Hello friends! Preslaysa here. I am so happy to welcome Erin St. Charles on the blog today. Erin and I worked on two anthologies together, and she has a new, steamy holiday romance out now that’s entitled, Sleigh My Name.
Today she is talking about the writing life and her new release. Without further ado, let’s get started!
Tell us about yourself. Did you always want to be a writer?
I grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and moved to the Dallas area about 20 years ago. I always enjoyed writing, and was first published at age sixteen through a program of the City of Chicago. I went on to study journalism at Northwestern University, thinking I would be a reporter somewhere. When I graduated from college, there weren’t a lot of journalism jobs available, so I wound up going into corporate communications and marketing and largely stopped writing for fun. I started publishing my own stories in 2018 and now I do that full time.
What made you pursue writing as a career?
I have been a writer throughout my career in Corporate America. I started writing fiction again when I was diagnosed with a serious chronic illness several years ago and I was forced to reevaluate what kind of life I wanted to have.
There are numerous examples of artists and other creatives whose periods of illness led to enormous creative leaps. I’ve published more than a dozen books and stories during the last two and a half years, I think, because of my illness.
What in your childhood contributed to you becoming a writer?
My parents, my dad in particular, always encouraged my writing and creativity.
If a stranger was watching you write, what would they see?
They’d see me binge-streaming some TV show in the background. Right now, I’m watching Medium.
Do you prefer writing on a computer, laptop, or by hand?
I write in 4thewords. My current streak is more than 700 days. I don’t write in longhand, I use a PC and sometimes dictation.
Do you set daily writing goals? What happens if you don’t meet them?
Definitely! Usually 2,000-3,000 words a day. If I’m having trouble meeting my writing goals, I at least do 500 words and call it a win.
What genres do you write in? What can readers expect from your characters?
I write romance, primarily paranormal romance with diverse characters.
I think a lot of paranormal romance deals with themes around hidden illness, treatment of people of color and other minorities.
I love characters of all types, because I personally believe that everyone deserves love.
Does your real life experiences ever get put into stories?
I deal with chronic illness and pain every day. My characters often have some kind of secret condition they don’t tell others about.
What are you currently reading?
When I’m writing, I like to default to my “comfort reads” on audio. I re-listen to Suzanne Brockmann or Nora Roberts endlessly, as well as Delaney Diamond, Theodora Taylor, and a few others.
What books inspired you as a child? As an adult?
I read Stephen King as a child, as inappropriate as it was at the time. I think that fed my interest in the supernatural.
Also, Barbara Cartland and Mills and Boon romance novels from the seventies and eighties. My parents tried to throw out my romance novels, but I went and calmly fished them out of the trash, without any fuss. They never tried that again.
Thank you so much for joining us today, Erin!
You can get a copy of Sleigh My Name on Amazon!
About Sleigh My Name
Tor Oleander needs to make his Christmas trip to his hometown short and sweet. Get in, find out what his estranged father wants for Christmas, stay for an obligatory dinner, then leave. Spending time with the old man does nothing but bring up bitter memories of the past, things that Tor put in his rear-view mirror when he left Center City.
But Tor’s plans for a quick exit are thwarted by Holly Flowers, the girl next door.
The girl who used to sell him Girl Scout cookies is all grown up, and Tor takes notice. Gone is the little girl who Tor always thought of as the annoying little sister he never had. In her place is a gorgeous, self-assured woman, and Tor wants to do her like Kwanzaa: all week long.
But Tor’s a blue collar guy who works with his hands, and she’s an uptown girl who works with her brain. In short, Holly is way out of Tor’s league, even though it’s plain to see their attraction is mutual.
Fate brings the two opposites together in the form of a winter snowstorm. Sparks fly, windows are fogged, and bedsprings rattle when they finally get together. But while their chemistry is off the charts, family issues intervene and threaten to put coal in their stockings before they can unwrap a love that’s real.
About Erin St. Charles
Erin grew up watching Star Trek and reading Barbara Cartland novels (don’t hate), wishing she could create something that brings her love of science fiction together with her love of romance. She has a degree in journalism from Northwestern University, and an MBA from Baylor University. Still a romantic nerd at heart, she writes sensual, diverse stories that blend fantasy, adventure, and love.
You can keep up with Erin on Twitter and Facebook.
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