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

CL: I’ve always used writing to process through my emotions. Then, I started writing when things got hard in my life, and I turned writing into a way to escape my reality instead of processing through it. I never saw writing as a career though, until I let a friend of mine read one of my stories and they declared, “You’re a writer.” I’ve never felt so fulfilled in any profession I’ve ever had as I do sharing my stories with others.

How do you handle writer’s block?

CL: Take a hot shower. It works EVERY SINGLE TIME. I always get my best ideas in the shower, so anytime I’m at a standstill in a story, I will take a long hot shower and by the time I get out I usually have a ton of ideas.

What comes first, the plot or characters?

CL: It depends on the story, but I want to say it’s almost always the plot. In Caging Grace, Grace for sure came first. I have dreams about her, and saw her in everything I did for a few months before the story slowly unfolded. But usually the story always comes first and the Characters just unfold when they need to.

Where is your favorite place to write?

CL: Out in nature. The balcony of a cabin, a park, the beach. I do my best writing when I’m alone and surrounded by nature. I’m not a sit in a coffee shop or at my desk type of author.

Do you prefer writing in silence or to music?

CL: I need silence for sure. If a scene has music in it, or is inspired by music, I’ll play that song to get motivated, but then go back to silence, otherwise I’m easily distracted.

How much ‘world building’ takes place before you start writing?

CL: Almost all of it. I do a ton of prep before I start writing. I will map out each chapter, and research and build each chapter in my mind, using my notes feature on my phone, several note books etc. When I have a chunk of time to writing, I just sit down and bang out all the words since everything is pretty much already been created in my mind and researched.

How do you deal with emotional impact of a book (on yourself) as you are writing the story?

CL: I feel everything I’m writing, which is why I like to do so in solitude. If I tried to write in public people would think I was insane, laughing and crying in public.

How do you come up with the titles to your books?

CL: Weird fact about me is I can’t start writing until I have a title. I come up with the concept first, title and then characters. If I don’t have a title, I don’t write.

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

CL: Subsequent novels are never as easy as the first, for me.

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

CL: My favorite character hasn’t been released yet. Trinity from my book, Forgive me Father was such a complex and hard to write character. But her character challenged me more than any in my writing career, and I felt more accomplishment at the end of that book than I ever have with any others I’ve written.

Which of your books was most enjoyable to write?

CL: I just really enjoy writing, but some books have for sure been easier than others. I think Caging Grace was a very easy book to write, so I got a lot of enjoyment out of it because it all flowed so naturally. I wasn’t hung up on any part of the story and I found the research really interesting for that book.

Where do you get your inspiration?

CL: I’m a bit of a hippie, so I find inspiration from all around me. I love trying new foods, going to new places and taking in how I feel and turning them into stories and ideas. A lot of my book ideas have come from world events, or random articles that sparked an idea.

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

CL: Bound By Grace is the prequel to Caging Grace, and it’s a nice quick read. It will show you my writing style, and get you ready for Caging Grace once its out. You can get it for free here: https://BookHip.com/XPWQDRK

With a sick, illegal immigrant mother, a dead father, and a younger sister to provide for, struggle has become second nature to Grace. What she doesn’t know how to do, is hope or dream. Those are two things you don’t have the luxury of doing when you work three jobs to support your family.

This isn’t your average love story. Sometimes, the princess saves the prince. And sometimes, the best person to choose to love, is yourself. 

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

Spiders hands down! I hate snakes!

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

Oh that’s hard…I’m a spring person, but I guess Winter because I like using my oven.

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

I’m always early.

Morning Person or Night Owl?

Night Owl all the way

City or Country?

Country

Paperback or E-Book?

Both! Paperback for my library and leisure reading, E-Books for night reading.

Let’s talk all about your writing style first… 

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

CR: I started reading at such a young age. My uncle used to sit me down and have me read from a thick book, just to stare at me in awe over my ability to pronounce the “big words.” And from there, I fell in love with stories.

I think I always hoped to have a deeper love affair with words. I admired the ability to create something that evoked emotions in strangers. So I think I always wanted to be a writer. But when I genuinely started? Back in 2013, when I deployed. It was my now-or-never, do-or-die kind of moment.

How do you handle writer’s block?

CR: Writer’s block is inevitable, but I allow myself grace to take a break if I’m not finding that sweet spot. Also, I try writing another scene and if that works out, doubling back. I think writer’s block (for me) tends to be a plot issue. Something just isn’t working.

