Interview with N.J. Walters!!

Please give us your website addy, a list of your books and a short bio.

Website: http://www.njwalters.com

BIO:

Once upon a time N.J. had the idea that she would like to quit her job at the bookstore, sell everything she owned, leave her hometown, and write romance novels in a place where no one knew her. And she did. Two years later, she went back to the bookstore and her hometown and settled in for another seven years.

One day she gave notice at her job on a Friday morning. On Sunday afternoon, she received a tentative acceptance for her first erotic romance novel, Annabelle Lee, and life would never be the same.

BOOKLIST:

Ellora’s Cave Publishing:

Katie’s Art of Seduction-Awakening Desires, Book 1 (E-book) & (Print)

Erin’s Fancy-Awakening Desires, Book 2 (E-book) & (Print)

Capturing Carly-Awakening Desires, Book 3 (E-book)

Craving Candy-Awakening Desires, Book 4 (E-book)

Enticements-(Print—Contains Capturing Carly and Craving Candy)

Jackson’s Jewel-Awakening Desires, Book 5 (E-book) & (Print)

MacNamara’s Lady-Awakening Desires, Book 6 (E-book)

Harker’s Journey-Dalakis Passion, Book 1 (E-book)

Lucian’s Delight-Dalakis Passion, Book 2 (E-book)

Dalakis Embrace- (Print—Contains Harker’s Journey and Lucian’s Delight)

Stefan’s Salvation-Dalakis Passion, Book 3 (E-book) & (Print)

Eternal Brothers-Dalakis Passion, Book 4 (E-book)

Endless Chase-Dalakis Passion, Book 5 (E-book)

Annabelle Lee-Summerville Secrets, Book 1 (E-book)

Heat Wave-Summersville Secrets, Book 2 (E-book)

Summersville Heat- (Print—Contains Annabelle Lee and Heat Wave)

Lily Blossoms-Summersville Secrets, Book 3 (E-book)

Christina’s Tapestry-Tapestries, Book 1 (E-book)

Bakra Bride-Tapestries, Book 2 (E-book)

Tapestry Dreams- (Print—Contains Christina’s Tapestry and Bakra Bride)

Woven Dreams-Tapestries, Book 3 (E-book) & (Print)

Threads of Destiny-Tapestries, Book 4 (E-book)

Embroidered Fantasies, Book 5 (E-book)

Embracing Silence-Project Alpha, Book 1 (E-book)

Have Mercy-Project Alpha, Book 2 (E-book)

Sweet Charity-Project Alpha, Book 3 (E-book)

Beyond Shadows-(E-book)

Out of Shadows-(E-book)

Seeking Charlotte-Hearts of Fire, Book 3 (E-book)

Entwined Hearts-Hearts of Fire, Book 5 (E-book)

Amethyst Dreams-Companion book to Amethyst Moon (E-book)

Amethyst Moon-Birthstone Series (E-book)

Three Swords, One Heart-Torrid Tarot Series (E-book) & (Print)

Anastasia’s Style-Valentine Vixens Quickie (E-book)

Candy Caresses-(Print Anthology containing the Valentine Vixens Quickie, Anastasia’s Style)

Drakon’s Treasure-Autumn Animalia Quickie (E-book)

Feral Fixation-(Print Anthology containing the Autumn Animalia Quickie, Drakon’s Treasure)

Jessamyn’s Christmas Gift-White Hot Holidays Quickie (E-book)

White Hot Holidays 3-(Print Anthology containing my White Hot Holiday Quickie, Jessamyn’s Christmas Gift)

Lady’s Minstrel (E-book)

Lassoing Lara (E-book)

Tempting Tori (E-book) (Audio Book)

Tracking Talia (E-book)

Unmasking Kelly (E-book)

Over Time, Under Him-(Pocket Books Print Anthology containing EC Quickie Unmasking Kelly)

