Meet Author Denise Coleman

Tell us about yourself.
Hello! I've been writing for about fifteen years now. I released my first book in 2010. I've been an avid reader for most of my life. Therefore, writing seemed to be a natural progression for me. being a published author quickly and easily became my biggest dream. I must say, that being a mom, I also felt it was important to show my children actual proof that they could make their dreams come true. If I didn't take action to make my own dreams come true, how could I expect them to try? I guess the core of me is a dreamer, and I don't intend to change.

Tell us about your latest book.

   My latest book is Behind Closed Doors. Simply put, I chose to explore some ratchet, self-absorbed behaviors. This is new to me, but the characters in this story have plenty of secrets and shenanigans going on. They want their nonsense kept quiet but of course all of their lies come to light one way or another. I guess I would want to describe it as, juicy. I had fun writing it and hope readers have just as much fun reading it.

Does writing energize or exhaust you?
   I want to say the answer is both. The desire to write a good story, or to improve my skills as a story teller always elicits tons of energy in me. I find myself excited by the prospects of whatever twists and turns my pen will decide to take. It's such an exhilarating feeling. I will say that I can feel exhausted y it whenever I hit a wall. It's so emotionally draining for me. I absolutely feel depleted. It's as if, writer's block is uncurbable and I'll never finish the story. Although I know better, the emotion behind this fear is very real and wears me out!

Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
   Well, to date, I've written ten thirteen books. There are two series, and those that stand alone. I find that I have varying interests and because of this, I write whatever I'm feeling passionately about in the moment. For example, I love murder mysteries, therefore I chose to give a try. I enjoyed it a great deal and am now working on my third in that genre. I've also written a couple of children's books (only for the children in my family because they asked), And, I've written a biography. Lastly, the two series are family sagas. I would never want to stay stuck or confined to one form of expression in this art form. I want to explore and push myself.

Has publishing your first book changed your process of writing? Please explain.
   I have to say, not really. 2010 was a long time ago for my memory. I was signed with a publisher at that time, and what I remember most is how helpful having deadlines were for me. Because of this, I still put myself on specific timelines which keep me focused and on track.

What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
   What an interesting question. As a kid, I was incredibly shy...painfully so. School was difficult because I did not want to speak. I could not participate for fear that I would say something wrong and be ridiculed for it. Once in high school, we had an assignment to write about an emotional, personal experience. well, I dove in to that assignment without hesitation. Without getting into all of the details, I'll share when I got the paper back from the teacher, his remarks on those pages changed everything for me. It changed how I viewed self expression. I learned that I could express myself openly and clearly, and that there was no reason my voice wouldn't be heard. If my written words are powerful, then so am I.

What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
   That would be, Where the hell you been? I believe that because the characters and their story is just little non-traditional in regards to family dynamics, some folks may not have understood what I was trying to convey. I laughed so much while writing it, I would hope that readers take a good look at that one.
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How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
   This is easy...none. I can only give my full attention to one story at a time. I can't move on to anything else until whatever's current, is complete.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

I do not read reviews. Early on, I would read them and found myself trying to write in a voice that was not my own. The only thing I know for sure is that, we cannot please every person. Everyone will not like everything. Armed with that knowledge, I understand that all I have to do is work hard and always strive to be better. There's always going to be someone who doesn't like something you've done.

What would you like to say to your readers?
I love people who read! I really appreciate someone taking time out of their day to pick up and read a book that I've written....it's truly a blessing to have such support. It's a joy whenever I have the opportunity to communicate and or interact with the readers. Thank you all for being so awesome.

Follow Author Denise Coleman

social media outlets:

Facebook- Denise Coleman's Book Page

Instagram- authordenisecoleman

Twitter- @AuthorDColeman

Amazon Author Page- Denise Coleman

Author Website- www.DeniseColemanBooks.com

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