Welcome all.
Today I’m very lucky to be
interviewing AJ Storm author of Dark
Strangers, Alexander's Story, The Power of Two, Emily's Passion, Right of
Passion, Fortune's Eyes, Fortune's Daughter, The Blood Rose, and Danny's Heat
coming at the end of the year.
ME: Hi AJ Storm, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us
a little about yourself and your background?
AJ STORM: I’m AJ Storm and I write
erotic dreams in all genres.
I’m an avid reader of BDSM,
erotic paranormal romance, and murder/mystery books. I am particularly fond of
vampire and shifter stories. Currently, I live in the Midwestern part of the
United States with my husband and my two-year-old Chocolate Labrador Retriever.
I’m a 65-year-old grandmother of six, a mother of two, and a wife to the same
man for 42 years. Most of my life, I’ve been a writer, but just not of books.
Essays, book reports, letters, and short stories were my expression of self. My
real talent appeared in high school when I got my first guitar and wrote music,
lyrics, and sang. Love songs helped me release my Passion.
Marriage and raising children cut
down on my free time, so the guitar sat in the corner voiceless. In 2006, I
discovered voices waking me in the middle of the night telling me their
stories, and when I finally listened, I wrote them down. That was how Emily’s
Passion came about. It’s the story of my life, but also part fiction. And so,
here I am today with eight published books and one about to be released.
I love writing and sharing my
fantasies with others through the written word. I love making people lose
themselves in a story and feel the emotions.
ME: What genre do you write?
AJ STORM: Paranormal romance, murder/mystery, women's fiction
ME: What are you working on at the minute?
AJ STORM: Currently, it's titled Hunting Season, but it may change.
ME: Can you share a little of your current work with us?
AJ STORM: It's the story of a middle-aged Choctaw woman who's
father hires a 45 year old ranch hand to help her run the ranch so she can
date, go out with friends, etc. and stop living like a man. Needless to say,
she's pissed and doesn't want him there.
ME: Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead
character from your most recent book?
AJ STORM: Playing the part of Griff - Mark Harmon
ME: While you were writing, do you ever feel as if you were one of
the characters?
AJ STORM: Always, I get pulled into my characters and their story.
They talk to me and become like family.
ME: When did you decide to become a writer?
AJ STORM: I've always had the ability to put my thoughts and
emotions down on paper. Five years ago, I was encouraged to write a novel and
Dark Strangers was born.
ME: Which writers inspire you?
AJ STORM: There are so many....my top two would be J.R. Ward and
Cherise Sinclair
ME: Do you write on a typewriter, computer, dictate or longhand?
AJ STORM: Longhand and then transfer to computer. I can correct or
edit when I do that.
ME: Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer to just see
where an idea takes you?
AJ STORM: My characters talk to me. They tell me their stories and
I write them down. They even get angry when I don't follow where they’re going
and then they go silent until I make the change.
ME: Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors.
AJ STORM: I love to read. Currently, I read Debbie Zello, Faith
Gibson, Thia Finn, Hilary Storm, R.B. Obrien.....I have hundreds on my Kindle I
haven't gotten to yet. There are tons of good authors out there.
ME: What book are you reading now?
AJ STORM: Only Pleasure by Lora Leigh
ME: Do you think that giving books away free works and why?
AJ STORM: Truthfully, I haven't made up my mind about it. I've read
comments on both sides of the issue. I
think an occasional free book is okay, but I don't make a habit of it.
ME: How do you relax?
AJ STORM: Listen to music on headphones and reading
ME: What is your favorite quote?
AJ STORM: "Mine"
That one word fills me with hope, need, and passion. To have someone so
into you that he holds you and growls mine....It turns me on.
ME: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
AJ STORM: Something that I'm continually learning. Never Give Up.
ME: What does your writing process look like?
AJ STORM: First, I put on my headphones and turn on my playlist of
music I've chosen to write to. I use a yellow pad and a pilot gel pen to write
the stories given to me by my characters. Then, I transfer them to my computer
while I do a first edit as I'm transferring. This continues until I write The
End. I have two or three beta readers who read and offer comments and
suggestions.
ME: What is your least favorite part of the publishing / writing
process?
AJ STORM: The Blurb--I hate writing them and I'm not good at it. I
end up retelling the story.
ME: Is there a certain type of scene that's harder for you to write
than others? Love? Action? Racy?
AJ STORM: Not really. I don't have a problem because it's not my
story--it belongs to my characters. Sometimes my readers get upset with some of
the outcomes, but I have to write it as they dictate it.
ME: Did you learn anything from writing your book(s) and what was
it?
AJ STORM: The one thing that I'm continually learning is that I
need to write for myself and not my readers. By that I mean, the story needs to
be written for me and my characters (staying true to the story) and not focus
on popularity or acceptance. If a book doesn't sell well, then it doesn't. I
just know that I've done the best I could do and have written one hell of a
book.
ME: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family
members.
AJ STORM: My PA is #1. She works her butt off and puts up with my
craziness. My beta readers are next and are always supportive.
ME: Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and
why?
AJ STORM: I would like to sit down with Stephen King and talk about
all aspects of writing and publishing. Not particularly about horror but about
the industry in general.
ME: What is your favorite theme/genre to write about?
AJ STORM: Has to be paranormal. I love it and I read a lot of it.
ME: What is your favorite theme/genre to read?
AJ STORM: I love all genres as long as they have interesting
characters and plots. Romance of any kind is my favorite. I love a good love
scene.
ME: What secret talents do you have?
AJ STORM: Play guitar, sing, write music, tole painting
ME: If you had a superpower, what would it be?
AJ STORM: Flying....I want to soar over everything and feel the
wind whooshing over my body.
ME: Where is one place you want to visit that you haven't been
before?
AJ STORM: Hawaii
ME: How can readers discover more about you and you work? i.e.
Website: Blog: Facebook: Twitter: Lnkedin: Pinterest: Amazon Author Page:
Smashwords: Book Links: (* American, UK, etc.) Goodreads.
AJ STORM:
ME: Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t
included?
AJ STORM: I can't think of anything else. The only thing would be
to encourage readers to leave a review if they read the book. Authors need that
feedback.
AJ STORM: Thank you very much for having me.
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