Trick or Treat-(Pocket Books Print Anthology containing EC Quickie Unmasking Kelly)

Ellora’s Cavemen: Legendary Tails IV (featuring “A Love Eternal”) (E-book) & (Print)

Ellora’s Cavemen: Dreams of the Oasis IV (featuring “Shadows Stir”) (E-book) & (Print)

Ellora’s Cavemen: Seasons of Seduction III (featuring “Sunshine for a Vampire”) (E-book) & (Print)

Ellora’s Cavemen: Jewels of the Nile IV (featuring “Moon Magic”) (E-book) & (Print)

Samhain Publishing:

Discovering Dani-Jamesville, Book 1 (E-book) & (Print)

The Way Home-Jamesville, Book 2 (E-book) & (Print)

The Return of Patrick O’Rourke-Jamesville, Book 3 (E-book) & (Print)

The Seduction of Shamus O’Rourke-Jamesville, Book 4 (E-book) & (Print)

A Legal Affair-Jamesville, Book 5 (E-book)

By The Book-Jamesville, Book 6 (E-book) & (Print)

Past Promises-Jamesville, Book 7 (E-book)

Jamesville Affairs-(Print—Contains A Legal Affair and Past Promises)

Alexandra’s Legacy-Legacy, Book 1 (E-book) & (Print)

Isaiah’s Haven-Legacy, Book 2 (E-book) & (Print)

Legacy Found-Legacy, Book 3 (E-book)

A Touch of Magick-Spells, Secrets & Seductions, Book 1 (E-book) & (Print)

Dreams of Seduction-Spells, Secrets & Seductions, Book 2 (E-book)

Love in Flames-Spells, Secrets & Seductions, Book 3 (E-book)

Carina Press:

The Gift of Shayla (E-book)

Running Press:

The Mammoth Book of Hot Romance (featuring “Blind Date”) (Print)

BLURB: The Gift of Shayla

Adam Lancaster has been in love with Rob McKeith—and attracted to Rob’s wife, Shayla—for years, but he fears their friendship would be over if they knew the truth. So he’s thrilled when his secret fantasy becomes reality and the couple offers him a very special gift: a sensual Christmas Eve in their bedroom…

How do you usually come up with a story idea?  Dreams?  Writer’s journal? Eavesdropping on conversations?  Newpaper?

All of the above. lol Seriously, ideas come from everywhere. I’ll get ideas at the strangest times and jot them down, otherwise I’d never remember them. I usually don’t dream ideas, but I will get them sometimes when I’m lying in bed almost asleep. Of course, I have to get up then and write them down. I’ve gotten ideas from magazines too. It’s usually something I see that sparks an idea and sends me off on a tangent.

Who or what inspires you when your creative mojo is lagging?

Thankfully, I haven’t run out of ideas yet. But if I have a day when I don’t feel like writing I’ll read a good book. Nothing like a great read by a favorite author to make you want to get back at the keyboard and do your best.

Who is your Yoda—your seasoned mentor?

My husband is my first reader and critique partner. He’s the one I go to if I want to talk out ideas.

What importance do you place on writing workshops?  What workshops would you recommend to us?

I’d love to do some writing workshops, but never have, so I can’t help you with recommendations.  I have read some wonderful books on writing including: On Writing by Stephen King, The Plot Thickens by Noah Lukeman and Snoopy’s Guide to the Writing Life edited by Barnaby Conrad and Monte Schulz. There are plenty of great books out there on the craft of writing.

What person would you like to thank for inspiring you in your writing aspirations?  How did this person help you?

My husband is my greatest supporter. For years, he encouraged me to write and he continues to support my career in every way possible. He’s the best!

Have you ever used songs for inspiration?

I have used songs for inspiration. Love Song for a Vampire by Annie Lennox and Bring Me to Life by Evanescence were used to inspire my Dalakis vampire novels. And Never Again by Nickelback was a huge inspiration for Craving Candy.

