I’m happy to welcome fellow SCP Author, AJ Best by today. She was good enough to answer a few questions. So pull up a chair and relax and get to know AJ.

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

A little about myself, hmmm. I’m tall and shrinking. Does that count?

2. Are you a pantser or a plotter?

I’ve tried it both ways, and so far pantsing makes life go round. I even went to a course called pantsing to plotting. I think I failed the class. I’m such a bad student.

3. Can you tell us about the challenges you faced getting your first book published?

The first book (short story) was not the easiest thing to get published. I wanted desperately to be a Ravenous Romance gal, but they wouldn’t even give me the time of day. Maybe their watch was broken. So I sent the MS to Passion in Print and OY VEY, they didn’t have much good to say about it. I steamed, cussed, pouted, and threw things until I said, “Self, let’s ignore the not so good stuff, and take the good stuff and run with it.”

Low and behold it worked. Secret Cravings read my short story and sent my acceptance letter to me while I was eating pizza at Pizza Hut. It is not advisable to scream at the top of your lungs in a small town restaurant. When we left there we went to Big Lots, and I had a ton of fun running the battery down on my phone calling everyone I could think of and telling them that I was finnally a published author.

4. What was your favorite chapter to write and why?

My favorite was the last chapter as that is where they make up. I can’t tell you the spot they make up on, or where they are when it happens, it will ruin all the fun. But let’s just say, it makes making up fun.

5. Were all of your characters easy to write, or did some of them give you trouble? Any particular character you didn’t like at all?

My characters are never easy to write. I know (as any parent does) what is good for their kids, but they don’t want to do anything I tell them to do. It’s a huge fight til I give in and alas things work better than I thought they would.

6. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Write. Keep writing. Guest blog, even if you don’t have a book out because you want your name out there for people to say, “Hey, I’ve heard of that AJ chick, she’s a smart ass. Wonder what she’s gonna say today!” But also, remember that anything you put on the internet your publishers and fans can find. So even if you are a smart ass, don’t be a dumb ass about it. LOL

7. In researching your book what did you learn that surprised you? Or, alternatively, what thing did you research that you never thought you would (and considered deleting from your browsing history)?

I’ve done some research for a friend’s book, but even as odd as that was I would never delete my browser history. I can’t wait for the day I die and my grandkids go through my computer and nearly fall out of their chair at what granny was looking at. 🙂 I think the oddest thing that I have looked up for myself was a creature that hunts vampires. It was rather odd searching for “creature that drinks vampire blood”.

8. Narrow down your novel. Why must we read it? (besides the obvious, it’s awesome answer…because of course it is!)

You must read it because I’ve placed a subliminal messaging loop in this interview, and if you don’t read it, your eyes will pop. 🙂 Just kidding. You should read the book because it’s a great short story that will catch you on fire at the very end. Make sure you warn your SO.

9. Do you have any unique talents or hobbies? Talents? Uninque?

Not really, but I am the jack of all trades and the master of none. I crochet, oil paint, change computer monitors to cat beds, make paned windows into a painting that looks like a window looking out. I can sew, quilt, make artisan bread, and nearly anything homemade!

10. Which character speaks the loudest to you?

The loudest one is my female heroine in my paranormal romance. She has gone through a ton of crap before the first chapter is over and she’s ready for something good to happen by now. And she’s not very quiet about it.

11. Do you have another book coming out soon?

I have several books in the works, a cookbook, a paranormal romance, and a woman’s fiction book. But none of those are coming out right away.

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BLURB
Mary is prepared for the anniversary of a lifetime. Ten years of wonderful memories fill her mind. She can’t wait to see what the next ten will bring. When her plans for early morning seduction fail, her mind jumps to worst case scenarios.

Joe’s attention, focused elsewhere, may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Will he be able to come up with a good reason for forgetting their anniversary?

As the day continues, will the answers Mary finds leave her in tears? Will she find the next ten years dreams shattered before her? Only Joe holds the answers to the questions her heart asks.

**********

Author Bio

From the age of seven AJ has been passionate about the written word. Taking advantage of her summer breaks she would spend the entire day at the library reading. It wasn’t until the age of thirteen the written took hold and wouldn’t let go. Her mother made sure she had a typewriter, yes a manual one, and plenty of correction tape.

AJ’s first love was poetry. Before she was given the experience to comprehend the meaning of love she typed out her first poem:

lazily we walk along the beach
you and I hand in hand
nature has its things to teach
we listen and learn
but never turn
to see what we left behind

When not writing you will find AJ in the garden, kitchen or animal shelter. The family’s love for animals has brought them a pretty cool status among the community. They are one of the only families in the county who will take in feral cats.

AJ is determined to become the worlds youngest ‘cat lady’. Her living furbaby collection includes Jack, Thor, Belle, Shadow and Earl. Keep an eye out in all of her writing, there will be a kitty in every story. It’s the only way she’ll get to reach the ‘cat lady’ status without her fiance` kicking her out.

AJ loves to connect with people. Feel free to stop by her web page www.ajbestwrites.com or send her an email at ajbestwrites(@)gmail.com