Summer Bash - Day 3!

Today my guest is N.J. Walters. This lady is my writing hero so having her here today is truly a thrill for me. So without further ado, welcome N.J. Walters!

1: You have been published now for over five years. Can you tell us a bit about your very first book?

My first published book was Annabelle Lee. I started writing it to enter an on-line competition. I only had a few pages to enter, but kept writing when I didn’t move forward in the competition. I had to know how Annabelle and Mike’s story ended. When I finished it, I edited it and submitted it to Ellora’s Cave and was thrilled when they offered me a contract.


2: Where do you get your inspiration for writing from?

Inspiration comes from everywhere—random thoughts, overheard conversations, television, magazines, and newspapers. It’s endless. Usually it begins when I start asking the “what if” questions and, before I know it, I’m hooked on an idea.


3: What is the one thing you like most/least about writing?

There’s a lot I love about writing. I get to work in my track pants and can take a day off whenever I need it. It’s immediate. When you write something it’s there before you on the page. You can see it, share it, and make it even better. I’ve also met a lot of wonderful people—writers and readers—since I began publishing. Their generosity and support continues to constantly amaze me.

There’s not much I don’t like about writing. But what I like the least is the more I publish the less time I have to write. A lot of time is spent promoting, updating my website, producing a newsletter, advertising, blogging, etc… Not that I don’t enjoy those things, because it means I’m a working writer. Some days I just wish there were a few more hours in the day. lol


4: Are you a plotter or a pantser when you write? Why does that work for you?

I guess I’d consider myself somewhere in the middle. Before I start writing, I know my characters and their situation. I might have several ideas for scenes in my head. I start writing when I have the opening scene straight in my mind. The book flows from there.

I know some writers have elaborate outlines for all their books, while other writers start from scratch. I do a bit of both. It really depends on the book. I’ve sat in the chair and just written some books, while for others I have extensive piles of file cards.

Each book is different, but I trust the process. I have a very organized, linear mind and things sort of take care of themselves.


5: If you could meet anyone in the world past or present, who would you want to meet?

That’s a really tough question. It would be fascinating to talk to past spiritual leaders like Buddha or Jesus. It would also be wonderful to meet some of my favorite authors. Not that I’d know what to say to any of them. lol I do much better on paper than in person.


6: Are you currently reading anything right now?

I’m constantly reading. *g* It’s an addiction. Although I don’t get as much time to read as I used to. I just finished the latest book in Gena Showalter’s Lords of the Underworld series. I usually only buy books one or two at a time. I can’t stop reading once I start. I try to have a nonfiction book kicking around too. I’m currently reading one of Louise L. Hay’s books.


7: How do you deal with writer’s block?

I don’t know. It’s never happened.


8: Now that it is summer, is there anything in particular that you do for fun?

Enjoy the sunshine! Honestly, I don’t see enough of it where I live. I’ll try to spend some time at the beach and the park. Maybe even get out of the city for a few days.


9: Recently, you received a rave review for Seeking Charlotte, part of your multi-author series. What is it like working on a series that is penned by many authors?

Thank you. I’ve been thrilled with the response to Seeking Charlotte and the entire Hearts of Fire series.

Writing it was an amazing experience, that’s for sure. It was the first time I’d ever collaborated with other authors on a project and I couldn’t have picked a better group of ladies. Ciana Stone, TJ Michaels and Nicole Austin are all very talented ladies. It was fun to work on the four individual books, but quite a challenge to write the final one. We all wrote book five together. It’s not four individual stories in the final book but one comprehensive story.

It was time consuming to have to send the manuscript back and forth to one another, but we all worked incredibly well together. It was a lot of fun to see everyone’s ideas coming together. We all have very different writing styles and it was challenging, yet very rewarding, to blend them all together in one very special book. I can’t wait until Entwined Hearts is released.


10: You had your first ever audio book release. Can you tell us a bit about that?

That was exciting. When Ellora’s Cave announced they were entering into the audio book market I had no idea one of my books would be a part of it. I was thrilled, but concerned, when I found out that Tempting Tori would be an audio book. I had no idea what to expect. Hearing my words read aloud was a strange feeling, but I really enjoyed what they did with it. I’m very happy with the final product.


11: Is there anything you’d like people to know about you?

Hmmm…that’s a tough one. I didn’t start seriously writing until my late thirties even though I’d written two books years earlier. Those books—Discovering Dani and The Way Home—eventually found a home with Samhain and became my first two releases with them.

I love what I do and I’m very thankful to all the readers who put down their hard-earned money for my books. I realize what a privilege it is to do what I do. So thank you one and all.

I’m also a chocoholic who is trying to kick the habit. lol


12: Lassoing Lara was released from Ellora’s Cave yesterday. Would you tell us a bit about your current release?

This book came about because of my EC Quickie Tempting Tori. The hero from that book was a hunky cowboy named J.T. Courage who had two brothers—Brody and Marshall. Lassoing Lara is Brody’s story. It was fun and challenging to write them as Quickies. Hopefully, I’ll be sending Marshall’s book to my editor soon.

Blurb:


Brody Courage wakes one morning and finds himself naked and tied to his bed with no memory of the night before. If that’s not enough humiliation, his neighbor and childhood friend, Lara Jacobs is the one who rescues him.

When he finds a pair of red lace underwear, his memories start flooding back. He’d caught a glimpse of a matching bra when Lara untied him. She’s the sexy mystery woman who is now haunting his nights and his days. Brody wants a repeat of their night together, but Lara is avoiding him. There’s only one thing any self-respecting cowboy would do. He’s going to Lasso Lara and make her his own.

Thank you so much for being here N.J. It's been a blast as always.:-)