CJ Maxx, author of the contemporary romance book, In the Arms of a Warrior, is here with us today at Author Talks!AUTHOR TALKS: Welcome to Author Talks, CJ! Can you tell us a little about yourself?
CJ: I live in Alabama with my lovely wife. We watch our two young granddaughters during the week while their parents work. I spent 21 years in the Army with 12 of those years in Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets. I consider myself a warrior and a romantic.
AUTHOR TALKS: How long would you say you have you been writing?
CJ: I started back in high school. I guess I realized a had a bit of writing talent when my English teacher accused me of plagiarism with a short story I wrote for class. I just shrugged off her accusation, I knew I wrote what I wrote. After that I always had writing in the back of my mind but didn't act on it until I retired in 2001. The urge got stronger the closer I got to retirement though. Finally in the fall of 2002 I started my first novel.
AUTHOR TALKS: Has it been a bumpy ride to becoming a published author or has it been pretty well smooth sailing? Would you like to tell us how you became published for the first time?
CJ: Let me tell you about not being published after being contracted. My first novel was titled "The Second American Republic." It took two years to write and another to find a publisher. The release date was a year later. A few days before the release date the company went under. Four years and then-nothing. It's been a roller coaster.
AUTHOR TALKS: Do you have an agent and, if so, would you mind sharing who he/is is? If not, have you ever had an agent or do you even feel it’s necessary to have one?
CJ: No, I don't have an agent. When I write my breakout novel, I'll get one.
AUTHOR TALKS: Can you please tell us about your book?
CJ: I have quite an extensive military background and it comes into play with this novel. This story is about a technical writer from a military family. Her grandfather wore a Green Beret, her father wore a green beret, her brother's a Ranger. She knows about warriors. She's seen her father and brother go off to war. She's listened to the war stories her whole life. She knows what it's like to be married to a soldier. She wants no part of it.
She a pretty tough cookie herself and knows what she wants. She falls in love with an engineer, happy that she's not going to marry a soldier. Of course, he turns out to be a warrior too. But, not in the traditional sense.
AUTHOR TALKS: Do you plan subsequent books?
CJ: I have an action-thjriller war novel that will come out next April. It's titled "The Red Dragon".
AUTHOR TALKS: Are you a morning writer or a night writer?
CJ: I'm a morning person. My writing takes place between 4:00 and 8:30 in the morning. Not straight through but during that time period. Let me add that the granddaughters get there shortly after 8:30. No writing takes place then. They take over.
AUTHOR TALKS: Any final words of wisdom for those of us who would like to be published?
CJ: Perseverance is the key. There will be a lot of setbacks, just keep at it. Remember, the more your write the better you'll be.
AUTHOR TALKS: Thank you for coming, CJ! Good luck to you and happy sales!
CJ: Thank you. I've enjoyed it.
CJ: I live in Alabama with my lovely wife. We watch our two young granddaughters during the week while their parents work. I spent 21 years in the Army with 12 of those years in Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets. I consider myself a warrior and a romantic.
AUTHOR TALKS: How long would you say you have you been writing?
CJ: I started back in high school. I guess I realized a had a bit of writing talent when my English teacher accused me of plagiarism with a short story I wrote for class. I just shrugged off her accusation, I knew I wrote what I wrote. After that I always had writing in the back of my mind but didn't act on it until I retired in 2001. The urge got stronger the closer I got to retirement though. Finally in the fall of 2002 I started my first novel.
AUTHOR TALKS: Has it been a bumpy ride to becoming a published author or has it been pretty well smooth sailing? Would you like to tell us how you became published for the first time?
CJ: Let me tell you about not being published after being contracted. My first novel was titled "The Second American Republic." It took two years to write and another to find a publisher. The release date was a year later. A few days before the release date the company went under. Four years and then-nothing. It's been a roller coaster.
AUTHOR TALKS: Do you have an agent and, if so, would you mind sharing who he/is is? If not, have you ever had an agent or do you even feel it’s necessary to have one?
CJ: No, I don't have an agent. When I write my breakout novel, I'll get one.
AUTHOR TALKS: Can you please tell us about your book?
CJ: I have quite an extensive military background and it comes into play with this novel. This story is about a technical writer from a military family. Her grandfather wore a Green Beret, her father wore a green beret, her brother's a Ranger. She knows about warriors. She's seen her father and brother go off to war. She's listened to the war stories her whole life. She knows what it's like to be married to a soldier. She wants no part of it.
She a pretty tough cookie herself and knows what she wants. She falls in love with an engineer, happy that she's not going to marry a soldier. Of course, he turns out to be a warrior too. But, not in the traditional sense.
AUTHOR TALKS: Do you plan subsequent books?
CJ: I have an action-thjriller war novel that will come out next April. It's titled "The Red Dragon".
AUTHOR TALKS: Are you a morning writer or a night writer?
CJ: I'm a morning person. My writing takes place between 4:00 and 8:30 in the morning. Not straight through but during that time period. Let me add that the granddaughters get there shortly after 8:30. No writing takes place then. They take over.
AUTHOR TALKS: Any final words of wisdom for those of us who would like to be published?
CJ: Perseverance is the key. There will be a lot of setbacks, just keep at it. Remember, the more your write the better you'll be.
AUTHOR TALKS: Thank you for coming, CJ! Good luck to you and happy sales!
CJ: Thank you. I've enjoyed it.
*****
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