~Author M.J Kane~
Hello
Everybody! Please join me in getting to know yet, another great author.
Meet Author M.J Kane and learn all about her and her writing history
thus
far. As I always say, it takes no effort to learn a person, we all
are striving to
make brand our name and work in this writing industry,
by pulling together
as one, we will succeed. Take a look at what she had to say in her interview,
ask questions, leave comments and let your presence known, we need YOU!!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
M.J. Kane stumbled into writing. An avid reader,
this stay at home mom never lost the overactive imagination of an only child.
As an adult she made up stories, though never shared them, to keep herself
entertained. It wasn’t until surviving a traumatic medical incident in 2006
that she found a reason to let the characters inhabiting her imagination free. Upon the suggestion of her husband, she commandeered
his laptop and allowed the characters to take life. It was that, or look over
her shoulder for men caring a purple strait jacket. And the rest, as they say,
is history.
No longer a television addict, if M.J. isn’t reading
a book by one of her favorite authors, she’s battling with her creative muse to
balance writing and being a wife and mother. She resides in the suburbs of
Atlanta, Georgia with her high school sweetheart, four wonderful children, and
two pit bulls. MJ can often be found hanging out at the local library where she
is director of a local writer’s group, or online connecting with readers and
other authors. Other activities she enjoys include: creating custom floral
arrangements, assisting her children in their creative pursuits of music and
art, and supporting her husband’s music production business, 3D Sounds.
MJ’s debut novel, A Heart Not Easily Broken, Book one of the Butterfly Memoirs,
became an instant Amazon Bestseller in Multicultural Romance and
African-American Literature and Fiction within hours of publication. It has
also spent time on the African-American Women’s Fiction and African-American
Romance Bestsellers lists.
You can find MJ on
social networking sites, sharing writing tips, talking about music, life, and
family. She’s always excited to meet new people.
Author’s
Interview Questions
What
is the title of you first published book? What was the release date?
A
Heart Not Easily Broken, Book one of The Butterfly Memoirs was released
September 20, 2012.
What
inspired you to become a Writer? Why?
I
have to say my husband was my biggest inspiration. He read a short story I had
written a few years ago and suggested I continue to work on it and add
more. He believed in me before I
believed in myself. I am glad I followed his advice.
In
the Writing Industry, is there anyone that you idolize? Why?
That’s
a hard question to answer and name just one or two authors. Honestly, I would
have to say I admire every author who’s published ahead of me, regardless of
the genre. Readers never understand the amount of dedication, hard work, and time
it takes to write a good story. It’s not a simple, ‘imagine this scene and add
he said, she said’. It’s research, editing, rewrites, character and story
development. It takes time, especially if there is a message your trying to
share or emotion you really what your readers to pick up on.
Since
you became a writer, what have you experienced as far as the negative side of
it all? Positive Side?
My
experiences have all been ones to learn from. It’s been a blessing to have
several published authors as mentors to guide me along the way, helping me to
take the ‘write’ steps and avoid the pit falls. But there is still a lot to
learn, and always something else to do to continue to be successful in the
publishing industry.
Is
writing something you plan to do for a lifetime? .... Is it your passion?
Yes!
I feel as though I have finally found something in my life that I can control
completely. While I can’t control what reviewers or readers say, I can control
the lives of my characters and the stories I tell. I research as much as I can
and keep an ear out for reader’s suggestions or what it is they are or aren’t
looking for in a good book. I try my best to tailor my stories to what they are
looking for, but in the end, it’s still my decision of what I write. And I love
it! Is it my passion, oh yeah! My Muse is with me 24/7! She isn’t going
anywhere!
If
you don’t see writing as a life-long project, what else sparks your interest?
I
have ventured into several other projects before taking on writing. I also
draw, (I’m no Picasso, but I can hold my own). I have studied floral design,
run a small business doing it and loved it, but neither are what I feel best
suites my full potential. Writing is it. I’ve found it and it has found me.
Have
you traveled to different states to promote your work?
Only
online! LOL! I have been blessed to have fans not only in the U.S., but Canada,
and the U.K. They have been very supportive and happy to share my work with
their friends and family. Word of mouth can be better than traveling! But when
I have the opportunity to do so, and the timing is right, I would love to do face-to-face
book signings and promotions. So far I have done one at my local library, two
weeks after my books release. It was a lot of fun!
What
are your marketing techniques? Why do these things work best for you?
Social
networking platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Linkedin), blogging, cross
promotions with other writers, and most of all, interacting with readers both
online and in person, have worked best for me.
Do
you have a lot of family/friend support? How does that motivate you?
My
family at home is behind me 100%. They keep me from getting lost in my
characters worlds and keep me grounded in reality. They talk about my book and
writing to their friends and so on. They sit down and talk with me to help
strategize the next marketing steps to make sure the decisions I make make
sense. We are a team.
What
advice would you give to other Authors BESIDES doing research?
Know
what it is that you’re getting into. Don’t be so anxious to sell your story
that you don’t TELL your story. Don’t skip steps and think just because it
sounds good to you, it will sound good to others. Find critique partners, join
a writer’s group. Ask for HONEST feedback from friends and family. Grow THICK
SKIN and take what they say to heart. If you can’t handle what they have to
say, then you’ll be devastated by negative reviews. And if everything they say
is positive, appreciate it, but demand the negative. Doing so is the only way
to improve your story telling. And above all, DO NOT SKIP THE EDITING PROCESS!!
If you can’t afford an editor, find someone you know who is good with the
English language. Ask them for help. Have many people read your work. It takes
more than just one or two eyes to see the mistakes. When editing, take a break,
step away from your book for a week or two, then come back with fresh eyes.
You’d be surprised with all the errors you find that you think you’ve
corrected. For more detailed information, visit my blog and check out the
articles I’ve written about my writing experiences and things I’ve learned over
the years, Author M.J. Kane.wordpress.com.
IF
THERE IS ANY OTHER INFORMATION YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE, PLEASE DO SO.
Excerpt
Ebony is a smart, sexy, career-oriented black woman
who wants nothing
more than a summer fling with a man who challenges her mind
and body.
What she doesn’t expect is a blond haired, blue-eyed bass player—who
won’t
take “no” for an answer—to accept the challenge.
When Ebony’s attempt at a brief fling turns into
more, despite negative
reactions from friends and family, she finds juggling
love, family, and career
are nothing compared to the ultimate betrayal she
endures. Now her dreams
spiral into lies and secrets that threaten her future
and her best friend’s trust.
Available now from 5 Prince Publishing! Buy Now!
Connect
with me on the following sites:
.JPG)
