I have nothing but BIG LOVE for Morgan Jones. I can’t remember how we connected, but it was definitely through Instagram DMs and from that moment on, we’ve been friends. We beta read for each other, we support each other however and whenever we can. I have respect for Morgan and the stories she writes, because she doesn’t shy away from anything and puts her entire soul into her books.
However, Morgan, I would like to see some of that poetry please and thanks.
I had the incredible honor (and pleasure) of reading an early draft of Love Language, Morgan’s latest release, and I promise it will alter your brain chemistry. Add it to your TBR and download it as soon as you can. Because the foursome that is Amy, Juliette, Theo and Connor are waiting for you.
All of Morgan’s books are available right now in Kindle Unlimited. Then go show her some love and tell her that Anna sent you.
BEING AN AUTHOR
Who or what inspired you to write?
I write interlocking stand alone romance novels, and I’ve realized my love for this particular genre started when I picked up The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants at thirteen. I love writing in multiple POV’s because I love hearing the stories of everyone in a friend group/family
What’s the best and worst part about being an indie author?
The best is I love that no one is telling me to change certain aspects of my work for the sake of what will sell to the masses, the worst is that I loathe marketing.
Why did you choose to self-publish instead of going the traditional route?
I have awful RSD, and was worried the constant rejection in the querying process would discourage me from writing at all.
When you’re not writing, what do you do to get the creative juices flowing?
I honestly love reading as well. I think so many authors were readers first, so reading friends books, making mood boards on Pinterest, leaving rave reviews, all of these things fill my cup.
If you were to recommend books to me (in any genre), what would they be?
Romance is my genre of choice to read and write. I obviously love your books and recommend them to anyone who asks for quality romance recs.
I will also always scream about how amazing these romance authors are and how much I love their work, the Twisted Series by Ana Huang
I LOVE second chance romance, and I think Carley Fortune writes this trope really well. Anything Livy Hart writes is gold. Sara Cate sucked me in with her Salacious Players Club series. Elena Armas is phenomenal.
Shoutout to some fellow indies I love, Sarah Estep, Kristin Travis, Gemma Blythe, Letizia Lorini, Alaina Rose, Emily Shacklette are not only amazing writers, but also amazing writer friends. Lily Gold is the queen of why choose.
Finally don't get me started on how much I love Abby Jimenez, Yours Truly is so near and dear to my heart.
What are your top 5 tips or pieces of advice for aspiring authors?
Don't stress about your work being ‘perfect’ because even trad published books have typos sometimes—coming from a recovering perfectionist.
Write a book you would love to read (because you're going to be reading it many times yourself during revisions)
Fellow writers are friends, not competition. I will always be cheering for my fellow writer friends' accomplishments. In the wise words of Taylor Swift, “I don’t compete with other people in the industry, I compete with myself.”
One of my favorite movies is Stuck in Love. There's a line from that movie that always sticks with me because many writers I know, myself included, are very introverted. The movie is about a family of writers, and the father tells the son, “A writer is the sum of their experiences, go get some.” That’s the advice, leave the writing cave every once in a while, inspiration is out there.
You absolutely CANNOT please everyone. Art is subjective, so write YOUR book. It will find it’s readers, and you will find your people in turn.
ROMANCE AS A GENRE
Why did you choose romance as the genre to write in? What is your favorite thing about the genre?
Cliche, but I feel like I didn't choose romance, romance chose me. Lmao Maybe it’s being an adult child of divorce, I like seeing healthy love stories in fiction.
If not romance/subgenres of romance, what genre would you like to write in?
I do write poetry, and maybe one day I’ll be bold enough to share it.
What are your most and least favorite tropes?
I am a sucker for a good friends to lovers, second chance, slow burn, brothers best friend, found family, grumpy x sunshine (black cat/golden retriever)
I’ve found that bully romance is not ‘for me’, my heart is always like, “Be nice!”
What are some tropes you want to write in the future?
This year I am working on Jade’s book (Jackie’s sister) . She's a writer and it will be a celebrity romance. After that, and I’m about to spill some tea that only my critiques partners are aware of, Mia is going to get a book, with a well deserved happily ever after, love after loss, and they were roommates, MMC that loves to cook.
What are some topics (sensitive and otherwise) that you think should exist more in romance?
I always love when there's mental health rep in romance. It’s a topic that, in my experience, has been swept under the rug by previous generations as, ‘We don't talk about that’. Often people have thrown a mask over mental health struggles, so it’s refreshing when it’s shown in fiction that not only are you not alone, but you're so deserving of love.
