Author interview
with
Terri Anne Browning
Hi Terri, tell us a little about yourself?
I’m from West Virginia, and currently live in Virginia with
my husband and our three kids. I write romance books
about rockers and bikers and all the kids in between.
What genre is your work and are you hoping to explore new ventures (if you haven't already)?
I would label it mostly as contemporary and I’m trying to branch out into the New Adult genre as well.
Can you share with us a quote from one of your characters?
My favorite all time quote is from The Rocker Who Loves Me.
“You’re a model, good for you. I’m a rock star, bitch.”
Do you find it is hard to come up with new idea's or plots?
Sometimes, but rarely. Normally I have the next book plotted out before I’m finished with an earlier book.
How about characters. Are they easy born and developed?
Not always. Sometimes they come right in the middle of writing someone else's book, and then the character develops and their own story starts to slowly form. Others, they take some exploring to get into their head.
How long does it take you to complete a book?
I like to give myself 3-4 months, but sometimes it takes up
to six months to complete a book because of family obligations or just plain old writer’s block.
If you could pick any of your books published or unpublished to be made in to a movie what one would you pick?
I would love to see the Rocker series become a TV series
on HBO or Starz. I don’t think a movie alone would do
the books justice.
Have you ever trashed a novel or story before after finishing it? Feeling it wasn't turning out how you planned?
I’ve never trashed one, but I’ve fought with characters such as Shane and Zander to get into their heads so I could complete their books. In the end, they become some of my favorite characters to write.
What inspired you to write your book?
It started with Emmie, who stewed in my imagination for a while before I finally sat down and started creating The Rocker Who Holds Me. I didn’t have any particular thing in mind for inspiration, but music has always been able to get the creative juices flowing.
Who is the easiest character to write for and why?
Who was the hardest and why?
Emmie is the easiest and still remains to be, mostly because I feel like I’ve put so much of my own self into her and we have melded so well. Shane was the toughest and more recently Zander. Before setting down to write their books I hadn’t really gotten to know them as I had the others.
Who is your favourite character from your book (s)?
Jesse will always be my favorite. Always. I gave him my husbands personality, and every time I think of Jesse I think of Mike.
What is your current project and can you share a little taster with us?
My current WIP is Defying Her Mofioso, book one of The Vitucci Mafiosos series. I can’t give you a taste yet, but the prologue will be in the back of Un-Shattering Lucy.
***COVER & BLURB REVEAL***
Defying Her Mafioso
The Vitucci Mafiosos Book 1
Releases October 4th!
Cover Model Alfie Gordillo
Photo by Shauna Kruse
Cover Design by Sara Eirew
Ciro Donati was many things:
My father’s most valued and trusted soldier.
My brother’s best friend and second in command.
And the only man I would give up everything for.
I fell hard for the Mafioso at the tender age of eleven. This beast of a man who I knew made people disappear—and probably enjoyed every second of it—was also the sixteen-year-old boy who had picked me up after I’d fallen flat on my face during my dance recital and told me I was the best ballerina he’d ever seen. He’s watched over me, protected me like I was the most precious thing in the world to him.
But I was tired of waiting for him to notice I was all grown up now, and I sure as hell wasn’t just going to sit around and wait for him to open his eyes.
Scarlett Vitucci was many things:
The daughter of New York’s biggest crime boss.
The sister of the man I would gladly take a bullet for.
And the only woman I would ever love.
I had no idea when my affection for her turned into love, but I couldn’t have her. If my enemies ever found out she was my greatest—my only—weakness they would use her to destroy me. So I’d breathed a sigh of relief when her father sent her and her twin to the compound in Italy when they were eighteen.
But now they are back, and I was finding it harder and harder to keep my hands to myself.
Do you have any hobbies and what do you do to relax?
When I’m not writing, I’m either reading or Netflix binging
with Mike and my kids.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I think every author has their own style, and I can’t honestly explain my style. Truthfully, I write how I talk—although I write better than I talk sometimes, lol.
Do you have a set routine when you are writing?
With each book it’s different, but I have to stay on the same routine once I start a new book. If I begin a book in the evening, I can only write in the evening. If I started writing in bed,
then I feel like I can only write in bed.
I’m totally bizarre when it comes to it.
What were you like at school?
I was very quiet early on in school. The one who was always observing everyone else. Later, I became a little more vocal
and I tended to make the bullies cry when they picked on the smaller kids.
Do you have any bad habits and What are your best qualities?
I curse a lot, but I don’t know if that is a good quality or a bad one. I’m messy as hell, which drives Mike batshit crazy at times. I’m too giving, which again, I’m not sure is a good or bad quality. Some people take advantage of people who are too giving.
Do you have any body piercings and tattoos?
If so where and what are they.
My nose is pierced and I have several tattoos. I have a celtic knot with purple flowers on my left leg. A celtic friendship symbol on my left wrist that Mike and I got together and my right arm has a friendship/sisters tattoo as well as the word DREAM, and a book and quill with black birds.
