Welcome to Visiting Authors! Let’s start with some get to know you questions.
What do you write?
So far I’ve written seven children’s stories and this romance suspense. Finding Euphoria is my first adult novel. The story is the first segment of a trilogy; I’m currently writing book 2—Losing Euphoria.
When did your writing journey begin?
I never grew up dreaming of being an author. I began writing children’s stories about nine years ago after I was sick in bed on Christmas day. After I wrote a few children’s stories, I decided to try writing a novel, the idea seemed like a logical step. I’ve always liked reading; I just never thought about writing stories until my children were older and I had a little (wee little) free time.
What was your inspiration for Find Euphoria?
I’ve always heard people say write what you know. When I decided to write a novel, a major part of my background was working in a clinical laboratory. I thought it would be cool to incorporate my experience in the lab with the plot. Since drugs are a huge problem in our society, I decided to focus on drugs of abuse, but to present it in a way that wasn’t preaching.
Do you find inspiration in your own life for your writing?
For some of the characters, sure. My daughter told me she couldn’t read Finding Euphoria without thinking the main character talked like I do. That is something I’ve worked on to correct. Each character has his/her own voice. In my free time I substitute teach; I like to listen how teens talk, studying how they interact with each other in the classroom. When I hear new words I usually ask my older kids what the words mean. Usually the speech I hear from kids are temporary fads. The latest word was “yeet.” Kids say “That’s yeet.” My sons told me not to use the word because the expression is a fad.
Hailey Langley refuses to be a victim and has moved on from her traumatic past. But her marriage problems worsen when a deadly illicit drug threatens to draw her into the life she left behind.
Mark Langley has allowed his job to interfere with his marriage, but he never suspected the secrets in Hailey's past might hold the key to solving both of his current investigations.
Together, they must unravel the mystery of the drug called Euphoria and find a way to save not only their marriage, but countless lives, before it's too late.
Find it online: ~ Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~
Did you go the traditional route (agent/publisher), small press, or self-pub?
My novel is published by The Wild Rose Press, a small press from New York. Tell us about your experience with the publishing process. I’m impressed by the professionalism at TWRP. The publisher, marketing director, editor, and staff maintained very good communication throughout the editing and publishing process.
Any new projects on the horizon?
I’m in the midst of book two of the Euphoria Trilogy. This story is set six years after the first book finishes and Hailey once again has suffered her share of trauma.
Words of advice for fellow writers in the trenches:
Keep marching along. Hone your skills, join a writer’s group so others can help objectively critique your work. Don’t let rejection get you down. (There will be some rejection. Okay. A lot of rejection.) But remember you are in control of your life so if you want your book published badly enough, work at editing/rewriting it until you get your words in print.
What was the hardest part of the story to write/research?
Researching how drugs cause addiction in the brain by stimulating neurotransmitters, fashioning chemicals for the drug Euphoria, and then creating a way Euphoria would chemically link with dopamine to form a super drug. The hardest part after the initial research was to explain all these concepts in an easy to understand explanation.
The author and some travels that inspire her: 1) Myrtle Beach, SC and 2) Niagara Falls, NY/Canada