Welcome to my neck of the woods, Gloria.

Tell us a little about what you write.

I love writing contemporary romance novels. Most of my work deals with everyday people overcoming major challenges, whether it be physical limitations, mental health issues, addiction, or poverty. I strive to create characters that my readers can relate to.

What drew you to writing?

I had an unusual path to becoming an author. I have a degree in Criminology and after graduating, I took a job as a federal Correctional Officer in a maximum-security penitentiary. I eventually became a federal Parole Officer. One of the major aspects of the job is assessing risk and writing reports. When I retired from Corrections, I missed putting pen to paper. It’s rather ironic because as a Parole Officer I was inundated with paperwork and hated being stuck behind a desk.

After a couple of months of enjoying the good life, I began writing. Only this time, I created fictional stories with happy endings.

Any new projects on the horizon?

Gage O'Neill is an all-around nice guy and an Adonis in coveralls. With a thriving automotive business, a gorgeous girlfriend, and his ADHD under control, life is pretty incredible. But when he loses a loved one, Gage's perfect world unravels. Prone to bad choices, he's desperate to quell his rash behavior. Thankfully, hiring a curvy mechanic is the one impulsive decision he's gotten right.
Eden Sampario is destitute as a result of a confrontation turned violent with her former employer. When Gage mistakenly offers her a job, she readily accepts. But soon she wonders if she made the right decision. Resisting her sexy boss proves more challenging than an engine rebuild. Her only other option? Give in to temptation and risk not only her career but also her heart.
Welcome to Big C's automotive shop, a place where more than cars overheat.

Prior to Braking Hard, I wrote three other books in a different series. The first in the series was published by a small press which unfortunately closed down. I’m looking at re-publishing that novel and also tweaking the other two in that series for publication. I’m also writing the second book in the Storm Harbor series, a continuation of some of the characters that appear in Braking Hard.

Words of advice for fellow writers in the trenches:

Don’t give up. Rejection is part of the business. Most of the publishers, editors, and agents let you down easy and sometimes they even tell you why they’re saying no to you. Learn from the constructive criticism you receive.

What was the hardest part of the story to write?

When I decided to write about a man with ADHD, I did a fair amount of research both on the internet and talking to people familiar with the topic— parents raising ADHD children, people afflicted with this disorder, and partners of people with ADHD. I didn’t want to be glib about the challenges people face and discount any of the various treatments that work. One of the first reviews I received noted that I handled the neurodiversity of Gage O’Neill with care and respect. As a writer, you always want your book to do well, but it is far more important to be true to the millions who live with ADHD.

Buy Links for Braking Hard:

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Apple

Excerpt:

He relaxed as the woman came back into view. She hadn’t moved, other than to offer a forced smile at him. He didn’t mean to stare, invading the woman’s privacy, but he couldn’t look away. Her eyes, beseeching and beautiful, yet without any spark. Her vulnerability beyond raw, verging on potent.
The words grief and sorrow flashed at him like flipped over cue cards from childhood. He reminded himself of the circumstances. It was a wake after all. Not everyone got plastered and told ill-humored jokes to mask emotions. But this was a different kind of grief. It went beyond that which had emanated from the employees of Big C’s and others who knew Elroy. The woman’s sorrow so intense, so forceful, he felt her profound loneliness. There wasn’t a name or a way to describe what he witnessed in those big brown eyes of hers, but it existed in the same way the moon existed during the day. Her grief radiating from a place no armor could protect, from deep within, bursting directly from her soul.
He too experienced this level of pain, not only today but every day since Elroy left this world. Plenty of people missed the old mechanic, but until now, he hadn’t thought anyone ached like he did. Elroy’s life meant something extraordinaire to this woman. Something which brought her here. To a hole in the wall bar, in a town so small, businesses shut down for funerals.