We are so pleased to be interviewing author Amber Daulton today! Writer’s schedules are hectic so we thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer a few questions. First, let’s delve into who you are. Some of the questions are untraditional but you’d be surprised at what readers connect to, and sometimes the simplest ‘I can relate to that’ grabs their interest where nothing else can.
Can you share a little something about Amber Daulton that’s not mentioned in your bio on your website?
Sure thing! Here’s a quirky tidbit: even though I’m from the Southern US, I don’t sound like it. When people first meet me, they typically think I’m from England or even France (and yes, I’ve been asked to speak French, which I don’t know) because I have a smooth, proper accent—not a southern drawl. I’ve been getting the “Where are you from?” question since I was in elementary school, and kids can be quite cruel. Luckily, the questions and funny looks have never bothered me. I take sounding different as a matter of pride.
How long have you been writing?
I read my first romance book when I was 12 after I snuck a Harlequin paperback out of my mom’s bedroom. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and I wanted to create my own story about two people having an adventure and falling in love. I wrote with pencil in a spiral-bound notebook and finished that 200-plus-page story in about six months. After that, I focused on writing short stories but jotted down a lot of ideas for future full-length novels, some of which I’ve actually written as an adult.
I published my first book when I was 26, about twelve years ago, and Arresting Alan is now my eighteenth book to date. I have several more manuscripts on my computer waiting to see the light of day.
What have you found most challenging about it?
Writer’s block is definitely a challenge. Sometimes I feel brain dead and exhausted, and it’s impossible to create a complete, cohesive sentence. It’s like a huge weight is on my shoulders, and the only thing I can do is step away from the project, cry a bit, and find my zone. Crying is good because it gets out all my pent-up frustration and stress of having a crappy writing session. I usually have to play video games, clean, do house repair projects, binge TV shows, or work in the garden to get my creative juices flowing again. I also try to read in the sub-genre I’m writing in to find inspiration. After a few days or weeks, my creative muse starts flowing, and I can finally get back to work!
What does writing do for you? Is it fun, cathartic, do you get emotional?
All the above. I find writing fun, but the stories inside me need to come out. If I keep thinking about a character and the universe he or she needs in order to thrive (or suffer), I have trouble focusing on other things in my life. Sometimes, I just need to plot something and set it aside for a while if I don’t have time to give the project the love and attention it deserves. In every story I write, I cry at some point, usually when the main protagonists are arguing or something goes horribly wrong in their lives. If I can work myself up to tears, then I know I have a good, emotional scene.
Describe what your writing routine looks like. Are you disciplined with a strict schedule, or do you have to be in the mood?
I try to write every day, but it’s so much easier when the characters keep talking to me in my head, demanding I write. On a bad day, I either write zero words or maybe a few hundred. On an extremely excellent day, I can write around 8000 words. On average, however, 3000 words a day is about my norm.
I usually wake up from 6 to 8 in the morning, get to writing, and keep going until about 4pm with a few short breaks in between. I have dinner and see a movie with Greg, my hubby, then I either get back to writing or spend more time with Greggie. Then bed at 10pm, and I do it all over again the next day. I’m a creature of habit.
Did you go into writing thinking that it would be a hobby or a job?
I’ve always thought of it as a job, though I don’t think my royalty checks match up with that line of thinking. Still, I keep at it.
Let’s move on and give readers some insight into your personal life.
What are your pet peeves?
Drivers who don’t use the turn signal. That drives me crazy! (no pun intended)
Give us one thing on your bucket list.
I’d love to travel to Greece or Scotland one day.
What would readers find surprising about you?
Halloween is my favorite day and holiday (it’s coming up soon!). When my hubby and I were dating back in college, we would dress up, knock on doors for candy (we got a lot of strange looks from people), and then hit a party. Nowadays, Greg and I bake desserts like cake and brownies, and binge-watch horror movies. We no longer dress up, but it’s just fun to eat a lot of sugar and watch movies.
Just for fun. What is your least favorite:
- Heroine type – whiny and insecure
- Hero flaw – too arrogant/toxic masculinity
- Overused word – though
- Genre – Inspirational
- Book cover – poorly done DIY
Now that our readers know who Amber Daulton is, let’s get down to the business of your Arresting Onyx Series. Readers want the details.
I never meant to write the Arresting Onyx series.
Book 1, Arresting Mason, started as a single book, but the secondary characters demanded stories of their own, so I kept writing. Before long, I had a trilogy on my hands. But that wasn’t enough either. As I was writing one of the last books, a pestering little voice in the back of my head told me to go back and squeeze in two novellas. I tried to ignore that voice, but it got louder and louder. So I gave up and wrote the novellas. I’m so happy I did, because they fit so well with the others.
The complete series contains four full-length novels and two novellas. I’m sad to be done with it, but so excited to move on with my next major project. Believe me, it’s a doozy.
I understand there’s a spin-off series in the works. Please tell us a little bit about that.
I didn’t intend to write the Lozano Cartel series, either, the spin-off to Arresting Onyx.
Once I was done writing the fifth and final book for the original series, I realized it had very little to do with the other books. In fact, it didn’t even take place in the same country! Yikes! Beyond that, this book introduced new characters and opened the door for more books.
So I had to make a tough choice: cut the book from the Arresting Onyx series and never publish it; keep it as part of the original series even though it didn’t really make sense; or create a spin-off, which would be the most time-consuming and more difficult of the three choices. Well, I’m sure you can guess what I decided on.
New books. A new series. More years of my life devoted to this fictional world.
I remember the day when I finally made my choice. My hubby and I spent several hours discussing the pros and cons, and he held me while the stress got so much that I broke down in tears. I know, if you’ve read this far into the interview, it seems like I cry a lot, but I really don’t. I just take writing seriously and want to do my best. I’m a bit OCD (or maybe a lot!).
Anyway, book 1, Dark Hearts Aflame, is now available for preorder at all online retailers and will be released on April 8, 2025. I’m currently writing the first draft of book 2, Lost in His Spiderwebs, which will likely have an April 2026 release date. A few novellas and more novels shall follow.
The thing about the Lozano Cartel series is that it’s much darker and steamier than Arresting Onyx. Some readers may love it, some may not, but I had to show respect to the characters and write the stories that fit them and the dangerous world in which they live. Hopefully, readers will enjoy the ups, downs, and happily ever afters.
What was your hardest challenge writing these books?
I’m not sure. I enjoy research, even when it’s difficult to find what I need. Sometimes, I have trouble finding inspiration or burn myself out by working too much. I guess the most difficult part was creating the criminal organizations that my characters have to deal with and somehow survive. I wanted things to sound logical, but since I’m not a criminal or involved in shady activities, that was sometimes tricky.
What kind of research did you do?
Gotta love the internet. Action movies and suspense books, too.
What in your opinion makes good chemistry between your leading characters?
Tension. They want each other, but don’t want to want each other. They have different goals, which may or may not conflict, but there’s something between them that they can’t fight—as much as they try.
Any other works in progress?
The Lozano Cartel series was supposed to be four full-length novels, but of course, that’s no longer the case. Once I started plotting book 2, I met some secondary characters who have decided they’re getting a story, too. After the fiasco with the main series, I’m not even going to fight it this time around.
If my muse wants more books, my muse will get more books.
I’m not going to give a projected full book count just yet in case things go sideways and I cut back, but I anticipate this new series will be longer than the original one.
Any advice for aspiring authors?
Listen to your muse. Don’t fight it. Embrace it. You may have a lot of work ahead of you, but trust your heart. Your story ideas deserve the time and love it takes to make them whole.
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Interviews in the Past
Thank you for the wonderful interview!