Guest author - Susan Jean Ricci

Today I'm delighted to chat with the lovely (and very talented!) Susan Jean Ricci who has written over 30 books and novellas (wow!). 

She writes in the genres of Women’s Fiction, Humour, Romance, and Romantic Suspense and is multi-award-winning, a USA Today best-selling author, and is so humble, saying 'I have no idea how that happened!' - I love people like that, so lets meet Sue!

Thanks so much, Jaye, for inviting me to share the skinny on me (if only) and my so-called writing methods on your beautiful blog. I’m humbled and honoured to be here.

Aww, that's so sweet. I'm honoured to have you here.

But first, please accept my heartfelt congratulations to you on your new book, My F In Life. The synopsis is so appealing to my sense of humour that I can’t wait to read it.

Oh wow, I really wasn't expecting that! Thank you so much 😍 

But I can only dream about creating a body of work like yours, I am in awe, so can you tell me more about your journey? 

In retrospect, I realise that none of this was achieved on my own. A few examples, like the majority of us in the writing community, are devoted friends who’ve all ‘been there’ and promote each other, either by reading and reviewing, shout-outs, or offering an appearance on a lively blog like yours.

I have to admit, I've been overwhelmed by the reaction of the community too - they're such a supportive bunch and I'm so grateful for every repost and review! But sorry, I've interrupted you - shutting up now 😶 Please carry on 😂

Okay 😆 

It also didn’t hurt to have a husband who was a brilliant editor with a literary degree when we collaborated on my first novel, Dinosaurs and Cherry Stems. I didn’t even know he had such skills until after we got married. We were too busy focusing on those ‘other kind’.

What a lovely thing to find out after you'd married him! Sounds a keeper to me 💖 I'm going to circle back to Dinosaurs and Cherry Stems in a moment, but talking about the people who have helped you, do some stand out?

My graphic designer, Lynn Lamb, has had a lot of positive influence on my books and even on the physical attributes of my female and male leads, especially when I hit a mental wall. Switching out a blonde for a redhead, etc., is easily done if we find a snazzy female that fits the character’s personality/profile better. Same goes for the guys – I want my men to look a certain way according to their occupations, and of course, they have to be hot.

They sure do 😂

Lynn’s also a great brainstormer when I’m stuck deciding on a title, and she recently created my new website, as well as launch memes, videos, and banners over the years. While I respect the ingenuity of talented authors who are creating their own AI covers, the old-fashioned methods of cover design suit my brand better than what I could devise. (I AM looking forward to conquering GROK soon, though.)

It’s been said that writing is a solitary, or lonely, business; I don’t feel this defines me. I couldn’t do this job alone. Kudos, hugs, and kisses are owed to my designer and several dear, talented friends and fans who read and/or edit my work. Some of my friends are reviewers I’ve met through the writing community who have often taken the time to steer me in the right direction after reading a published book. 

That's so lovely and I'm sure they feel the same about you. Returning to Dinosaurs and Cherry Stems now (I love the title!), can you tell me more about it please?

It's based on the story of us, me and Joe, and evolved from a journal I was keeping about internet dating as a divorced, middle-aged woman. A bitter one at that. The piece won a nonfiction award at the Philadelphia Writers Conference in 2011, which was when ‘fictionalised nonfiction’ became a popular thing.

Oh wow, that's added to my TBR skyscraper then! I do touch on that subject in my book too, as it's not the easiest thing to do in middle age, but I see Dinosaurs and Cherry Stems is book one in your Cindy's Crusades series. 

Yes, Dinosaurs was the first of 4 books that evolved from my journaling, and a LOT of it is pure fiction. The 2nd book, The Sugar Ticket, is the sequel and has some true snippets but is otherwise just Cindy and Jay, her husband’s, hijinks. This one can be read as a stand-alone too. 

I find that so interesting - how much, do you think, of your real life appears in your writing?

Embellishment is my favourite word, and one I often lean on to create. I’ve also been known to weave some of my truths, the funny and the absurd, into my stories as well, while relying on a vivid imagination.

Which then led to a meet-and-greet with a muse that wouldn’t shut up. When a writer cries, “The words just poured out of me,” an overactive muse is likely behind the tornadoes of phrases for sure. 

Oh, I hear you! I'm at that awkward phase of having started book 2 in my series, but finding the time to sit down and write isn't happening and my muse won't shut up! She's a real nag too 😆 

I can see the next in your series is Don't Bruise the Bananas and now you're working on the next saga, Exodus to Shangri-La.

Yes, that's my current work-in-progress (WIP), although I’m considering changing its title because I’ve decided to use it as this year’s Christmas story. But for now, that’s the title of my WIP in this series. 

And Cindy and Jay, your protagonists, also star in A Sweet Snafu, Christmas with Niagara, His Sacred Vow, Passion's Secret Ingredient, and Turning up the Heat - so you've obviously created a big world around these two characters. I can see me doing that with my characters too, but what happened next on your journey?

