Can you believe it's the end of February already? I can't! It's been an amazing month for me (both amazingly good and amazingly bad). And today we're wrapping up with some amazingly good! I'm so happy to have Megan Slayer here as my guest. I've known Megan for quite a while and I'm excited for you to learn more about her and her books. So without further ado:
Welcome, Megan! Author’s lives intrigue readers and other writers. Tell me about your typical daily schedule.
I don’t have a schedule. I have to fit it in around everything else in my life. That sounds bad, but it’s the truth. I’m mom, taxi driver, pet parent, wife, book club member, a member of my Friends of the Library group and an author all rolled into one. Some days I get up, get the evil day job done, then write. Most days, I fit it in around the other things I have to get done. I’m told I work from home, so I should have plenty of time to write and do anything asked of me. It’s not that easy. Most of the time I wait until everyone else goes to bed, then write for a couple hours at night. It’s so glamorous.
Do you have a pre-writing routine to prepare yourself to get down to business?
I reread what I wrote up to that point so I can get back into the headspace. If I’ve been listening to a particular movie or playlist, I get that queued up, too. Otherwise, it’s just a matter of finding the notebook and getting to work.
What’s your writing style? Slow and steady? Quick and prolific? All over the place?
All over the place. Ha! I wish I could say steady, but when I have five minutes and a notebook, I’ll get something done towards the story. Most of the time I work in dribs and drabs to get it done. But I persevere until I’m done (or at least until the characters say I’m done *grin*)
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned since starting work in this industry?
Have a ginormously thick skin. Like miles thick. You’re not going to make everyone happy all the time and there will always be those who want to knock you down, so have a thick skin, take some of it to heart because you can always learn and grow, then do your thing. I guess that’s a lot of important lessons. Shrugs. There’s a lot to learn in this business.
What are you working on now?
A sweet romance featuring a Halloween town. Grin.
What’s your favorite genre to write?
I don’t have one outside of romance. I want a happy ending and love. Doesn’t matter what the pairing or combo. Just love, romance and a happy ending…oh and lots of spice.
Do you have a favorite author or someone you look up to in the industry?
I look up to a lot of people. It’s funny, I’ve been in this business for ten years (Gosh, that seems like I’m old, doesn’t it?) and I’ve seen a lot of people come and go. One of my favorite authors is Cheryl Dragon. She tells it like it is, doesn’t pull punches and is a great support. Another is Jocie McKade. We’ve been there, so to speak, for a long time and still she’s a rock for me.
Tell me your writing story…when did you decide this was what you want to do? How long did it take you to get “the call”? When were you first published? Etc.
Oy…So…11 years ago, I was reading a NASCAR romance and I hated the ending. HATED it. I had a different idea of how things should’ve worked out. Oh, and I wanted heat. Like lots more than they went to bed and end scene. So, I figured if I wanted to read hotter and the ending I wanted, then I should just do it for myself. I put pen to paper, then fingers to keyboard and knocked out my first manuscript. I put that aside, then worked on another with a firefighter. I sent those two novels back and forth with a crit partner and thought I knew what I was doing. 39 or so rejection letters later…I had a small idea of what I was doing. I joined a review site, read tons more than I already read and learned the craft. I knew how to write from writing lesson plans, but I learned how to craft a romance story. How to build the tension, increase the romance and get to the hot parts. I was first contracted by the Wild Rose press in 2009 and the book came out in 2010, but I had a book contracted by Totally Bound in 2009 and within 6 months of it being contracted, that short story was out. I know. It’s strange. I don’t mind.
How many books have you had published and for whom?
Oh wow… um… can I say I lost count? I kind of have. I’m published with Resplendence Publishing, Loose Id, MLR Press, Totally Bound, Pride Publishing, Changeling Press, Evernight Publishing, Decadent Publishing and I have a few self-published titles. I have no idea any longer how many I have with any given publisher. I just write to write.
What is your goal as a writer?
My goal is ultimately to write for the sheer love of writing, which I do, but also to be successful enough to not have to write to make ends meet.
What do you love most about writing?
I love getting lost in the world of someone who isn’t me and putting that story into existence. It’s fun being someone else, as in the story, for a while.
What’s your latest release? Can you tell us about the book and how you got the idea?
My latest release is Finding Michael. This book is a story of second chances and coming home, even when you don’t know you needed to go home. I got the idea from a photo. I’d seen a picture of James McAvoy during the movie Becoming Jane and the character sparked. A librarian and an author. It’s not a new concept, but I set the story in a small town where everyone knows everyone, until they don’t.
What’s your writing space like?
My couch? I have a desk, but it’s not really conducive to writing because it’s not really set up for a laptop. I tend to sit on my couch or at the dining room table to write. I need noise to write, so I have the television going or a movie playing while I write. There is usually a dog beside me or a cat behind my head. If they could read, I’m guessing they’d have an advanced education. *grin*
What do you do when you’re not writing?
