Featured Interview With Ren Alexander
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was raised in a few cities in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia. I wanted to be a writer but didn’t think I could because I didn’t want to major in English in college. So, I put off writing, thinking I wasn’t cut out for it and nothing would come of it if I did write. Also, my warped sense of humor bled so much into my writing that I was convinced nobody would like it. I currently live right outside Detroit, Michigan. Go Spartans! I live with my husband, two daughters, and two cats.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve always loved books. I remember as a three-year-old, ripping up a book and my mother was upset with me. She said books are to be read not destroyed. After that, I learned to treasure and appreciate books. My favorite days at school were when the Book Mobile visited or RIF (Reading Is Fundamental) days when we got free books. I lived for any library and thought of becoming a librarian at one point.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love reading Patricia Cornwell. I really got into her Kay Scarpetta novels, even basing my Wild Sparks series in Richmond, Virginia, and going so far as to visit Richmond and the hotspots in my books and then getting a tattoo from my book, The Keys to Jericho, there. Though, that book is based in Annapolis, Maryland. Still means a lot to me.
I also used to read a ton of Jackie Collins. Her Lucky Santangelo series was one of my go-to reads.
I started out reading a truckload of Regency and Harlequin Romance novels. The problem with those was I wanted more realism in my romance books. I wanted the everyday lives, the common problems, and the stressed-out relationships in my books, incorporated all that crap into something that maybe made it better or even worse, making your own life seem better.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is my biggest baby yet. When I say that, I mean it’s been a long time coming. Greg
“Rod” Rodwell is from my Wild Sparks series and my favorite character. He’s my foul-mouthed smartass with some pretty big confessions to make. I was afraid to write it because of the subject matter that had to do with his past. My beta readers found it shocking and never thought a funny guy like him would have such a darkness to him. It took years for me to be able to write UNSCREWED. I’m glad I finally did. It really changes your entire perception of the Wild Sparks series. UNSCREWED can be read as a standalone, but it’s connected to the Wild Sparks series, where hints are everywhere in each and every book about Greg’s story.
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