Fast forward a few years, and after a wonderful educational writing experience and podcasts with a boutique publisher, I was invited to join a group called the Author’s Billboard in 2016. The Billboard was publishing anthologies/collections. Amazon started paying for pages read through their program, Kindle Unlimited, and the group offered me a wonderful chance for my writing to expand into other genres, via specific prompts for each collection.

For example, if the leader of the anthology wanted to publish a multi-authored set about single dads, ditzy dudes, or second-chance romance in small towns, for example, we were invited to participate if the subject matter appealed to our muses.

I loved, and still do, creating with a prompt, but most of my subject matter comes from my very twisted mind.

I think I love your 'very twisted mind'! And talking of creating stories, you've written so many books, so what's your secret for finding the subject matter?

Creating the hook for my stories either takes time or comes easily. I never know how that will go. Sometimes the solution comes in the night and wakes me up out of a sound sleep. Or in the shower. 

The title for my second story, The Sugar Ticket, came to me in a dream. It’s the sequel to Dinosaurs and one of my favourites among my stories. 

I started my Love for the Holidays Collection with Sparkles of the Season, which remains a favourite of mine in a completely different way, because it was the first book I wrote after my beloved husband passed. This, too, won an award, and I plan on adding it to my Audible collection soon.

Aww, I'm so sorry to hear about your husband, Sue, but what a lovely way to convert something so tough into something that now brings you joy. That's admirable.

Okay, let's change tactics. Pantser or plotter?

You’d probably refer to me as a panster, because the content of my stories comes at me from all directions, which is impossible to outline, even with a prompt. There have been many times the lightning bolt of endings comes to me, so my writing course is fleshed out and penned accordingly. I also read and edit the scenes I wrote before I left off to get in the mood, but authors need to leave final edits to a pro.

Sometimes an ending doesn’t work out well at all, and a better idea rolls in to replace it. I’m willing to bet lots of our writing buds have trashed half a book or three because the original ending sucked.

Most times, burying the garbage leads to a better ending, though.

Isn’t writing fun?

🤣 It sure is! And as you've mentioned them a couple of times now, do you find writing prompts helpful?

Even when given a prompt, writers can stall if there are too many conflicting ideas about a premise/plot.

But worse still is the possibility of no ideas at all – which scares the living out of me. Then my muse hops on the pendulum known as my brain and sways clear to the opposite edge of the imaginary abyss. 

I’ve come up with a few ideas so outrageous they’re not viable, and it’s so helpful to have devoted advisors or beta readers who are truthful, even if what they share is not what one wants to hear. 

I also read and edit what was written before starting where I left off, but leave the final edits to a pro.

I've found leaving a scene midway through is a good way to end a writing session for me because, like you, I tend to reread and edit when I restart, and it seems to get my head into its creative space and I'm off!

When you did first want to become a writer?

The burn to become a writer started when I was ten, but the real stuff began in the nineties with opinion pieces for one of our state’s newspapers and writing magazine articles.  

As a fledgling author eager to publish my first book, which was terrible, I committed some mighty serious faux pas - like ploughing head-first into the publishing industry without doing the proper research. The worst sin a new author commits is submitting unsolicited romance synopses to an agent who prefers to rep nonfiction authors – or the first three chapters of books, too, without acknowledging their genre preferences.

😂 Oh dear, I bet that made you popular!

You can laugh (and I don’t blame you), but I didn’t even know what a genre was back then – and as others in our profession can attest, I learned how to improve my craft and the rules of publishing etiquette as the rejections piled in, with or without helpful suggestions. In those days, you sent a self-addressed, stamped envelope to query agents.

But you did become successful, so what did you do?

For over a decade, I travelled to writer’s conferences, took online courses, and did everything possible to hone my skills. The birth of the independent/self-published author and online sites, like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, enabled other like-minded authors and me to choose this exciting, albeit new, path to publishing. I became obsessed and joined self-publishing groups on social media like Twitter and Facebook – anything that was pertinent to furthering my education. And I’m still learning—every single day.

I'm shocked to hear you're still learning! I'd assumed seasoned writers like yourself would know everything! Bummer 😅 

Now, I've heard through the grapevine that you have a new book coming out soon. Can you tell us anything about it yet?

Yes! My latest story, Canine Intervention, will be released in September, and I’m really excited about this one – it explores the darker side of my female lead’s mind, which took her on a dubious path, all because of a broken heart. It’s a novella in a multi-authored collection, and I wanted to wait a while before pubbing it as a solo book.

How exciting!

Squee! Let’s call this my cover reveal, okay?

OMG, really? Double squee 🤣

Oh, the cover is gorgeous, Sue! I want to take those dogs home. Thank you so much for sharing it. Can you give me the blurb?

Sure:

Sometimes you need a little nuzzle in the right direction...

Two naughty dogs unwittingly decide their humans’ fate and, just like that, Casey’s nomad days are over, and maybe her unconventional job, too.

