This week please join me in welcoming the fabulous
Kirsty Dallas to the blog!
1. Have you
always had a passion for writing?
Pretty much since I was 12 years old and saw The Never Ending
Story at the movies. I have always wanted to invent other worlds, crawl inside
and live in there.
2. Does what you
read influence what you write and what are some of your favourite
authors/books?
Not really. I read mostly paranormal and dystopian romance,
and I write (to-date) contemporary and comedy romance. I adore anything by Gena
Showalter and Kresley Cole, but have stumbled across some amazing Indie Authors
that I love to bits. Most recently was Stephanie Hudson’s Afterlife Saga. I’m
bloody addicted to that series!
3. What are your
biggest inspirations?
I’m inspired by anyone who has a passion and actually grabs
hold of it and gives it a go. Artists, musicians, writers, actors and film
makers are all amongst my friends and each and every one of them are inspiring
in some way. I have a girl friend who always wanted to be a mum. She has three
beautiful boys and wonderful husband, and just seeing the happiness in her home
is inspiring.
4. Do you have a
technique in how you choose characters and/or locational settings?
No. Characters just pop into my head, sometimes coming from
something as simple as a song. The book I am working on now is about a Jazz
singer and the character came to me while listening to an Ella Fitzgerald song.
The locale usually forms around the characters and the story.
5. Do you listen
to music while you are creating your masterpieces?
Always. I’m a bit of a music whore. I love all music. Jazz,
R&B, Rock, Classical, since Decker’s Wood I’ve even got into country. Who
woulda’ thought?
6. What do you do
to stay motivated and avoid writer’s block?
Whenever the story hits a lull I grab a book and have a
break. Giving my mind a little escape seems to help me refocus.
7. How has
becoming a published author (independent or traditional) changed your
perspective on life and is it everything you expected it to be? (If you are not
published yet – what changes do you foresee?)
My perspective on life hasn’t really changed, but I
definitely feel as though doors have opened, career wise and travel wise. I
have been incredibly lucky and found myself surrounded by a massive support
group consisting of bloggers, other authors and fans. I have come to realize
that not everyone is so lucky, there are certainly nasty and sometimes ugly
elements to writing and social media, but I am fortunate enough to have escaped
all of that so far.
8. What are your
biggest challenges as an author?
Finding the balance between family and writing ---
Maintaining confidence in myself --- Biting my tongue and ignoring negative
remarks in reviews when all I want to do is defend my baby, LOL.
9. Do you have
any pets?
My daughter has a 5 year old English Staffordshire Terrier
and also a rabbit. Since I am the one who feeds them, I guess you could say
they are really mine.
10. What hobbies
do you have outside of reading and writing?
Being a mum to a beautiful 6 year old girl. I love taking her
for lunch and just hanging out and reading books with her.
11. Where is the
most exciting/memorable place you have been in the world?
I haven’t done a great deal of travel, the furthest being NZ,
but my favourite place in Aussie would have to be Magnetic Island in North
Queensland. Warm tropical island, coconut palms, reef, pubs right on the beach.
Yeah, that would have to be the best place in the world. I used to vacation
there as a child and I go back usually once a year to just hang. I hope to one
day buy a vacation cabin there. Fingers crossed.
12. Tell us about
your latest work in progress or most recent published work…
My most recent published book was Decker’s Wood which went to
#5 on Amazon Romantic Comedy best sellers. It was a huge release weekend and
the reviews have been mind-blowing. There is nothing like having authors you
aspire to contacting you to tell you how much they loved your book.
My next book is called Violet Addiction, a romance about a
jazz singer with a cocaine addiction. It’s definitely deeper than Decker and
the research I’ve been doing is heart-breaking. Quite a change up from a porn
star with “performance issues”.
Decker’s Wood Purchase Links
Amazon US - http://amzn.to/1lf4TjZ
Amazon UK - http://amzn.to/1kIfaWc
Amazon AU - http://goo.gl/AldlkF
iBooks - http://goo.gl/yu4xFK
Nook - http://goo.gl/cyuNVZ
Kobo - http://goo.gl/gRP0po
Social Media
Twitter - https://twitter.com/kirstydallas
Website - http://www.kirstydallasauthor.com/
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Kirsty-Dallas/e/B00CZ7B58M/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1402470869&sr=1-1
