Welcome to Author Interview Thursday hosted by the Never Too Old for YA and NA Books group on Goodreads.
Today we welcome Adrienne Frances!
Dylan Mathews grew up in a house that was always filled with good-looking guys. However, with her four protective older brothers, they never stood a chance.
Except for one.
Dylan knew she loved Ben McKenna from the first time she laid eyes on him. When he started sneaking in her room, she thought he felt the same way. But just as their passion ignited, he left for college and never came back.
Until now.
Returning home after 5 years, Ben realizes Dylan has always been the one for him. Can he win back her heart and finally find love under the orange moon?
Welcome Adrienne!
When did
you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I have been
writing for as long as I can remember. I still remember the first book I wrote
when I was a little girl, The Amazing Mr.
Pencil. I even created a binding on it with duct tape and tried to sell it.
My father was the one who bought it.
Under the Orange Moon took me about six months to finish.
However, that’s just the beginning. There is a LONG process of edits, track
changes, BETA readers, more edits, and more BETA readers to go through before
you can even set a release date. I would have to say that, in my case, Under the Orange Moon took nearly a
year’s time to polish and complete.
What do
you think makes a great story?
There are books
that have moved so many readers that I have picked up and felt absolutely
nothing for them. And then there are those books that you literally cannot put
down. You see it and you feel it. I love that feeling; it’s amazing. To put it
simply, I think it depends on the reader personally and the connection that
they get from what they’re reading.
What is
your work schedule like when you're writing?
Well, it is
definitely dark outside when I write. My schedule revolves around how quiet my
house is, so it’s either while my family is away for the day or sleeping.
How do
you balance family and writing?
I have a
nice balance for the most part. My boys are 11 and 15 and they are BUSY. My
husband works a lot, so I’m the one who does most of the shuffling to
practices, events, and obligations. But I keep my Microsoft Surface with me
everywhere I go. It would not be out of the ordinary for anyone in my town to
see me sitting in the bleachers at a basketball game with my surface while
going over my editor’s notes. I do get a little whiplash from looking from the
court to my screen. It is what it is, though. Above everything else, I am a
mother.
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
I research
a lot. If there is something confusing or that I’m not sure about, I don’t use
it. For Under the Orange Moon, my
sister actually lives in Phoenix. I try and fly out there at least once a year.
I absolutely love Arizona. As far as the ideas for the stories goes, I think I
just have one of those crazy imaginations. I can’t really explain it.
What was
one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
In going
back over them, I am surprised at how much of myself I put into them. There is
always a nod to something that my family and friends will understand. I don’t
mean to do it when it’s happening, so I have to laugh when I see it later.
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
I have
written three complete novels. The two that I haven’t released are still under
construction, or so to speak. I love the first one. Under the Orange Moon will always be special to me, though; it was
the one that gave me the confidence to move forward as an author.
Are your
characters based on anyone you know?
Linda
Mathews has a strong resemblance to a mom that I knew as a child. She was just
always that mom, even though she
wasn’t my real mom. I still see her to this day and she remains one of my most
favorite people.
Do you
have a favorite place you love to write?
Anywhere
that’s quiet?? Ha! I am most successful in my office at home with the door
closed.
Tell us
one thing we wouldn’t know already know about you.
I love to
sing and, if I do say so myself, I have an okay voice. I sing everywhere I am:
the mailbox, the shower, the kitchen, the car, work…everywhere! And I love to
hear other people sing. Someday, if I ever get to witness a live flash mob, I’m
not sure that I will resist the urge to jump in and join them.
What do your family and friends think about your books?
My father
is convinced I had a love affair with one of the neighborhood boys; my brother
is proud, but refuses to read anything I’ve written with “spicy scenes” in
them; my sister might be my biggest fan; my husband is just delighted, and my
kids still think I’m a big nerd.
What do
you like to do when you are not writing?
On my free
days, I can be found with my husband and two sons. We love to camp in the
spring and summer, but they keep me pretty busy with their sports. Ugh. On a
rare night out, I love to just be with my friends and laugh over dinner and
drinks.
Do you
have any suggestions to help aspiring writers better themselves and their
craft? If so, what are they?
The only
thing I can ever offer is to write, write, WRITE. I think one of the biggest
blocks to completing the dream of being an author is the point in which the
writer gives up out of discouragement. That is so sad. Patience and never
giving up is the key to success!
As a
child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I wanted to
be an English teacher, a singer (I even made key earrings like Janet Jackson’s,
80’s style!), a writer, and a MOM.
What
are your favorite books and which authors inspire you?
Right now I
am on a major Jojo Moyes kick; however, I do love Amanda Maxlyn and Steph Nuss
(I’m not just saying that because they are both Bandit authors), Ann Brashares,
Tiffanie DeBartolo, Natasha Boyd, Jennifer Crusie, Lisa Kleypas, Anything
Bronte…there are so much more!
For an
aspiring writer what do you feel are certain do's and don’ts for writing a
successful book?
DO write
your little heart out. It’s a lot of work that takes a ton of drive,
discipline, and dedication. DON’T get discouraged. Delete ONLY AFTER your
freewrite is over. And, finally, learn to take the criticism; it comes in
truckloads and, as a writer, your job is to learn from those critiques. They
are helpful when you get out of your own way and accept them.
What
are you working on now?
I am
working on one of the other novels that I have written. It’s long and a bit
darker than Under the Orange Moon, so that has been a tough switch. I am so
excited about it!
Thanks so much for being here today, Adrienne. Great to have you!
Adrienne Frances works as a writing consultant at a university near her home. In her spare time, she loves to be with her husband and two sons, who have made her exactly who she is today. Writing is a passion that she has appreciated for as long as she can remember. She believes that a wild imagination is a terrible thing to waste and should be captured and brought to life by all that are blessed to have one. This way of life is what led her to become a writer and later an author under Bandit Publishing. Her first celebrated novel, Under the Orange Moon, is set to release soon.
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