Mar 3, 2015 | Blog, Coffee With, Erica Ridley, March 2015
First, if we were meeting at a Coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte 🙂 What would you be drinking? Either a steamy hot caffe mocha or an iced caramel macchiato, depending on the weather. 😉
Thank you so much for taking time to sit down and answer a few questions. Congrats on the release of The Captain’s Bluestocking Mistress yesterday! If anyone missed my review for your fabulous new book they can check out my review that was posted earlier this week: https://booksilovealatte.wordpress.com/2015/03/01/a-soldier-who-has-returned-from-war-and-the-woman-who-desires-him/
What was the inspiration for your Duke’s of War series and how many books can we expect?
A lot of people (including me!) love military heroes. As a historical romance writer, I especially loved the idea of soldier coming home from war and doing his best to return to normal, when normal in his case means Regency England.
I asked myself: After years of marching and living in tents and killing enemy soldiers, do you care about the color of Beau Brummel’s waistcoat or whether the patronesses of Almack’s will grant you permission to waltz? How do you reconcile these two very different forms of survival?
With this series, I’m trying to show all sides of what it means to be soldier—the ones who feel they did the right thing, the ones who don’t, the ones who didn’t make it home with all their pieces intact (physically or emotionally), the ones who do make it home whole only to find out home is no longer how they left it.
There are a total of six planned books in this series. But readers’ favorite secondary characters will probably find their way into a future series!
What can we expect next?
Next in the series is The Major’s Faux Fiancée, which releases in June. Major Blackpool returns home to play pretend beau to the girl next door to save her from an unwanted betrothal. But once they’ve announced their faux engagement, neither one can cry off without doing damage to the other’s social status.
Daphne intends to remain a spinster, so she plots to make the major jilt her first—without realizing he’s busy plotting the same thing! With both of them on their worst behavior, neither expects their fake betrothal to lead to love… 😉
What inspired you to write in this genre and how do you research and prepare for your books?
I love writing historical romance because it gives me the freedom to put complex characters in impossible situations and help them find love anyway. The hardest part is keeping to the constraints of historical accuracy. I have dozens of physical research books, dozens of research e-books, hundreds of bookmarked links, reams of handwritten notes from visits to period cities and houses, and a well-tagged Evernote database for everything else.
I research what my characters are wearing, what they’re eating, what’s happening in the world during the dates of the story, money, travel, legalities, and whether the words I use existed in the time period. It’s impossible to catch everything, but I easily spend hours poring over every page. My critique partners and my editor are fabulous, too. I couldn’t do it without them.
How long does it take to write each book? It generally takes me 3-6 months to write a book. I already had two complete books ready to go before the series prequel launched. I try to start working on the next one while the previous one is out for editing or critique, in order to help minimize the downtime between books.
Your covers are fantastic and I love the dresses the girls are wearing. Do you design your own covers? Thank you!! And yes, I do! It often takes three times as long to find the right starting image as it does to create the initial mockups. I’m so glad you like the covers!
Thank you again!
8 Tantalizing Tidbits:
1. A must read book and why? It’s not a romance, but a book I read recently that’s really stuck with me is The Girl With All The Gifts, by M. R. Carey. It’s hard to explain everything I loved about it without giving away the best plot twists, but at its heart, it’s about what humanity really means, literally and figuratively, in a post-apocalyptic world. Nothing is black-and-white, and often the good guys and the bad guys turn out to be precisely the opposite, depending on your perspective. I loved that. I really enjoy books that turn stereotypes upside down. Bonus points if they can make me laugh, make me cry, and make me gasp in surprise.
2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown? I live in Nuevo Arenal, Costa Rica, a stone’s throw from Lake Arenal, the biggest and prettiest lake in the country. So definitely you should come see it! If it’s a clear day, there will be windsurfers on the lake, and you may even be able to see one or two of the closest volcanos!
3. When you plot out your book do you know how it will end or do you figure it out as you go?
I definitely know how it will end, although I might not always know exactly how I’ll get there. I use the writing software Scrivener to organize my ideas and keep plot threads and character details consistent across each series.
For me, knowing ahead of time what is supposed to happen helps me to sit down and make it happen. Without a roadmap, I find myself spending too much time staring helplessly at a blank page.
