I start with a premise, and the world in which that premise can exist. I can spend days just working the idea over in my head. As I work through this stage, the characters start to come out.

My most important consideration is the protagonist. I love character-driven stories, and really want the main character to be the driving force - not simply pushed along by the plot.

After the main premise and characters are sorted, I work through a loose plot. I keep it fairly open to start, and then condense it down as I go. I sort of have an idea of where the story is going to end up, but never keep that in concrete. Fluidity is key, both in ending and in the ride there.

The first novel I read completely through was 1984, by George Orwell. It was a school assignment. But more than that, I was really intrigued by Mr. Orwell's world creation. I found it fascinating.

As an artist who has done other covers, a common request has been to redraw a scene from the book.

This is something I disagree with. Each reader will imagine the scene as they read it, such is the wonder of the written word. I feel the most important parts of a cover should be:

1) capturing the essence and feel of the book inside (romance, adventure, mystery);
2) feature the main character(s) prominently;
3) conveying elements of the story within, but not an exact rendition of any scene particular.

Adventure, fantasy, and sci-fi, urban paranormal

I know this world. I want to be taken to another and get know that one.

I have a desk?

Oh, right. It's this hard flat thing under all this stuff.

We have two computers, and three monitors. The main, big one has two, and the older one has the third. Typically, the little one will play on that computer while I am working on the other.

So, the desk if covered with the three monitors, two keyboards, a pair of mice, assorted child's toys, a little statuette of a dragon, a statuette of a pug, a Rarity toy (because she is the best Pony), and my Wacom tablet.

I have written for years, since middle school/junior high. I shudder at the thought of going back to read what I did then. Typically, my works then borrowed on other influences, though some involved complete world-building. With the adventure of the internet and MMOs, my writing made a turn to shorts about my various characters in the games, and posted on the societies' forum boards.

Seriously looking at novel works didn't come to reality until only about three or so years ago.

Silken Whispers is a series I have been working on for three years now. I started a novel about the two women for Nanowrimo in 2012. And wrote another in 2013. In 2014, I wrote two shorter works, also based on the two characters.

The concept is to develop group of shorter stories (25k to 35k words) each along a similar theme, as in the series of television shows. Each series will be capped off by a larger feature novel (60K+ words).

My latest book is the first book in the first series, heading off this project. I have kept the other two larger works in reserve until their release date. The series plan is outlined on my main site @ http://silkenwhispers.com/

Character creation. I love good characters. I love characters that have a life of their own, and I love being the one that can give my characters life.

However, too often I find myself speaking of my characters like they are real people.

As I am just starting this officially, I am lacking in the fan department. I hope to change that quickly.

Next up is getting through book #2 of series 1. It is already mostly done (about 75%), just some completion, then the proofing stage (ugh!)