Her hot neighbor, Royce Cooper, is zesty, captivating, and knows how to play a good game of poker. With his talent for bringing out the best in people, Casey considers leaving the past behind to start anew with this interesting man – provided that their dogs approve.

UPDATE: Since our interview, Sue has uploaded her book and you can find it here (US) or here (UK). Returning to our chat:

Aww, this sounds lovely, Sue!

My main objective is to entertain readers and to provide hope when it’s needed, along with gentle reminders that everyone, young or old, deserves a second chance, or even a thirtieth, if that’s what it takes to find happiness. All I need do is to resummon that indescribable feeling of falling deeply in love, and, if I’m lucky, my work is off and running. It’s kind of like a Groundhog Day thing.

That's absolutely amazing, I've really enjoyed chatting with you, thank you so much. And if you'd like to find out more about this really lovely lady, you can visit her website here or see her links below: 

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Susan-Jean-Ricci/author/B0094H8BEC

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/susan-jean-ricci

https://twitter.com/Susanjeanricci

https://www.facebook.com/DinosaursCherryStems/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6540974.Susan_Jean_Ricci 

Other books by Susan Jean Ricci:

The Love's Salvation series includes contemporary stand-alone works of fiction and short stories. Sue has two new series, Wicked Moments 2024 and Single or Mingle 2025.

Her nonfiction title, Running On All Fours, was a best-selling RONE Finalist in 2022 and was penned with true love.

And you can celebrate Christmas all year long with her Love for the Holidays Series.

Awards:

A member of the RWA, Chill Out Books, The Author’s Billboard, The Independent Authors' Network, and AllAuthor, Susan Jean Ricci . Many of her titles have earned awards and are recognized as the following: Novella Finalist in the IAN 2025, Novella and Holiday Novella Finalist in the IAN 2024 and 2022, Semi-Finalist in the Kindle Book Review Awards 2022, Novella Finalist with the IAN 2021, Outstanding Novella Award Winner with the IAN 2020, Gold Medal Award Winner in the Reader’s Favorite Awards 2020, and Finalist in the Outstanding Novellas Categories 2019,2018, 2017, the Women's Outstanding Fiction Winner in the IAN 2016, the Bronze Award Winner for Humor in the Reader’s Favorite Awards and a Silver Award in the Global eBook Awards 2015.

And don't forget, if you've enjoyed reading this post, then press here  to get all the latest updates emailed directly to you via follow.it (You can unsubscribe at any time). I feature at least one interview with a guest author or publishing professional each month and they're all brilliant!

My novel

'My F in Life' is my own novel, several years in the making, and it's been a sheer joy to write. I had always nurtured the dream of becoming a published author and I took some time away from here to write’ My F in Life’, a funny story about the challenges of middle age. 

Picking the subject-matter was easy, because middle-age was proving somewhat challenging to many people around me. I was watching friends’ break-up with long-term partners and seeing the impact on their families, fragmenting, re-blending, falling apart. Then there were aging parents, and illnesses that I’d heard about becoming a reality for loved ones. At times like that, you do face your own mortality.

But, as is my way, I found myself joking about it to friends, family, strangers in the street, basically anyone who would listen. It can be a tough time, but it can also be joyful too.  Liberating, even. Not everyone sees it that way, so I knew this was what I had to write.

And I’m glad I did, because it’s been a great vehicle for humour. I mean, online dating at 50? Who wants to do that? Well, me, but only in the sense of subjecting my poor protagonist to the horror! It’s fun putting her outside of her comfort zone and seeing what happens. And she has surprised me, quite often!

The problems my lead character, Jaye Mackay, faces all revolve around the letter F, an issue which started in her teens. Now she has problems with her family (her main F) because her kids are fleeing the nest and her husband’s fathering his mistress’ baby. Yikes! 

Luckily she has great friends, although her bestie, Didi, is hellbent on getting her dating again. New fellas? When she’s about to turn fifty? What a nightmare!

Add into that her finances, which are in a mess; her fitness, which is poor; and food, which is fast become her new love, although her expanding waistline is making her feel fat… 

The joy about Jaye is that she might be fed up and frustrated, but she’s also very funny.

She handles everything with such humour and it doesn’t seem to matter what I throw at her, she rises to each challenge and is an utter joy to watch!  I wish I was that resilient.

I’ve set the novel in the Scottish Highlands, as it makes for a stunning backdrop. 

From Urquhart castle (left) overlooking Loch Ness, to the NC500 (photo below), and dolphin-watching from the shore at Chanonry point, Scotland really adds its own charm to the novel. 

I’ve loved writing this, but one of my Goodreads reviews summed up my story brilliantly:

‘What makes the novel especially powerful is that beneath all the warmth and humour lies something much deeper. This is a story about a woman gradually rediscovering who she is after spending so much of her life defining herself through the people around her.’

I’m delighted, because that’s exactly what I was hoping to achieve. So many women give themselves to their families, and this story is about the transition from mum and wife, to something new, but what is it? That’s what I get to explore.