Do you have aim for word count for a chapter/book?
I tend to keep my chapters to about 5,000-7,000 words, but sometimes they end up longer or shorter depending on the scene for each chapter. I don’t like to go over 25 chapters if I can help it because I like giving my readers a high quality book that they can read in one setting if possible.
How much of the book is realistic and are any of the experiences based on someone you know or events in your own life?
I think it’s a 30/70 mashup of realistic, life experience to fictional situations. I like to connect with the characters as much as possible and that means giving them traits or experiences that I’ve come across either personally or second hand from family and friends.
What books have most influenced your life most?
I’m dyslexic, so reading was always a chore for me growing up. Then when I was twelve, my aunt gave me my first romance novel—one of those little harlequin novellas---and I was hooked. For me, it wasn’t so much a particular book, but anything and everything I could get my little hands on back then that had a great story and lots of romance.
If you could choose one person dead or alive who
would you consider as a mentor?
My father. I lost him in 2006 to cancer, but he was always an inspiration to me. The man worked his ass off for very little money when I was growing up, but it showed me that you have to work hard to get somewhere in life and I’ll always remember and try to instill that into my own children.
Is there a certain subject that you wouldn't write about
and what is it and why?
I don’t like rape in books and I’ve stirred clear of it as much as possible. The few times it has came up in my books I’ve stayed away from any scenes that would put the characters in a situation where they were violated ‘on screen”. I was attacked when
I was in college and the whole rape situation is a big
trigger for me emotionally.
If you had to do it all over again would
you change anything?
I’ve thought about that a lot over the years, and no.
I wouldn’t change anything.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
During the summer I was sixteen, the books I was reading became boring. My aunt told me to write my own endings if I was so bored or unhappy with the ones I was reading.
From there it just became a hobby. I never thought
I would ever make it a career.
Who designs your covers?
Sara Eirew does my cover designs. I get pictures straight from her and sometimes do private sessions with models
and Shauna Kruse.
Do you have anything you want to say to your readers?
That I appreciate them and adore each and every one of them. Without them, I would not be where I am today.
What is your favourite genre to read and write?
Anything Romance. I especially love to read—and
write—second change romance.
What is your Favourite Movie?
August Rush
What would you say is a perfect fun family day for your family?
A day either being lazy in the living room with take out and movies, or a day trip out to the zoo.
How would your friends describe you?
Odd? Lol. I’m the one who is quiet for a few minutes while access the entire situation, but then I’m the one instigating trouble. I’m the one who they grab to take with them to do something that scares them.
What is the most romantic thing your hubby has done for you?
He is always surprising me with flowers, sweets, and little presents/treats. The sweetest thing he ever did was buy me a cabbage patch doll. I know, weird right? But when I was a little girl, my grandfather bought me my first cabbage patch doll and I LOVED that little bald doll. His name was George. When I was about 12, we had a house fire just days after Christmas and we lost everything. Everything. That doll was one of the things I missed the most. Mike knew what that doll meant to me, and he bought me one exactly like it.
What are you like in the kitchen.Do you have a specialty
you love to cook?
I can cook just about anything as long as I have a recipe,
but my kids LOVE my spaghetti.
What is your favourite food?
Spaghetti.
What is the worst job you have ever done?
I was a hotel maid on the weekends when I was 16. It was my first job, and the worst job I’ve ever had to do. People can be truly disgusting.
What is your favourite colour?
PURPLE.
Do you ever get ideas at random moments and if
so how do you hold on to them?
All. The. Time. I either put them in the little note book I carry with me or use my Notes on my phone.
Can you write under pressure?
Sometimes I think I write better under pressure.
What do you do to get over writer's block?
I walk away. I turn off everything about the book. I read something completely different from what I’m writing about. I watch trashy TV. I drive around and listen to the stereo way to loud. I do anything as long as it takes my mind off the book, and before long the idea of how to move onto the next part of the book becomes clear and I have a ‘what the hell’ kind of moment where I think I’m completely stupid because it was so utterly obvious to begin with.
Have any of your family or close friends read any of your work?
Several family members have, my mother included, and even a few chicks I went to high school with.
You are a brilliant mother and author have any of your children shown any signs of wanting to follow in your footsteps and becoming a writer?
My oldest hates reading, but she has done a few picture books for herself and her friends. My youngest, however, has the bug. She loves to read, be read to, and makes up her own stories and plays them out with her toys.
What about your hubby, does he like to write?
He hasn’t written anything yet, but he has come up with some great ideas and would support him completely if he decided it was something he wanted to do. More often than not, he’s the one I brainstorm with before I start a new book.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Never give up. No matter how much you think you aren’t impacting someone’s life with your words, there is someone somewhere picking up your book and escaping for a few hours from the hell their life is currently in. Be their escape.
Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time?
Still writing. I can’t imagine any aspect of my life
now without writing being a part of it.
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