Do you play music when you write?  If so, what kind?  Or, do you have to have silence or background noise to set your writing muse free?

I don’t play music when I write. I’m one of those people who need silence when I write. I find music to distracting.

Do you read in a different genre than you write?  If yes, why?  If you read in the same genre that you write, do you feel that it influences your writing in any way?      

I’m a romance reader at heart. It’s what I love to read and what I love to write. The wonderful thing about romance is there are so many subgenres that I can read from: contemporary, historical, romantic suspense, paranormal, etc… If it has an influence on my writing it’s that it makes me want to improve, to constantly challenge myself to do better with each book.

I also read nonfiction and self help books, whatever catches my interest.

What is your process from idea to first draft?

The characters always come to me first. I’ll start thinking about them, who they are and what their stories are. From there, I’ll get ideas for the plot and possible scenes. Once I have the first scene mapped out in my head, I’ll start to write. I’m not a big plotter, but I do have an idea of what I want to do and where I’m going, as well as several major scenes I know I want to write. There are always surprises along the way.

Have you ever given assistance to a struggling new writer?  Has another writer ever come to your aide?  How?

I encourage writers who are struggling to continue to reach for their dreams, but I’ve never read a manuscript or offered suggestions to a writer unless it was someone I knew extremely well. Most authors will be helpful but don’t like to read manuscripts from unknown authors. There are too many potential minefields if they have ideas that are similar to some you have that you haven’t written yet.

The wonderful thing about the writing community is that it is filled with generous, giving people. I’ve made many friends and, on many occasions, they’ve offered advice and help with difficult situations. I’ve been very lucky.

What do you consider your greatest accomplishments in your career so far?

Getting published. lol I’m very lucky to be able to make a living from my writing. I hope that never stops. But, even if it does, I’ll have always had this very special time.

If you won the big lottery, what would you do with the money?  Would give any of it to charity?  If so, which one?

If I won the lottery I’d have hubby quit his job and buy a house so we could both write and enjoy life. I’d help out family, of course, and then I would look at charities, probably those close to home like food banks and women’s shelters. Those groups do a lot of good but are constantly underfunded.

What is the best advice you want to give to a new writer?

Write what you love, don’t take rejection personally, and never give up.

If you could choose an animal for a mascot, what animal would it be?  What do you admire about this animal?  Do you feel you have qualities similar to this animal?  If so, what are they?

Hmm, tough question. I would say a bear. I love to hibernate in winter just like they do and I also love honey. Bears are strong and slow to anger, but when they do, watch out. Bears like to do their own thing and so do I.

If money, education and fear factors were set aside, what three careers would you like to attempt other than writing?

That’s an interesting question because I’m doing exactly what I want to be doing. I love my job as a romance writer. Maybe I’d try teaching, taste tester for an ice cream company and travel writing.

If money, talent and fear were no object, what big adventure would you like to have?

I’m really not an adventurous soul. I’d rather be home than anywhere else. But if money wasn’t a problem, I would love to travel to England/Scotland/Ireland, as well as New England and New York.

What characteristics do you like to instill in your heroes? What characteristics do you feel are necessary for a good heroine?

I never want to write a hero that I couldn’t like. I love the wounded, brooding, alpha hero but never want to cross that line that makes him someone I couldn’t respect.

As for the heroine, I never want to write one that is TSTL (too stupid to live). I love writing strong women who are growing and overcoming problems and have the courage to open themselves up to love even though it isn’t always easy to do.

If you had the power to change two things in the world, what would those two things be?

I’d eliminate fear because that’s the root of most of the problems we face in the world. Then I’d throw all our resources behind saving the planet. If we don’t do that then nothing else matters. No air, no water, no life.

If could have a super power for a day, what would it be?  Why?

Only a day? That makes it a bit more difficult. I’d love to be able to travel in the blink of an eye so I could visit ever place I ever wanted to see.