Tell us about yourself.
I’m an award-winning Australian/Norwegian author and former journalist whose romance stories explore empowerment, freedom, and finding one’s strength. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Journalism and Psychology, from the University of Queensland and an MBA from Queensland University of Technology in Australia.
My country romance, “Forgiving Liam,” was a winner in the Firebird Book Awards, a contest supporting women and children in long-term shelters who are escaping homelessness, domestic violence, and human trafficking.
I’m published with Dusty Saddle Publishing and Black Velvet Seductions.
What do I love? I’m passionate about history, languages, cultures, traveling, food, and wine. I’m happily married and live in Norway with my husband, kids, and rescue pets.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in Southeast Asia (due to my parents’ work there) and Australia, where I’m originally from. I’ve always loved writing since I started reading and learning to write. I had some amazing English teachers throughout my high school years who encouraged me to pursue a career in literature, history, or journalism. I chose to study journalism and work for the newspapers until I found a different path in business.
I love writing, and at work, I’m the go-to person for editing my colleagues’ work.
What was your journey to getting published like?
I was lucky because I started writing drafts on a well-known readers’ and writers’ platform, where I found author friends and beta-readers. One of the staff read an early draft of Lessons on Seduction, my highly steamy romance, and suggested getting it edited professionally and submitting it to a romance publisher. I followed her advice and received a contract from Black Velvet Seductions in 2020.
Through this experience, I’ve had other stories published, including with Dusty Saddle Publishing for my sweeter country Australian romances.
I enjoy writing dark romances – many of the gritty scenes are influenced by what I saw and heard while working as a journalist, from crime scenes and court reporting to mafia-linked stories.
What’s the best piece of feedback you’ve ever received?
I’ve had a lot of good feedback from my mentors. I suffer from a chronic illness, which limits my energy levels and pain tolerance, in addition to combining full-time work, medical procedures to keep me going, and a family. A few times, I came close to quitting and stopped writing for a while. My mentors, who are bestselling authors, knew something was up, reached out to me, and got me back on track. I have a few projects underway now, thanks to my friends. 🙂
Their advice: never doubt myself and keep writing.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
If writing is a dream, then do it. There are plenty of reader/writer platforms where you can write and find beta readers. Also, be wary of vanity publishers and platforms that approach you with deals that seem too good to be true. It’s a dangerous trap, and I’ve seen a few people fall into it, struggling to get out.
It’s better to take the hard road, accept rejections from publishers and/or agents, and refine your stories. Find a publisher targeting the genre you write, and if you aim to self-publish, reach out to supportive author communities.
What’s a fun fact about you that your readers might not know?
I love handbags and shoes! 🙂
I also have a soft spot for rescue animals who’ve been through a hard time in the past. I’ve adopted rescue pets and love spoiling them.
What’s your guilty pleasure book or genre?
Dark romances, steamy romances, and bad boy romances for sure! I also enjoy reading books by Anne Rice.
What’s your favorite quote about writing?
{“Let me live, love, and say it well in good sentences.”
–Sylvia Plath, The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath
When you’re not writing, how do you like to spend your time?
Reading – this is a must, and I’m a reading addict. I also love walking in the woods with my two dogs three times a day: in the morning, afternoon, and evening.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
The Hobbit and Great Expectations (I’m named after the FMC). My father gave me these books when I was young, still in grade school. I also loved the Judy Blume books and the Nancy Drew series.
What has inspired you and your writing style? How did you choose the Romance/Erotica genre?
I’ve always loved romance books. Around my late teens, a friend introduced me to the steamy romance stories, which I hid in a plastic bag in my mother’s garage so she wouldn’t find them.
During my college years, my friends introduced me to erotic romances, including BDSM romances. These were an eye-opener! 🙂
I tried drafting sweet college romances, but my beta readers scolded me for the lack of heat. So I cranked it up, gave them five chili-spices and that was how Lessons on Seduction evolved during the drafting phase. By the time it was sent to my publisher, it had the lot: steam, smut, angst, light BDSM, and a thriller plot for adults only.
Oh, and a strong FMC. 🙂
I guess that’s how I found my writing voice.
How do you deal with negative reviews?
That’s a hard one. It’s like failing an exam and having that bad grade posted publicly for the world to see. It’s tough as I suffer from social anxiety.
I feel I failed the reader. Yet, I need to be objective. There can be many reasons why they didn’t like the story: maybe I targeted the wrong reader group, or perhaps it was not their cup of tea, and they didn’t finish reading it. Or, they had a bad day. That’s okay. I prefer constructive feedback via private message or email to help me improve my work. I respect that my stories won’t please everyone—this is life.
How do you connect with your readers?
I connect with my beta readers through two reader/writer platforms, and they give me the motivation to finish my drafts for editing.
I also have giveaways in my newsletter, and it’s nice to see readers entering the contests. 🙂
There’s social media, but it’s hard to keep up with all the channels, so I mainly stick to Facebook. My readers are lovely, and I enjoy connecting with and communicating to them.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Good question. I’m slowly going through my editor’s comments and fixing book two of the Bad Boy Seduction Series before it goes through another round of editing, then formatting.
I’m also distracted into writing a spinoff of the Bad Boy Seduction series, set 10-15 years later.
Eventually, I’ll get back to my sweeter country romances.
Are there any Easter eggs or hidden messages in your work?
Absolutely. A few of my readers sent me private messages when they figured these out. I love hearing from them. 🙂
How do you approach writing dialogue for your characters?
I have to retreat to my private space and allocate quiet time to get into the ‘zone’- to enter the minds of my characters and listen to their voices. Sometimes, the dialogue comes to me while I’m out and about, driving or walking in the forest. I jot down my notes when I return home, and I write the chapter.
If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be?
Enjoy life, be brave to love, and take the opportunities that feel right in your heart, mind, and soul.
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