Dorothy F. Shaw - Interview

Author Name: Dorothy F. Shaw
Fiction or Non-Fiction: Fiction
Genre(s): Romance – erotic, contemporary and paranormal
Number of books published: 4 – (5^th will be here in January)
Links to published work (Amazon, Smashwords, etc):

http://www.amazon.com/Dorothy-F.-Shaw/e/B00DPRI5HK/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1436939762&sr=8-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/defensive-heart-dorothy-f-shaw/1122273973?ean=9781619228900

(Barnes doesn’t do author pages)
I’m on several other e-sellers as well.

 

WYLABWYW: Author Bio:

Dorothy F. Shaw lives in Arizona, where the weather is hot and the sunsets are always beautiful. She spends her days in the corp. world and her nights with her Mac on her lap. Between her ever-open heart, her bright red hair and her many colorful tattoos, she truly lives and loves in Technicolor!

 

WYLABWYW: Tell us a little bit about yourself. Something we won’t find in you author bio on your website (do you work, hobbies, what do you like to do when not writing/working, etc.).
I studied dance for 14 years when I was a child. Oh, and I ride a motorcycle...when its not too hot out.

 

WYLABWYW:  Are you self-published, with an agency, or a combination of the two?
Combination of the two. I have one self-published project I did with 4 other authors. The boxed set is called: Three Time Lucky—my story in it is: Playtime.

 

WYLABWYW: What inspired you to become a writer?
It was an accident. Some friends told me on twitter in 2009, after writing a blog post about how my now ex-husband and I met, that I should write because I had a voice. Personally? I thought they were insane. But...here I am.

 

WYLABWYW: Do you have a mentor or mentors?
I have several, but Megan Hart is my primary. She’s also a dear friend. Her style, her work ethic and how she can break a readers heart and then heal it with her writing is amazing. Megan taught me that this—even though it’s artistic—is still a job. And if you want this job, you have to do the work. That means you have to sit your butt down and write. No matter what, you write.

 

WYLABWYW:  What do you do to prepare for a story?
I do a high level: WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE and WHY layout. I plot the highpoints but for everything in between, I’m definitely a pantster. I let the characters lead and I make sure they stay on course. But often, they surprise me.

 

WYLABWYW: What do you find to be your biggest obstacle in the writing process?

Lack of time. I have to sleep at some point.

 

WYLABWYW:  Where do you do your writing?

In my family room, or if its during the day and the kids are home, I go hide in my bedroom. But I sit in a recliner with my mac on my lap.

 

WYLABWYW: Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what do you typically listen to?
ALWAYS! I make a playlist for whatever book I’m writing. And that playlist is determined by the plot and the characters.

 

WYLABWYW: How much of your book(s), if any, is taken from real life events?
As Megan Hart says: It’s all true and it’s all fiction. =P

Seriously, I don’t write actual events in my books. But I do draw from my past experiences, or even current experiences. You have to use it...everything that’s happened to you or around you. I’ve had a lot of things go on in my life and I use it to breathe life and emotion into my characters.

 

WYLABWYW:   Who is/was your biggest support for your writing career?
My ex-husband. He’s still my biggest supporter.

 

WYLABWYW:  What lead to write your chosen genre?
I write what I like to read. I like realistic broken characters. I even like a love story without a happy ending, but sadly, you can’t sell that as romance. All my characters get an HEA, but they just have to work hard for it. Also, I LOVE a ton of sex in the books I read. Sex is part of life and relationships, so it’ll always be in my books.

 

WYLABWYW:  Tell us about your book(s).

The first book I had published was co-written by my ex-husband and I. Spare Hearts is a fairly long novella about a former pro-bowler trying to get back on the PBA circuit. Yes, I wrote about a bowler. =))

 

 

I’m currently working on a contemporary erotic romance series called The Donnellys. The first was released in May: Unworthy Heart – this is actually the first book I ever wrote. I finished writing it a little over 3 years ago, and it took that long to get it edited and in decent enough condition for a publisher to pick it up. The series can support 7-8 (maybe more) books. Book 2, Defensive Heart just released Sept 8^th.

 

WYLABWYW:  Do you have muses you used for your characters?

Life is my muse, but there have definitely been people in my past (or not too distant past) that have inspired certain characters. It can’t be helped. What’s that saying? If you wanted people to write warmly about you, you should’ve behaved better? Yeah, that one.

 

WYLABWYW: Time to give your support a shout out! Tell us about your crew (cover designer, photographer, editor, videographer, proofreader, swag designer, etc.)
SHOUT OUT TO:

Shawna Thomas – she an author, but also edits on the side. Shawna is the first person to ever edit me. She helped me learn how to write. For that, I will forever be grateful.