I love knowing how a story will end because it gives me something to layer toward. The ending to The Captain’s Bluestocking Mistress is precisely what the heroine needs, and the ending to The Major’s Faux Fiancée is exactly what the hero needs. But even I get surprised sometimes by the pages in-between!
4. Do you watch a TV show weekly or binge watch? Binge watch! Since I live in the rainforest, Netflix is pretty much my only option when it comes to TV. I’m sooo sad that I can’t stream Hulu Plus and Amazon Prime from outside of the U.S. Especially now that Amazon has some great looking original programming! (I’ve read all the Bosch books, so I’m particularly bitter about being denied that one, lol.)
5. What is the craziest souvenir you picked up while traveling? Do you collect things when you travel?
I am not much for knick-knacks, so I promised myself that if I ever collected travel souvenirs, it would need to be something small, inexpensive, and eminently practical. Thus: shot glasses!! LOL. It seemed like a good idea before there were three or four dozen of them…
I have two wall-mounted shot glass cabinets (this is a real thing!! You should’ve seen how excited I was to learn shot glass cabinets existed) and on exactly one occasion–my last birthday party in Florida–every single shot glass was used in a birthday toast. See?? I told you shot glasses were practical! 😉
6. Castles or Beaches? Castles! I love beaches, and they’re perfect for relaxing, but there’s just nothing like a good castle. My youngest brother and I went on a road trip around Ireland and the UK a few years ago, and we explored every single castle we came across. They are all vastly different! It was such a wonderful, eye-opening experience.
7. Favorite sports and team? Chicago Bears were my #1, but I lived in Tampa for almost twelve years, so it’s impossible not to have a soft spot for the Buccaneers (NFL), Storm (AFL), Rays (MLB), and Lightning (NHL). Of course, now that I live in Latin America, there’s only one sport that matters: soccer!
8. When you are traveling do you road trip it or fly it?
Depends! If I’m crossing an ocean or the entire United States diagonally, I fly. But I’ve road-tripped it between Florida and the Midwest states on multiple occasions–once, it took me three weeks to get from Chicago to Tampa because there were so many great places to see on the way down.
Here in Costa Rica, I drive almost everywhere. When I cross the border into Nicaragua, it’s either on foot or on a boat, depending on whether there’s a river in the way!
BIO:
Erica Ridley learned to read when she was three, which was about the same time she decided to be a writer when she grew up.
Now, Erica is a USA Today best-selling author of historical romance novels. Her latest series, The Dukes of War, features roguish peers and dashing war heroes who return from battle only to be thrust into the splendor and madness of Regency England.
When not reading or writing romances, Erica can be found riding camels in Africa, ziplining through rainforests in Costa Rica, or getting hopelessly lost in the middle of Budapest.
Website: https://www.EricaRidley.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EricaRidley
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/EricaRidley
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/EricaRidley
Feb 26, 2015 | Blog, Coffee With, February 2015, J. Kenner
First, If we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte 🙂
What would you order? I used to be a venti nonfat latte girl. Now I’m coffee, black. Or coffee with heavy cream.
Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions.
You write under two different names and across many genres. If someone is reading this today and they’ve never read one of your books, where would you recommend they start? If they are into sexy books, definitely start with Release Me. If they prefer lighter books, then Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom
Do you see the Stark Series going beyond Stark International? I think my answer to your question is yes 🙂 I envision Stark International as potentially unending. It’s conceived as a collection of trilogies featuring different heroes and heroines from the world of Stark International.
8 Tantalizing Tidbits:
1. A Must read book and why? To Kill a Mockingbird – brilliantly told, moving and a classic
2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown? San Gabriel Park
3. What is your favorite movie of all time and why? Star Wars (NOT the later trilogy)
it’s iconic
it’s mythic
it holds tons of fabulous memories for me from when I was a kid.
4. When you plot out your book do you know how it will end or do you figure it out as you go? I have to know how it ends before I can start it. But that doesn’t mean the ending stays the same by the time I get there.
5. Do you watch a TV show weekly or binge watch? BINGE!
6. First concert you attended? I **think** this was my first — Barry Manilow. (yes, I know. And we actually waited in the rain for tickets)
7. If you had an all expenses paid trip anywhere for research, where would you go? Australia
8. If you could invite Five people to dinner (not family or friends -that’s too easy ) who would you invite? It can be someone from the past or present, living or deceased.