I’m a mom. I have to be not only kid mom, but pet mom. Recent my dog was diagnosed with glaucoma in her left eye. I had no idea dogs got glaucoma (yes, this will end up in a book), but because she had it, she needed to have her eye removed (again, this will be in a book). So I’ve spent the last month ferrying her back and forth to vet visits, surgery and recovery. Add on my kid is doing drama club and sports. I spend a lot of time in the car. I’m on the committee with my local Friends of the Library group, so I have duties with that, plus I take part in two book clubs. But I always have a notebook with me, so when I’m not writing or driving, I’ve got the notebook to jot stuff down.
I’m all about ‘giving people something to talk about’. We all experience crazy things from time to time. Can you tell us something unusual that you’ve done or had happen to you?
Okay, so I was at a romance convention. The second one I’d ever attended and I was staying at the hotel where the convention was being held. A friend of mine and I were trying to get ice for the room. I had a cooler and needed more ice. The two of us, both authors, went to the ice machine. Think Two Broke Girls, but authors and not that young. The directions were clearly posted on the machine and yet, we couldn’t figure out how to get the ice OUT of the machine. For ten minutes, we futzed with the machine. Laughing to the point of tears and embarrassed, we finally figured it out. So silly, but we still laugh about it to this day.
Tell us… What’s your favorite movie and why?
My favorite movie is Field of Dreams. I saw it when I was in the sixth grade at school and as a treat for being behaved. I’m not sure why I fell in love with it other than the theme is hope. Never give up hope. Plus, I thought Kevin Costner was handsome. I think it had something to do with farming and tractors. My dad is a farmer, so it hit home.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers?
I love fan mail. Love it. 😊
Last questions…
Coke or Pepsi? Coke, I suppose, but I’d rather have Dr. Pepper.
Summer or Winter?
Neither. I’m a fall and spring kind of girl. I love 70s, sunny and warm enough for the windows down, but chilly at night.
Cat person or Dog person?
Both. I have two of each.
Bronte or Austen?
Would you believe I’m indifferent? I somehow skipped that month in school because I didn’t read either author until I was out of school for many years.
Star Trek or Star Wars?
Neither, but if there’s Ewan McGregor, I’m there.
Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate
Chips or Cookies?
Neither. I’m a chocolate kind of girl. Haha!
Zombies or Werewolves or Vampires?
Vampires
Country, Classical or Rock?
Rock all the way. I need growly music. But if you’ve got Billy Joel, I’m there.
McDonalds or Burger King?
Neither. I’d rather have Taco Bell. Grin.
Where can people contact your and find you online?
http://www.wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm is my website and I can be contacted at theauthormeganslayer@gmail.com
Thank you, Megan, for being here today!!
Here's a look at Megan's latest book:
Finding Michael by Megan Slayer
Pride Publishing
Contemporary Erotic Gay Romance, Super Novel
Cover Copy:
Going home could be just the thing his muse needs and his heart desires.
Tristan Paulson needs the words to return. He loves his career penning novels of small-town love, but his muse has gone missing. If he can’t write, he can go back to his roots and sort through the items his newly deceased uncle left behind. Once in Sullavan, Ohio, he realizes just how much he loved the place. Then he sees the handsome librarian—Michael is just the kind of guy he’s always wanted. How can he go back to the big city when Sullavan calls to him?
Michael Kane wants nothing more than to be surrounded by his books and the written word. He knows heartbreak and isn’t in the mood to put himself out into the dating pool again…until he sees Tristan. He wants to be with Tristan, but he’s too shy. A handsome man like Tristan wouldn’t be interested in a quiet man like Michael…would he?
General Release Date: 20th February 2018, preorder up on 1/9
Here's an excerpt!
©MeganSlayer 2018, All Rights Reserved
“There’s a bookstore and it has a coffee shop. I go there. I spend a lot of time with Molly because she’s alone at the B&B. Her last boyfriend was a real peach and when he left, he screwed her over. Stole her money, wrecked her car…so she’s kind of touchy.” He stretched his legs. “Otherwise I do my own thing. I spend a lot of time at the library and working with the ladies group who helps the library.”
“No boyfriend?”
Isn’t he full of questions again? “No.”
“Me either.” Tristan blew out a long breath. “Why don’t we go down to the diner? I’m starving and…why not?”
“Sure.” He eyeballed Tristan. The guy wasn’t asking him to come home with him. Just a meal together. Why did this feel like more? Because he wanted more? Christ, he hadn’t gone out with anyone since Barry and even then, the connection wasn’t strong. He stood and stretched, then settled next to Tristan. He could be crazy, but he’d like to find out more about Tristan.
Tristan remained beside Michael as they walked to the diner. He could get used to being with Michael. He’d only been in town for twenty-four hours and he couldn’t fathom not having Michael in his life. As friends? Absolutely. As lovers? If he had his way, then yes.
