Author Miranda Stowe has stopped by for a little post holiday chatting with Joyfully Reviewed…

Miranda what is your most current work out?

My most current work is Saved From a Killer. It was published in November by Liquid Silver Books.

Tell us a little about Saved From a Killer, what inspired you to write it?

Being that it’s book two in my erotic romantic suspense series, The Snatcher Series, I kinda felt I had to write this book to answer all—or most—of the questions I left hanging in book one.

Other than that, I like to serial kill people in my spare time and thought I’d write about a few of my experiences. Just kidding! I honestly have no idea why I started a series about a serial killer. Obviously, something’s wrong with me.

When you start writing, do you already have the story plotted out or do you let the characters dictate what will happen?

I have a general idea where I’d like my story to go. Then I create the characters and they pretty much trample all over my grand plans and do their own thing. Big meanies!

What inspired you to write in your genre? Is this the genre you started writing in or have you morphed to this one?

I morphed into this one. I started as general contemporary romance, and then it turned erotic, and then turned erotic suspense romance as I got into reading sexier, more dangerously intriguing stuff.

Do you have a favorite character you have written?

I’m into Court Lawson at the moment. He’s the bad boy hero in Framed as a Killer, book 3 in the Snatcher Series. The acquisitions editor at LSB claimed him as hers, but I’ll always know I’m the one that gave him his first breath, so ha!

Who was the toughest character for you to “get right” that you have written so far?

I’m currently writing book 5 in the series and Skyla is getting harder and harder to write. In all the other stories, she’s very take charge, but in now that I’m in her story, she’s turning all submissive on me. Maybe it’s her heroes making her that way. I dunno. But it’s making things very difficult for me.

Do you draw inspiration for your characters from real life? Any fun stories you could share?

If I see someone do or hear someone say something interesting, I may use it, but I have yet to depict a full real-life person from the inside out yet. I prefer to pick and choose characterizations.

What do you find is the hardest part of writing?

Endings. Once I get so far into a story, there’s so many ways to go with it, I’m not always sure which is the best way.

Name one thing that your readers would be surprised to know about you.

I have no idea, maybe that I’m a Christian, even though I can write some pretty dirty smutty romance.

Do you have a guilty pleasure?

My stories are my guilty pleasure. Seriously. My family has no idea I write as Miranda Stowe. They only know about my Linda Kage pen name.

What do you need before you start writing? Anything that is just a must have or the creative juice don’t flow?

I still haven’t found out how to get the muse jumpstarted with a toddler climbing up in my chair with me and reaching for everything she can possibly grasp on my desktop. But other than her absence, I don’t think I need anything else to get into my writing.

Does music influence your writing? If so, do any of your stories have a theme song?

No music for me. If there is music, I tune it out.

If your story was optioned for a movie, who would play your characters?

Ooh, good one. I’m not sure. Probably some actor or actress I haven’t heard of yet.

Where were you when you got your first contract? Who did you tell first?

I was at work. I called my husband to tell him but before I could he was like, “I gotta go. I’m 10-15 right now,” which is cop talk for prisoner in custody.

How old were you when you read your first romance book?

I was a Freshman in high school when I popped my romance cherry. I heard my older sisters praising Sandra Brown, so I read one and haven’t looked back since. I’m an affirmed addicted romance junkie now.

What author causes you to “go fan girl”/ squeal over/anticipate upcoming books?

You mean I can only one pick one “fan girl” author squeal moment. Geesh. But there are so many greats out there. Okay, okay, at the moment I’m totally craving to read “Thief of Shadows” by Elizabeth Hoyt. I CANNOT wait until July. I keep reading the excerpt for it where it’s located at the end of the last book in her series over and over…and over again.

If you still have one of those pesky non writing jobs what is it?

You mean I can only one pick one “fan girl” author squeal moment. Geesh. But there are so many greats out there. Okay, okay, at the moment I’m totally craving to read “Thief of Shadows” by Elizabeth Hoyt. I CANNOT wait until July. I keep reading the excerpt for it where it’s located at the end of the last book in her series over and over…and over again.

What are you currently working on, and what else is in the wings?

As soon as I’m finished with book 5 of the Snatcher series, I’m going to get back to work on my Half-Breed Shifter series book. Then return to this fantasy trilogy I started. Oh, and I need to finished these two ménage books I’ve got in the works. I usually work on half a dozen stories at once. I just can’t help it.

If you could co-write with another author who would it be?

Jackie Bannon. She’s not published yet, but she really should be!

How do you pick your characters names?

I try to make sure no one I know already has that name.

Do you prefer the love at first sight approach or a steady growth throughout?

Either way, as long as there’s a happy ending! I like diversity, so I’d take any kind of romance!!!

What is your reaction to people who say one of the following…”Oh you write romance, I thought you were a real writer”, “Romance isn’t a real writing career” or the ever popular “Oh, one of those books”.

I think they obviously don’t read romance, and in that case, I feel sorry for them for missing out on one of the best things in life, right above chocolate!

Where can readers find you?

Website & Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads

And for the silly side – What is your favorite type of chocolate?

White and milk chocolate swirled together. You know, like Hersey Hugs, and maybe throw an almond in the center!