Author Spotlight with M.L. Stephens

I am so excited to have author M.L. Stephens as the spotlight author on my blog today. There is a interview and awesome giveaway for 10 ebooks. There will be 5 ebooks you can win here on the blog and 5 on my page Sabrina's Paranormal Palace but I will ell you more about those later. For now let's get to know more about M.L. Stephens and her books.

I'm always clicking away at the keyboard, but when I'm not, my family, two dogs, and a very peculiar cat keep me on my toes! There's never a boring moment at my desk!

Besides my obvious love for coffee and all things caffeinated, I love to travel. The occasional tourist stop is fun, but I'm a back road kind of gal. Take me off the beaten path. I want to meet the ordinary people behind the culture.

My crazy family includes a husband, four kids, two grandbabies, two dogs, and a cat. That's right! Life is totally insane! Now you understand why I write!

Speaking of writing, I've been spinning stories around the campfire, since I can remember. Poetry was second nature, and as a teen and young adult, short stories were constantly being penned. I'm an avid reader, who loves almost all genres. Let's face it! A good read is a good read, regardless of whether it takes place in the future, the past, or with ghosts.

Stalker Links:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

My life had been fabulous, but that was before I was murdered.

There are only two things in a person's existence that truly matter—before and after. This is my after.

Caught in a realm between life and death, Jade is torn between the unexpected love of a stranger, or catching the people who killed her.

With the clock ticking, she struggles to find a way to save the life of her best friend while holding on to the man that she loves.

One decision might leave her stranded in limbo for all of eternity, yet the other could destroy her completely.

Buy Links:

Amazon

Interview:

When did you know you wanted to become a writer?

As soon as I could form words on a page. It just took me a while to find the time to dedicate myself to it. My first series, which was speculative fiction, bounced around in my head for 12 years before I committed myself to writing it. Once I did, I couldn't stop putting words to the other stories that had accumulated in my mind. It's addictive.

How did the idea of series come to you?

I was sitting on my back porch with my best friend and we were discussing our personal ghostly experiences (most of which happen in my house or around me), and it hit me.

Are any of your characters based off people you know?

I think that all characters contain little pieces of people I've met. (Even the villains) *smile*

How many books will be in the series?

As of right now, I'm considering just 3 books in the series, but as I'm writing the 3rd, it's occurring to me that there may need to be more. The characters are so fun and inquisitive, and their magical abilities have so much potential.

How do you over come writer’s block?

I don't think I've ever experienced it. Regardless of how I feel, or what my mood is, I write. When I review it the next day, if I think it sucks, I just save it to a file, remove it from my work, and continue. I have had plot dilemmas, and am currently debating one on book #3. Plot dilemmas tend to slow me down some. I want to give the reader a great and unexpected experience, but I don't think of them as blocks. 

What is your writing process?

I let the characters speak for themselves. When story ideas come to me, I sit down and write them from beginning to end. I'm not an outline or skip around type of writer. I write from start to finish. Sometimes I think of an idea, but as the story progresses, the characters change my mind and I allow the characters to write their own stories (within reason of course).

What is your favorite paranormal being?

Ghosts for sure!

What was the first paranormal book you read? 

Oh my! I'm not even sure I can remember, unless Cinderella, Snow White, or Sleeping Beauty is consider such…and between you and me, I think they all have a bit of paranormal in them.

Who are some of your favorite authors? 

There are SO MANY! Right now though, I think that Heather Graham, Lisa Jackson, Sandra Brown, Lisa Gardner, Janet Evanovich, J. R. Ward, and P.C. Cast.

Can you give us any hints about future books?

I'm considering Fairies and or elves, but I've been working on a YA dystopian and was recently blessed with an dream that combines the idea of werewolves and witches. One just never knows. *big grin*

Is there a writer or writers that inspire you? 

Oh yes! I am inspired by many. I think the most recent writers to inspire me, are the two that live the closest. Sandra Brown only lives about 2 hours from me and Willow Cross lives only about 3 hours. There is nothing better than to know that you're surrounded by extraordinary writers who live in small towns (like I do) to help you appreciate that anything is possible. I'm also inspired daily by other Indie authors.

What paranormal being would you like to be?

I hope when I cross over, I'll become a ghost. How fun would it be to haunt the people who "ticked" you off when you were alive. Can you imagine the things you'd learn that you'd been shielded from in life?

If you were stranded on a deserted island what character would you want with you and why? 

This is going to sound insane, but I'd pick Rambo. He knows how to survive. He's not that bad looking, and let's face it…I like to eat and live…so. HA!

What would you do in a zombie apocalypse?

I can't give away all my secrets or the zombies would find me. *giggle* Suffice it to say that I'm super prepared!

What 3 people would you like to have dinner with and why?

I'd love to have Edgar Allen Poe, Anne Rice, and Mark Twain. Hemmingway because I like his stark honesty, Anne for her intelligence, and Mark Twain because I was told he's an ancestor and I picture him as quirky enough to keep me thinking.

Favorites:

Color: I'm a rainbow kind of gal.

Pets: 2 dogs and a cat. (Although I think I'm the cat's pet)

Food: Give me a burger and fries.

Drink: Coffee and sugar free Red Bull…otherwise water.

Holiday: Halloween of course.

Music: I love all music except opera, and gangster rap.

Movie: Gone With the Wind is my ultimate favorite (I was supposed to be named after Vivian Leigh, but mom won out on the first name of Melissa and my dad won with Leigh. (How funny is that?) Wizard of Oz and Mary Poppins run a close second. (P.S. I Love you is right up there as well.)

This or That? That (I always go for the underdog.)

Night or Day? Night

Theater or Rent? Rent

Fall or Summer? Fall

Music or Reading? Can I have Mureaing? Did I just create a word to describe both at once? Maybe not, but if I had to pick just one…I'd pick reading.

Pet Dragon or Pet Gargoyle? Dragons rock my world!

Flip flops or Tennis Shoes? Flip flops or barefoot! I want to feel the earth beneath my feet.

I hope you had fun getting to know more about M.L. Stephens and her book. Now for the giveaway that I told you about at the start of this post. M.L. has donated a total of 10 ebooks 5 of which you can win here by commenting and telling me and M.L. somethings about yourself. Tell us what paranormal being would you be and why? What is the first paranormal book you read? The other  ebooks you can win on the page. Thank you to M.L. Stephens for participating in author spotlight. 

~Sabrina