of delicious cold foam…I’m sure they just love it when I come in.

Physical book or e-book? 

• I dabble in both, but I just love the look, feel, and smell of a physical book. That is definitely my preference.