My current editor at Samhain – Tera Cuskaden Norris. She’s awesome and I love her to pieces!

SIdda Lee Rain – she’s an indie author and a very close friend. She saved my butt on a book I just finished writing by proof reading as I wrote. Adore her, and I pray she’s always in my life.

Terry “Wookie” Hoffman – my ex husband. He’s still my biggest supporter and cheerleader and he makes all my swag! Check him out if you need cover art or swag...or a tattoo. He’s badass at all those things.

 

WYLABWYW: What are you working on now, and when can we expect your next release?

Right now, I’m in edits on book 3 in The Donnellys series. It’s due out early January.

I’m also working on a stand-alone Dark contemporary erotic romance tentatively titled Stripped Bounty. It’s targeted to come out June of 2016.

After that, I’ll be working on book 4 in The Donnellys. All published through Samhain.

 

WYLABWYW: Can you share an excerpt from a work in progress?
How about my latest release?

--Excerpt from Defensive Heart, book 2 in The Donnellys

* * *

He wrapped his fingers around her hand in a firm but not excessive grip. “Nice to meet you. Can’t say it’s been a pleasure so far, but maybe there’s hope.” He winked and smiled, revealing a set of straight, white teeth and a pair of dimples some would kill for.

The smile was potent, and her breath caught in her throat. “You really know how to turn on the charm, don’t you?”

“Oh, come on. Lighten up, will ya? We need a shot.”

“I’m not doing a shot with you, Mr. Donnelly.”

“Sure you are. Good memory with the name, by the way.” He rubbed his hands together. “I’m going to order two shots along with your drink, then we’ll drink them. Simple.”

Sonja couldn’t quite believe this guy. He was either already drunk or just plain stupid. Never mind rude, annoying and downright egotistical. She could go on and on, and should’ve already walked away from him. Yet she stood there, like some sort of subservient sheep—how typical of me—and let him order them shots and drinks.

Sonja shook her head, clenching her teeth in complete annoyance. Thing was, she wasn’t sure who she was more agitated with, herself or him. Just what she needed, another pompous ass ordering her around. Spare me. I’m full up. The bartender returned with her vodka tonic—minus the lime, two shot glasses filled with dark fluid, and a glass of what appeared to be Guinness. When her unwelcome and distracting company slid the shot in front of her, Sonja eyed the nearly black liquid and frowned. “What is it?”

“Jagermeister.” He raised his shot glass. “Come on, lift it. What shall we drink to?”

She waved her hand, signaling the bartender. She needed the lime for her drink. “I’m not drinking that.”

He picked up the other shot and held it in front of her. “Sure you are.”

“Mr. Donnel—”

“James. Take the shot.”

“James. Whatever. You can have both.” The bartender appeared. Finally. “You forgot my lime.”

“It’s been awhile hasn’t it?” James chuckled.

“Excuse me?”

He set the shot intended for her on the bar top. “Safe to assume you’re single. It’s been awhile since you’ve gotten laid, huh? Must be it.”

“It has no—” Heat flooded her cheeks and agitation pulsed through her. She was single, but her relationship status or sex life was none of his damn business. And besides, it hadn’t been that long. Had it?

Cupping her elbow in his hand, he bent close to her ear. “You are, and it has. Drink the shot, Sonja. Trust me, you need it.” His hot breath feathered over her neck and she shivered.

* * *

 

WYLABWYW:  Do you have any upcoming signing events or appearances scheduled later this year or in 2016?

2015:
October 1-4^th I’ll be in Vegas at Hot Mojave Knights - http://www.hotmojaveknights.com/

For 2016:

September 24^th I’ll be at the Naughty in the West Author Event - http://www.bookaddictsonestopprshop.com/

October 8^th I’ll be at the Valley of the Sun Author Event - http://valleyofthesunauthorevent.weebly.com/

February 25-28^th I’ll be at Wild Wicked Weekend - http://wildwickedweekend.com/

April 12-17^th I’ll be at RT - https://www.rtconvention.com/

 

WYLABWYW: Which new authors have caught your attention?
Eeep! Sadly, I don’t know. I haven’t had a lot of time to read new authors. Deadlines are a killer, but I’m very happy to have them. But I will take an opportunity to pimp Sidda Lee Rain out – she’s got a new story called Hate Sex—written under the pen name: Billy Storm. Check her out! https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBillyStorm

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to share with us all. – THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME!!! <3