The blurb:

It's a hilarious comedy about friendship, family and fresh starts, which is set in the Scottish Highlands. It's an uplifting, fast-paced story that tackles the challenges of middle-age and it will have you laughing, crying, and wondering how many Fs rule your life too. So what's it about? 

Jaye never expected everything to fall apart when she turned fifty, but Fs are back in charge and ruining her life again.

Fitness… Her spare tyre’s self-inflating but she’s allergic to exercise, unless it’s wine bottle unscrewing where she’s fast becoming an Olympic athlete.

Frustration… Why has her soulmate of 30 years shacked-up with his young, blonde, skinny (except for his baby-bump) mistress? 

Family… One child has flown, the other two are flapping their wings, and Jaye’s left hugging the half-empty biscuit tin and her precious stash of chocolate.

Friends… Bestie Didi is fun with a capital F, but she’s pushing Jaye into online dating, reinvention, and ridiculous risk taking. 

As Jaye fights to hold everything together, she’s forced into deciding whether to return to her safe but imperfect life, or explore a new frightening (or is that exciting?) alternative. 

This hilarious, sharply observed novel is perfect for fans of fans of Jill Mansell, Fiona Gibson and Milly Johnson.

Kindle version/ Kindle unlimited (free)

Paperback version and you can also buy from bookshops (ISBN 978-1919553108)

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ‘MY F IN LIFE’

GOODREADS (link here)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A fantastic book. It’s a real page-turner and I read it very quickly. I warmed to the protagonist straight away. She is disarmingly funny and I had many laugh out loud moments.' 

Liz Treacher, best-selling author

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'As soon as I read the blurb for My F in Life by Jaye Troop, I knew I was in for a treat. What I wasn't expecting was just how completely I would be drawn into the story.'

Jas Pheonix, author 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Jaye experiences very difficult life events, encompassing her marriage, aging parents and a very complex work situation. It is empowering to watch her wade through the issues, while enjoying the super fast-paced ride. Five stars.

J.C. Paulson, best-selling author

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This was a truly great read. Jaye is wonderful even though she is blind to a few things. The writing style is unique and the story flows.'

Mary Schmidt, best-selling author

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This is such a great read. Being a fifty-something woman myself, I completely related to the F’s in Jaye’s life.' 

Further reviews:

‘The story is engaging, relatable and full of lovely humour. It was a joy to read and I can’t wait to see what comes next!’

‘From the outset there are perceptive and wrenching observations… an immensely likable character… many women of her age will associate with her.’

‘Some of the best realistic dialogue I’ve ever read. More please!’

‘I so enjoyed reading this. It is hugely relatable and funny.’

‘Everyday problems are dealt with so humorously that you want to read on to find out what hilarious situations our heroine will find herself in next.’ 

‘I really enjoyed reading this, from the down-to-earth, loveable protagonist to her narcissistic husband, and the most fun-loving friend we should all have in our lives.’

‘I can’t wait for the next book!

Guest author - Jas Phoenix

Today I am chatting with the wonderful Jas Phoenix, who is a great supporter of the writing community, both reading and reviewing books (and she writes fabulous reviews too - see what she did for my novel here) and she also spends hours tagging and reposting books - we all need more people like her!

In addition to this, she's a fellow newbie author, and we went through a lot of the same processes at the same time, which was so lovely. It turns out mutual hand-holding does help to keep you sane 🤣

Jas' debut book, Berkano (The Ultimate Power of Three Book 1) is being released on the 12th August, only a couple of weeks away now, and I have to admit, I was biting my fingernails at that point in my journey, so how are you doing?  

First of all, thank you so much for having me! It’s great to be here. 

Honestly, I am a paradox of being incredibly, vibrantly excited and utterly terrified all at once! The countdown is very real. I know we spent the run-up to our launches joking about hiding in boxes together, but now that yours is officially out, you’ve successfully escaped! And I am so happy at the well-deserved success you’ve already had.

I, on the other hand, am currently looking for a good shipping crate to crawl into until my launch day passes. You'll have to come rescue me. If you see a stray cardboard box delivery at your house, just know I might be inside it.

Right, I’m off to see if I can find a crate for you 😂 

Excellent! If you could line the bottom with chocolate and pack a bottle of wine for cushioning, I’ll be set until launch day. 😂 

Now I’m definitely jumping in there too!

But I’m getting ahead of myself. I'm supposed to do an intro, for all the lovely people that don't know your journey, so let's start over! Can you tell me when you first started writing?

My writing journey started the moment I could hold a pen. I kicked things off with some angsty childhood poetry to vent some feelings, moved on to stories, and dreamed of doing it full-time.

Then adulthood happened. I ended up working as a medical secretary, which taught me two things: how to type incredibly fast, and that I absolutely hate working in offices. I traded the filing cabinets to become a full-time carer for my partner, which is so much more rewarding and finally gave my creativity room to breathe.

Being a full-time carer is a tough job, so I’m glad you find the time to be creative. What do you do for relaxation?  

Thank you, being a carer is definitely a 24/7 gig and it can take its toll, so finding time to switch off and just create is everything to me.

