Author Interview: Gladys Cross

 

I met Gladys at an author event and just HAD to interview her for my blog...Let's take a look: 

Thank you for joining us, Gladys. Please tell me a little about yourself.

I’ve written for myself off and on since the third grade, always putting my dream of being an author on the backburner. It took a friend asking for feedback on a piece they were writing during COVID for me to focus on making my childhood dream a reality. I discovered I had all these stories pent up inside waiting to be told, and once I got started, I couldn’t stop.

When I’m not writing, or begging people to read what I’ve written, you’ll find me hanging out with my eight-year-old daughter and her band of neighborhood friends. I’m perfectly content knowing about Pokémon cards, Nerf guns, pterodactyls, and the latest in barbie accessories. They provide me with endless amusement, which I share on my social media because we could all use a daily dose of laughter.

Could you let us in on what you’re working on now?

Picture it, Sicily, 1927. Just kidding, a little Golden Girls humor. Seriously, picture outlaw bike club meets cartel. Dark, action, drama, suspense, and, as always, sexy.

Which of your stories is your favorite?

Lord, this is like picking a favorite child. Brutal. How about I give you my favorite thing about a few? Devil’s Secretary – the reference to the pineapple. Hilarious, dark, and a little off color. Leave it to Luc, the Devil, to be creative. This Thing of Ours – Rachael and the poker. That girl will do anything for her man. Inked – Charlie. I’ll just leave that right there. The Order Bound Series – the fight scenes. They were crazy fun to write. 

What’s your inspiration?

This varies. It started off being a scene that would come to me in a dream. For example, in This Thing of Ours, it was the diner scene and with Trinity, it was a sex scene between Rhone and Jade in the woods. Inked started out as a project for women’s day that took a dark and gritty turn, but it’s such a beautiful story. With Devil’s Secretary, I just wanted the freedom writing about the devil gave me. Not really sure where my current project came from aside from me wondering what would happen if….

How and when did you begin writing?

I alluded to the third grade earlier, but it was actually a field trip to The Vanderbilt Estate that sparked my ten-page (typed) romance titled The Vanderbilt Affair. Don’t worry peeps, it was totally pg. 

What is one of your favorite books by another author?

Anything and everything by TL Hodel. She’s the queen of the likeable butthole and I love her for that. Not to mention she’s a cool person.

Have you considered writing in other genres?

Honestly, no. Romance is my jam. That being said, I write across every subgenre of romance you can think of. Love to read it all and thus I will write it all.

What is your writing process? Do you need silence or music?

People are probably going to hate this, but for me, silence is golden. When my daughter is off for the summer, literally nothing gets done, it's terrible. A fun fact, though, I always start with the cover and title.

How long does it usually take you to write a book?

Depends on the length. I wrote a few shorter ones, like Devil’s Secretary, that I knocked out in a few weeks, but for the most part I put out a book about every three to four months.

Have you ever had the dreaded Writer’s Block?

Do not jinx me like that! Lol. Not yet.

Do you have pets?

We have a beloved old lady named Cody. She’s part greyhound and part black lab. Picture the coloring and hair of the lab with the body style of the greyhound. Needless to say, if she gets out, it requires me to drive around the hood with sliced cheese in the minivan cause the girl is fast even at twelve.

What is your favorite part of writing? Do you have favorite plots?

The creative part of seeing where the story takes me. I’m a complete pantser and have been known to shoot a character and call my mom like now what?

Anything new on the horizon?

I’m intrigued with the idea of subscriptions. I’d love reader input as I write.

Do you have anything that you absolutely need to have in order to write?

Other than a kid who doesn’t hover and say mom, mama, mother, every second like Stewie from Family Guy? Lol, no.

Could you tell me the heat rating of your books out of 5 flames?

Oh, gosh, definitely a 5.

Who is your main source of support for your writing? Mine is my husband and children.

My mom plays an integral part of the process because I call her every night and read what I’ve written. When the words are said out loud, you catch clunky sentences and things that don’t come off the way you want them to. After my mom, my daughter is my next biggest fan because she doesn’t hesitate to inform the grocery store clerk I write about smoochy love (her term). Then there’s the hubby, who prefers to stay in the background and tells me to keep writing because he feels like he could get behind a sugar mamma (he’s totally kidding, don’t send him hate mail).

Is there anything you’d like to add?

Romance readers rock and I hope you check out my stories and drop me a line to let me know what you think. Writer’s love knowing you connected with a character or that you thought the story line was creative. Believe it or not, it makes a difference to us. Some of my readers say the sweetest things that make me tear up, so don’t stop doing it!

Thank you for taking part in my Author Spotlight on my blog.

Check out Gladys books by clicking on the book cover below...