Author Interview: Brighton Walsh

About the author:
Brighton Walsh spent nearly a decade as a professional photographer before deciding to take her storytelling in a different direction and reconnect with her first love: writing. When she’s not pounding away at the keyboard, she’s probably either reading or shopping—maybe even both at once. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and two children, and, yes, she considers forty degrees to be hoodie weather. Her home is the setting for frequent dance parties, Lego battles, and more laughter than she thought possible. Visit her online at brightonwalsh.com.

What inspires you to write romantic fiction?
I love the happy endings. The world can be a scary place, so I love having that escape into the book world where I know, even if things get rocky, everything is going to be okay in the end.

Tell us about how you write.
I'm a major plotter, so I spend a good deal of time in preparation mode before I actually write anything. I have really extensive character questionnaires that I fill out as the characters to get a feel for who they are. I usually get a handful of scenes just from their answers, so it helps build my outline, as well. Once that's done, I outline like crazy with the help of my Plot Whisperer. When all is said and done, I stare at a blank document for days (or weeks…) on end, panicking over being able to write another book. When I finally get started, though, it's usually quick and fairly painless.

Do you listen to or talk to to your characters?
A little bit of both. Sometimes you have to guide them in a certain direction, but other times, when that doesn't work, you have to just sit back and listen to what they want to do.

What advice would you give other romance writers?
Keep your head down and write. This business is so easy to get caught up in the comparison trap, but that's exactly what it is: a trap. You do you and don't worry about anyone else.

How did you decide how to publish your books?
I first published with Carina, a digital press, before I got book deals with two Big Five publishers. After that, I decided I wanted to give self publishing a try. I'm a strategizer, so I like to gather all data and see what works best for me and makes the most sense in my career. I really love that we're able to do that as authors.

What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I'm honestly not sure. I think above all, we need to ebb and flow with the fast changes in the market. The inability to do so may cost a career. What I do know is that I find myself looking at successful self publishers more than anyone to mirror.

Which romance sub-genere(s) fit your stories best?
Contemporary romance

My books are available in the following formats:
eBook, Print

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