S.J. is another friend I "met" through Six Sentence Sunday. I always enjoyed S.J.'s sexy snippets each week, and it didn't take long for me to discover she was a fellow caffiend. (A word I recently created -- a combo of "caffeine" and "fiend".) We share virtual coffee on Twitter and Facebook, and she laughs at all my silliness -- actually I think she incites it. I can't imagine a day without our virtual coffee chats, and I'm thrilled that she's just released her debut, Taking Chances, this past week.
So without further ado. . .please welcome the lovely and talented S. J. Maylee! *throws coffee beans like confetti*
Of all the characters you've created, which one is your favorite? (Characters, quick! Look over there!) Why do you love them best?
Donna, they’re all looking at me still. Quick, tell them some of your jokes. :)
Lydia will probably always be my favorite. She’s a shy girl and it takes a lot of courage for her to come out of her shell and go after what she wants. This is so me. Her bravery was right there with me in my journey to published author and I’ll never forget her.
I put out several cups of coffee to get their attention, but it just distracted me! And I love the reason for Lydia being your fave. What's your go-to "writing avoidance" technique? (Can you tell this is one of my favorite questions?)
Social media and all things entertainment are my catch 22. They each inspire me and motivate my muse, but moderation is key. If I don’t step back from it all, I could easily waste away all my writing time. It’s one mad cha-cha.
True. But since it's a cha-cha, we'll count it as exercise! If you were able to go on a writing retreat, where would it be? (Don't mind me. I always pack my suitcases during interviews.)
I’d love to have a cabin on a lake, not far from the local coffee shop. Lake views usually help to clear my head. Then, I could people watch while I get a coffee fix. It’s the perfect match for a writing retreat if you ask me. Oh, you did. :) You’re not going to throw coffee beans at me, are you, Donna?
I only throw coffee beans for celebrations! Well, usually. . .What's the word you love to use (and overuse, so you have to take it out of your book during edits)?
I use to overuse “that” and probably still do, but I’m aware of it and usually nix them quick. With each book it seems to be a new word though. With Taking Chances, it was “heat.”
*fans face* I think "heat" could come in handy, especially with winter on the horizon! Name the first thing you'll do when you make a million dollars from your books.
Besides quit the evil day job and buy that cabin by the lake, I’d love to travel more. I’m a home body and am a big fan of the staycation, but I’d love to spend more time in Italy.
I wouldn't mind a trip to Italy! I mean, my bags are already packed, and I hear they have killer espresso. :) Okay, here's the Tasty Ten lightning round, where we get to know you in a speed dating kind of way:
Dark roast or light roast? Dark, very dark
Drafting or revising? Drafting, but revising is growing on me. I love adding in those little tidbits that make a book all kinds of fun and I write most of these during revisions.
Twitter or Facebook? Twitter, but Facebook is fun too.
Winter or Summer? Summer, unless I want to downhill ski.
Baseball or Football? Ugh, these are hard, Donna. Fall’s almost here. So, I’ll say Football.
Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate
Heels or flats? My feet like flats, but I love heels.
Morning or evening? Morning as long as there’s coffee. Shoot, evening as long as there’s coffee. :)
Pecs or abs? Abs. No, pecs. Ugh. I cannot peck, I mean pick. Can you tell they get me flustered, lol.
Biter or licker? (Hellloooo! I'm talking ice cream cones here!) I bite and then I lick. ;)
Author Bio:
S. J. Maylee fell in love with storytelling at a young age and with it came a deep-seated desire for everyone to find their happily ever after. She’s finding the happy endings for her characters one steamy story at a time.
When she’s not reading or writing, you can find her caring for her garden, laughing with her two young sons, or dancing to her husband’s music. She’s a PMP (Project Management Professional), Nia instructor, and coffee addict.
As a writer she has a tendency to break hearts, but she always glues them back together.
Social Media Links
Blog ~~ Twitter ~~ Facebook ~~ Goodreads ~~ Pinterest
Blurb for Taking Chances:
Lydia’s father walked away from her when she was eight. She’s struggled to not let him affect her, but fears she wasn’t loveable enough to make him stay. Jake wants to love one woman, but after scaring the last woman he met outside of the club, he doubts he has the right. She protects her heart by sticking with her fantasies, and he lives by a set of rules that excludes women who choose a vanilla lifestyle.
The two will be kept in a conference room working together until their special project is complete. If Lydia and Jake hold tight to their bland lives, they’ll always yearn for love that is out of reach. But together they can find common ground, passion, and a reason to take chances. Once they discover the grand possibilities of the love they desire, they find themselves in the very place they tried never to be again, facing unguaranteed love.
Excerpt:
“Lydia!” someone shouted.
Something pushed her elbow, and it fell awkwardly from the table, releasing her from her inner thoughts. Everyone at the table stared her way.
“Thanks for rejoining us. Clear your calendar, and meet me back here in a half hour.” Jake locked his gaze with hers.
“Yes, Sir … I mean, okay, I’ll be here.”
She couldn’t handle his powerful expression and dropped her stare to the table. It was too intense, him standing there like an unyielding statue. Had she said something wrong? Before an idea could enter her mind, he stormed from the room. The rest of her department followed him like nothing tremendous happened. Just like that, they went on with their day, talking about lunch plans and other mundane things. Lydia, on the other hand, couldn’t move.
It had been a split second, but his eyes had narrowed in on her and dimmed to a shade darker than black. It was intimidating, but she desperately wanted to see it again.
Buy Links:
That was so much fun! Thank you, Donna, for all the great reads and for making me laugh. I'm so glad we're friends.
Posted by: S. J. Maylee | August 30, 2013 at 08:07 AM
I would love a cabin on the lake not far from a coffee shop too, S.J. I'm also a staycation person but would like to travel more (hubby and I have started doing that this year).
Fun interview as always, Donna. And you two definitely have it down on the coffee addiction, LOL.
Congrats on your release, S.J., and best wishes!
Posted by: Mae Clair | August 30, 2013 at 08:29 AM
S.J., thanks for making this a fun interview! I'm really glad we're friends too. :) Here's some more coffee. . . to celebrate TAKING CHANCES.
Posted by: Donna Cummings | August 30, 2013 at 08:41 AM
Mae, while you two are doing the cabin on the lake, I'm going to get the Italy location set up, testing the coffee and all that. :) I definitely want to travel more too, which is funny, since I love staying home. I'm so contrary. LOL
Posted by: Donna Cummings | August 30, 2013 at 08:42 AM
Hi, Mae, thanks! Travel a little and then stay at home, sounds good to me. :) Glad you're getting your travel on, have fun.
Posted by: S. J. Maylee | August 30, 2013 at 08:52 AM