Both. In the fall of 2020, I got up the nerve to submit my manuscript for Sweet Hart, the first book in my Hart Consulting Series, to Pride Publishing. I was floored when they offered me a contract. That has given me the courage to start letting people see my work. This year has been rough for me (I still have a day job, obviously), but I’m getting back into writing and started self-publishing a new series of novelettes this month. Also book two of my Hart Consulting Series comes out in January.
Plot or Pants? Do you pre-plot your books, use an outline, fly by the seat of your pants or some combination of things? How do you keep track of characters in a series? Do you keep a journal of your characters’ statistics, such as hair and eye color, relatives, hometown, etc.
I’m a pantser by nature, but then I read the book Take Off Your Pants and really started to understand the value of plotting, even if it’s just a basic outline to make sure you know where your plot is going. Sometimes the characters veer off the plan and that’s okay too.
Tell us about your first… published M/M fiction/romance
Well...I currently only have one book out, I’m really new. If you like fake boyfriends and forced proximity, you might like my first book, Sweet Hart. This book is about Brayden Hart. He truly is a sweetheart and the books namesake. He’s willing to put himself in peril to have a chance to speak to his estranged brother and bring the family back together. Sam on the other hand is a bit of a curmudgeon. He’s grumpy and a little set in his ways. But he’s Brayden’s only link to his brother. When Brayen stumbles into a covert operation, Sam is forced to claim him as his arm candy. With everyone watching they have to pretend. It sounds easy, until Braydon becomes a bargaining chip and Sam realizes what he’s feeling is a little too real.and then your most recent one..
My first novelette in the Derbyn Hills series, Falling For Beau, just released!. Xavier is looking for the perfect place to build the community he always wanted to live in. “There should be a place where everyone feels welcome and accepted, a place where people judge you by your actions and your intentions, not your skin color or your gender identity or your sexuality. I’ve never found a place like that, so I’m going to try and build it.” Xavier Bond - Derbyn Hills Book One
Coming up next, Book two of the Hart Consulting Series, Dash, comes out in January. Working with the guy who turns him on and pisses him off has Nick in a tailspin. He and Ax have butted heads since they met, but now they have to work very closely together. If you like enemies to lovers trope, buckle up.
Do you write full time or part-time?
Something people would be surprised to know about you
Which character still pops into your mind to visit from time to time?
Where do you write? Do you have a routine?
What are your writing goals for the next year? The future?
What do you do if you hit a wall while writing? How do you combat writer’s block?
What do your friends and family think of what you write; do they know?
How can we connect with you?
I write part-time, but hopefully someday I can make it my full-time job. By day, I’m a data analyst and believe me, writing is much more fun. I love to write, so even if it takes a while, I’m in this for the long haul.
Something people would be surprised to know about you
I love to sing. If I didn’t write, I’d have to find an outlet by singing. Most situations remind me of a song, which many might find annoying, but my five-year-old loves it (for now). Some people quote movies, I belt out song lyrics.
Which character still pops into your mind to visit from time to time?
It might be cliché, but Mr. Darcy. He was confident enough to really look at himself after Elizabeth turned him down. He faced his flaws and tried to be a better person. That’s a good book boyfriend.
Where do you write? Do you have a routine?
All over the place, on the sofa, at my desk, in bed, in line at the grocery store. I don’t really have a routine, which is what I’m working on. I’m trying to create a routine so I write consistently.
What are your writing goals for the next year? The future?
My goal for next year is to experiment with the craft of writing and learn about indie publishing. My plan is to publish a novelette every month so that I can work on the craft of writing, better connect with readers, and experiment with different tropes.
What do you do if you hit a wall while writing? How do you combat writer’s block?
Honestly, I’m usually working on at least three writing projects at once. Chances are that one of them will inspire me. Then again, it can take me longer to get things done, so it’s a balance.
What do your friends and family think of what you write; do they know?
I live near San Francisco, so thankfully, that’s rarely an issue. My close friends know what I do and are very supportive.
How can we connect with you?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/raesroguereaders
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raemarkswrites/
Website: www.raemarks.com (you can join my newsletter for sneak peeks and deleted scenes)
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