Thanks for stopping by to
talk a little about your writing! Let's jump right in. When did you begin writing
and why?
Thank you so much for having me, Dawn!
I’ve been writing as far back as I can remember. I had an
abusive childhood. I was a loner, and that was my way of filling my time.
Writing became my escape. I still have
old spiral notebooks of stories I wrote when I was in elementary and junior
high. I fell in love with certain TV shows, and wrote stories about those
characters, with me in them. I didn’t find out until much later that those were
considered fandoms.
As an adult, I continued to write fan stories. After many
years, I began putting out my own fanzines, and letting others include my
stories in their fanzines. But after a while, I wanted to branch off and write
stories of my own creation, not based on a TV show or movie.
It wasn’t until 2001, after my husband got a heart transplant, that I dared to try and find a publisher for my own books. He encouraged me to follow my dream. Epublishing was in its infancy, so after some internet searching for epubs who took the kind of stories I wrote, I sent them an inquiry. That’s how I initially became published.
It wasn’t until 2001, after my husband got a heart transplant, that I dared to try and find a publisher for my own books. He encouraged me to follow my dream. Epublishing was in its infancy, so after some internet searching for epubs who took the kind of stories I wrote, I sent them an inquiry. That’s how I initially became published.
Do you have a favorite genre?
Is it the same genre you prefer to write?
Science fiction is and will always be my favorite genre. I’ve
also expanded into writing fantasy and paranormal (not always shapeshifters.) I
love watching horror movies, so I’ve written a few horror books under a
pseudonym. Within the past couple of years, I’ve added contemporary and sweet
romances.
Do certain themes and ideas
tend to capture your writer’s imagination and fascinate you?
Actually, I get the bulk of my ideas from random thoughts.
From odd little incidents that happen to me in real life, that tend to form a
story plot. Sometimes I can see a picture that’ll inspire me. Or, in a few
cases, I’ve been challenged to write a story about (insert genre idea here)
from a friend or reader, and I’ve done so. I love to do that because of my past
history with fandoms. Many times an editor would call me saying, “Can you write
me a story around this theme?” Or they’ll mail me a copy of some artwork they
want to include, and ask me to build a story around it. I love those kinds of
challenges.
How do you
balance long-term thinking vs. being nimble in today's market?
To be honest, I don’t follow the market.
My stuff is so out of the box and unlike what many authors write. I write
because a story compels me, and I feel blessed and lucky if my readers enjoy
it. What hurts is when people outright dismiss my books without trying them because
it’s about “such and such”, and they’ve read stories like that in the past,
claiming They’re All Alike. No! Every one of my stories is unique unto itself.
I don’t follow any sort of formulaic model. In fact, I try to avoid repetition.
Balancing long-term thinking? I just want
to write. I want to leave my children and my grandchildren my legacy in this
form.
How do you
find readers in today's market?
I do what I can re: marketing. I do social
media. I buy ads. I put my books up for sale worldwide. My favorite thing is to
go to book signings and meet people.
Do you
come up with the hook first, or do you create characters first and then dig
through until you find a hook?
Sometimes I have a title first. Sometimes
a story idea or a particular scene will hit me first. Sometimes a book evolves
from one of my “self-cations”. Sometimes from a picture will inspire me. I’m
open to anything.
How do you
create your characters?
Sometimes I find a picture of a model I’ll
use for inspiration. I don’t outright “create” a character, with regards to who
they are mentally, physically, or emotionally. I introduce her or him to
myself, and through my writing I come to know them better—their likes and
dislikes, their temperament, etc. I feel like the proverbial fly on the wall. I
follow the characters around and simply record what they do, what they say, and
what happens to them.
What's on the top of your TBR pile right now?
Nora Roberts’s MORRIGAN’S CROSS.
Tell me a little about the
characters in THE TRUNK.
Emlee Dow survived a cataclysmic event, where aliens attacked
Earth, leaving it in ruins. Six years of running, hiding, and starving have
changed her, leaving her resigned but heartsick at what her life has become.
She never dreamed that a simple change of clothes from an abandoned trunk would
change her world and her future.
Mykail Sinth didn’t believe Emlee when he first accosted her inside his home. But as the hours progressed, and every warning she gave him occurred exactly as she predicted, he realized that if he had any chance of living through the initial invasion, he’d have to stick by her side.
Mykail Sinth didn’t believe Emlee when he first accosted her inside his home. But as the hours progressed, and every warning she gave him occurred exactly as she predicted, he realized that if he had any chance of living through the initial invasion, he’d have to stick by her side.
They need each other to survive. They never expected to fall
in love, because there’s no guarantee they’ll live long enough.
Where’s the story set? How
much influence did the setting have on the atmosphere/characters/development of
the story?
The story begins in the future, then shifts to three days
prior to the first attack. (After all, this is a time travel romance.) The
majority of it takes place in a city located by a bay, which opens up to the
ocean. Rather than have the hero and heroine roaming the countryside, like we
see in most apocalyptic stories, I opted for a possible water escape (and water
plays a huge part in her being able to travel through time.)
