Meet Author Monica Tillery

Today I welcome Monica Tillery, fellow Crimson Romance author. Welcome to my blog, Monica.  Please tell us a little about yourself.

Like so many other authors, I've always been an avid reader.  I have stacks and stacks of books and hundreds of ebooks...and yet I'm always picking up more!  Becoming an author was always a dream of mine, and I'm so excited to finally be published.  I've made writing my job, and between the book that's out, the one that I'm finishing and getting ready to turn in, and my work in progress, it keeps me pretty busy.

When I'm not writing, I love spending time with my friends and family.  I love playing games (I've been in the same bunco group for over a dozen years), going to movies, and meeting with my book club.   I have two wonderful sons and one handsome, real-life romance hero for a husband.  I'm a lucky girl.

How would you describe your writing process? Do you outline? Let the muse lead you? Or something else?

I do a little plotting/planning and a little flying by the seat of my pants.  I have tried to complete a detailed, comprehensive outline before.  I thought it would streamline my process and help me complete my first draft faster, but it didn’t work out for me.  I seized up and started feeling twitchy and unhappy after the first page.  So, now I like to have a good idea of where the story is going, what scenes I’m going to write, and the characters’ goals, motivations, and conflicts.  I usually know how to start and end the book, and the middle is where I need to get in and figure it out.

My process is very similar to yours, and isn’t it great to finally finish it! How did you celebrate the publication of your first book (please keep this rated PG).

I have celebrated the first book like crazy!  My friends are wonderful, exceptional examples of friendship.  They planned a surprise party for me to celebrate my book, and it was an amazing night I’ll never forget.  They managed to bring together almost 50 of my nearest and dearest for a party that included dinner, a cake customized with my book cover, a gorgeous candy bar, custom decorations, and support for a literacy program.  Guests brought books to donate, and one of our local literacy programs got a ton of great material the next day!

How thoughtful of you and your friends to combine your celebration with such a worthy cause. Very cool.  Talk about your research process? Do you enjoy it?

I write contemporary romance, so my research is generally limited to locations and professions.  I do a combination of reading blogs, articles, and information online and interviewing real people.  My debut novel is set on a major country music tour, so I scoured the internet for pictures of tour buses and learned about tour etiquette.  Then I turned to a musician that I know in real life who tours with a major act and asked him about the ins and outs of life on the road.  He saved me from making some big mistakes!

I really enjoy finding out about different jobs in industries that seem exciting, glamorous, or just interesting.  My latest work in progress revolves around organic tea farming, so I’ve spent a lot of time learning about the process of growing and processing tea.  I probably won’t use most of what I find, but it helps lend authenticity to my characters and my writing if I have a good idea of what they are doing.

You are speaking to my heart now because I am a devoted tea drinker.  I can’t wait to read that novel. Now that you are a published author, has writing changed how you read books?

It has.  I notice mistakes more often now, such as shifting point of view within a scene, but I still try to review books for the story and not the mistakes I see.  I read a ton of romance, and I often find myself noting how other authors do things, which can bring me out of the story.  I’ll be reading along, immersed in the story, and then I notice that I’ve been taking mental notes about how the author described something, showed conflict, or managed a difficult transition.  It’s rare that I read something great and just let myself enjoy it rather than try to figure out how to apply it to my own writing!

What are you currently working on?

I am thrilled to be involved in my current project!  Four other Crimson Romance authors and I are creating a five-book continuity series titled The Emerald Springs Legacy.  My book, Adam’s Ambition, kicks off the series in February 2014. 

Sounds like an ambitious project…but very fun! What is the best piece of advice about writing that you ever received or read? What would tell aspiring writers today?

The single best piece of advice I have received and can give is to finish your book.  You cannot fix something that has not been written.  Nobody will buy your incomplete manuscript.  It is much easier to start something than it is to finish it, but that’s the difference between the scores of people who say they’d like to write a novel and those that actually do it.

Do you keep a notebook in your pocket, briefcase, purse or on your bedside table to write down ideas that come to you right away so you don’t forget them?

After one too many instances of figuring out plot problems, coming up with ideas, or writing amazing dialogue that I promptly forget, I have notebooks everywhere now.  I keep one in the car, in my handbag, by my bed, in my bathroom, and in every room of the house.  Chances are if I don’t write it down, I will forget it!

I’m the same way. For my birthday last year, my daughter bought me a digital voice recorder for my car.  It’s great, but when I use it, I sometimes miss my turn. It’s been delightful having you on my blog today, Monica.  Thanks for visiting and best of luck on your continued success.

Contact Monica at:

Website: www.monicatillery.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/monicatilleryauthor

Twitter: @monicatillery

Buy Monica’s book at:

Amazon http://amzn.to/10KfAg1 ($1.99 all month!)

Barnes & Noble bit.ly/12k4PIY

iTunes bit.ly/10O0ozX