Hello, Franny Armstrong. What fun to be interviewing another Coffee Time Romance interviewer, one who is an author/editor with some fifteen published books under her belt. You say in your bio that your “professional” writing career started when, as a child, you wrote plays that you produced in your garage. What were the stories?
Although I was a child when I started writing, I was disappointed that my story journals disappeared over the years. When I was a mother with my own darling kids (three of them), I had a serious nervous breakdown and couldn’t speak for a few months. It was horrible, but I started writing and couldn’t stop. I found out I have Bipolar II disorder and began a long journey to get well. Writing, I believe, saved my life.
These days, you enjoy creating wacky characters. What sort of wacky characters?
My wacky heroines are feisty and smart-mouthed yet brave and fierce. They never depend on others, but are smart enough to accept help. My heroes are alpha males who are protective and moody at times. The heroines keep them on their toes, making them crazy once in a while. Love those two. The villains are more humorous, thinking they are ‘the cat’s meow’, yet they always succumb to the hero/heroine’s actions for good!
You also love humor, so tell us what constitutes humor for you?
I believe we need laughter in our lives to spice up the day. Although my villains try to be mean and horrible to the other characters (including their cohorts), they run into situations that just have to make you laugh. Laughter is important in a tale. Do you ever hear a baby laugh? It’s impossible for me to frown when I hear it. Humor at its best.
Why have you chosen to write paranormal novels?
I’ll tell you a secret… I’m a psychic who loves helping others. I once told a gentleman, who I read Tarot cards for, that he had luck in his cards and his palm reading, that he should play the lottery or something. He went to the casino and won $5000! Nice for him, but he didn’t offer to take me out for dinner! How rude!
Whether it’s helping someone find something that’s missing, or where their love life will go, I enjoy the gift. My characters tend to have strong psychic abilities, and my imagination takes them all over the place solving difficulties. Fun? WOW!
Your characters are often psychics. Do you really believe that everyone has some sort of psychic ability?
Everyone has psychic abilities, but some people use it more than others. Sometimes it manifests itself in the fight or flight response when we deal with danger; it can be whenever the phone rings, and the call is from someone you were just thinking about. How about that “gut” feeling that something’s not right; or a “feeling” that someone is staring at you? We all have it. Cool, eh?
How does it manifest itself in your life? Can it also be a negative or dangerous thing?
It manifests for good reasons. Although I’d love to know what the right lottery numbers are, it doesn’t work that way for me. Have you ever met someone who you simply don’t like, or you become besties right away? That’s a “sixth sense” that you use without even realizing it’s a psychic event. I tend to trust my gut when I “feel” danger, or that something is just wrong. It’s important to be positive and focus on that to avoid negativity.
You’ve written a two-book series, Authors Beware. Are these books thrillers? Paranormal romances?
Actually, Author’s Beware is the first in a 5-book series that I’m working on. They are finished but I’m going through them once again so I can use the ton of new knowledge I have on editing to make them even better. The Love is to DIE For series consists of 5 novels: Author’s Beware is book 1; I B Jumpin’, book 2; Fire’s Witness, book 3; Earth’s Treasure, book 4; Water’s Fall, book 5. There are more to come in the near future!
In the first book in the series, Love is to Die For, published authors are being killed off. Should I worry?
LOL I hope not, because I’m right there with you when it comes to writing. There is a weird and crazy villain who surprises you near the end of the tale, and who is right off the wall. It’s important to use your psychic senses and ‘trust your gut’ so villains can’t take you by surprise.
What inspired the story? Don’t tell me you had a premonition that you, as a writer, were at risk.
I’ve always been a writer and a psychic. I loved watching movies with cops and villains. The crazier the better. I do get premonitions but never had to worry about a psycho endangering me.
Do the same character appear in the second book of the series?
Each book in the series introduces characters from book 1. By the end of the series, you meet them all, but the relationships are entwined, and everyone is rich with love for one another. I think Brandon is my favorite hero because he’s based on my brother, Rich, who is a professional skydiver. I B Jumpin’ tells his tale, but with fun and danger added. Rich has dyslexia and he’s read the whole series SEVEN times! He said my knowledge about skydiving is ‘bang on’.
What does writing do for you? Is it fun, cathartic? Do you get emotional?
I’ve laughed, cried, grit my teeth and wished I was the heroine so I could share in the yummy stuff. They have so much fun and the fiery passion could level a forest! I remember writing THE END for the first time and crying for days afterwards. I didn’t want the tale to end, hence the series continues.
How much of your personality and your own life experiences are in your writing?
I have to laugh when you say that as my personality is just as feisty and fun as my character’s lives. I’ve had a few real-life experiences that became so much more as I wove the tale. Sometimes, when I’m re-editing the stories, I relive my own tales. You’ll have to read them to figure that out, though.
You’ve mentioned on your blog that you sometimes feel as though you have nothing left to write. How does that feel? Does it worry you, or do you take the creative energy and put it elsewhere?
I never give up! One story always leads to another. My daughter, Catherine, is the model on the covers of my stories: The Team Toxic Tango series: Jinn & Toxic, and Minx Juliette. I made the twins, Jinn and Juliette, as feisty and determined as she is.
You’ve also mentioned your lovely husband. Does he read your books?
LOL NEVER! He doesn’t want to know what goes on in my mind. HAHAHA. If he only knew! Dan is a bit old-fashioned, and I can be a bit much when I get into some situations where I need his help. I can be very mischievous.
What constitutes a really good book for you?
When I just can’t put the book down and end up with sleepless nights because I have to finish it, shows me what a really good book is about. One of my favorite authors is Christine Feehan. She’s awesome and keeps me awake often.
Final words?
Thank you for the interview. I hope all your readers get a chance to merge with my tales. Sorry (not!) if they lose sleep over them. I’d love to know what they think too, so they can always email me at franny@paranovelgirl.com and visit www.paranovelgirl.com to find my other books. I hope they enjoy every minute.
It was a pleasure meeting you. Thank you, Franny Armstrong
Website: www.paranovelgirl.com
Blog: https://frannyarmstrong.wordpress.com/
Email: franny@paranovelgirl.com
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