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.
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
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