What comes first, the plot or characters?

CR: It varies from story to story.

Where is your favorite place to write?

CR: There’s nothing like writing at my desk. But since having a baby, I sneak in words on the bed while she’s asleep or on the couch.

Do you prefer writing in silence or to music?

CR: I used to need music but now when I write intense scenes, I lean more toward silence.

How much ‘world building’ takes place before you start writing?

CR: I only just started plotting my stories, so I’d say not too much.

How do you deal with emotional impact of a book (on yourself) as you are writing the story?

CR: I don’t know that I keep it. Most of what I write are personal experiences. So majority of the time, the emotional toll is actually a release for me.

How do you come up with the titles to your books? 

CR: Pen and paper. This is also what I do for synopses. Something about writing it out just works.

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

CR: Okay, so I can’t do a dedicated series. I tried that and only got two books in. I’m much better with connected standalones. The Guiding Series, for instance, has a different main character for each book. And because I get to experience different stories, it helps to break up the monotony. So I guess I don’t know how to answer the question other than to say all of it is hard in different ways.

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

CR: Written? No idea. Published? I still am not sure. I think eight since I removed two from publication and rereleased a few of them. My favorite? It’s a tie between EVOL and Teofila’s Guide to Saving the Sun.

Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them special?

CR: I think Teofila because she is a lot like me. She is my love of my culture, my lack of complete identity, my heartache, and my hopeful spirit.

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

CR: Well, I’ve done dark romance and dabbled in paranormal romance. I like to think I’m limitless but I don’t know how true that is. As far as what I’d like to try next…maybe romantic suspense?

Which of your books was most enjoyable to write?

CR: The Sound of Serendipity. It was a NaNoWriMo project and I wrote it so quickly! It’s so light and sexy and I definitely had fun with it.

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

CR: EVOL. I think it’s my strongest work and it’s so personal. But I think the fact that it’s written in reverse throws people off.

​

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

Snakes. I’m way better with snakes than I am with spiders.

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

Jeez. Um…winter? I prefer to bundle up than sweat my ass off.

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

Twenty minutes late, for sure.

​

Tea or Coffee

Neither lol.

Movie or Book

BOOK.

Coke or Pepsi

Coke.

She thinks he’s looking for a come up.
He just thinks she’s stuck up.

Both Darcie and Elijah step foot onto the campus of Pembrook Academy with one thing on their minds… getting out. Darcie wants nothing more than to finish high school and know that her spot in the Ivy Leagues is secured and waiting for her.
And Elijah?
Well, Elijah just wants out.
It was never his idea to go to Pembrook in the first place and now he’s stuck spending his senior year with a bunch of kids he has absolutely nothing in common with. Then, she came along. From the moment he meets Darcie Fitzgerald, he knows she is going to drive him absolutely crazy. But nothing could have prepared him for how amazing crazy would feel.

Darcie has ninety-nine problems and Elijah Benitez is now her biggest one. He seemed to coast into her life from out of nowhere, and she has neither the time nor the patience to deal with him. But every time she tries to put a little distance between them, life shoves them closer together and Darcie finds herself in a situation far more complicated than she could have ever expected.

They’re both about to learn a few things starting with lesson #1:
Not Everything Is As it Seems

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

ESM: Gross!! But I guess I would choose spiders.

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

ESM: Winter…I have cuter warm weather clothes.

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

ESM: An hour early.

Movie or Book

ESM: book

Coke or Pepsi

ESM: It depends on how I am drinking…if I am drinking it plain ~ Wild Cherry Pepsi. If I am mixing drinks ~ Coke.

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

CH: I was four-years-old when my older sister started school. She would come home after learning how to read and she’d write things down. I remember being so jealous that she had this method of communication that I didn’t have. I had all these stories inside of me I wanted to tell and I couldn’t wait to start school and learn how to read and write. Somehow, my love for writing and my need to be a writer started before I even knew how to write!

How do you handle writer’s block?

CH: I like to pretend it doesn’t exist. I call it a “creative lull.” Sometimes I feel creative, sometimes I don’t. I don’t force it. I consume other forms of art, like television, music, reading, etc. Inspiration always seems to build back up when I find a great movie or read a great book. I’m not too hard on myself if I’m unable to write because I think the brain needs breaks. When you’re feeling blocked or uninspired, maybe it’s our brains way of telling us to rest.

What comes first, the plot or characters?

