Please welcome my fellow Wild Rose Press author, Amber Daulton, to my blog. I asked her a bunch of questions regarding her writing, and I hope you enjoy her answers as much as I did.
What is your writing style or schedule?
My writing style leans towards seriousness and sarcasm. I love witty dialogue and snappy comebacks, and I prefer writing in 3rdperson in duel hero/heroine point of views with proper scene and chapter breaks with each POV switch. It irks me when I’m reading a book from one POV and then out of nowhere the story jumps into another character’s head without any warning. I promise never to do that to my readers.
I try to write everyday, and I feel off-kilter if something prevents me from working. I don’t set a word count quota for myself, but I do set personal deadlines in which I try to have chapters done on a certain date, so I can have the entire story completed by another date. Sometimes I make it; sometimes I don’t.
Where do you actually write?
My laptop crashed a while back, so now I’m working on an old desktop computer in my office. Bookshelves cover each wall, and I have cute little decorations like stuffed animals, shiny wall hangings, seashells, and butterflies everywhere.
My professional-looking stained desk somehow became horribly scratched up a few years ago when my husband and I moved to our new house, so my hubby sanded it down and I painted it an off-white color and drew ivy and flowers on the legs. It’s very whimsical now and fits great with my frou-frou decorations.
Do you write linearly or not?
Well, that depends. Since I always plot out each chapter/scene before I start writing, I can usually write from beginning to end without a problem.
Sometimes the characters take over and derail my plan, however, so I have to whip them back into gear and make them follow the plot I’ve established.
This doesn’t happen often, but I really get irritated when I’ve written myself into a corner even though I’ve plotted the scene beforehand. To solve that bit of writer’s block, I jump a few chapters ahead and start writing those scenes, leaving a big blank spot in my novel. When the later sections are done, I go back and fill in the blank areas.
What sort of other activities keep you from actually writing?
Everyday life. My husband, Greg, cooks and mows the grass, but I do the sweeping and other cleaning. We share the laundry and gardening responsibilities. We love binge-watching TV shows—our favorite is Supernatural—and we often borrow movies from our local library. Besides that, I like to read and create scrapbooks, so that takes up some of my time.
Do you have support, either from family and friends or a writing group?
Greg is very supportive and always reads my work. I belong to a few online writing groups (I mostly frequent Marketing for Romance Writers, Rom-Critters, and my publisher’s groups), and the authors there are always willing to swap critiques, give advice, and share their own personal experiences about writing and life in general.
How long does it normally take you to write a novel?
It depends on the length I plan to write, the research I need to do, and the amount of edits each book will need. On average, I can usually churn out a novella (say 15 to 35k WC) in maybe a month or so. For a full-length novel (80k plus), it usually takes me three or four months to finish the first draft.
If there’s a single aspect to writing that really frustrates you, what is it?
The hardest thing for me is deciding on character names. Now, that might not sound like a big deal, but the names have to perfectly fit with the characters I see in my mind. I feel stumped and lose my creativity if I assign a name to someone and it just doesn’t feel right. I usually choose the names based on their personality, physical characteristics, family dynamics/heritage, the time period of the novel, or just what I find sexy! I sometimes spend hours, if not days, just scouring through baby name books and websites for the best names.
Given unlimited resources, what would be your ideal writing environment?
I would like a small, cozy room with lots of natural light. I also need silence to work. I just can’t concentrate when people are talking to me or around me, and I find music distracting. Repetitive background noise, however, like the sound of car traffic and static on the TV is soothing and helps me get into my zone.
Tell me about your latest book.
Erica was in a bad relationship and finally found the courage to break free. Even though she found help and the love of her life in Willow Springs, Vermont, the past still weighed on her shoulders.
Dylan has retired from the New York music scene, and he now teaches kids how to play instruments. He’s gotten his life back together after all the drama of being a semi-star.
They have an instant connection, and their love of music drew them together.
Where did you get your inspiration for your book?
