Guest Author Spot - Charity Parkerson.

This weeks Guest Author spot belongs to award winning Erotica Author Charity Parkerson. If you enjoy her interview check out her books at  http://www.charityparkerson.com/



1. First, for avid readers, fans, and the curious out there, what's the best way to ask you a question?

I check my Facebook fanpage several times a day. I can always be reached there. http://www.facebook.com/authorCharityParkerson

2. Do you have a favourite character from another author’s book?

 I have a new favorite every time I finish a new book, lol. 

3. Do you pre-plan your stories or are you a take-it-as-it-comes writer?

 I do an outline first, but once my characters take on a life of their own they end up taking over the story.

4. Where does your inspiration comes from? What motivates you?

 Every where and every thing. Sometimes I'll have a dream, hear a song, or since I'm a people-watcher, I'll see something on the street that will cause an idea to fire to life.

5. Do you have set schedule to write to or do you grab the time as it comes?

 I do have a schedule. Of course if an idea strikes, then I will write right then, if I can, but otherwise I keep bankers hours during the day so that I stay on track. 

6. How do you take writing interruptions?

 Not well, unfortunately. If it's my kids or husband, then they come first, but if it's something like having an appointment or running an errand, I hate the world.

7. What do you enjoy and what do you hate about writing?

 I love losing myself to this new world that I have created and being able to live a thousand lives in one lifetime. I hate not sleeping because my mind won't stop creating for a few so I can rest.

8. Mostly for our other authors out there, what’s your advice as to how to handle a bad review?

With grace, please? I know it's hard and you should have some place that you can go for a sympathetic ear, but be professional and stay quiet. If someone has spent their hard-earned money to buy your book and you paid a bill with that money then they should be able to say they hated it. That's their right.

9. What other projects do you have on the boil?

I'm working on the next book in my new series, the "Sexy Witches" This book is "The Wizard & The Wanton" I'm very excited about it and haven't wanted to do anything else.

10.  Do you have any advice to offer other Indie authors about self-publishing?

Indie books are more scrutinized than any of the others, so you have to be even better. Use a professional editor, cover designer, and formats. There are people out there who will do these thing for cheaper than you realize.

11. Does any particular strategy work for you to boost sales?

 Paid advertising. I know, that stinks. When I first started out, I was able to use social media to boost sales but the longer my books are out there they need professional advertising help. I read somewhere that most books have a shelf life of two months so the only way to keep pushing yourself past that point is to look for places to help.

12. Does social networking improve your sales?

It can. I don't know all the tricks of the trade, but I didn't sell anything at all before I started on Twitter.

13. Which authors give you inspiration? Do you have a favourite read amongst them?

All authors inspire me. It takes a lot of bravery to show your soul to the world and then watch silently as they judge you loudly.

14. Being an Erotica Author I imagine you get your fair share of questionable emails. Can you tell us about one that made you laugh?

I had one that very adamantly wanted to braid my hair.  

15. Have you ever been recognised as an Author on the street?

I have! Unfortunately, it was when I was $1.85 short at the grocery store and I was counting out my change to see if I had enough to cover it. The cashier said, "Hey, I know who you are. You wrote The Society of Sinners" 

Thanks for being my guest Charity! Good luck with all your future books.