Chicki Brown
Tell us about yourself.
I am a contemporary women’s fiction/romance author who has been featured twice in USA Today. B.R.A.B. (Building Relationships Around Books) has awarded me honors for my work, as well as SORMAG (Shades of Romance Magazine).
Before becoming a full-time author, I worked as a secretary, typesetter, daycare provider, and executive assistant. My goal as an author is to entertain readers and provide an escape from their daily routine into the lives of her characters.
A Jersey girl who relocated to Atlanta, GA in 1994, I now consider myself a Georgia peach.
Tell us about your featured book.
HAVE YOU SEEN HER? is the first novel I published and is still my favorite. The book began in my mind after seeing a news story about an average middle-class woman who escaped from her abusive husband. I started thinking about what a wealthy woman in a similar situation would do. Although financially she might be able to temporarily disappear, her husband has more money and access to connections she doesn’t have.
During that time, I was fangirl crushing on a Hollywood actor who will remain nameless. He became my character role model for the hero, Taylor Villanova.
How do you do research for your books?
Research is one of my favorite parts of writing. With the availability of search engines like Google, it’s possible to find out just about anything. I love doing in-depth research on the setting for my books, the professions of my characters, and other details. In the past, I have even visited the town I chose to use for one of my stories. My late husband and I stayed there for the weekend so I could interview and mingle with residents. It was so much fun.
On a typical day, how much time do you spend writing?
When I was writing daily, I usually went to a local coffeehouse three days a week and wrote for 3-4 hours. On alternate days, I’d stay at home in my office and would work from 10 AM to 4 PM. Of course, that includes research, finding pictures of characters and setting, and working on promotion/marketing material.
How do you handle writer’s block?
In my own writing career, I’ve discovered that writer’s block is the result of some other issue. With me it is fatigue, lack of research or lack of planning on the story. When I correct the problem, the block disappears.
What time of the day do you usually write?
Morning is my best time of day. I am more alert and have more energy. It’s also beneficial for me to start working before I get distracted by other things like housework, errands, or television.
Do you feel an author should also be a reader?
There is no way around it. If you don’t read, you shouldn’t write. Period. Reading the work of other authors teaches you what works and what doesn’t.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
It is way more work than I ever expected. The writing is the fun part. There is so much more to publishing a book. Creating promotion/marketing material and finding reputable, effective places to promote takes a great deal of time and investigation. An author must also spend time chatting with readers and networking with other authors, whether in person or online.
What does literary success look like to you?
Whatever you want for your own career. It can be anything from building a devoted following of readers or making a certain number of sales. That differs for each author. For me, it’s been discovering how much readers enjoy my work. Having them contact me to ask about the books and when the next one is coming brings joy to my heart.
What would you like to say to your readers?
I am so thankful for their support and for trusting me to take them on journeys with the characters who live in my imagination. Taking a year off can hinder an author’s career.
As my hiatus ends this month, I hope they decide to stick with me.
Follow Author Chicki Brown social media outlets:
Facebook-
http://www.facebook.com/chicki.brown
TikTok- https://tiktok@chickibrown
Instagram- https://instagram.com/brownchicki
Amazon
Author Central- http://amzn.to/l2kjXQ
Barnes
& Noble- https://bit.ly/3dd3nzp
YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/user/chicki663
Pinterest- http://pinterest.com/chicki663/
Threads- https://www.threads.net/@brownchicki
Locations or links where books can be purchased
Amazon:
https://bit.ly/3EbMQcB
Barnes
& Noble: https://bit.ly/3dd3nzp
Author Catalog
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BOOK GIVEAWAY
Marcia Hadley, Santa Barbara, California socialite has been married for seven years to the heir of a family fortune. He sees to it that she has the finest home, cars and clothes. Yet that isn’t enough to keep Marcia from running. Dani Reynolds, Atlantic City nightclub cocktail waitress works on her feet seven hours a night, five days a week for less than minimum wage in a crowded, smoky nightclub. She lives in an aging, run-down apartment, rides the city bus, and she’s happier than she’s ever been. Marcia and Dani have more in common than anyone could imagine. They are the same woman. Only Taylor Villanova, the club’s sexy bouncer can help her reconcile her two distinct personas, face her greatest fear and discover a love greater than she’d ever imagined.
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