Author Feature/Article-Interview Medium.com Indie Author M.J. Woods

Author Feature/Article-Interview Medi... Author Feature/Article-Interview Medi...

Author Feature/Article-Interview Medium.com Indie Author M.J. Woods

The Smart Side of Romance by Angel M.B. Chadwick

M.J. Woods is America’s sweetheart with a savvy mind for writing and publishing. She’s a woman who’s eager to learn as much as she can and more. M.J. is a driven contemporary romance author with a zest for life who remains steadfast with her goals.

Angel Chadwick: Tell us a little about yourself and your latest novel.

M.J. Woods: I am a contemporary romance author based in Central New York. To keep up with my husband, kids and our crazy lives (running our respective businesses, converting myself to a full-time author, making sure our kids don’t eat lollipops for breakfast), I run on coffee, music and sarcasm. I’ve written a series of three full-length novels entitled “The Amped Series”. My last release in November, 2017 is entitled “Fall”, and it’s the conclusion of a suspenseful, sexy trilogy that tells the story of Alexis Greene (a smart & sarcastic NY lawyer), and the wealthy and enigmatic Aidan Pierce.

Angel Chadwick: What inspired you to be a writer and to get into indie publishing? How long have you been writing?

M.J. Woods: I have always written stories, from the time I was a child. My writing inspirations come in many forms. Ideas come at me from everywhere. As an active writer, it now comes down to which ones I run with. Indie publishing is something I had to learn as I went, and I’m still learning. But I did not have the patience to try the traditional route. I never queried a single publisher or agent. I wrote my story, then had exactly in my mind how I wanted my book to look on the shelves. Seeing that dream come true has been surreal.

Angel Chadwick: How long have you been published as an indie author?

M.J. Woods: Since November, 2016.

Angel Chadwick: Who are your writing mentors/authors?

M.J. Woods: This list grows daily. I have loved so many books and so many authors throughout my life. I have many mentors, some who are (bestselling) writers, some who aren’t writers at all. Lauren Rowe is a romance author whose personal advice has inspired me many times over. Without having read Liz Gilbert’s Big Magic, I likely would never have finished my first novel. I also love Janet Evanovich for her writing style and humor, and Nora Roberts for her prolific talent to crank out books so many people love. I’ve enjoyed quite a few of her titles.

Angel Chadwick: What genres do you enjoy writing and what genres do you like to read?

M.J. Woods: I write in the romance genre, and have made that my primary focus. I read all kinds of things! Autobiographies, business or positive-thinking books, and I’m a fan of many romance authors, especially if there is a realism to their works. (I also read a ton of articles in print and online.)

Angel Chadwick: Are you an avid reader/reviewer of other authors?

M.J. Woods: I am nowhere near as well-read as I’d like to be. With a young family, a career in the legal field for 20 plus years and now writing, I just don’t have the time. I do review or at least rate the books I have time to read, especially if it’s an Indie author. We need all the help we can get to tell people our stuff just might be a reader’s new favorite, if they’ll just give us a try. Prior to becoming a writer, I never realized how important this was, because I was not immersed in the writing or publishing world. In fact, I didn’t know anything about it.

Angel Chadwick: Have you ever co-wrote or consider collaborating or co-writing with anyone on a writing project?

M.J. Woods: I have considered it, but I’ve never been asked or attempted it. I’m not sure how it would logistically work, as writing is a very personal, solo gig for me. Music blaring, just me and the screen is how I’ve always done it. To try it, I’d have to have a great connection with my co-author, that gut-feeling that this was something we both felt inspired by, with an impulsive need to make it happen.

Angel Chadwick: What are your dreams and aspirations that could drive you forward on this writing and publication journey?

M.J. Woods: My aspirations right now are to simply find my audience and keep writing. Finding people who love reading my stories as much as I love writing them is exhilarating. After hearing such encouraging feedback and knowing I’ve moved people through a crazy journey with my characters, I’d love to grow this and get more people boarding the roller coaster. At my core, I write for me, because there is something in there to get out. But in the end, it’s connecting with readers that is the reward.

Angel Chadwick: Do you prefer to do marketing and promotion yourself for your works or would you rather have someone else control that spectrum?

M.J. Woods: I love creating images for sharing and social media can be fun. Marketing myself is not something I’m a fan of. But, at the same time, I like keeping control of what goes out to my readers, because I always want it to be 100% me, and not promoting for the sake of promoting.

Angel Chadwick: What are some of the things you have done to promote and market yourself?

M.J. Woods: A huge help to me was the support of my local ‘big-box’ bookstore. One of the managers read my work, and insisted I come in for a signing. And then they had me back again for Book 3 (Fall). My whole trilogy is now on their shelves. I hired a marketing consultant on an as-needed basis, and we work together to decide how my little budget can get the best bang for its buck. Marketing is a huge aspect of indie authorship that I’m still very new to. But I learn a little every day. I’ve also attended local author events, accepted invites to blog for other authors or be interviewed for local newspapers or indie web shows.

