Welcome all.
Today I’m very lucky to be
interviewing Joz Maxel author of My Absolution and Under The Rising Sun.
ME: Hi Joz Maxel, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us
a little about yourself and your background?
JOZ MAXEL: I'm from Western Canada, married mother of three. I'm a
full time domestic goddess, part time BLS instructor and conductor on this
crazy train in the Indie World.
ME: What genre do you write?
JOZ MAXEL: Contemporary
ME: What are you working on at the minute?
JOZ MAXEL: Under The Rising Sun
ME: Can you share a little of your current work with us?
JOZ MAXEL: We just finished the afternoon game, and as we came out
of the showers and started packing up our shit, the team was discussing where
to eat before that night's game. Brian is talking to Christian about bringing
Aubrey, again, to our team meal. My agitation towards Chris and Aubrey are at
an all time high at this point. There's only so many times I can watch Aubrey
drape herself over Christian, especially after realizing my feelings towards
Christian were more than the friendship level.
Throwing
a towel at my face to get my attention, Brian chuckles.
"Earth
to Rourke. You good with Fat Burger or what, dude?"
"I'm
not hungry. I'll grab something quick and eat in the room."
"What?
Don't be an asshole. There's no 'I' in team, jerk. C'mon we can ride
together." Christian replies as he looks at the others and smiles.
Shoving
the last of my equipment into my hockey bag I swiftly close my bag, throw it
over my shoulder, and start making my way to the door.
"Rourke,
c'mon. What gives?"
"Nothing,
I'll catch you guys later." Giving them the finger on my way out, I catch
up with the coach, whose willing to give me a ride to the hotel.
Slamming
the door behind me, I throw myself on my bed and drape my arms over my eyes.
Too busy berating myself in my head, I don't hear the clicking noise of the
door closing as I stand up to go the washroom. Christian makes his way to stand
a few feet away from me.
"You
wanna tell me what that was about?"
"Not
feeling good."
"That's
bull shit."
"Chris,
really, go hang with your girlfriend. I'm fine."
Trying
to pass him, he grabs my arm. "You have a problem with Aubrey? You've been
acting weird around her lately?"
"Trust
me, Aubrey is not the problem."
"Then
tell me what's going on with you? You like her?"
"It's
not like that."
"If
you like her, it's okay."
"Chris,
just leave me alone. I need some space."
"From
me? Why?"
"I
just do."
I
pull my arm from his grasp and take a few steps towards the bathroom.
"Dude,
you're my best friend but if you have an issue with Aubrey, we gotta talk this
out."
"Jesus
Christ, Chris. It's not her, trust me."
"Then
what the fuck is the problem?"
"It's
me, okay! I'm the problem. I'm the fucking issue."
"Rourke,
what..."
Taking
two strides to stand toe to toe with him, I take a quick, shallow breath before
speaking.
"I have feelings for you and I don't know
what to do about it! There, you fucking happy?"
I
suddenly feel like the room is spinning. I lean up against the wall and close
my eyes.
"What
kind of feelings?"
I
make a fist and start lightly pounding the wall beside me. "Please just
go."
"I'm
not going anywhere. What feelings, Rourke?"
Lifting
my head, our eyes connect. "The crazy, hormonal, teenager in love
kind."
Christian
looks down and starts to pace in front of me. "Since when?"
"
I don't know. Around the time you and Aubrey started dating."
He
stops pacing. "That's over a year ago. Why didn't you say anything
before?"
"I
didn't know how to process what I was feeling at the time. I still don't."
Looking
up at me, he asks, "You like me, like me?"
"Yeah."
"I,
ummm..."
"Just
forget I said anything. I don't want things to be weird between us."
"How
can they not? My best friend just told me he has feeling for me?"
"Go
have some fun with Aubrey. You'll forget all of this soon."
He
stands in front of me, toe to toe, chest to chest. "What if I don't want
to?"
Now
I'm the one who's in shock. "Come again?"
"I've
seen the way you've looked at me. How you've been trying to distance yourself
from me."
His
gaze drops to my lips, making my mouth go dry.
"Can
I be honest?"
Not
being able to form words, I nod my head.
"I
think I wanna kiss you right now."
Clearing
my throat, I stand up straight. "I get your in shock with all this but don't
toy with me."