If you had to write your
memoir in five words, what would you write?
I believe in dreaming awake.
How often does your muse
distract you from day to day minutiae?
Not often. She’s pretty good about not interrupting me until
I move away from the keyboard. She enjoys hitting me while I’m in the shower.
And those times when she talks to me while I’m in the car, I can have Siri send
an email to myself to remember what she says.
What do readers have to look
forward to in the future from you?
More BATTLE LORD books. A new series about gifted people.
More standalones (which already have covers made—just wait until you see them!)
And I’ll be continuing other series.
Thank you again for this opportunity, Dawn!
Blurb:
In the not too distant future, the human population is nearly wiped out by an alien invasion. Six years after the initial attack, Emlee Dow isn’t too worried about the continuing alien presence any longer. It’s the few humans left who pose a greater threat. Food and supplies are hard to come by, making survival an ever increasing struggle. Luckily, she finds refuge in an undiscovered basement room, containing enough supplies to last weeks.
Feeling full and relatively safe, Emlee decides to rest while she can. She wasn’t expecting her world to be turned upside down when she woke. Or for the already upside down world to be flipped right side up, pre-destruction. Thrown into the past, she meets Mykail, and has only days to convince him she’s not crazy before history repeats itself…or is it the future?
In these difficult and trying times, it’s hard to know who to trust. Just when you find someone, they’re lost just as quickly.
Can love be found again in the future? Or is it a thing of the past?
Warning! Contains several outfit changes, broom handle self-defense, a spare key fob, expired food, freckles, the sound of thunder, a never-ending search for sanity in a world gone insane, and two people forced to wait years before love triumphs.
Excerpt and Buy Links: http://lindamooney.com/
Excerpt Teaser:
There weren’t very many nooks or
crannies, until her eyes landed on the small fridge and the pantry. Running
over to it, she shoved a hand between the two, and instantly felt the smooth
wood of a handle. Triumphantly, she pulled the broom out from where it was kept
and removed the brush head from the handle. She hefted the four-foot piece of
wood. It wasn’t much, but at least it was better than nothing.
She
advanced toward the stairs, when she thought she heard footsteps overhead.
Freezing in place, she listened as they drew nearer. One set. She could detect
one person. Her grip tightened on the broom handle as the light tread
approached the door to the basement. Her heart nearly lodged in her throat when
the handle rattled, but the lock prevented the person from opening the door.
She
waited to see what the person would do next, when the sound of a dog barking
caught her attention. Stunned, she stared out one of the windows which faced
the direction where she’d heard the animal. There. There it was again. It was a dog barking! She hadn’t imagined
it, no more than she’d imagined the lawnmower or the car horn.
Something
was happening outside, and it terrified her.
The
handle rattled again, then came the distinctive sound of someone inserting a
key into the lock. As the door swung open, she pressed her back against the
wall and tightened her grip on the wooden stick.
A
figure appeared to her left. Automatically, she jabbed the person hard with the
end of the handle. The guy cried out in pain and bent over. Raising the stick,
she brought it down over the guy’s back and head. The man slumped to the floor
near her feet.
Emlee
stepped over him and hurried up the steps to the living room. If luck was still
with her, she might spot her fireplace poker and be able to take it with her.
Reaching
the open door, she exited the basement.
Shock
overwhelmed her.
Unable
to believe her eyes, she stumbled sideways. Her hip caught the edge of a small
table standing against the wall. A glass bowl which had been sitting on it slid
onto the floor, breaking into several pieces. The items which had been inside
the bowl went skittering across the tiles, but that’s not what held her
attention.
The ceiling was
whole. Totally intact. There was no cave-in, no destruction. Nothing.
“Hey!”
She
whirled around to see the young man she’d beaten with the broom handle now
standing in the doorway. He glared angrily at her as he clutched his side where
she’d jabbed him.
“Who
the fuck are you? And what are you doing in this kitchen?” He held up what
appeared to be a cell phone, adding, “Don’t think about running away, either.
I’ve called the cops, and they’ll be here any second to lock your ass up for
attacking me!”
About the Author
Linda loves to write sweet and sensuous romance with a fantasy, paranormal, or science fiction flair. As the author of over 100 books, her technique is often described as being as visual as a motion picture or graphic novel.
She’s a wife, mother, grandmother, and retired Kindergarten and music teacher who lives in a small south Texas town near the Gulf coast, where she delves into other worlds filled with daring exploits, adventure, and intense love.
She’s had numerous best sellers, including 10 consecutive #1s. Also included in her achievements, she’s been named Author of the Year, and her book Lord of Thunder is an Epic Ebook "Eppie" Award Winner for Best Erotic Sci-Fi Romance.
In addition, Linda also writes naughty humorous romances under the name of Carolyn Gregg, horror under the pseudonym of Gail Smith, and elementary teacher workbooks as L. G. Mooney.
For more information about her books, up-coming and new releases, contests, and giveaways, and to sign up for her newsletter, please visit her website:
Social Media Links
Website: http://lindamooney.com/ (Join my newsletter!)
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Linda-
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LMOWR
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/macwombat
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