These days, my passions are pretty simple: reading, writing, and masterfully burning dinner while sipping a very necessary glass of wine!

I’ve spent my whole life refusing to fit into any conventional boxes - which is pretty ironic given our current obsession with cardboard ones! It took me a while to embrace being different, but now I wouldn't have it any other way.

I love that. Be true to yourself - that’s inspirational.

Inspirational, eek! 😬 That's going on a sticky note inside my shipping crate. 😂 Inspirational might be pushing it, but finally choosing to just be unapologetically myself has been the most freeing thing ever. Worrying about everyone else’s opinion of me was just too much hard work!

Agreed, but talking of worrying, can I just say a huge thank you for your amazing support when my book went live. The fact you read it straight away, and then wrote that amazing review really helped calm my nerves. 

And you are so welcome! Honestly, because of our journeys together, I had been waiting with pure, impatient excitement for My F in Life to come out. I absolutely loved it! You are just so incredibly clever - to write something that has so much humour but is deeply heartfelt at the exact same time, all while keeping the characters' journeys feeling so authentic? It’s masterclass stuff, and I am obsessed with your main character, Jaye!

Aww, now see, I don’t take compliments well, so shut up 🤣🤣

Okay, okay, I’ll behave! 🤐😂

But I am so, so glad my review helped calm your nerves. I totally get that fear of “Have I just written a massive pile of rubbish?” I think every author secretly terrifies themselves with that thought!

That's not just me then - good to know 🤣 But you’re right. Even though I’d gone through a development edit, a copy edit and then a proof read, I was still nervous that it wasn’t good enough. 

It really is madness, isn't it? We can put our books through absolute rigorous testing and our brains will still try to convince us it's all bad. That’s why I am so endlessly grateful to my own editing team for giving me the confidence that my book is actually good.

Berkano went through four intense rounds of editing with my amazing team, Nik and Jon at Tepris Press. Working with professionals like them was a totally new experience for me. It was definitely a learning curve, but it has taught me so much about the craft. I genuinely think I’m a much better writer now because of it!

I agree about the steep learning curve. I’ll admit, I did what you’re not supposed to do, and allowed some friends and family to read My F in Life before I sent it to the editor. How about you - did you need validation too?

I am the exact opposite - I am incredibly, fiercely private with my writing! Before I sent Berkano off, absolutely no one had read a single word of it. In fact, my friends and family didn't even know I was writing a book at all. I guarded the manuscript so much that I'm pretty sure my partner thought I was secretly plotting a bank heist or creating a strange new cult, given how much time I spent muttering at my screen in absolute secrecy. 

OMG, that’s hilarious! I can see it now, the wine and burnt food forgotten as you plan world domination!

Shh, don't give away my entire business model! 😂 Sending it to Nik and Jon at Tepris Press was the absolute first time anyone else had ever set eyes on it. To say I was terrified is a massive understatement - handing it over felt like willingly giving away my firstborn child to strangers. Not that I have any children, mind you - I think my childhood teddy bear that sits on my bed would be deeply offended if I replaced her with a human baby - but the separation anxiety was very real!

Looking back, though, I'm so glad they were the first ones to see it; having that immediate, professional feedback was exactly what I, and the book, needed.

I hear you. I found my editors’ feedback brilliant, although their reports did lead to rewriting and I seriously wondered if it would ever get published because I became this manic self-editor who couldn't let anything go by 😁 How about you?

Thankfully, Nik and Jon gave me a heads-up that a first-round edit usually looks like a crime scene of red text on the screen, so I didn't completely panic! I had to do some rewriting and shift sections around to improve the flow, but it was actually less painful than I’d braced myself for, and I genuinely loved every minute of shaping it into the best possible version of itself.

That's excellent! Prior to writing my novel, I'd attended courses and read lots of books, which I enjoyed, but I learnt the importance of hooking a reader with the first line/ paragraph, so I spent quite a lot of time working on mine.

Then my writer pal, Liz, had this brilliant idea of bringing one of my chapters forwards, so I ran time backwards to lead up to the event, and my opening lines ended up changing - typical! Did you feel that same pressure to get your opening right too?

I haven’t actually done any writing courses or read a single book on how to write... which now makes me feel like I’ve turned up to the exam without doing any of the revision! Maybe that’s something I should have put on my to-do list!

My school of learning was just pure, unadulterated reading. Books were always my safe haven, and usually far more entertaining than reality anyway. Because of that, I already instinctively knew how vital it was to hook a reader straight away.

It's funny how these things work - you moved yours forwards, whereas Nik and Jon actually advised me to move my original opening much later into the book so the new beginning tied perfectly into a different part of the story.

That's so interesting, as you do get blind to your own work, so having that external feedback is so helpful.

I know Berkano is book 1 in a series of 3, (like me - we really are on the same wavelength!), so what’s your process for outlining your book - plotter or pantser?

