Glenna Maynard's Spotlight!!!

This week's author spotlight
is about someone who
came into writing, with the
help of their friends!

I'm proud to introduce:

Glenna Maynard!!!

What was your life like before becoming an author?

Not much different than it is now. Other than I feel like there is never enough time to accomplish my daily goals.  I am a stay at home mom, so I never have a free moment.

What sparked the idea for your novel?

A close friend and fellow author, Morgan Jane Mitchell and I were talking about our favorite books. She bravely shared her fan-fiction with me and I was blown away by her talent. She suggested I try to write my own story and it started from there. 

How personal is your writing?

It is personal on different levels. I try to pull from my own experiences or how I think I would feel in a situation. Or I may take something from the experiences of someone I know. But for the most part the characters just yell at me and I do what they say.

Do you outline?

For the most part no. I keep notebooks full of notes and post its with ideas, lines, or scenes. Some are for certain books, and others are just random for future use.

Which comes first? The character's story or the idea for the novel?

For me it is the idea for the novel first. I love coming up with concepts, titles, and concepts. A lot of my ideas come from photos.

What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?

Make time to write everyday, even if it is just scribbling notes. You never know what may be of use to you later, so always write your ideas down. Do your research and know what you are looking for from the experience.  Make friends with other writers, they will understand you like no one else can. And more importantly, never give up!

What is the most demeaning thing said about you as a writer?

I have yet to experience anything truly hurtful yet. My fingers are crossed, but I know it is something I will face one day.

How do you react to a bad review of one of your books?

At first, I get pissed and scream at them. But after I get over it, I go back and read it again to see if they have made a valid point or not. If there is something I can take from it, then I appreciate it.  If there is nothing to be learned from it I move on, and tell myself they are only one person and their opinion does not define me.

How would you describe yourself in three words?

Honest, real, and smart-assed.

Do you have a day job as well?

I am a stay at home mom, so I consider it a full time job.

When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?

I have always written journals. But I never took my writing seriously until October of last year. I finished my book in March of this year.

How did you choose the genre you write in?

It chose me.

Do you ever experience writer’s block?

Yes, there are times when I will walk away and not write anything for a few weeks.

Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published?

I have a project that only one person knows about, and I am very tight lipped on it because of the subject matter. I may use a penname for it. But it is undetermined if I will ever publish it.

Can you tell us about your upcoming book?

I am working on releasing BlackenedHeart, a companion to my first book, that isn’t part of The Masquerade Series. It focuses on the lives of two of my secondary characters and what happens to them after the other book.

**Blackened Heart was recently released!!**

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

Beautiful Strangers is mainly imagination. I used places I lived or visited in the book, but the experiences of the characters are truly fictional.

How did you come up with the title?

I heard it in a song playing on the radio and can not for the life of me recall what it was.

What project are you working on now?

 Once I publish Blackened heart, I will be working on the next two books in my series and a stand alone.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author?

I am from the south and so are the characters I write. When they speak, they don’t have proper grammar and people that don’t understand the way southerners speak, think I am writing something the wrong way. I want to scream hey it’s a first person point of view told from a southern woman she doesn’t have to say seen instead of saw if that’s they way she talks.

What has been the best compliment?

The best compliment has been how original my story is and how real the characters feel. I love that people feel like they are in the moment while they are reading what I have written.

What books/authors have influenced your writing?

I absolutely love Michelle A Valentine, she doesn’t give useless filler.

What made you want to become a writer?

I wanted to do something that I enjoy, and writing brings me an inner peace.

What is your muse?

Music and photography.

What are you goals as a writer?

I hope to write until the ideas stop. And as long as one person enjoys something I have written, then that is a win.  But I would be a liar if I said I didn’t want it all. I love having my cake and eating it too!

While you were writing, did you ever feel as if you were one of the characters?

When I am writing I have to be in character mode. I have to put myself in the mindset of the character I am portraying.

What is one question that you are never asked in interviews?

I am never asked if I have pets and yes I do. I have a cat my daughter named Beiber and a guinea pig named Perry pig.

What is one question that you are always asked in interviews?

What made me want to be a writer?

If you were interviewing yourself, what are the top 3 questions you would ask yourself?

How hard was it to write your first book?

What was the best part about writing your book?

What would you tell a reader to make them want to pick up your book?

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

That’s like picking a favorite child, can’t do it.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

I would say MorganJane Mitchell, she has been here for me since day one. She has listened to me for hours, emailed back and forth and read every snippet I have sent her. She has been my editor, beta, cover designer and critiqued my self designed covers. But mostly she has been my writing partner in crime and I am so thankful she has been on this journey with me.