I love small town romances, especially ones with an edge and a little bit of danger weaved in. When plotting this story, I first pictured a young woman running away from the big city to escape her abusive boyfriend. I mostly write romantic suspense, so this idea worked. I think a lot of readers can sympathize with such a situation, especially those who have experienced neglect from someone claiming to love them.
I also love stories about music and rock stars, but I don’t like the cheating and drugs that go along with the lifestyle. I haven’t published a story featuring a musician yet, so I figured I should get on the ball and do it.
Despite the dark undertones, this story is fun, uplifting, and hot. The characters are real and flawed. I really enjoyed writing it, and I hope readers will love it.
Do you have a favorite character and if so, who and why?
Dylan is my favorite character from Lyrical Embrace. He’s both wild and outspoken, but also responsible and polite. Dylan and Erica have had a rough time, and they find a kindred spirit in each other.
What are you working on now?
Last year, I published Arresting Mason, book one in the Arresting Onyxseries, and my first book with The Wild Rose Press. Lyrical Embraceis book four in the Deerbourne Innseries, a multi-author collection of novellas.
The next installment of the Arresting Onyx series should hopefully be out in late 2019. Arresting Jeremiah follows hard-nosed parole officer Jim Borden and his obsession Calista Barlow as they stick their noses where they don’t belong and fall deep into the trouble with the criminal organization known as Onyx.
The Arresting Onyx series is a set of five romantic suspense books with a standalone HEA for each rough-and-tumble hero and their spunky heroines.
While I’m in the process of getting the Arresting Onyx series published, I’m also editing a series of unpublished vampire novels that are truly dear to my heart.
Lyrical Embrace
Blurb
Out-of-work violinist Erica Timberly decides enough is enough. She leaves her abusive boyfriend and flees the big city, but then her car breaks down in the middle of the night. Though wary of men, she accepts help from Dylan Haynes, a stranger driving by on the road, and soon recognizes him as the sexy former drummer of her favorite indie rock band. Maybe, just maybe, her run of bad luck is finally turning around.
Music teacher Dylan Haynes knows Erica is in trouble, and her black eye is only the first clue. The stubborn yet vulnerable woman needs a friend, but he’s determined to give her everything she deserves.
Will Erica listen to the music in her heart and trust Dylan, or will her past always threaten her future?
Excerpt
Erica leaned up and combed her fingers through her hair. “I’ve never made love outside before. It’s a surreal experience.”
“We can do it wherever you want. In an elevator, in an alley, in my car. I’m game anywhere and everywhere for as long as you want me.”
“I want you so much it hurts.”
Dylan thumbed her knuckles and hoped she meant that. “I don’t know how you feel about labels, but I haven’t had a girlfriend in years. I’ve just had flings, but I want more than that with you. I want us to be with each other and no one else. I want a relationship with you.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “I feel divided in two. A part of me thinks we’re moving too fast, but another part says to jump in with both feet. I want something real with you too. I don’t want to feel dirty after we fool around. Just make me happy. Will you do that, Dylan?”
Her soft, pain-filled words struck Dylan like a dagger in his gut, and he bit the insides of his cheeks to steady his features.
Her ex-boyfriend had probably called her names and degraded her after they would find release in each other’s body, and the bastard likely never cared if she reached climax at all.
“I understand, Erica. I promise to treat you with nothing but respect, and I will do my very best to make you happy. I swear you will always scream your head off in pleasure every time I touch you. I’m not the sort of man to get my jollies off and leave my girl hanging.”
Her lips twitched up in a grin. “That’s good to hear.”
“So are you my girl?”
“Yeah, I’m your girl.” Erica giggled and tapped her fingers on his chest. “How could I not be? You make a very compelling argument, but I will have to hold you to it. I’m definitely looking forward to screaming every time you touch me.”
“Let’s rest, and then we’ll play again. The night’s early, and I’ve only just begun.”
Buy Links
Kobo – TBA
Google Play – TBA
About the Author
Amber Daulton is the author of the romantic-suspense series Arresting Onyx and several standalone novellas. Her books are published through The Wild Rose Press and Books to Go Now, and are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats.
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