Today’s feature is L.A. Remenicky, author of the Fairfield Corners Series and Invisible. I met L.A. a few months ago through our shared editor, and she’s always been willing to share her tidbits of wisdom about how to do this or that. This month she releases her second Fairfield Corners book, Ragan’s Song. We’re so happy she’s taken time to answer our questions.

Name: L.A. Remenicky

1. Tell us about yourself. May include links to Facebook, twitter, blogs, websites, Amazon author page)

I am a 40-something wife and mother to 3 furkids. I write Love Stories With A Twist. Writing wasn’t even on my radar until a friend introduced me to NaNoWriMo in 2012. I signed up, wrote 50,000 words that November, and I haven’t looked back.

Email: remenickywrites@yahoo.com

Blog: http://www.laremenicky.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/laremenicky

Google: www.google.com/+LARemenickyauthor

Twitter: www.twitter.com/remenickywrites

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7191202.L_A_Remenicky

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/indianagizmo/

Street Team ~ Remenicky’s Remenions: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1425708337682216/

2.  How do you choose names for your characters?

Sometimes they come to me as part of the plot or story idea. Other times I ask friends. Next time I’m stuck I will probably ask on my Facebook page.

3.  Do you talk about your book/characters as though they are real?

Oh yeah! And I love taking about them. My husband looks at me like I’m nuts when I tell him “so and so” is talking to me.

4.  Do you listen to music when you write or edit? What kind?

Always. I have very eclectic taste when it comes to music. I can listen to anything from country to rock to pop to easy listening. It is not unusual for my music program to play a song by Blake Shelton followed by a song from Metallica and then one by Michael Buble.

5.  How long have you been writing?

Almost three years. I didn’t start writing until November 2012.

6.  Tell us about when you realized you were ‘meant to be’ a writer.

I think it really hit me when a couple of people read a very rough draft of Saving Cassie and loved it.

7.  Do you have a muse?

Just that little voice in my head that gives me story ideas

8.  How do you improve as a writer? (Workshops, conferences, reading)

I have learned a lot from my editor and if I’m not writing I’m reading. I am hoping to go to a writer’s retreat next summer.

9.  Writing quirks or superstitions?

Not really.

10. Tell us about your current work-in-progress.

Currently I am working on a story I started during NaNoWriMo last year. I didn’t make my 50,000 words but I did get about half of a decent story.

Love On The Double was inspired by the song “I Drive Your Truck” by Lee Brice. BJ and Jessie Lafayette are identical twins. After a falling out over a girl Jessie joined the Marines. BJ is the studious one, becoming a creative writing teacher and author. When BJ feels a white-hot pain in his leg he knows Jessie is in trouble so he hops on a plane to go find him. He doesn’t find Jessie but he finds Rina, who he thinks is Jessie’s girlfriend. I’m hoping to have it mostly written before November and another try at NaNoWriMo.

11.  What book are you reading now?

I am reading an anthology, Forever Heroes. Some great stories in there.

12.  What genre do you write in? What about POV?

I write romance – so far Paranormal and Contemporary Suspense. That is what I love about being an indie author, I can write whatever I choose. I don’t have a publishing house telling me what to write. Invisible is written in alternating POV but my Fairfield Corners series is written in 3^rd person.

13.  Tell us about writing preparation. Character Profiles? Outlines?

I am a total pantser. No outlines, other than a general idea in my head of where I think the story will go.

14.  Do you know how your stories will end?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. For Saving Cassie I wrote the ending when I was about half way through the story. The ending to Invisible didn’t come to me until I was almost finished with the story.

15.  Do you books have a message or theme? Or are they purely for entertainment?

Purely entertainment.

16.  Do you have any favorite snacks or drinks that you eat/drink while writing?

Dr. Pepper or iced tea. I try not to snack while I’m writing.

17.  Tell us about your other passions.

My other passions… hmmm. That would be my family and my furkids. We have 2 dogs, a german shepherd/black lab mix named Bella and an english mastiff named Rainy. And then there is the black cat named Curious George.

18.  What’s something interesting about you?

My real job is to give people money. I’m serious! I process payroll for a university.

19.  Share a small sample(limit to one paragraph, please) of your writing… can be a WIP or already published.

This is from the next Fairfield Corners book tentatively title Fate Stepped In.

Oblivious to the pounding on the door, Robbie rubbed the sandpaper over the wood, enjoying the rhythm of the song and the satiny smoothness of the wood under his hands. Creating the handmade memory boxes out of blocks of wood soothed his soul better than the oblivion he had tried to find at the bottom of a whiskey bottle. The music blasting through his workshop and its open windows was his way of shutting out the world that no longer had her in it.

20.  Anything you’d like to say to your current and future readers?

Indie authors work hard at writing great stories and putting out great books. Just keep reading!

Thanks, L.A.! Good luck with Ragan’s Song.

E&M