 If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

No, I feel like I gave my best with it. I am satisfied with the way it turned out.

What book are you reading now?

Sanguis City, I love paranormal romance!

 Can you share a little of your current work with us?  

This from Blackened Heart, told from Jaxson Hayes’s point of view:

Getting on this plane after all that I have learned this past week is one of the hardest things I have ever done. And knowing that Grace won’t be filling the empty seat next to mine hurts even more. She should be here right now, looking at me with those pale blue eyes and giggling about joining the mile high club. But she’s not. I still don’t know how I feel about everything she dumped on me. Except for the fact that it’s over, I understand that perfectly.

Do you see writing as a career?

I hope so. For now I am having a blast with the experience as a whole.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

No one is perfect and we all make mistakes.  Life is full of chances, choices, and consequences it’s up to you how you live through them.

  And now the fun stuff:

Do you prefer fuzzy or tub socks?

I love fuzzy ones in the winter, but I do love my tube socks as well.

Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point?

I couldn’t if I wanted to. My other half works night shift, by the time I am waking up he is just coming to bed.

Do you get road rage? What pisses you off the most about other drivers?

I don’t have my license; the roads are safer without me.  But I hate when people talk and text on their phones while driving, life’s too short people! Safety first!

Do you go out of your way to kill bugs? Are there any that make you screech and hide?

If they are in my home, then yes. But in general nope. I hate crickets and spiders!

Have you ever gone out in public with your shirt on backwards, or your slippers on, and when realizing it, just said screw it?

Yes, and when I was younger that would have been humiliating. But after becoming a mom, not much embarrasses me at this point.

If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?

I would love to fly.

If aliens landed in front of you and, in exchange for anything you desire, offered you any position on their planet, what would you want?

To be their ruler, no just kidding. I would ask them to leave me here on Earth

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional. with whom would it be?

For one week I would want to be Sookie, in book four, Dead to theWorld, to be exact the week when Eric forgets who he is and lives with her.

What is the last book you read?

I recently finished Date Me, by Jillian Dodd

Why are manhole covers round?

I have no idea!

If you were a tree (or animal) what kind of tree (animal) would you be?

I would be a rose bush.

What is the wallpaper on your computer?

It is a photo of my family.

Do you have quirky habits?

I have snack cakes and drink a Diet Coke for breakfast.

I have to always keep my toenails painted.

Do you like your handwriting?

No, it is so sloppy.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you?

I would have to pick Natalie Portman, I love her.

Can you comfortably eat in a restaurant by yourself? Go to movie?

Yes, but I do hate to be alone.

What's your favorite song to sing in Karaoke? Why?

Hmm a favorite oh the pressure! Anything by Janis Joplin. I love the energy her music brings.

When people look at me, they would never guess that I:

I’m a huge video game nerd!

How many handbags do you own?

No idea, but a few. I am not big on them like I used to be. I don’t go out much. I am a bit of a recluse.

What's the silliest thing you have heard people say about you?

Oh my, this could take a while. I used to hear lots of things about myself when I was younger, that made me be like dang that might have been awesome.  Ha ha. No ,it makes me laugh when people say I write mommy porn!

What internet site do you surf to the most?

*hangs head* FaceBook, Twitter, yeah I spend way too much time chatting it up!

If you were a professional wrestler, what would your ring name be and why?

Lol! Great question!  Momzilla, my kids came up with that one.

What are your favorite hobbies?

I am a scrap-booking nut, I love to take pictures, and cook. (I just hate the mess that comes with it!)

Cyber Stalkin' Time!

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Books By Glenna:

In life we face choices chances and consequences. Grace Montgomery never dreamed hers would lead her to The Masquerade Club, and a fast paced life of sex, drugs, and music. When Evan Brown walked into her life he was too good to be true. Since meeting him her life has been flipped upside down. After a chance encounter with a handsome stranger, Grace finds herself thrust into a relationship with Country Music sensation Jaxson Hayes and torn between two loves. When hidden truths are uncovered will she be able to let go of her past and embrace her future? 

This book is currenly $3.99 US Dollars on Amazon.

Just click the cover and then 1 Click to a new read!

  

Adult Romance Novella for 18+
Country Music duo Blackened Sunrise is going on tour. Join Jaxson Hayes and Sadie Blake on the road as they tour the states. When these two come together all bets are off. Will they rekindle the love they once shared, or will they find some things are better off broken?

This a companion to Beautiful Strangers.

This book is currently $1.99 US Dollars on Amazon.

Just click the cover and then 1 Click to a new read!!