We really are in sync! As for my process, I think I’m a bit of a mythological creature in the writing world - a ‘plantsor’ maybe? My method is a bit chaotic. Believe it or not, the story itself is actually already written for books two and three, but only in a very rough, 'brain-dump, ignore all the rules’ kind of way.

I write out the entire narrative from my head without worrying about anything other than just getting it down. Once the dust settles, I go back, and that’s when the real work begins and I restructure, rewrite, and change massive chunks as new ideas spark. I plot the general direction, but I absolutely fly by the seat of my pants to get there! So I’m essentially a plotter and a pantser having a massive argument in the same body!"

I love that! Okay, so let's talk about your story now. Mine is about middle age because, well, I only had to look in the mirror for inspiration! But yours? Your blurb states, 'She was born to free the dead. The darkness was born to feed on them.' Somehow I suspect you didn’t get that from your mirror!

You’d be surprised what I see in the mirror after a chaotic day of trying to fit my writing around my caring role 😆

But thankfully, no, the darkness hasn't come for me yet. If it did look back at me from inside my mirror, it would probably just see a very haggard, crazy woman in mismatched pyjamas and think, ‘Actually, you know what? I'll pass.’ 😂 

As for the hook, that actually came from sitting for hours on end, desperately trying to think of something that would catch people's attention. I wanted readers to know right away that the story was about the dead, but I also wanted to show that it's different from other books in the genre. By the end of the day, I was completely cross-eyed, but I’d managed to come up with a few ideas. I pitched them to Nik, and between us, we chose that one.

And what genre best fits Berkano?

I am actually terrible at labelling genres! I always just thought of this book as fantasy, but I’ve since been reliably informed that it’s urban fantasy.

Okay, that's a new one on me, but where did the idea for the story come from?

To be honest, I’m not even entirely sure where it came from. I tend to live in my head a lot and always have so many concepts going round and round. Something on the TV or in a book might spark a thought, and off I go on my own little tangent, creating weird and wonderful worlds in my mind. When an idea refuses to go away, I start making notes, and that’s where it all begins.

At its heart, Berkano is about a young woman named George, who is living a pretty standard, unremarkable life. She works a regular day job, lives at home with her mum, and has absolutely no idea she's anything out of the ordinary.

Everything changes for her, though, when a mysterious woman approaches her one day. George discovers her life has been a lie, and that she has a power in her DNA that allows her to communicate with the dead. Suddenly, she finds herself being hunted by terrifying creatures and is forced to leave everything she knows behind, all to fulfil a destiny she’s really not sure she wants anything to do with.

While it's a fast-paced adventure filled with family secrets, ancient powers, and danger, it’s ultimately a story about friendship, loyalty, and discovering the courage to face the things that terrify you most.

Wow, Jas, that sounds amazing! I can't wait to read it.

I'm going to end our chat by asking about your publishing route. You’ve gone a completely different direction from me. Can you tell me more?

I was incredibly lucky in how my journey with Tepris Press began. They had actually read some of my previous work and were happy to take me on based on that, which left me absolutely over the moon and so incredibly grateful!

My experience with them since has been excellent. The level of support they’ve given me has been exceptional, not only with the editing itself, but also when it comes to answering my endless stream of questions.

They’ve held my hand through the terrifying world of marketing and social media - which is a relief, because left to my own devices, my marketing strategy would probably just be standing on a street corner yelling, “Buy my book or the teddy bear gets it!” While the PR itself has been my own doing, their constant advice on what I actually need to be putting out there has been a lifesaver.

They also handled getting the book up on Amazon, coordinating the launch date, and ordering the proofs. Having them handle that side of things took a massive amount of time and stress off my shoulders!

As for the cover, I am so completely in love with it. It was created by an amazing artist, Ashley McKenzie who works for a Nashville based company called TabGraphix. The design was entirely up to me, but Tepris Press was brilliant in helping me come up with ideas and assisting me in finding the artist to bring it to life.

That's sounds a wonderful working relationship - you really have found your home. Thank you so much, Jas, and I can't wait for your launch. You have so many people in the writing community rooting for you, me included, so readers will be flocking to read your work - I can see you on the bestseller list in no time!

You are far too kind, thank you! If I make it onto a bestseller list, though, it'll probably be 'Most Likely to Spontaneously Combust.’ If I can get through launch day without melting into a puddle in this heat, I'll count it as a win!

🤣 If you'd like to support lovely Jas by buying her debut novel, you can find the link here - I've got mine on pre-order and can't wait to read it!

And don't forget, if you've enjoyed reading this post, then press here  to get all the latest updates emailed directly to you via follow.it (You can unsubscribe at any time). I feature at least one interview with a guest author or publishing professional each month and they're all brilliant!

Guest author - Adele Royce

Today I'm delighted to chat with author Adele Royce whose published novels include Camera Ready, Princess Smile, For Position Only (which was a BookLife by Publishers Weekly Editor’s Pick), and Summer’s Blood (which received the coveted Kirkus starred review). I'm already in awe!

