In 2023, I had the pleasure of providing my editing services to a new author. Shani found me through Fiverr and hired me to work on her novel, The Only Place I Want To Be.
It’s also no secret that I LOVE reading, and wow! This book did not disappoint!
Let’s check out the blurb!
Georgia Barnes is the smart and driven Director of Finance, making power moves at a growing bank in Detroit. Word gets out that a rumored hard-hitting jerk has bought out the company, and she has been chosen to work directly with the new CEO to ensure a smooth transition. Tensions run high as everything she’s found comfort in is now in jeopardy, even as feelings she can’t explain start to emerge.
Jason Stone is a Venture Capitalist with a reputation for being a jerk in the boardroom. Georgia’s exceptional intelligence attracts him like a laser beam, and he has to fight hard to keep his emotions in check for the sake of business. When evidence surfaces that someone has been pocketing company money, Jason and Georgia must work closely to find the thief before the public does. He and Georgia must protect the company and their hearts before either gets stolen.
How about this cover!!!
I was so excited this week when Shani reached out to me to let me know she had published the book that I immediately wanted to give her a huge shoutout on my blog! I thought a series of questions and answers would be a great way for us, as readers, to get to know the author.
- As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I wanted to be a “world traveler” when I was younger, not really knowing anything about the job or that you probably need a job to do that, haha. - What is your favorite part of being a writer?
I like being able to create dynamics and drama of the characters in my head. I think of it as me describing a movie to someone in great detail, even though it only exists in my head. - Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
Unfortunately, I haven’t heard too much feedback from readers yet, but my friends and family who’ve heard about my story are really proud. I know of a few other creators who do more scriptwriting things and they are amazed at the accomplishment. They’re really in awe of the sheer number of words on a page. - How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
I just published “The Only Place I Want To Be,” and it’s the first I’ve published, so that’s my favorite. I’ve written shorts and have started a couple of other unreleased projects. - What does your family think of your writing?
Everyone is really proud, and I was amazed at the number of family members who were totally willing to support and read it, even though it’s pretty spicy. - What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I play video games and watch low-budget movies a lot. It kind of extends to my need for a little bit of manufactured drama with characters. - Can you describe your writing space?
I have a workspace where I work from home, so I mostly write there, but when I want to lock in, there is a cute coffee shop nearby where I can focus on writing for a few hours at a time. - When did you write your first book, and how old were you?
I started writing this book more than 20 years ago, but life happened, and then some more life got in the way, so I started and stopped a lot in between. - When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I think I knew I wanted to write when I was 16/17, so I wrote a lot of poetry and shorts. One day, I had just finished reading a novel, and I hated how it ended and thought, “It would be so much better if the author had made some changes.” I started writing this book thinking it would be another short, but before I knew it, I had 20 pages down and had so much more to tell, so I kept extending it. - What is your typical day like when you’re writing?
I usually work from home during the day and will write in the afternoon or when things are slow. Then, I can steal away to the coffee shop and get more of the story down. - How do you relax?
I like video games and low-budget movies, and my husband makes a great margarita. - What is your favorite book and why?
I listen to “The Four Agreements” by Miguel Ruiz probably 3x a year. Also, “Stay With Me” By Alexandria House. - What is the hardest thing about writing?
I often know the checkpoints of where I want the story to end up at a certain point, but filling in the meaty details that aren’t covered by my outlined story. I’ve started taking a more “write it down and fix it later” approach just to keep the productivity going. I’ll often make a note and skip ahead to write something else that will fit in later just to keep the flow going. - For your own reading, do you prefer ebooks or traditional paper/hardback books?
I usually listen to audiobooks or look at ebooks on my phone because they help fit into my work travel schedule. It’s hard for me to sit down long enough with the hard copy. - What book/s are you reading at present?
I started reading “5,000 Words Per Hour” by Chris Fox and just finished “Sweet Obsession” by DA Young. - How can readers discover more about you and your work?
Follow me on Instagram @DrEmmaSunshine23. - Can you share any upcoming projects or plans for future books?
I’m writing a book based on the love story of a forensic analyst and a detective solving a crime, so stay tuned for that! - How do you hope your work will impact your readers?
I just want to make people enjoy the ride of the story I create. I hope that people can connect with the characters. - What is the best advice you have received as a writer?
Get the words on the page, and you can perfect them later. Don’t edit while you write. Just get it down.
Author P.S. Bartlett 