If you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for a great, clean romance. This week we’re both in luck – contemporary romance writer Alexis Goring is here to tell what she reads, what she writes, and how she does it!
Hi, and thanks for your willingness to appear on my blog!
You’re welcome, Karin! Thanks for inviting me to be a guest on your blog.
What genre do you write? How did you pick it?
I write Contemporary Romance because I’ve always loved a good love story.
What are your favorite genres to read? Why?
I love to read Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, Women’s Fiction, and Christian Living books.
Contemporary Romance is my favorite to read and write because I love a good love story. My favorite CR authors include but are not limited to: Becky Wade, Mary Manners, Laurie Tomlinson, and Angela Ruth Strong.
I like to read Chick Lit because it’s lighthearted and fun. Kristin Billerbeck’s books are my favorite!
I enjoy reading Women’s Fiction by authors like Katie Ganshert and Jennifer Slattery because I like to see how conflict that women can relate to, addressed and most of the time resolved.
I like to read Christian Living books by authors like Beth Moore, Joyce Meyer and Priscilla Shirer because they’re so inspirational and encouraging to my heart.
How long did it take you complete your first manuscript (published or not)?
I wrote my first manuscript, Hope in My Heart: A Collection of Heartwarming Stories, in about eight months and edited it within three days. It was published in Autumn 2013. I say “about eight months” because the three stories within my book were each written over time in previous years. So I cannot recall the exact length of time that it took to write each of those three stories because I am always working on new story ideas. “Love Unexpected”, “The Best Gift”, and “Peace and Love” were my best short stories at the time that I decided to combine them into a book and pursue publication.
Have your follow-up novels been easier or harder to write? Why do you think that is?
My follow-up books have been harder to write. So much harder to write!
I think that one of the reasons why is because after writing and publishing my first book, I learned more about the craft of storytelling. While I’m grateful to have grown as a writer, I struggle with not feeling “free” when I write. So now when I work on a story, I have all of this head knowledge that gets in the way of my creative flow. Essentially, I not only edit as I go but I also double think what I’m writing as a million storytelling techniques and rules weigh on my mind.
What’s surprised you the most about the book-publishing process?
How long it takes! I did not know that it can take anywhere between eight months to one year (or more) for most big, traditional publishing houses to release an author’s book. Gratefully, God blessed me with a small press publisher who releases my books at a much faster pace.
What’s been the most challenging part of getting a book published?
Writing when I have writer’s block.
What’s your favorite part of the publishing experience?
Receiving the final, flawless product! I love holding my new book in my hands and reading through it.
For learning the writing craft, which do you prefer – books or conferences? Why?
I’d love to be able to attend at least four writers conferences every year because there’s nothing like connecting in person with the writing community (agents, authors, editors and publishers)!
If you could recommend one writing conference, what would it be? Why? (If you haven’t attended one, which one would you like to attend? Why?)
American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) hosts a pretty awesome conference every year! If I could only go to one each year, it would be that one.
If you could recommend one writing book, what would it be? Why?
Plot & Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot That Grips Readers from Start to Finish by James Scott Bell because it teaches the basic foundation you need to lay for a great story!
If you could pick any of your novels to be made into a movie, which one would you pick? Who would you want to play the lead roles, and why?
I’d love for my new, soon-to-be released book Love in Pictures to be made into a movie! I’d like Drew Van Acker to play Logan (the hero) and Kat Graham to play Michelle (the heroine).
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
No. Thanks for the interview!
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Author Bio (short): Alexis A. Goring is a passionate writer with a degree in Print Journalism and an MFA in Creative Writing. She loves the art of storytelling and hopes that her stories will connect readers with the enduring, forever love of Jesus Christ.
Social Media Sites:
Facebook: https://www.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/
Website: https://
Pinterest: https://www.
Goodreads: https://www.
“God is Love” blog: http://capturingtheidea.
Thanks for hosting me on your blog today, Karin! 🙂 God bless you.
You’re welcome!