Author Spotlight: Nicole James | CJC Photography

Author Spotlight: Nicole James

CJC Photography, Nicole James author, Florida photographer, book cover photographer, romance book cover photographerCJC: How did you get started as an author and what made you want to pursue that field?

NJ: I’ve always been writing stories.

When Amazon came out with Kindle Direct Publishing allowing authors to put their own work up, I knew right away I wanted to give it a try.

I published Outlaw April 14, 2013 and it went live at around 7pm that night. I hadn’t told anyone in my family I’d done it except my daughter. The next morning, she came in and woke me up saying, “Mom, your book sold 14 copies!” I couldn’t believe it. After all, no one in my family knew about it and I wondered how people had even found my book in a sea of millions of titles. I’d done no advertising, no social media, nothing. I didn’t even have an author Facebook page. But I had one thing going, I was writing in a genre niche that was very small at the time, Biker Romance. Apparently a lot of readers were dying for anything they could get their hands on in that topic.

By mid-morning I had my first review pop up and they loved it. So, I called my sisters up and told them what I had done.

Soon, sales took off and fans were asking for another.

Now twelve books and hundreds of thousands of copies later, fans are still asking for another! I don’t take that for granted for one moment.

Every time I release a new book, it’s still just as exciting as it was when I sold those first 14 copies!

CJC: What hurdles have your overcome while striving towards your goals?

NJ: I’ve had to learn the business from the ground up. As an indie author, you do everything yourself, which is wonderful, but also difficult.

The market is constantly changing and it’s not as easy to sell books as it was in the beginning. But as long as fans still want to read my stories, I’ll keep writing.

CJC: Which novel has been your favorite to write and why?

NJ: It’s hard to pick a favorite! They are all my babies and I love all of them.

I have to say I am really proud of BLOOD. I think structurally, it may be my best.

CJC: For those looking to become an author, what advice would you give them?

NJ: Write what you love and what you would want to read yourself. Know that you have to grab the reader’s attention right from the start and hold it all the way to the last page.

CJC: Favorite motto?

NJ: Do what you love.

CJC: Which author inspires you the most and why?

NJ: I’m inspired by lots of authors! Kristin Ashley, Sandra Hill, Janet Evanovich, Sarah Castille, and the writing team of Kit Rocha are some of my favorites!

CJC: What is your writing process like?

NJ: I’m a plotter. I have to plot the entire book out before I start writing. I need to know how it ends before I begin. I need to get inside the characters’ heads and know their goals and what they want and need. Then I have to throw a wrench in it and make it more difficult for them at every turn. Conflict is everything. And of course I have to add in some humor!

As far as my story plotting method, I use the “Save the Cat” method created by Blake Snyder.

CJC: What new projects are you currently working on?

NJ: I’m currently working on the last two books in my tattoo series, Brothers Ink. I’m hoping to have them finished by the end of the year.

CJC: Any final thoughts you would like to share with the CJC Photography readers?

The shot Christopher John took of Jamieson Fitzpatrick was the perfect rendition of my character, Joker and I knew as soon as I saw it, that it had to be the cover! Sometimes you just know when something is right!

CJC: Nicole, Thank you so much for featuring Jamieson on the cover of Joker. To pick up your copy of Joker please click here.
Stay up to date with all of Nicole’s upcoming releases by following her on Facebook!

 

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