Hendrik (HVDB Book Life)
AUTHOR BIO
Here’s a bit about me and what I’m up to in my crazy author world right now. The genres I write
are paranormal romance, contemporary romance, and Romantic Comedy. I’m married with one
grown up son who works on cruise ships and have a cat called Masai. I live near Ipswich in Suffolk,
originally from Essex.
Writing has been my passion from a very early age when my mum encouraged me to use my
imagination. Sadly, it wasn’t until the death of my mum, who was also my best friend, in 2009 that
I started to take it seriously. My mother’s wish was to see me published, which didn’t occur until
2014. And now, each book I publish is dedicated to her.
When not writing, or reading, my main hobbies are; cinema, theatre, live bands, gardening,
keeping fit, travelling, Formula One racing, darts and spending time with friends.
QUICK INTERVIEW
Where are you from?
“Suffolk in the UK, originally from Essex.”
What is your favorite genre to read/write?
“Paranormal Romance”
When did you first realize you wanted to be an author?
“Very early on. My mum used to read to me when I was small and make up stories. She used to encourage me to do the same.”
Who/What inspired you to write Electric Temptation (Protectors Series #5) and can we
expect more releases in the series?
“Mason, the main male character, featured to an extent from the first book. He was only a minor character, but as the books progressed, I felt he needed to have his own story. There is one more book to come in this series, but it won’t be released until probably this time next year.”
What was the highlight of writing Electric Temptation?
“Reaching the finish lol. I struggled to write this one as it was written at the height of the pandemic when my mind was on other things. To see all the amazing reviews has made me realise I’d done better than I thought I had.”
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
“I’ve written 20 altogether. One of the publishers I had closed down, so I got the rights back to a paranormal romance series of 8 books. Unfortunately, I have no idea when I’ll get the time, or
money, to rework and republish them. It’s really hard to say which is my favourite. They’re all my book babies and I love them all. But I have to say the one I’ve recently finished, a Christmas Rom Com, has made me smile and is based around an animal sanctuary, and I love animals. So quite possibly, it could be this one!”
Tell us about your first published book? What was the journey like?
“My first book was The Atlantean Birthright, it was the first in the paranormal romance series which I now have the rights back to. I was very naïve back then. I had no idea about social media platforms, editing, choosing the cover, marketing, didn’t have beta readers or arc teams. It was a very hard and difficult learning curve, as it was for the whole of that series. But I put it all down to experience and hope I am a much better author now.”
Can we expect any new releases in 2021 and share details?
“I have 3 more books planned for 2021. There’s a steamy duet set on the island of Tenerife, due out July/August time. Sunshine Escape and Island Hope are the titles. I’ve visited all the locations in the books. Then for Christmas, Christmas Haven, a Rom Com/enemies to lovers’ book, which contains a whole host of hilarious moments and some endearing characters, animal and human.”
What do you think makes a great story?
“One that keeps the reader enthralled from the first page. A page turner which they cannot put down. Plus, it’s important to have engaging characters that have you rooting for them throughout the whole
story.”
What advice would you give a new writer, someone just starting out?
“First of all, get those words down. Don’t just think about the story, write it. Before you give it to a beta reader, edit it yourself, at least one more time. Get someone to beta read who you trust. You don’t want someone who will just say, “wow that’s great”. You need constructive criticism, whether you want to hear it or not. After you’ve taken onboard their corrections, go through it again. This is the most important part of the process now in my opinion, get yourself a great editor. I may pay a little more
for mine, but I wouldn’t trust my work with anyone else.”
“And when choosing a cover, do not be afraid to tell the designer if you’re not happy with it. That’s where I went wrong with my earlier work. And whether you like it or not, social media platforms are a necessary evil. It’s a way of networking and connecting with other authors, bloggers and readers. I’ve probably loads more I could say, but it’ll turn out being a book lol! If you need any advice, please reach out to me and I’ll try to help. Always remember if you take advice, always ensure you’re happy to reciprocate.”
GIVEAWAY
2 E-Book Copies of Reader’s choice by Toya Richardson (Please note: Only The Protectors Series and The Festive Love Coach can be won outside of the UK and a UK winner can pick any book)
Also join Toya’s Reader Group and tell her what your favorite book is and why: https://www.facebook.com/groups/230915490787532/
Alternative link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b8573fc18/?
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/ToyaRichardson1
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/toya_richardson
WEBSITE: https://www.toyarichardson.co.uk
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/toyarichardsonauthor
FACEBOOK READER GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/230915490787532/
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6010556.Toya_Richardson
BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/toya-richardson?list=about
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00A4F91P6
TIKTOK: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMem41rcd/
We want to thank Toya Richardson for signing up for the Weekly Author Spotlight.
Interview done by HVDB Book Life