If you write open door romance, why did you choose that and what inspires your sex scenes?
I chose open door (and this is going to age me) because when I was 18 I picked up an Ellora’s Cave romance anthology and fell in love with the genre as a reader. I grew up very evangelical, drenched in purity culture. As an adult I found open door books to be validating when it comes to the fact that I have a sex drive, which is something I was ashamed of in the past.
YOUR BOOKS
What inspired your published stories? How and when did you come up with these stories and plots?
My published stories were all written and released within the last couple years. (Except the debut which I wrote a decade ago, and finally published last year, which snowballed into me writing and publishing the Collins siblings trilogy) I always tell people, ‘I feel like I'm not driving when I write.’ I don’t plot, I write out of order, my characters run the show. They are telling these stories and I’m just along for the ride.
Can you briefly tell me about your books?
A Decade of Desire - Debut, written a decade ago, published last year. I don't talk about my debut a lot because I feel like I've grown so much as a writer since I wrote it.
You’re Mine - Model FMC, Detective MMC, Romantic Suspense with no HEA, Found Family, Dual POV
I Know - Brother’s Best Friend, Bisexual FMC, Healing After Grief, Slow Burn, He Falls First
Atta Girl - Second Chance Romance, Healing from purity culture and religious trauma, Praise, Childhood Friends to Lovers (This is the book so many readers have said is my best work)
That’s It - Christmas Novella, Workplace Rivals to Lovers, Only One Bed, Praise, He Falls First, December 2015 Timeline
Love Language - Why Choose/Polyamory, Bisexual Main Characters, Second Chance Romance, MM MF FF FFM MMF MFM, Bathtub Spice, Exploration of Love Languages (Out today for Bisexual Pride Day)
Do you already have a favorite character from the stories you’ve written?
Jake… I always joke that he is the reason why I write interlocking. I just want to spend more time with him so I keep writing him into books as a side character.
If you were to cast your book for a movie/television show, who would you cast in the lead roles?
Lola Tung: “Ah! Oh my goodness, I love this question!”
Seriously, I love talking about head cannons, and will shamelessly slide into authors DM’s to ask. My books play out like movies in my head (I think this is one of the reasons I write in 3rd person) so there’s always actors' faces in my head when I write, get ready, because this is going to be long winded…
Anna: Lily Collins, Damien: Jared Padalecki, Ben: Dylan O’Brien (A Decade of Desire)
Adam: Andrew Garfield & Mia: Holland Roden (You’re Mine)
Lizzy: Nina Dobrev (circa January 2017 with the short hair) & Jake: Kit Harington (I know, it’s canon) (I Know)
Katherine: Kate Siegel & Kurt: Jesse Metcalfe (Atta Girl)
Jackie: Elizabeth Olsen & James: Chris Evans (That’s It)
Amy: Renee Rapp, Theo: Theo James, Connor: Dave Franco & Juliette: Florence Pugh (Love Language)
Jade: Aly Michalka & Bo: Nat Wolff (Let Go)
How much of yourself do you put into these characters?
I feel like all of them have little pieces of me, little self inserts.
What is a story/stories that you really want to tell?
I’m very excited to write more for Mia someday.
Is there one common element that readers can find in all your stories?
Open door sex without shame, mental health rep, Dual POV, Praise
What’s next on the bookshelf for you? Anything you can tell us about a future project?
Jade’s book will be the next thing I work on. The plot is a celebrity romance. Jade is a romance writer who wants to live a quiet life, but when she meets Bo it has her questioning if she is holding back from what she really wants in life.
When you write these stories, what are you hoping your readers will feel?
Validated in their thoughts and feelings
AUTHOR’S CHOICE
Paperbacks, hardbacks, ebooks or audiobooks—Paperbacks to annotate. Audiobooks if I have to do a daunting task like laundry or dishes and I need something fun to distract me.
Contemporary, fantasy, historical or romantic suspense
Single or Dual POV
Standalones, series or standalones in a series
Open door, ajar door or closed door romances
Music or silence when writing—I LOVE making playlists that fit the vibe of the story and will include those playlists in the back of the book.
Plotter, pantser or plantser
Water, tea, coffee or….wine?—All of the above
Cold or warm weather—I don’t like it too hot or too cold. I’m an autumn girl. Weather in the 70s is perfect for me.
Write better in the morning, afternoon or night?
Illustrated or photo cover?
Make sure you give Morgan some love on Instagram!
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