Meet the Author Mahalia Levey

Growing up-

Favorite games 
I loved to play life and clue growing up. For many years I was an only child so I put together  a ton of puzzles and played a lot of solitaire.

Red Rover Red Rover
Simon Says
Red Light Green Light


Family pets
Terri- my miniature poodle growing up. She died when I was six.
Freckles- mom’s dog
Boots- my first gift from a boyfriend. I was 13 she passed away when I was in my late twenties.
Abby- our Cockatoo- she could sing the star spangled banner, and curse and mimic almost anything


Favorite holiday memory
I can’t remember one single holiday as a child. I loved Christmas and Thanksgiving because it was the only time I got to see my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. My cousins were about ten years or more older than me.

When you grew up, you wanted to be a singer. Why?
I loved singing and being on stage.

Favorite music group while a teenager
New Kids on The Block




Now-

I would do anything for...
caffeine. I have a heart arrhythmia. Stimulants have been cruelly taken from me. It takes me forever to wake up and get moving!

Candy bar that best describes me. Why? 

Nutrageous… Because I’m Outrageous and a bit of a Nut :P
Your idea of romance

Laying on the couch watching a chic flick with my man scratching my scalp in a soothing manner. It is comfort at its best while having a nice night in.

I’m not much into big gifts or gifts in general. I had a boyfriend in my early twenties who kept receipts for everything he ever bought me. When we broke up he brought the cops to my house and I had to hand everything over. Since then I’ve had a hard time accepting gifts from anyone. I love to give them out though :P  I did however accept the Kindle Fire for Valentines last year :P DH and I are working on my phobia of accepting gifts from people.

An embarrassing moment that happened to you written in a newspaper headline.
When I was 15 I let my girlfriend drive my car. I was in the back seat and she ran the car into someone’s living room. She looked down to change the radio station and the street ended but had houses running perpendicular. That was on hell of a headline L

If I wasn't an author,
I would be an respiratory therapist. I have been many things before my journey as an author. Who knows what else I can accomplish!


Links
http://www.mahalialevey.com/
http://www.mahalia2010.wordpress.com/
www.twitter.com/hales3000
www.goodreads.com/mahalialevey

Introducing upcoming SCP author Flossie Benton Rogers

Favorite Things
It is a dream come true. Secret Cravings Publishing accepted my paranormal romance novel Wytchfaefor publication, and scheduled it to debut in October. Everyone I have met at SCP has been wonderful. After many years of being public library director, partnering people with books, I could not be more thrilled to have a book of my own, the first in a series. The heroine is a witch with a drop of faery blood who falls in love with a sexy Viking ghost. Please paint the town with me when release day comes.

After reading the previous paragraph, you already know some of my favorite things: paranormal romance, Viking heroes, Secret Cravings, writing, and, of course, getting published.

By way of introduction and getting to know each other, I thought I would share a few more items from my list of life’s joys.

Reading is certainly a passion of mine. I think it is with most writers. I have been an enthusiastic reader all my life. In elementary school at the beginning of each semester, I always devoured our freshly issued reading book the first night. I had to find out what happened to those people next. I enjoy various genres, including historical romance, mystery, dystopian, and urban fantasy. Romance appeals because of the main characters’ developing relationship and the positive outcome at the end. I just love it when those two finally get together!

October is a glorious time. Seriously, it’s not just because the book is coming out then. As the first full month of autumn, October brings zingy air that makes me feel renewed and raring to go. To find red, yellow, and orange leaves in Florida, you must trek to the edge of a swamp, but it’s so worth it. Also, Halloween is a fun holiday.

I can’t talk about October without mentioning la luna. I’m drawn to the full moon, dark of the moon, and all in between. Whenever the goddess Selene beams down, I’m there.

Incense is a daily staple at our house. The exotic ones from the East are incomparable, but I also enjoy wisteria, jasmine, and lily of the valley. When your nose is happy, the writing revs up a notch.

Coffee. That one word is all that’s needed. Dare I say butterscotch toffee coffee?

I adore nutmeg, its aroma and taste. The flavor enhances almost any food, even savory dishes. Nutmeg’s appearance is endearing too, all round and beautiful in a homely way, something like my basset hound Daisy Josette.

Snickerdoodles are the best. I don’t mean cookies. Rather, I refer to rambunctious boys ages five and three. On an odd day I am feeling blue, the Snickerdoodles come over and bring out the sun. Although Wytchfaedoesn’t have any small children, I have in the works a vintage romance that features little ones.

