Author Q&A ~ Paige Parsons

jacqui_monet
December 28, 2016

qanda

Hey, Paige, thanks for joining me for today’s Author Q and A. Okay, Let’s jump right into it!

Hi Jacqui! Thank you so much for inviting me.

I read your first book Taking the Stage and as a theatre geek myself I loved reading about the backstage drama. What inspired you to write in this setting?

Well, I’ve been involved in and working in theatre since I was 2 years old. The last 20 years have been spent as a stage manager and I can tell you the stories I’ve collected could keep me in material for years??‼

And what about the spanking? I’ve never read a book that included an element like that. Where did that come from?

I honestly read my first discipline novel at about 13, but didn’t know it was a “thing”. I never heard of the term Spanko. I just knew I liked it. Years later I discovered something called fan fiction and read a bunch of spanking stories. I fell in love with the genre all over again.

What was the first book, that you can remember, that dealt those little love taps?

I can’t remember the name, but it was a Victorian story I found on my Nana’s bookshelf. She probably never realized it was on her open shelf and when I started reading I just knew I shouldn’t mention it???‼

This is your first novel. Can you share briefly what was that process like?

I got hit with an idea years ago and started working on it in bits and pieces. While I worked full time and stage managed I plowed away at the story page by page. I finally marshaled my courage and decided to submit my work to Blushing Books. I couldn’t be happier with the results.

Do you have any advice for fellow first time novelists?

Sit down and do it! Write, write, write. Study your craft and practice by writing. When you get it all out, take a deep breath and share it.

Ok, ok enough of all the serious stuff. What’s your favorite color?

Purple

Outside of romance, what is your favorite genre to read?

Mystery

If Taking the Stage was an ice cream flavor which would it be?

Jamoca Almond Fudge

What was your proudest moment when you were 5 years old?

Reading a 2nd grade book to my class

If you had a super power, what would it be?

Orbing… Just popping in and out of places.

I know that you are well traveled but, where would you visit that you haven’t already gone?

South Africa

What pizza topping do you hate?

Pineapple! Just why???

Alright now, one last question before we wrap it up. Are you working on anything that my friends and I can look forward to?

Yes, I have a new novella coming out in a Blushing anthology, for Valentines Day and another full length that’s almost done.

 

Thanks so much, Paige, for taking the time to answer a few of my questions! And to all of my friends out there, be sure to check back for more Author Q and A sessions in the coming months!

What Goes Around

jacqui_monet
June 12, 2016

This time last year, I was sitting on a plane headed back to Phoenix when I struck up a conversation with my seatmate. She was a pretty black musician going home to Montana. We talked about  music, the gig life and other randomness. Then the man sitting next to my left begins to converse with us because he just had his novel, which takes place in Billings, published. We talked for a good hour or so and it was a very cool experience to see an author out in the wild like that. Later I bought The Porcupine of Truth and I’ve been holding on to it in hopes that one day I would meet the author again and have him sign it.

Here we are, a year and some days later, and it happened! I saw the Bill Konigsberg would be at a Barnes and Noble signing is books and speaking. When I got there, I sat in the car to put on some lipstick and I got way too excited and dropped the open tube on my white shirt. Grrr! Anyway, I approached the door to the bookstore and there he was, holding it open for me. I played it cool though and acted like a normal person. I walked around the store for a while and then set out to find him again.

Long story short: I didn’t act like a total fool, Mr. Konigsberg signed my book and remembered me! He even remembered that I was an actress; he was super cool!

IMG_4458

PCC Day 4

jacqui_monet
June 5, 2016

So, I skipped Saturday so I could sleep and recover from the hours upon hours of walking. The fourth and final day, though, proved to be fulfilling. I cosplayed as Catty Noir from Monster High and got a lot of positive remarks on the pink hair. I was also a panelist for the Farewell to Downton Abby which was fun. We discussed the timeline of the show, favorite arcs and characters, how the deaths affected the show and the modernization of the estate as the show progressed. I’ve decided that I absolutely prefer panels in which the audience is encouraged to participate. Maybe it’s the actor in me, but I crave the instant feedback that a lively crowd provides.

After my own panel I was able to sit in on a panel called Brighter Tomorrow featuring authors Jason M. Hough, Alexandra Olivia, Lexie Dunne and Patrick Hemstreet. They discussed how science fiction used to be about optimism and futurism  and whether or not we can go back to that era or  continue on the path in which apocalyptic and dystopian novels prevail. It was pretty enlightening to hear their thoughts and they took a lot of question from the audience. I got a chance to ask a question, which was pretty cool. I wanted to know  about their views on racial diversity and disabilities as it pertain to utopias. All four of the authors took turns answering but what Jason Hough had to say, stood out to me. He said that he is afraid of the hive mind that is already starting to present itself via the internet on sites like facebook. He said that when he was young and when his parents were growing up you only really spoke to  the people around you and you learned to discuss your differences of opinion civilly. Today, however, you can go online and virtually only talk to like-minded people. You can viciously argue against those whom you disagree or block them entirely and only speak to and hear from those that think the way that you do. Mr. Hough said that was the dark side to utopia and that he is trying to raise his children against the hive mentality.

After the panel, I was able to have Mr. Hough sign the copy of his book that I picked up on Thursday and I was also able to obtain a signed copy of Alexandra Olivia’s debut novel The Last One which sounds very interesting. Its about a woman who is on an outdoorsy reality competition and when things start to go really wrong, she still thinks its all a part of the show.

Well, that’s all for now. Check back for a new book review post next week!

IMG_4434IMG_4286

 

PCC Day 2

jacqui_monet
June 4, 2016

Today was pretty fun. I took The Niece for the first time to have one of our many bonding excursions. We saw movie cars like Lighting McQueen and the Mystery Machine. We also sat in on a panel about one of my favorite shows Eureka (Syfy Channel), which was fun although not as lively as the panel I sat on yesterday. This was not the fault of the panelists though, it was just a very different crowd.

Today I got the chance to meet an author whose work I have really enjoyed over the past few years: Frank Beddor! What?!  The author of The Looking Glass Wars and all that has since followed. It’s a pretty cool series, so if you are into Alice in Wonderland, steampunk, revenge, intrigue, love and awesome action sequences, check it out!

Also, I was dressed up as Miyuki the mechanic from the anime Basquash. Frank Beddor touched my jacket and said it was soft and fancy. I didn’t squeal in delight, but sadly I did smile way too big when we took a picture together. But, whatever. Who cares?! See you at con. <3

IMG_4414
Me and Frank Beddor.
Suede jacket by Tia Hawkes.
Suede jacket by Tia Hawkes.

Phoenix Comicon Day 1

jacqui_monet
June 2, 2016

IMG_4411This weekend I’m at Phoenix Comicon. Day one was victorious! I  was a panelist this afternoon debating whether or not the villains from Disney’s Once Upon a Time deserve to have a happy ending. This was my very first time serving as a panelist and my cohort had never been a panelist either. We were both nervous  that no one would show up and I have to say I had a case of the first timer jitters. But, the room was packed and lively and everything went off without a hitch!

After the panel, I walk the Exhibitors Hall and picked up some swag! I love getting free books. I also got to meet Sebastian A. Jones the creator of the new comic book Niobe which he co-wrote with Amandla Stenberg from the Hunger Games movies. Did I mention that I cosplayed as Serena from Pokemon XY?

All in all, I had a pretty good day today. If you run into me at PCC this weekend, make sure to always and definitely say hi!

FullSizeRenderIMG_4420