CH: It’s honestly different with every book. Sometimes I’ll get an idea for a character and form a plot around the character, but sometimes I get an idea for a plot twist and I’ll form the entire book around the twist.

Where is your favorite place to write?

CH: I like to switch it up. I have an office a mile from my house, but it can get lonely there. Sometimes I throw on headphones and write at my kitchen table so I can feel like I’m still engaged in the goings-on of my family. Sometimes I need complete solitude and I’ll go rent a hotel for a week. I don’t really have one location. I get bored easily, so my scenery needs to change on a regular basis.

Do you prefer writing in silence or to music?

CH: I need complete silence. I even take the batteries out of my clock. I do love to listen to music to help me feel inspired leading up to a writing day, but if I’m actively writing, I can’t have any interruptions or noise. 

How much ‘world building’ takes place before you start writing? I

CH: tend to stick to realistic stories, so I don’t have the type of world building a fantasy book would require. I also LOATHE description. I skip over descriptions of locations when I read, so as I write, I like to leave most of that up to the reader’s imagination. I don’t care what color the walls are, I just want to know what’s going on behind that door and what’s being said!

How do you deal with the emotional impact of a book (on yourself) as you are writing the story?

CH: I’m not an emotional person, so I find myself pushing my characters to their limits in order for me to actually feel something. I think that’s why the books are referred to as emotional reads. But I do tend to take on the mood of my characters, so I always try to end my writing day on a funny or happy scene. It’s why, even in the saddest scenes, I tend to insert comedy when I can because I like to go home without the character’s feelings weighing me down.

How do you come up with the titles to your books?

CH: I usually have the title before I start writing and they almost always tie into the book. There have been a couple of times where the title has changed during writing, like with my newest, Reminders of Him. I had about ten different titles for that one. And Hopeless was originally called Falling Together. But I mostly settle on a title first and then build the book around the title.

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

CH: I don’t really write series. I have a couple, but they aren’t typical series, they’re just follow-up books that readers asked for. I’m not a fan of cliffhangers, so none of my novels really require the reader to move to the next book to get the full story. Any series I write is more of a bonus, so I do find any follow-ups I do for a book much easier to write than a standalone novel. 

You’ve written in the YA, NA, and contemporary romance genres. Do you have a preference?

CH: I think I enjoyed writing thriller the most. I just haven’t come up with another idea that could match Verity, so I’m being very picky about when I write another thriller. 

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

CH: I love to genre-hop. I’ve tried thriller, paranormal, YA, NA, contemporary. But I’d love to write a fantasy!  

Which of your books was most enjoyable to write?

CH: I enjoyed both Slammed and Verity for different reasons. Slammed was my first book, so it was 100% fun and unexpected and I didn’t feel any stress because no one was expecting a book from me. I enjoyed Verity because it was so much fun to try something new and get into the head of characters who are nothing like myself. 

Where do you get your inspiration?

CH: I feel like it’s more of a question of how do I turn inspiration off because I soak up inspiration from everywhere. I people-watch, I get inspiration from movies and music and reading. I eavesdrop on conversations when I’m out to eat because I find stories in almost everyone I encounter. It’s more a matter of turning off the inspiration in order to focus on one storyline and one set of characters at a time. 

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

CH: I’d probably recommend It Ends With Us. It’s one of my more popular books and I think it’s the one readers recommend to others the most. 

After serving five years in prison for a tragic mistake, Kenna Rowan returns to the town where it all went wrong, hoping to reunite with her four-year-old daughter. But the bridges Kenna burned are proving impossible to rebuild. Everyone in her daughter’s life is determined to shut Kenna out, no matter how hard she works to prove herself.

The only person who hasn’t closed the door on her completely is Ledger Ward, a local bar owner and one of the few remaining links to Kenna’s daughter. But if anyone were to discover how Ledger is slowly becoming an important part of Kenna’s life, both would risk losing the trust of everyone important to them.

The two form a connection despite the pressure surrounding them, but as their romance grows, so does the risk. Kenna must find a way to absolve the mistakes of her past in order to build a future out of hope and healing.

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

CH: Spiders

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

CH: Endless Winter

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

CH: An Hour Early

Tea or Coffee

CH: Neither

Movie or Book

CH: Ummm…script? Is that an option?

Coke or Pepsi

CH: Pepsi!!!

Toilet Paper: Over or Under

CH: I don’t even put it on the holder. It just sits on the back of the toilet.