I’m thrilled to have author M.J.O’Shea here to talk a little about writing and her new release, DARK SUN. I’ve had the privilege of a sneak read of this story, and let’s just say...excellent.
Thanks so much for dropping by, M.J. Hi L.C.! Thanks for having me. :)
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? And why did you choose the M/M romance genre? I’ve been writing stories since I was a little kid. I always ‘wanted’ to be a writer, but it was something like a rock star or a famous actor, you know? Impossible. It was only about a year ago that I started thinking it might be a reality.
I got onto M/M a little bit by accident. I’d seen QAF, and loved it, then I found an M/M book and was enthralled. I thought ‘I can do this!’ I’d just gotten surgery so I had a few days. I sat down and hammered out a short story and the rest is history...
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books? That I could write sex scenes. I laughed my ass off through my first one and thought I was going to die of embarrassment (not to mention compulsively minimizing the window every time I heard the slightest noise). Needless to say, it’s gotten much easier. ;)
What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk? Hmmmm. Oh, can’t write in real shoes! Have to put on my flip flops. I usually don’t wear real shoes inside anyway, but to have them on at my writing desk feels really weird.
Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published? I do have one that’s still in limbo, but I’m hopeful! Other than that, not yet, but I’m sure it will happen.
What would be your first question to the people of Atlantis? I think once I found Atlantis, most of my present questions would already be answered. :) BUT, I’d love to see all of the supposed technology and a tour of the city would be amazing. I wish I could come up with an insightful question off the top of my head. Alas...
Can you tell us about your upcoming book? Oh, there’s a lot going on! I’ll make it quick. Dark Sun is set in a futuristic Seattle, a place where ruling mob triads have taken over and formed their own warring factions. Two sons of enemy triads band together to fight against what their families are doing. They realize eventually that the only way to do that is to take the triads, and their families down for good. Of course they happen to fall in love at the same time...and that’s the really fun part.
What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why? It wasn’t a specific chapter, more the setting throughout the whole book. I had a lot of fun taking a place that I know well (Seattle) and turning it into something unfamiliar and dirty and corrupted. I loved creating visuals of that world in my head and mixing real landmarks with an imagined future.
If your book were made into a movie, whom do you picture playing each character’s part? Oh, that’s hard. I could see Logan Lerman as Lynx maybe--spoiled and a bit smug but still genuine. And as Orion? That’s tough. Someone pretty and fey but with a core of steel. Elijah Wood perhaps? I’m open to suggestions. :)
Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with? LOL, all of them. I have a really hard time letting go when I’m done with a book, and I want to go back and visit with new characters and points of view added.
I’m actually hoping to get back into the world of Dark Sun again. I loved the setting and feel that there are many more stories to tell both with the current leads and new ones.
I loved my vampires and shifters (from Blood Moon and Hunter’s Moon) too and I’d love to go back to them. I got a little burnt out on paranormal, so it’ll be a while, but they’ll be back!
If you were a t-shirt, what color would you be? Why? Purple or pink. Cause I’m just girly like that. Or black. I have my emo days too.
What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment? Oh, the criticism sucked. I was told that my character was acting like a woman and that no rational man would do that. SO that meant that the writing was unrealistic AND women are irrational. Thanks.
The best compliment I got was actually from a beta/friend of mine. He said that most romance plots could write themselves, but it’s the writing style that makes the book either good or bad. I think he said I was ‘on fire’ with that book. Hopefully a publisher thinks so soon. :)
Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers? Write. All the time. Every day. And it is possible! Don’t think it’s just a dream...
Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans? You guys are amazing and I love you. That’s all. :)
You have a time machine and can go forward or back to any point in time. Where do you go? Um, everywhere? I have always been a bit obsessed with regency England. I think if I had to narrow it down that would be my choice. Or ancient Rome... Pompeii before the volcano would be cool.
Thanks again for taking time out of your schedule to hang out, M.J. Good luck with DARK SUN!Thanks for having me. :)
* * *DARK SUN - On the surface Orion's the pretty Phoenix Triad heir and Lynx is the perfect Dragon Triad son. But Orion's an outlaw, hacker, thief, opposed to everything the Triads want and Lynx wants a way out of his boring stilted life. Born enemies, they share a common goal, but their passion threatens to expose them both.
Available now at Loose Id. → Right Here ←
BUT WAIT! You can win a free copy of DARK SUN right here on this blog. Just leave a comment between now and Monday, July 11 at 11:59PM (PST) and your name will go in a random draw. The winner will be announced the next morning. And believe me, you want to read this book! :-)
Get the latest happenings and exclusive excerpts at M.J’s blogs:
mjandpiper.blogspot.com and mjoshea.com
