Interview with author Ann Mayburn and cover model John Quinlan!

Ann, tell us a little bit about Captive Fantasy.

Captive Fantasy is the second book in my Tales of the IWSS series. It is a short and steamy story about Mary and her husband, Sean, and what happens when Mary finally tells Sean her most secret sexual fantasy. The Institute for Women’s Sexual Satisfaction is doing the biggest research study on women’s sexual arousal in the history of psychology and they need healthy, sexually active volunteers to participate. They need to monitor a woman’s brainwaves as she is becoming aroused in order to develop the world’s first pill that will help women become sexually turned on. Kinda like a Viagra for women.

John, was this your first cover? Do you have to get into character?

Yes, this was my first Romance Novel cover, very honored that Ann picked me. Well, the character I am in this book is a convict so being that I have never even been arrested I would have to “get into character” for this but it is all good

Ann do you have any more covers in the making? Explain the process.

  

Well, for my IWSS series I’ve found that it works best to find the stock image I want for the cover first and then write the story from there. That is what happened with Captive Fantasy, I saw John’s stock photo in the prisoner uniform and the story unfolded almost instantly in my mind.

What’s next for both of you?

Well, I’m working on edits right now for the second book in my ‘For the Love of Evil’ series, Princess of Lust and the next book in my IWSS series and a super secret book and plotting out the next book in my The Kyrimian Cycle series and trying to spend some time with my family and keep my house from deteriorating into something that belongs on the ‘Hoarders’ show. Oh, and I’m getting ready to go to New Orleans in August for the Author’s After Dark conference.

I am going to keep putting my stock images out there and look forward very much to the writers and authors that would like to use my images for their covers. Thanks you all so much.

Do you read, John? If so, what are some of your favorites? What are some of your favorites, Ann?

I have 3 small children so reading I don’t get much time to do as I am always helping one of them around the house with feedings and diapers, lol! I must say I do like Mystery books and autobiographies are just as great to read.  

I go through phases. Right now I’m in a ‘zombie apocalypse/end of the world’ type books. My favorites of those would have to be The Stand by Stephen King, Swan Song by Robert R. McCammon, and World War Z by Max Brooks. 

What did you read as kids?

I’m dyslexic(pity my editors) so reading was a challenge for me growing up. I struggled with letters that would switch themselves around in my mind and because of that I always got poor grades in English and hated the subject. I mean no matter how hard I tried, my brain saw and translated the rules of spelling and grammar into something I couldn’t comprehend.

That changed when I picked up a book in the third grade called ‘Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing’. I fell in love with the book and went on to read the entire ‘Super Fudge’ series, then I read ‘A Cricket in Time Square’ before stumbling upon the Narnia series. I found that while my dyslexia made spelling a bitch, my imagination worked just fine and I adored escaping into those imaginary worlds. 

The most favorite thing I read as a child were the books that allowed the reader to choose their own path, you know it gives a choice as to what you want to do with one being wrong hoping to trick you….loved those!

If y’all weren’t a writer and a cover model, what would you be doing?

Hmmm, I don’t know. The moment I wrote my first book I knew in my heart of hearts that this is what I've been waiting for, the job that isn't a job because I love it so much. I can’t think of what else I could do that would bring me this much joy.

I would still be doing some kind of fitness related modeling which is very similar but I am blessed by all the wonderful writers such as yourself that give models like me these opportunities to showcase our talents.

Ann, what made you want to be a writer?

I decided to start writing in June of '10 after the pre-mature birth of my third son. He was born at 31 weeks, nine weeks early, and it was a very rough delivery. I lost a great deal of blood and had some touch and go moments. While I was recovering from my c-section, without my baby, I had a lot of time to think. In my morphine pumped induced state, I considered all the things that I'd done and what I still wanted to do.

I'd had A LOT of fun in my life, and marrying my husband and having my children was a joy that I can never fully explain. One thing I'd wanted to do was write a book. I've always been a heavy reader, my husband used to moan at my monthly bills from the bookstore, and I have an over-active imagination. The trouble was focusing my ADD 'Oh look a squirrel, oh look a penny' self to sit down and write.

Basically, I stopped making excuses about why I couldn't do it, and sat down and DID it. I found that once I started, I couldn't stop. My muse went into overdrive and I have more ideas than I have hours in the day. Blessed was the first novel I wrote and the first draft was a hot mess. After joining up with critique groups, reading articles, talking with established author's, I cleaned it up a ton and ended up selling it to Liquid Silver Books.

What made you want to be a cover model, John?

Many people kept telling me for the longest time they thought I would be good at it and I just laughed but I got serious with it this past year and it has been a wonderful experience. I would like to personally thank all the writers that pushed me with your kind words (you all know who you are). You are all awesome!

John, what do your body building buddies think of you being a romance cover model?

They like to make jokes and it’s all good because they have told me they respect me for what I am doing and at the end of the day I am on a book cover, jokes aside I am on one and that is something I will forever proud about.

What advice do y’all have for people chasing their dreams?

Write what turns you on! Who cares if the flavor of the week is space clowns from the planet Boobula with tentacle penises. If you try to write about it and it doesn't make you hot, your readers are going to know. More importantly, it will make writing that story a chore and nothing will make your muse take a vacation quicker than boring her.

Never give up, set your sites high and go for them. You only live once so make the most of it! It was my pleasure for being here with you today

Happy Reading!

Kristina