Resting Bitch Face

The curse. . .

F.A.Q

So here are a couple of questions I've been asked. I thought I'd put the answers down here as well for anyone who might want to know them :) If anyone has any more feel free to ask.

Will there be any more in the Fortunate series, and will they feature Nathan and Zac?

The answer to that is yes and yes. I actually have a possible 9 books planned for the series, though that could change at any point. But one thing for sure is that Nathan and Zac will definitely be getting their stories. I've actually just finished Nathan's story and am in the arduous process of editing, so it won't be long until this one is out. Finally.

What are the recommended reading age for my books?

It depends on the book to be honest. For the Guardians series I'd say 15+ due to use of language and violent situations. Because of Him is the only book in the Fortunate series I'd rate 15+ for mildly sexual situations. Whereas I class that one young adult, the rest of the books in the Fortunate series are new adult and I'd recommend an 17+ rating due to language and sex. Lots and lots of sex.

What am I working on now?

As of right now I've just finished Nothing Like Him, the 5th in the Fortunate series. This time Nathan gets a chance to have a story. I'm currently in the editing process, but keep your eyes open because it shouldn't be long now.

What's the best thing about being a writer?

So many things. It's a job I get to do from home, anytime of the day, in my pj's if I want to (and I often do want to). It's something that I'm highly passionate about, and so I count myself as lucky that I get to do it. But the ultimate best thing about being a writer are the people who read my books. I have some seriously wonderful readers who encourage me and make me want to work harder for them, just by being generally awesome.

How do you deal with writer's block?

We all have our different ways of coping with it. For me, I find the best thing I can do is just to keep writing, to keep ploughing through it. It may not always be great work, but there's usually something I can salvage until I get back on form again.

Where did you get the inspiration for the character, Gable?

Originally it started off with a very simple, very stray thought as I watched an action movie. I don't remember which one now, but maybe something like James Bond. I was just sitting there watching all the action going down, watching as the hero tore through the bad guys, and then I thought, what about all these minions he's just shooting without a second thought? They probably had families. They definitely had parents, at least at some point. Someone who would miss them and notice they were gone. And so I started thinking more and more about the minions, and what it would be like if one of them got to tell their story. So that's where it started really. Of course the idea grew and changed - Gable wasn't just a minion and The Guardians wasn't just here story. But that's the origins

Who are my favorite authors?

I have so, so many. A full list of my favorite authors and titles can be found here - http://jessicaroeblog.blogspot.co.uk/p/recommended-reads.html

October is here!!! . . . Almost

Autumn is here!

Autumn is officially here! Which means the leaves are changing color, the air is getting cooler, shops are all stacked up for Halloween and even Christmas in some super eager places. I love this time of year. I love that I can get snugged up under my blanket and not sweat my ass off. I love that it's time to get our coats on, and hats and scarves and gloves. I love that it's time for hearty hot dinners and hot chocolates. I love that there are piles of crunchy leaves on the pavements for me and my wee sprog to jump into. I'm just a big autumn fan.

So happy autumn you guys!

When you just gotta stand and stare. . .

So I was doing a quick shop at Morrisons the other day, getting a few bits. Parked up the car with my mum and wee sprog, made our way towards the entrance. My mum gives me a funny look and it's then that I overhear the heated argument going on in the disabled parking area. There's an old man and a large woman stood there, both parked next to one another in disabled spots, just going AT it right there on the road. The guy was super pissed at the woman because she wasn't displaying a disabled badge and he thought that it was super wrong of her to be parked there if she wasn't disabled. So the woman yells back that just because he couldn't see her disability, doesn't mean she doesn't have one and who was he to judge her. Both making valid points so far. So then the guy looks her up and down and says, "If being fat is a disability, then that doesn't count!"

It was at that point that I had to stop literally standing there and watching, because you can only get away with that shit for so long and my evil laughter wasn't helping. Sometimes I am not a very nice person.

Don't know who won the little skirmish, but both cars were gone by the time I got back out.

Ma little smush face

Here's ma lil smushy chops, being all cute and smushy

The pros and cons of being an author

Though I've been writing for most of my life, I've only been publishing my work now for a couple of years. Honestly it's been the best, yet most difficult, couple years of my life. I'm not huge, and my books don't sell by the mill, but the readers that I do have are the best. And I get to do something I absolutely love, every day.

So what are some of the cons?

Well for starters like any job, it's hard. You have to put the hours in, and finding those at home isn't always easy. There are always distractions - kids, chores, animals, general day to day life. But if you love what you do, like I do, you find the time. You put the hours in. You find a few minutes here and there in between tidying the house and making dinner and lunches and getting the school things ready for the next day. You forgo the long, leisurely bath in the evening when the kids are in bed and you use that time instead to write. You just find the time.

And then there's the instability of it. You never know whether a story is going to be popular or not, so relying on the income to pay the bills isn't always an option. Sometimes a book is a hit, but the next one isn't so popular. And sometimes the books that are popular don't stay that way for long.

Of course there's writer's block. That comes and goes. Everyone's experience with writer's block is different, but the one thing we can all agree on is that it's no frigging fun.

But I have to tell you, the positives outweigh the negative a million times over.

First off, I'm doing this amazing thing that I love and I get to share it with the world. I get to hear feedback, positive and negative. And through the negatives I learn so much, which I'm always thankful for.

There is nothing more amazing than having these ideas in your head and being able to get them all out in a way that makes sense. For all the times I was ever disappointed how a book ended, now I have complete control (or as much control as the characters allow me, at least).

If I want to work in my jammies, I can do that. Hell, as long as I've got my laptop I don't even need to get out of bed. I want to write completely starkers? Yep, can do that to. I get to do what I love with all the comforts of home

And there's so much more. I'm incredibly thankful that I've managed to find something in the world that I truly love doing