Angel Chadwick: What is your greatest accomplishment as an author?

M.J. Woods: Finishing and publishing three novels within one year, and then completing a fourth novel on the heels of that.

Angel Chadwick: What's the next writing project(s) you're working on?

M.J. Woods: I am working on a spin-off from my first series, which was meant to be a standalone novel. Indeed, it will require no prior reading, but as I’ve just finished the book this week (my fourth ever book baby), I’ve realized their story isn’t over. So, they’ll be having two books, which I expect to release this spring, 2018. I am trying like hell to write a standalone novel, but alas, it hasn’t happened yet.

Angel Chadwick: How would you balance creativity with the business side of writing such as coming up with particular concepts and solutions to stand out amongst the crowd in this writing/publishing industry where 'popularity' is key, if your idea wasn't exactly popular/or was unknown to the readers/publishers?

M.J. Woods: Such a great question! Part of this is an area I struggle with, the creative vs. business balance. I’ve never before felt so strongly there are not enough hours in a day. Make it work in whatever way is best for you. Realize there are times you’re not going to feel creative, and use those times to work on the business side. If I’m stuck creatively, sometimes creating a fun graphic to share with people to tease them about my upcoming book will get me inspired to dive back into writing.
To stand out in the crowd? Persistence and making your work look as best as you possibly can. Work on craft, talk to other writers, convey your ideas with concise writing and become your own critic (who is courageous enough to throw some words in the trash).
I’d say solutions depend on your goals. If making money or high ranks on lists is your goal, then yes, you may benefit from following popular trends. I cannot create this way. I put a lot of effort into one story, and ignore what’s currently ‘trending’. No doubt I’ll use a trope, but I’m not going to bend the story to fit it, which means by the time it’s over, the trope’s turned upside down, and it’s not going to fit into any one mold. I like my books to reflect scenarios that, while they may stretch the imagination, could still happen in real life. (Yes, fiction authors do research, too!)
Popularity isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Sometimes popular just means a bigger budget for getting the word out. Move people with your words, then let their word of mouth do the rest. And realize that even popularity, no matter how anyone romanticizes it, does not happen overnight.

Angel Chadwick: Have you ever been traditionally published? Would you consider it? Or feel like a sell out if you took a traditional deal and abandoned indie publishing? Have you ever thought about being a hybrid, part indie, part traditionally published? How would you feel about such an opportunity, if both or either of these things happened?

M.J. Woods: I’ve never been traditionally published, nor have I ever tried to be. I would consider it, but feel I’d probably be too critical of any offer. The one thing I love about being indie is being in control of my schedule, my creativity and my business. That’s not to say I don’t have a ton of help in many other forms, outside writing. But I don’t want my creativity punching a clock for someone else. Being a hybrid is an exciting concept to me, and it’s a shift I think we’ll be seeing more of for talented indies. I’d entertain that in a hot minute.

Angel Chadwick: What other creative talents do you have? Do you draw, sketch, paint, etc.?

M.J. Woods: My creative talents are typically exhausted by writing, but I do love singing. I also love decorating projects. Creating a dramatic ‘before and after’ is something I love to accomplish. A similar thing as going from blank page to 400 page book, I suppose!

Angel Chadwick: What advice would you give other aspiring authors?

M.J. Woods:
a. Write to provoke your own emotions, or ‘write for yourself first’. If you want to evoke an emotion, it has to come from within the author.
b. If you’re immersed in your story, you’re on the right track. If you walk away from it for days and come back to read, realizing it’s still hitting that emotion for you, you’re definitely onto something.
c. Define what success is for you.
d. Hire an editor.
e. Stay true to your own style, but be open to criticism, especially if you’ve heard it from more than one source.
f. Get a thick skin. Better yet, if you want to make money in this field, figure out how to make them and become a ‘thick skin’ salesman for other authors. We could all use an extra layer.

Angel Chadwick: Describe yourself in a one-sentence epithet.

M.J. Woods: Okay, I’m cheating here. I could not come up with anything, so I asked my editor what she would say. Her answer? She follows her dreams and the signs from the universe without thinking twice. I think I’ll give her a raise!

Angel Chadwick: Paying it forward. What things do you do in your community/ and other communities to help others?

M.J. Woods: So far, my reach in this aspect has been small because I am working to grow my own audience, and haven’t felt I have much to offer. But I read works of indie author friends, share their posts on social media, etc. If I’m asked to help with something and I’m capable of it, I just do it. I love the grass-roots vibe of the indie community. The camaraderie – including among the readers of indie authors - leaves me in awe daily, and I’m honored to be a part of it.

M.J. Woods' Books: