Today's Thursday Treat: Special Guest - Author Joy Daniels

Photo of Sexy Mechanic snagged by Joy Daniels

It's the Thursday Treat at Denny S. Bryce's blog (that's me and this is where).  It will consist of guest bloggers from publishing including authors and writers and agents and editors, as well as some of my other artists pals who sing, dance, create games, and do all sorts of marvelous things. Launching the series is a writer who is a wild, sexy, fun-loving gal, who has all sorts of things to tell us about what she's up to, and what makes the writer girl in her tick.

So, here is my first guest blogger for Thursday's Treat, Ms. Joy Daniels!

Q:  Let's get to the facts right up front. What's your full author name, website, your latest release, the WIP that is keeping you up at night, your agent, your publisher, how long have you been writing…your successes? Yes, I want the mini bio right here, right now!

Name: Joy Daniels
Website: http://authorjoydaniels.com
Agent: Louise Fury, L. Perkins Agency
Publisher: not sure where we're going to submit my current short, but I'm working on a proposal for a novel with Ravenous Romance.

Under revision: Revving Her Up, an erotic short story about a New York lawyer whose car breaks down in a small town, forcing her to turn to a sexy mechanic for help.

It's the first in my "Rapture Series", a group of short stories, which feature northerners falling in love in/with the small town of Rapture, VA.

Next: a sexy story set in the capital of country, Nashville, TN! This is story that (currently) keeping me up at night.

I started toying with the idea of writing three or four years ago, but didn't turn to it seriously until I found myself facing layoff with nothing to do. OK, I had a four-month old, so I was BUSY, but without work, so I decided to try my hand at writing a novel. The time-off never materialized - I ended up falling into a consulting gig almost immediately - but I still wanted to write.  Of course, that was two and a half years ago, before I realized how challenging it would be!

Now I understand that writing is hard work - and I love it more than ever!

Successes: I've completed my first short story, which I'm revising after a round of edits from my agent, and I've been tapped to write a sexy novel. I'm pretty damned psyched about those!

(OMG when I first wrote the lines above, I wrote ..."which I'm not revising after a round of edits..."  Can you tell I'm feeling a wee bit guilty about that?)

Q.  What's the best kept secret about your writing process?

Joy said: While working on that critical first draft, I use timed writing software (Dr. Wicked's Write or Die) and wordcount challenges (Fast Draft, NaNoWriMo) to help me turn off my internal editor.

I have yet to discover such helpful tricks for the revisions process...

Q.  What character have you written or are writing that keeps you up at night - just one, please:)?

Joy said: One of the male leads from my Nashville story, a country singer named Rob, is on my mind all the time. He's a small town boy with longish blond hair, cocoa brown eyes and the kind of sleepy smile that makes you want to go right back to bed - with him!

Q.  What television or pop culture fictional character has had the greatest influence on your writing style and why?

Joy said: I don't watch much TV, but right now I can't stop thinking about John Mitchell from Being Human (BBC) and Eric Northman from True Blood (HBO).  Not because they're vampires, but because both men are strong, smart and complex - there's a lot going on behind those beautiful eyes.

I also get a lot of story ideas from country music. I started listening to country when I moved to MD from up north and now I am hooked! Something about the moods, the images, the ideas...The songs just inspire me to write - and to dance!

Q.  What book/author is the current "hot read" on your bookshelf?

Joy said: I am addicted to urban fantasy and when I fall in love with an author/series I pre-order every damned book.

My current obsessions are Nicole Peeler's Jane True series (http://www.nicolepeeler.com/the-jane-true-series/), Carolyn Crane's dis-illusionist series (http://authorcarolyncrane.com/), and Seanan McGuire's October Daye series (http://www.seananmcguire.com/toby.php).

I met the first two women at Authors After Dark in Philly last weekend (August 11 - 14) and discovered that they are as awesome as their books!

Q.  What's your favorite drink on a hot August evening - and who (fictional or not, friend or family, celebrity or historic figure) would be sitting at your side enjoying that drink with you?

Joy said: I love sangria made with dry red wine. As for who I'd be sitting with, the easy answer is my mom, who died six years ago. Alongside her, I'd be happy with any of the authors above plus my fav brainstorming/writing buddy Denny S. Bryce!

Q.  Who's your favorite romance author and what would you ask them if you had the chance (or when you had the chance)?

I like adventure with my romance so again the authors above come to mind.  Right now the question on my mind goes to Seanan McGuire - will Toby and the King of Cats get together?  It's killing me!

Q.  Last question…what question have you been dying to answer but no one has ever asked?

Joy said: How about the question everyone asks but that no one ever listens to the answer:
how do you do it - how are you so happy and productive, etc when there's so much to be down about?

Carpe diem. If my mother's death has taught me anything, it's that you have to live each day as though it were your last. All you ever get - all any of us get  - is time.  Don't waste it. 

Thank you Joy, now folks it's your turn.  Joy will be hanging around all day, and available to answer questions. Also, feel free to take one of the questions I've asked above and let us know your answer...inquiring minds want to know.  Happy Thursday!