(this list is subject to change with my whim and my mood!)
Rob Lowe
Leonardo Da Vinci
David O. Selznick
Neil Armstrong
Jimmy Stewart
BIO:
J. Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and International bestselling author of over seventy novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.
Though known primarily for her award-winning and international bestselling erotic romances (including the Stark and Most Wanted series) that have reached as high as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list, JK has been writing full time for over a decade in a variety of genres including paranormal and contemporary romance, “chicklit” suspense, urban fantasy, Victorian-era thrillers (coming soon), and paranormal mommy lit.
Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner, has been consistently in development in Hollywood since prior to publication. Most recently, it has been optioned by Warner Brothers Television for development as series on the CW Network with Alloy Entertainment producing.
JK has been praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations” and by RT Bookclub for having “cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swopn for him.” A three time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award, JK took home the first RITA trophy awarded in the category of erotic romance in 2014 for her novel, Claim Me (book 2 of her Stark Trilogy).
Her books have sold well over a million copies and are published in over over twenty countries.
In her previous career as an attorney, JK worked as a clerk on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and practiced primarily civil, entertainment and First Amendment litigation in Los Angeles and Irvine, California, as well as in Austin, Texas. She currently lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and two rather spastic cats.
Feb 24, 2015 | Blog, Coffee With, February 2015, Jess Michaels
First, if we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte 🙂
What would you order? I’d do water, I’m afraid. I’m pretty much only drinking water right now and it’s actually good. I know it’s better for me. Still, I miss Diet Coke.
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer a few questions. I’m really excited for The Notorious Flynns series. This is the first book I’ve read by you and I LOVED discovering Serafina and Rafe! Oh yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed the book. Luckily there are a TON of books in my backlist to fill the time while we wait.
I will have a difficult time waiting for Books 2 and 3 to be released :). I’m not sure I will be able to wait! But it’s so soon! Book 2, The Scoundrel’s Lover (Annabelle’s book) will be out March 10.
I find it impressive that you’ve written over 50 published stories. Your published works vary in each series, do you have a specific time period that you prefer? I write exclusively in the Regency period.
What do you find the most challenging aspect of being an erotic romance author? What’s the easiest aspect? I think it’s always challenging to build a book in general. I want the story to be fresh and the characters to pop. Sometimes I’m stuck knowing where to go. But once I get my details worked out, it all comes down to just telling the story. I wouldn’t say that’s easy, but it’s fun!
How long does it take you to complete a story from start to finish?
I take about 6 weeks to write a book from beginning to end and another couple of weeks to edit. I also do some down time. So I write a book about every two months or so. I can write 5 to 6 books a year pretty comfortably.
I appreciate you taking the time to hang out – thank you so much!
Thank you for having me!!
8 Tantalizing Tidbits:
1. A Must read book and why? Well, if you like dark, sensual, emotional romances, this is your book! Plus, it’s my first fully indie book and the beginning of a great new series. All these things should make you want to BUY BUY BUY!! LOL
2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown? I grew up in Blackfoot, ID and I would say one of the only things you should see there is the giant potato. Otherwise, I might just drive through.
3. When you plot out your book do you know how it will end or do you figure it out as you go? Well, I write romance, so I pretty much always know how it’s going to end. 🙂 But you mean do I plot until the end, yes. Sometimes things change here and there throughout, but for the most part I know the basics of the end before I start.
4. Do you watch a TV show weekly or binge watch? I have a handful of shows on my DVR that are weekly watchers. I love Elementary (and Sherlock, but it’s not back yet), we watch Doctor Who (and have binge watched it), I also watch stuff like Archer and Adventure Time. I think the next one I’ll binge watch is probably Bob’s Burgers since I’m really enjoying that show. And I might also lock in for Supernatural.
5. What’s your guilty pleasure? True Crime. I have so many Investigation Discovery shows on my DVR. My husband calls them my Murder Death Kill shows. Also, reality shows. I just can’t… stop looking at them.
6. One thing readers would be surprised to know about you. If you meet me in person, I’m pretty friendly and open, but I’m a huge introvert. Sometimes by the end of a conference, I actually feel bruised because of the stress of being “on”. I love meeting readers, but I also like retreating to my hole.