She's an advertising and PR executive, who has spent most of her career on the Las Vegas Strip, an experience that gave colour to her latest novel, Slipper Girl. I'll bet it did!

She is currently working on the sequel to Slipper Girl as well as Deadly Sins, a collection of short stories. In addition, she owns a marketing consulting firm in San Diego, California, where she resides with her husband and two cats. So let's meet her.

Can I just say, Adele, that's an impressive body of work! Can you tell me a bit more about your books?

I have five novels as part of one essential universe that I call my World of Adele Royce. The way my first book (technically Princess Smile, but I published it third) played out determined the next book and so on. I always end my books with a setup for the next. I come up with the idea of just imagining the story moving forward and ask myself “What if?” 

I love this idea! In fact I've just done it in my own book, but please carry on.

I also look at the characters and determine which characters might have an interesting story in the next book. That's how I came up with the story for Slipper Girl. I looked into the story of my first novel in my Neon Diaries series, Summer's Blood, and dug into the story to find the most interesting character that could be developed in the next book for Slipper Girl, and the indisputable star was Skylar van Ness. 

I never look at trends to determine what I'm going to write; I only write stories that are fascinating to me and stories I know will be fascinating to my readers.

I know what you mean. I've read books and sensed the author was enjoying writing the story as much as I was reading it, because their enthusiasm translated into the prose. That's a great tip, thank you! 

One part of the writing process that fascinates me with whether authors plot their stories in great detail, or just fly by the seat of their pants. Which camp do you sit in?

I'm definitely a pantser at heart but when I moved from romantic dramedies to mystery thriller I had to start outlining. Mysteries are much too detailed to leave it up to me, as a pantser, to come up with a story and plot that will tie everything together at the end. 

That said, I love to come up with ideas that veer outside of my outline. That's why sometimes in the middle of the book, or towards the end, I'll have a better idea. And, for me it's always about having a better idea and making sure the book is as great as it can possibly be, and as entertaining and exciting as I can make it.

I'm loving this! Okay, what about your process when you're deciding on your novel's POV?

In terms of point of view, it kind of depends on the characters. I wrote my first four books in first person narrative and I feel that those books were really character-driven even though the 4th book was mystery/thriller. 

I liked being in one character's mind, but when I wrote Slipper Girl I just started to move away from first person narrative, so I wrote in third person limited point of view. I have two characters point of views represented in the book, but I felt that it gave me a little more freedom with the story. 

When you write in first person narrative the narrator always has to be in the scene so it sometimes creates a dilemma when developing plot, and that need for convenience may or may not be realistic.

I agree. I was after an intimate feel with my book and we're in my main character's head the entire time, which makes for fun but it also gave me some headaches, like knowing what story was going on beyond her world, but it was fun trying to sort it out!

Knowing you're a pantser, how about the prep work you do for your characters? Do you have detailed bios before you start writing, or create them as you move through the story?

First of all, this is my favourite part of the writing process. I love to develop, to sketch, and to dig into the psyches of my characters. I always write a bio for each, and dig into them as individuals: where they grew up; how their parents were; what kind of a childhood they had; what kind of things happened to them that shaped the way they are; the things they say; and how they make decisions. I totally view them as real people. 

Me too! It's bizarre, isn't it?

It probably makes me sound a little crazy, but they are real to me and if I make them real, my readers will feel the same way. 

I agree, 100%, so I guess we're both a little nuts!

Character names are fun too. I try to find names that either truly fit the individual or perhaps they are names I just love. I try to make sure that the name fits the character; however, I don't use a whole lot of allegory. I have used allegory for names in my short stories but, in the novels, I just try to find those that fit. 

I do look at the nationality and where they grew up, in what era they were born, and I find names that I like. Sometimes, I give a character a name that I always wished I had.

This all feels very logical to me, and I like that because I can borrow your ideas! And what about writing style?

I would call mine direct clear and concise. I don't heavy-up my writing with descriptive language, although I do describe just enough so that my reader can see and truly visualize what's happening in every scene. 

I try not to go over the deep end with the descriptive detail because I want the reader visualise in their own mind, so I give them just enough detail where they know exactly what's going on through dialogue. 

I have a character who swears a lot. His name is DJ Keller, and his voice is unique. I make the dialogue distinct among my characters so that when you remove the dialogue tag, the reader still knows who is speaking.

I remember one of my writing teachers telling me that many years ago, and it's quite tough to do well, so I applaud you. Moving on to the publishing side of things, what route did you decide to take?

For my first three books, I used a hybrid publisher in Los Angeles, and he handles all my sales and takes a percentage of my royalties. 

For Summer's Blood I decided to self-publish, and I worked with a marketing and publishing partner who handled all of the details, including internal layout of the book, cover, etc. 

We have a collaborative relationship on the marketing and how to promote the book. I do feel that self-publishing gives me a little more autonomy. 

Again, I find myself agreeing with you! I didn't want a cover I hated, or changes made that I didn't like, so I knew I had to self-publish. It's far more work, but there is something lovely about knowing it's exactly as you envisioned.

