Real Housewives that Write Real Books – Author Interview With A.J. Goode
I pull up to a large house, on a street where all houses are the same shade of beige. As I do, I plow my unnecessarily huge silver Escalade into a novelty mailbox, as I am trying to drive while holding my cell phone in one hand and a martini in the other. Because I am the most important woman who ever existed, I am incapable of putting down my cell phone for even 11 seconds. Right now, I’m using it to shout at my Cuban nanny.
“Marisol, if Lockton is choking, just give him the Heimlich. I don’t have time for this today. I’m doing an author interview.”
“Miss Alroc, your son’s name is Logan.”
“Logan, Lockton, whatever. Just do it or I’ll have you deported.” I snap my phone shut, and congratulate myself on being a fabulous mother, before I knock on A.J. Goode’s door.
My frenemy A.J. has recently released another book, so I am pretending to be happy and supportive. In reality, I’m filled with envy and am dying to shut this down before she becomes more famous than me…or even worse, gets richer than me.
She opens the door and immediately smiles. “Essa!” We give each other high pitched greetings in overly enthusiastic voices before hugging like we haven’t seen each other in months.
A.J. leads me out back. “I hope you don’t mind. I figured we could do this outside while the pool boy finishes up.”
I turn my attention towards a young, well built Hispanic man holding a pool skimmer. “But A.J. you don’t have a pool.”
She smiles and takes a sip of her martini. “I know.”
I pull out my tape recorder.
***
What made you start writing romance?
I grew up reading my mother’s collection of romance novels, and I wanted to try writing the same kind of books that gave me so much enjoyment over the years.
Who are your books aimed at?
My books are aimed mostly at women who are looking for stories of romance with characters that might actually exist in today’s world. I try to reach out to readers who are looking for something more relatable than billionaire playboys, lingerie models or vampires.
Tell me about your current project
I am working on the third book in my Beach Haven series, “Their Love Rekindled.” It’s going to feature a couple of characters who have had a mention or two in my first two books, as well as a few cameo appearances from some more familiar characters.
Even though these books are all part of a series, each one is written to stand on its own so that readers can jump in at any point.
Any real life inspiration behind your characters?
The fire chief, Rollie Griswold, is very loosely based on the father of one of my best friends. The real Rollie was smart and outspoken, and one of the kindest individuals I have ever known. He passed away while I was writing this book, and I got his daughter’s permission to honor his memory by naming a character after him.
Other than that, most of the minor characters are based on real people in my life. Hopefully, my co-workers and friends will all have a sense of humor if they recognize themselves.
Any types of characters you try to avoid in your books?
I really hate the Lonely Billionaire character who falls in love with the spunky poor girl because she’s the only one who isn’t impressed by his money. Blech! I can’t say that I’ll never write a book with that type of hero, but I have no desire to write one at this point.
Don’t you wish you wrote something more respectable than romance? I mean, how big is the market for trashy novels anyway?
I’m proud to write in a genre that exists to class things up a bit in comparison to all of the trashy porn being written today. Then again, you do pretty well with your porn, don’t you?
It’s erotica. < stressing the word erotica in the most pretentious way I can.>
<smirks> Right
What other novelist would you gladly drown in a river if given the chance?
Would you like to go for a swim after this interview?
Just kidding, of course. <her tone indicates she’s really not and I’m very glad she doesn’t have a pool> I don’t think anyone would miss E.L. James or Kathleen Hale.
Was the decision to let yourself go related to the fact that you work from home? Or was it just general laziness?
I didn’t want to live up to the cliché of the sexually-deprived romance writer who lives vicariously through her characters. You know, the type of woman who goes the whole Botox-collagen-bleached blonde route to try to LOOK sexy because there’s nothing actually going on in that department at home.
Which reminds me, I meant to tell you how much I like the look you’re going with now. Most women our age couldn’t carry off the dark roots, but it really helps keep anyone from noticing that you can’t blink.
<I struggle to blink just to prove I can and bite my collagen filled lower lip> Well then, I think we have enough for the interview.
***
Our interview is currently deteriorating to snark, so I know it’s time to quit before someone flips a table and starts screaming “prostitution whore!” I give one last licentious look to the pool boy as A.J. goes back to her writing.
If you want to check out A.J.’s new release, it’s called “His Heart Aflame” and it’s available now on Amazon. To check out her other works, see A.J. Goode’s author page.