7. First concert you attended? New Kids on the Block, 5th grade.
8. Castles or Beaches? Usually I’d say beaches, but this year we’re heading to Paris for a week. So castles may win the day.
Feb 19, 2015 | Blog, Coffee With, February 2015, Theresa Romain
First, if we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte 🙂
What would you order?
Hi, Rae—thanks for inviting me for virtual coffee! I like lattes too, but if we meet in the morning I’d better just order a dark roast. I need a few big cups of coffee to get me going in the morning, and I just add a little sweetener.
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer a few questions. Your last book in the Matchmaker Trilogy was released last month. What was it like writing this series? How did you research for this?
I really liked writing this series, because it gave me the chance to introduce some characters and settings that were new to me as a writer. In the first book, IT TAKES TWO TO TANGLE, the ex-soldier hero has a paralyzed arm. The second book, TO CHARM A NAUGHTY COUNTESS, is a rake-bluestocking story in which the heroine’s a rake and the hero is the bluestocking. And SECRETS OF A SCANDALOUS HEIRESS, our on January 6, doesn’t have a titled hero or heroine. The hero is an Anglo-Indian man of business, and the heroine is going under a false identity.
The research for each book was different, as you might imagine! For SECRETS, I researched the city of Bath during the Regency, since that’s where the entire book is set. I also had to learn about Regency cosmetics, health care, English relations with India, and Indian therapeutic plants for different aspects of the story. I learn a lot with every book I write.
Now that your Pleasure series has come to a conclusion, what’s next?
I’m working on two new historical series! The Romance of the Turf series for Sourcebooks will kick off this December with a novella that ties into both the Matchmaker trilogy and the new one. It focuses on the Regency horse-racing world and one scandalous family’s connections to it. And next February, my Royal Reward duo begins for Kensington. It’ll involve a treasure hunt—and, of course, lots of romance.
8 Tantalizing Tidbits 🙂
1. A must read book and why? This is really tough, because my bookshelves are full of beloved keepers. But my favorite new-to-me author for 2014 was Susanna Kearsley. Once I read THE FIREBIRD, I was completely hooked on her beautiful blend of history, romance, suspense, and sometimes a bit of the paranormal. I’ve since read everything else she’s written.
2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown? We’d need to go to The Donut Whole and Watermark Books. I live in Kansas, and those are two great Wichita spots. The Donut Whole serves great locally roasted coffee (you can get an awesome latte there!), plus they always have quirky flavors of doughnuts. Their Doctor Who doughnuts blew up a few months ago when David Tennant shared a picture. As for Watermark, it’s a fabulous indie bookstore. Whenever I ask them for gift recommendations, they know the perfect book. It’s such fun to go there.
3. Castles or Beaches? Castles, definitely. As a writer of historical romance, how could I not say that? I’d love to spend more time in historic buildings, just soaking in all the stories that have taken place within their walls.
That being said, when I go to the beach, I like to build things out of sand. But not castles, oddly enough! More animals, like dolphins or sharks or turtles. To me, the sand is more fun than the water.
4. Organized or Free Floating? Organized is always the goal, though I sometimes fall short. 🙂 I’ve learned the hard way that I feel better and am more efficient when I have a plan in place, whether for the book I’m writing or something everyday like a trip to the grocery store.
5. What is your guilty pleasure? During the holiday season, I put eggnog in my morning coffee. (I’d do it year-round if eggnog were for sale all the time.) My husband thinks it’s weird and teases me, and I guess it is pretty indulgent. But I don’t feel guilty about it. It’s too tasty!
6. If you could pick a book you’ve read and make it into a movie, which book would it be (besides yours 🙂 )? I’d love to see Deanna Raybourn’s Lady Julia mysteries made into a BBC TV series. They’re Victorian-set, with lots of wildly witty characters and a clever mystery in each book. From novel to novel, the main characters grow and change. The series just ended, and I’m so sorry to say goodbye to the characters. BBC, please give Ms. Raybourn a call and get on that production!
7. Do you love to cook or go out to eat? I love to bake, but not to cook. Actually, my favorite of all is to get takeout and eat at home while watching a good movie. But most of the time, I make dinner for my family. We’ve gotten into a pretty good routine this school year, where I cook while my daughter does her homework. She also checks on what I’m cooking and provides frequent unsolicited feedback. 🙂
8. If you could invite 5 people to dinner (not friends and family – that’s too easy) who would you invite? It could be anyone past or present. I’d have to invite Jane Austen and Mark Twain, because they are two of my favorite authors. And Mark Twain HATED Jane Austen’s style, so I think that could make for some interesting conversational fireworks! I really enjoy silent film, so I’d invite comedian Buster Keaton along too. Maybe we could get him to spill some interesting stories about early Hollywood. And we’ve got to have Tina Fey there too, because she’s just brilliant. I will read anything she writes and watch anything she’s in.
For the fifth person, I feel like I ought to invite a chef to prepare the food. How about Ted Allen, the host of Chopped? That’s the show that got me hooked on the Food Network. Ted Allen’s got such a dry sense of humor; I think he’d be a lot of fun to hang out with. And he would make sure the six of us at the dinner party had some great things to eat.
BIO:
Historical romance author Theresa Romain pursued an impractical education that allowed her to read everything she could get her hands on. She then worked for universities and libraries, where she got to read even more. Eventually she started writing, too. She lives with her family in the Midwest, where she is working on her next book.
Website: https://theresaromain.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTheresaRomain
Twitter: @TheresaRomain
Tsū: https://www.tsu.co/TheresaRomain
Newsletter: https://theresaromain.com/contact/
Print: amazon • barnes & noble • book depository • books-a-million
Ebook: kindle • nook • kobo • ibooks • google
Feb 17, 2015 | Blog, Coffee With, Sawyer Bennett
First, if we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte 🙂
What would you order? A salted caramel mocha, although I make these at home and I think they’re just as good!!!
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer a few questions. I LOVE your Carolina Cold Fury Hockey books and was wondering how many books you anticipate in this series? Right now, I’m under contract with Random House for a total of four books, but we are talking about possibly two more in 2016.
How much research did you do for this? I didn’t have to do too much research. I know the rules pretty well but I had to check up on a few things to make sure I was right.
Were you a fan of hockey before you started writing this series? Absolutely! I’ve been following the Pittsburgh Penguins for years even though I’m a North Carolinian born and bred. I’ve been to all of the games they play here against the Carolina Hurricanes and I’ve been to several up in Pittsburgh.
I can only imagine how much fun that would be! Thank you so much and Happy Book Birthday 🙂
8 Tantalizing Tidbits:
1. A Must read book and why? The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy. This is one of the most beautifully epic books ever. I’ve read it probably a dozen times and it never gets old for me.
2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown? You should visit the Marine Corps Base aboard Camp Lejeune. My father is a retired Marine and he’d be happy to give you a tour!!!
3. Castles or Beaches? Castles! I was pretty much raised on the beach and I think I take it a bit for granted. I toured and stayed in some amazing castles in Ireland last year and if I could move there and live in one, I would in a heartbeat!
4. Hard Rock or Classical? Favorite Band or Artist? Hmmm… that is a tough one and I am going to have to say Both. I’m a huge fan of the Steve Miller Band and Led Zeppelin. But I mostly listen to stuff like NIN, Rob Zombie, The Offspring, Weezer and Jane’s Addiction to name a few off my favorites list.
5. What is your guilty pleasure? Easy!!! Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream.
6. What are you afraid of? I am terrified of spiders. I mean like really, really terrified. Even if I see a picture of one, I get all dizzy from the fear.
7. What’s your favorite TV show and why? I have two and I love them equally, and they are nothing alike. Buffy The Vampire Slayer and I love it because Buffy is such a strong heroine, and you know I love me a strong heroine, plus it’s funny as hell. I also adore The Walking Dead on AMC. I love the moral dilemmas they face in a world where there are no rules or laws.
8. If you could invite 5 people to dinner (not friends and family – that’s too easy) who would you invite? It could be anyone past or present. Abraham Lincoln, US Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren, JK Rowling, Oprah Winfrey and Marilyn Manson.
BIO:
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Sawyer Bennett is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. Her husband works for a Fortune 100 company which lets him fly all over the world while she stays at home with their daughter and three big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.