Sparkles make the world go ‘round. Glitter, shimmer, bling—I have them on my sandals, clothes, phone, in my bedroom, and of course jewelry. I love cheap baubles and semi-precious stones such as lapis lazuli and jade. I love crystals but not so much diamonds. Creativity demands sparkles. The heroine in Wytchfaewears a special necklace.

My grandmother read fairy tales to me very early, and I have always been drawn to them. In the old tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon, the heroine goes on a long journey and overcomes dangerous challenges to be with her beloved. Enamored of a ghost, the Wytchfae meets challenges of her own. It is incredibly satisfying to be able to write about faeries and other mythical beings. Some are good hearted, some pretty dark.

Writers are my rock stars. Fellow writers command my respect and admiration, from the ones in my writing groups to those in Secret Cravings Publishing and elsewhere. Each day I continue to learn so much. Talented authors live at Secret Cravings Publishing. To be part of SCP is one of my mostfavorite things. Thank you, SCP readers, for making it possible!

http://flossiebentonrogers.wordpress.com
http://facebook.com/FlossieBentonRogers
http://twitter.com/FrostFyre
http://pinterest.com/Wytchfae

SCP guest author Davee Jones

When did you start writing, and was there a significant event that prompted you to do so?
-I began creatively writing in college; however, I quickly discovered I could not pay the bills by my writing alone. I began work for the feds. However, maybe it was a mid-life crisis or my divorce that seriously spurned my writing again. It took me well over two years to write my first novel, simply because I really had no idea “how to” actually pen a book.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be? (Assuming said power would be reasonably "powerful.")
 – It’s a tossup between the ability to fly and mind reading.

Do you have a favorite superhero from novels, comics, or movies?
-Wonder Woman, I loved that show as a kid. I also loved the Bionic Woman-I even had a Jaime Sommers Barbie.

Where do you get your inspiration for writing?
-Initially, my inspiration came from personal experiences. However, I also now use anecdotal family stories, current events, and sometimes even a simple sentence is the beginning of a new book.

What motivates you?
-My desire to create a world I can control the outcome. Also, writing is a stress relief activity for me.

Do you pre-plan your stories, or are you a by-the-seat-of-the-pants style writer?
- I take notes constantly. I have a simple idea in my head and then I build on it. I have a long commute for my day job, and my mind churns constantly. As I think of something, I write it down and see how I can fit it into a WIP. However, sometimes when I’m writing, the flow just takes off and it feels great when that happens. I also have very vivid dreams and write them down as soon as I awaken to use them for a story.

Do you write only when inspired, or do you have a set schedule where you sit down to write?
-Because I hold a FT job outside of writing, sometimes, I must keep a storyline until I get a break or go home for the day. It’s very difficult, but, I will jot my quick notes down so I keep that scene or idea fresh.

Do you have a favorite genre to write in?
- I like to write in different genres, according to my mood. My first three published books are romance, I would like to finish my suspense/thriller and see how it is received.

To read?
-I like to read adventure stories or biographies, such as Aron Ralston’s story (Between a Rock and a Hard Place). I also read many books in the inspirational/Christian genre, thriller/suspense genre, and some romance as well.

What do you enjoy the most about writing?
-Creating a world and positive endings that maybe did not occur in reality, similar to re-writing an actual event to how I wanted it to be.

Is there any part of writing that you don't enjoy?
-The arthritis in my hands acts up and I can’t always write/type for as long as I want.

Can you tell me something odd about yourself?
-Engaging in repetitive motion makes me nauseous. Keystrokes are sometimes a killer. lol

Do you write one story at a time, or do you have several novels in the works at one time?
-I have about seven in the works right now.

In an evil plot to take over the world, what one animal type do you advise to use and why?
- A honey badger, nothing can kill that thing.

Where do you see the future as far as paper books versus digital e-books?
-Unfortunately, e-books will continue to dominate the market. Paper books will slowly continuing phasing out. However, I still love holding a bona fide book in my hand.

What are your current projects?
- A few YA books- one with a bullying plotline, one with a paranormal theme and one with a fall romance. I have a serial killer/demon suspense in progress. I also have a few romance books in the works.

Do you have any advice for others about self-publishing?
- Edit until you can’t stand it anymore.
Learn everything you can about marketing and selling. I sent out over 250 review queries, requests for publicity, etc. I received less than ten replies back.  Yes, I said less than ten. I sent a letter to each and every newspaper in Oklahoma (my home state in the USA) and got ONE solitary reply back. I personalized every submission query, DO NOT Bcc these things to a mass audience. You will not receive a reply. You must demonstrate you researched who you sent the query to, let them know you took the time. Yes, it will take you hours upon hours, but, the few replies you receive back will be worth it.