SB: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? 

AH: I have been a writer all my life. I can’t ever remember a time when that wasn’t forefront in my mind.

SB: How do you handle writer’s block? 

AH: I sit down and just free write. I let my mind rove and don’t corral my thoughts. 

SB: What comes first, the plot or characters? 

AH: It depends, but I always spend far more time on characters because characters inform the plot far more than plot informs the characters. 

SB: Where is your favorite place to write? 

AH: I like to write on my back porch when weather allows. 

SB: Do you prefer writing in silence or to music? 

AH: Silence – or white noise.

SB: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite? 

AH: I’ve written seventeen novels. My favorite is always the one I’ve just finished. 

SB: Who is your favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them special. 

AH: My favorite character is probably Moses Wright from The Law of Moses. He has his own story and has made appearances in two other novels as a side character. His spiritual abilities juxtaposed with his tough exterior make him especially interesting.

SB: You’ve written in various romance genres. Do you have a preference? 

AH: I love writing historical most, but fantasy is a close second. 

SB: If you were to genre-hop, which genre would you most like to try? 

AH: I am known for genre hopping already—I write historical, fantasy, and contemporary.

SB: Which of your books was most enjoyable to write? 

AH: Probably my very first one. I had no pressure or expectations. I simply wrote for myself. 

SB: Can you share something about your current book that isn’t in the blurb? 

AH: The Songbook of Benny Lament releases March 16, 2021, and the love story revolves around an interracial couple – A mafioso’s son and a Black nightclub singer. 

New York, 1960: For Benny Lament, music is his entire life. With his father’s deep ties to the mob, the Bronx piano man has learned that love and family can get you in trouble. So he keeps to himself, writing songs for other musicians, avoiding the spotlight…until the night his father brings him to see Esther Mine sing.

Esther is a petite powerhouse with a gorgeous voice. And when Benny writes a hit song and performs it with her, their collaboration thrusts the duo onto the national stage…and stirs up old issues and new scrutiny that the mob—and Benny—would rather avoid.

It would be easier to walk away. But the music and the woman are too hard for the piano man to resist. Benny’s songs and Esther’s vocals are an explosive combination, a sound that fans can’t get enough of. But though America might love the music they make together, some people aren’t ready for Benny Lament and Esther Mine on—or off—the stage.

The Songbook of Benny Lament (releasing March 16) — PreOrder Now! https://amzn.to/3ndEiaE

To add on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54268364-the-songbook-of-benny-lament

SB: Would you rather be in a room full of snakes or a room full of spiders?

AH: SNAKES. 

SB: Would you rather have an endless summer or an endless winter?

AH: UGH! I suppose summer would be easier, but I would miss winter.

SB: Would you rather always be an hour early or be constantly twenty minutes late?

AH: An hour early. It embarrasses me to be late. 

Movie or Book?

AH: Book

Coke or Pepsi?

AH: Pepsi

City or Country?

AH: Country

Let’s talk all about your writing style and process first… 

How do you handle writer’s block?

MLP: I usually step away from the project and allow myself to disengage from the world I’m writing or ask my critique partner/book buddy to help get me out of the corner I’ve written myself into.

What comes first, the plot or characters?

MLP: A little of both. A ‘bunny’ will sometimes appear in a scene leaving me with a plot to flesh out and an image of my characters.

Do you prefer writing in silence or to music?

MLP: Both. If my head is already ‘full’ I have to write in silence, but for the most part, I write with some kind of music in the background.

Do you find it more challenging to write the first book in a series or to write the subsequent novels?

MLP: Subsequent. Sure, you know what the big picture looks like overall, but getting there is the hardest part. Having to keep up with your timeline, making sure you carry over important facts and getting your characters in line, make all subsequent novels a task.

How many books have you written?

MLP: Published: 12; Soon To Be Released: 1; Waiting on me to write: Too Many (LOL)

Which is your favorite?

MLP: Ugh, that is hard. They are all my favorites. I think if I had to choose, it would be…

If you were to genre-hop, which genre would you most like to try?

MLP: I recently released Bella and Her Beast, a fairytale retelling in the Once Upon A Temptation Anthology. Of course it is Fantasy, and my character was a shifter. I enjoyed researching and learning about that genre and may be tempted to do it again. Other than that, maybe Dark Romance.

Which of your books was most enjoyable to write?

MLP: Bella and Her Beast. First time outside my norm and it was exhilarating.

Where do you get your inspiration?

MLP: I usually get it from songs/music, and things people say that spark a plot bunny. Other times a storm can generate steamy scenes and more often than non my own marriage can give me inspiration.

If you had to recommend one of your books to a new reader, which would you recommend?

MLP: If you like second chance of sorts, I say High Roller. If you like one-night stands that turn into something more, Southern Charm.

Would you rather be in a room full of snakes or a room full of spiders?

MLP: Ewwww, can’t answer. Just ick!!!

Would you rather have an endless summer or an endless winter?

MLP: Summer.

Would you rather always be an hour early or be constantly twenty minutes late?

MLP: An hour early.

Movie or Book

MLP: Book

Toilet Paper: Over or Under

MLP: Over

City or Country

MLP: Country