Sawyer is the author of several contemporary romances including the popular Off Series, the Legal Affairs Series, the Last Call Series and the Carolina Cold Fury Hockey series.
Sawyer Bennett
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author
www.SawyerBennett.com
www.facebook.com/bennettbooks
www.twitter.com/bennettbooks
Feb 12, 2015 | Blog, Coffee With, Courtney Milan, February 2015
First, if we were meeting at a Coffee Shop I’d be drinking a Latte. What would you be drinking? I actually (blush) don’t like coffee. So you’d probably see me with a tea (English breakfast with milk in the morning, or mint in the afternoon), or if it was really cold out, a chai latte.
Thank you so much for taking time to sit down and answer a few questions. Congrats on the release of A Right Honorable Gentleman that’s in the anthology from Romance Writers of America ® , what a great collection of fabulous authors. Who’s idea was it to publish a collection like this? Romance Writers of America had the idea to put out a “romance sampler” so that fans of the genre could try multiple other sub-genres and authors. I think Sylvia Day, the editor, is the one who came up with the idea in the first place, but I’m not sure.
It’s barely the beginning of February and you’ve already had two stories published and Once upon a Marquess is due out this spring. What inspired you for this new series? Any “peek” into the book for your readers? The inspiration for this series was the idea of a family ruined by treason, and the aftermath of that. I’m holding out on peeks until I’m fairly confident that anything I say won’t change. The thing about the way I write is that I’m never sure that anything I say will actually end up in the book.
On your website you have two books and a novella, how many in total can we expect to see? I’m not going to say how many you’ll see, even though I know that number. There are five Worth siblings, and at least four of them are known to be alive. There will be books in the series where one of the major protagonists will not be a Worth sibling. That means you’ll get at least five full-length books, not counting novellas. At least five, less than ten. How’s that?
I must add that the covers on your books are fabulous. Do you design them or have any input? For the covers…now that I’m self-publishing my own books, I do all my covers myself. I wouldn’t advise it for everyone, but I really enjoy the process and find it soothing.
Thank you so much!
8 Tantalizing Tidbits:
1. A Must read book and why? This week my must-read book is Radio Silence by Alyssa Cole, which is post-apocalyptic story about Arden Highmore, who lives in Rochester, NY, and who decides to travel to her best friend’s cabin when the power, the radio– everything, really–goes out without explanation. Her best friend’s elder brother, Gabriel, though is disapproving. And hot. I really enjoyed this one!
2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown? Well, I live in Denver, and we’re nestled right up against the Rocky Mountains. I think you should go for a walk in them. Whatever the season, however long you have. They’re beautiful!
3. When you plot out your book do you know how it will end or do you figure it out as you go? It varies a lot. I don’t plot, and I don’t write in order. I just have some idea that there are some scenes that will end up in my book, and I write them, and then put them together. Sometimes I know the ending first. Sometimes I don’t know the end for a while. Sometimes I think I know the end and then I write something else and realize I need to change it.
4. What’s your guilty pleasure? Ice cream. Always ice cream.
5. Castles or Beaches? Definitely castles! I love castles. They have so much more “scope for the imagination,” to quote Anne of Green Gables.
6. When you are traveling do you road trip it or fly it? It depends. If we’re bringing along the dog, we road trip it. We’re willing to road trip quite a ways if it means our dog can come along. Otherwise, we’re definitely flyers.
7. What are you afraid of? True fact: Everyone in my family has recurring dreams about our teeth falling out. Mine are so realistic that I wake up and have to check all of my teeth to make sure they’re still there, and sometimes, I will “remember” that time my teeth fell out, and then remember that it didn’t actually happen.
8. Do you like to cook or go out to eat? I love cooking. I end up eating out when I’m really busy, but if I had all the time in the world I’d cook every day.
BIO:
Courtney Milan lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, a marginally-trained dog, and an attack cat.
Before she started writing books, Courtney experimented with numerous occupations. She has trained dogs, written legal briefs, sold newspaper subscriptions, and written computer programs. Having given up on actually being able to do any actual things, she’s taken to heart the axiom that “those who can’t, teach.” When she isn’t reading, writing, or sleeping, she can be found in the vicinity of a classroom.
Courtney loves hearing from readers. You can visit her on the web and find out more about her and her newest releases at https://www.courtneymilan.com.