And talking about professionals, I'm guessing your expertise in marketing makes you a good self-editor, but do you use a professional editor too?

I'm a pretty good editor but, of course, I'm human, and I miss things that a professional editor picks up. My editing process is ongoing and my final step in the process is to hire a professional editor—one that I trust will be a good fit—one who knows the book, knows the characters, and will not change my voice or my character's choices. The editor’s job, to me, is to make the manuscript tighter, cleaner, and more professional.

Okay, that sounds sensible but, just out of interest, do you give your work to anyone else to read before it's published?

I have critique partners first. Secondly, I have beta readers, and lastly I ask my writing community partners if they'd like to receive an advance review copy (ARC). 

I highly recommend beta readers. If I see a pattern, with several of my beta readers pointing out the same thing, then it's time for me to re-evaluate whether I really want that to happen in the story. If it's something I feel strongly about, I'll go ahead and keep it as is, but beta readers are precious to me and I highly recommend them.

It sounds like you've got a good team together. I think I need to do that! How about bad writing habits - do you have any?

Common writing mistakes for me are lapsing into a “tell don't show” scenario. Those are usually in the first draft and as I move to 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th drafts, I start to find those mistakes and fix them. Sometimes I have a beta reader or a critique partner point those out or my editor.

Going back to paid professionals, are there any others you use?

Certainly. I try to keep the covers within the family of the series so, for example, my first three books were romantic dramedy, and they have a similar look and feel—photographs as opposed to illustrations. 

For the Neon Diaries series, I went with more of a graphic illustration and I wanted both Summer's Blood and Slipper Girl to be informed by the same brand. 

Because I'm a marketing and advertising executive by trade, I usually have a strong vision of what I want to see on the cover, and then work with my partners and artists to execute that strategy.

Talking of your background, I've spoken to many authors who seem to hate marketing, so do you have any tips?

Because I am a marketer, marketing, social media, ad campaigns, and all of that stuff comes naturally to me. I will say that I needed to study up and learn through trial and error in marketing my books though. 

With the first one, I really didn't know what I was doing. I was looking at the book as though it was a product or service, which is what I do in my career; however, book marketing is its own thing, and I had to learn the publishing industry. 

I did all of that by studying, talking to people, doing webinars, reading, researching, and then realising what worked and what didn't. I have found that over time I've gotten much better at it. 

The other thing is that every writer needs to stay ahead of marketing trends because they change constantly. Staying on top of social media trends, understanding the different offerings, seeing what is being put out there and what people are engaging with. It's really a work in progress that never ends, because technology, as we all know, just keeps changing.

It sure does. It makes me wonder how we ever find the time to write! 

And what about your publishing mechanics, such as software, etc?

For the technical part of the writing process, I use Microsoft Word. I don't use any fancy novel writing software. I find that they are distracting. I keep dated revisions, so I have version control. 

I purchase many ISBN numbers so I have enough for the series to go on and on, and I copyright my manuscript with the US copyright office. I always take that step because I feel as though my writing and my ideas are protected.

I do have a website that's interactive too, at www.adeleroyce.com. I have some fun features on the website that include a 'Meet the Characters' section. Each of my characters has a bio and photo, and they're very fun to go and interact with. 

Actually, I really enjoyed playing with them - it's a great idea!

I really believe in engaging with my audience so if you go to my website and sign up for my newsletter, you will receive my updates. I review other authors’ books there, so it's really a way for me to engage with my readers. I always do a fun prize giveaway. 

I'm on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok. I'd say I'm probably most active on Instagram and X. I feel like engaging with the writing community is great but we also need to engage with our readers so some of the content is more focused on writing, and a lot of is there for my readers to discover more about my books and other author’s books.

Thank you so much, Adele, this has been fabulous! And I'd love it if we could end by learning a bit more about your latest novel, Slipper Girl please?

She Buried Her Past. It’s Back to Destroy Her.

Skylar Van Ness has always been a fighter. From her tumultuous childhood in Amsterdam to her rise as the Vice President of Marketing at Donovan Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, she’s faced every challenge head-on.

But when Skylar’s estranged mother, Brit, reappears with a sinister agenda, Skylar’s world is turned upside down. As secrets from her past threaten to unravel her carefully constructed life, Skylar must navigate a treacherous path of deception, blackmail, betrayal and heart-wrenching revelations. With the stakes higher than ever, she must rely on instinct alone — because trust is a luxury she can’t afford.

The eagerly anticipated follow-up to Adele Royce’s nail-biting Summer’s Blood, Slipper Girl is a gripping tale of one woman’s resilience and redemption, and the unbreakable bonds of family. 

That sounds amazing! If you'd like to learn about Adele, I'd recommend visiting her website, where you can also find all of her social media links too.

And don't forget, if you've enjoyed reading this post, then press here  to get all the latest updates emailed directly to you via follow.it (You can unsubscribe at any time). I feature at least one interview with a guest author or publishing professional each month and they're all brilliant!