He
takes a deep breath, slowly and gently places both his hands on either side of
my face, and leans in. "I'm not
toying with you." And then his lips are on mine. It's a feather light
touch filled with either uncertainty or curiosity.
It
isn't until my hands are placed on his hips, he starts to deepen the kiss. The
pressure becomes more firm, and the urge to tug on his lower lip with my teeth
mounts. I open my mouth slightly to graze his lip and he takes it as an
invitation to slide his tongue in mouth.
And
I accept with enthusiasm.
The
kiss becomes frenzied with angry tongues and clashing teeth. His body is
pressing into mine and I can feel his growing attraction down below.
"What
the..."
We
both pull away and see Aubrey, standing in the doorway, frozen in place, with
the door still open. Chris drops his hands to his sides and backs up a few
steps, losing the flushed look almost instantly. Now he just looks grey.
"Aub,
I can explain."
She
closes the door and takes two steps inside. "Explain what? That I just
caught my
boyfriend kissing his best friend?"
He
turns to me with a look of anguish. "Can you, ummm, give me a few minutes
with Aubrey?"
I
grab my room key and wallet from the television stand. "Sure."
ME: Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead
character from your most recent book?
JOZ MAXEL: Adam Senn and Brent Antonello,
ME: While you were writing, do you ever feel as if you were one of
the characters?
JOZ MAXEL: Not for Under The Rising Sun
ME: When did you decide to become a writer?
JOZ MAXEL: October of 2016, I took the plunge but in my younger
years I wrote stories like movie scripts.
ME: Which writers inspire you?
JOZ MAXEL: AC Bextor and every writer that takes the chance to put
themselves out there whether they are veterans or newbies like me.
ME: Do you write on a typewriter, computer, dictate or longhand?
JOZ MAXEL: Computer
ME: Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer to just see
where an idea takes you?
JOZ MAXEL: I have an idea of where I want the story to go but I
just go with it.
ME: Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors.
JOZ MAXEL: I use to read all the time. Callie Hart, Lili Saint
Germain and AC Bextor are my all-time favs but I have many favorites or
"go to"
ME: What book are you reading now?
JOZ MAXEL: Try by Ella Frank
ME: Do you think that giving books away free works and why?
JOZ MAXEL: Yes and no. It gets your name out there but if people
don't leave reviews or spread the word they are getting free stuff for the sake
of it.
ME: How do you relax?
JOZ MAXEL: What's that?
ME: What is your favorite quote?
JOZ MAXEL: "Love your face."
ME: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
JOZ MAXEL: Should have no room for self-doubt...just write.
ME: What does your writing process look like?
JOZ MAXEL: I have an idea and I start writing. And then scenes come
at me and I write them down as they come and then I piece it together as I go.
ME: What is your least favorite part of the publishing / writing
process?
JOZ MAXEL: Finishing and making sure it flows. I write out of order
so making sure the facts and details make sense...I don't see the story for
what it is until it's published.
ME: Is there a certain type of scene that's harder for you to write
than others? Love? Action? Racy?
JOZ MAXEL: Sex scenes...love reading them...hate writing them
ME: Did you learn anything from writing your book(s) and what was
it?
JOZ MAXEL: Going at it alone doesn't work. I have an awesome PA
that manages everything for me, so I have time to dedicate to just writing and
taking care of my family. I would have stopped a long ass time ago if I was on
my own.
ME: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family
members.
JOZ MAXEL: Donna Marie Benton...she is my GOD. And many bloggers,
friends both in the book world and in person. I love everyone that has
supported me.
ME: Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and
why?
JOZ MAXEL: James Dean because I had a small obsession with him in
my high school years. Read many books on him. Find him very fascinating.
ME: What is your favorite theme/genre to write about?
JOZ MAXEL: Contemporary angsty romance
ME: What is your favorite theme/genre to read?
JOZ MAXEL: Dark
ME: What secret talents do you have?
JOZ MAXEL: I can tell you what I plan to make for the next week in
supper but ask me what I did yesterday I have no clue
ME: If you had a superpower, what would it be?
JOZ MAXEL: The ability to cure the sick and injured
ME: Where is one place you want to visit that you haven't been
before? Why?
JOZ MAXEL: Fiji. Because that is where I will learn to relax.
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.
JOZ MAXEL:
ME: Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t
included?
JOZ MAXEL: Thank you for taking a chance on me.
ME: Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy
schedule to take part in this interview.
JOZ MAXEL: Thank you.
