Q & A with Shayne Ford
Please welcome to my blog today the wonderful and mysterious Shayne Ford. Thanks so much for popping along today.
Tell us a little bit about yourself, what sort of books do you tend to write?
I write what I like to read– hot, steamy romances with a solid, layered, character driven story. The lead men are hot, the women are soulful, and the narrative is spiced with a dose of realism to make the stories believable. I like stories that have a dash of mystery and a lot of depth. My stories are not the typical romance, nor are they formulaic or fit a mold.
If you’re looking for something different these books might be for you. I currently have 22 books published.
My books are intended for mature audiences.
Wow! 22 books! That’s quite an achievement! Can you summarize your latest work in just a few words?
Dark Erotic Billionaire Romance. Dark McKenna (Shades of Love #1)
What was the inspiration for this book?
It all started with one scene, which is the focus of the first chapter.
A broody, broken, powerful man who has everything and yet lives life on the edge because of something dramatic that happened in his past. And a much younger, beautiful girl who is forced to fight for survival with everything she’s gotten. They each have something that the other one needs in order to pull themselves out of the maze.
I’m intrigued to find out more!
How do you decide on the names for your characters?
So far I’ve been lucky to find names that fit the genre, narrative and their personalities. To me, the name is extremely important and has to reflect all that. I write New Adult books, so I need names that suggest a certain age or names that are timeless. They also have to match. Yes, I like their names to have good chemistry as well.
You’re right, the character’s name is fundamental. Could you offer any more advice, especially for any budding authors out there who maybe reading this?
Writing a book can be as simple or as complicated it as you make it.
To write a book, you have to have a story in mind otherwise you get lost and lose your motivation.
Then you need to sit down and write it, regardless of the circumstances you are in, and fighting all the possible distractions.
And last but not least, you can’t be disheartened if the first draft doesn’t sound good enough. You have to cross that finish line, and then you can polish that story as much as you want.
I totally agree, you can’t edit a blank page.
When you’re not inside your creative cave writing and plotting away, what do you like doing?
I spent most of my time writing. Other than that, I like driving, walking my dogs and working out. Often times, I take a break from writing and walk outside or hit the gym or simply drive, opening my mind to new ideas. That’s how I get a lot of inspiration. I also get them by listening music.
From what I can gather, you write erotica, I have great admiration for storytellers in this genre, I’m also greatly curious about what you say when your gran grabs a copy of your book, reads it and then offers you advice on how you can improve a scene or two! Seriously though, what it the funniest / weirdest comment you’ve heard when you’ve told someone you write erotica?
I write New Adult erotic romance with strong emphasis on the story and the characters. I add a good dose of realism to my writing to make the stories believable. So it’s a fusion, if you wish, between the more literary genre that is more psychological in nature and the hot and steamy romance writing.
Regarding the comments…
I have to disappoint, but I pretty much live like a hermit. There aren’t that many people close to me in real life. Therefore I don’t have the chance to talk to too many people. I’ve never gotten advice on how to write either, but I can imagine that this could be a fun topic of conversation, and possibly a good story for a book (wink) when brought up at a party or a gathering
Yes, or perhaps as a saucy chat-up line…
So, what’s the best thing about being a writer in your opinion?
Working on your own. Entering a fictional world. Exploring your emotions. Learning and growing. These are the few things that make it perfect for me. Writing is not for everyone, and it’s not as easy as it seems when you fully get immersed in it.
What’s the worst thing about being a writer?
I can’t think of many. I like the lifestyle and the freedom to work with my brain and my imagination. I also love the fact that I get to know people who are drawn to me by my books.
But generally speaking, writing is not for everyone. It’s intense, consuming, maddening at times and comes with a lot of loneliness.
It can also be heartbreaking if you’re set on making a living with it.
What can we expect from you in the future?
More books. I have several series planned for this year. As long as the stories keep coming to me, I will continue writing.
Thanks so much for sharing your passion for writing with us. I wish you all the success with your books and I will keep a look out for your future releases.
More about Shayne Ford
I’m a fan of muscle cars, dogs, chocolate, flowers and quiet, starry nights filled with love.
In case you wondered, I like my leading men soulful, ripped, adventurous and knowledgeable. I prefer them a bit wild. Not to tame them, but to watch them in full splendor.
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