The Literary Vixen presents…
Joining us today is Skye McDonald! Author of the Anti-Belle series!
How long have you been writing?
Off and on since I was a teen, but I really began writing with Not Suitable for Work in the fall of 2014.
Describe a typical writing day.
Wake, cram writing into the morning over coffee for as long as possible. Take my dog for a walk, jump into work clothes to go teach all day and daydream about writing. Come home, write before dinner…
Basically I cram it in whenever I have a minute, when I’m inspired!
Where do you get your inspiration for your books?
My hometown, Nashville, was a big inspiration for the Anti-Belle Series. But the plot of each novel and novella can spring from my imagination, an event I attended, or even songs.
Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.
I think my 2 faves are likely Olivia “Liv” Milani (MC in Nemesis, book 3) and Jesse Storms (SC in Off the Record, book 2; gets his own story later). These two are dear to me because they both started out as flat side characters, but then they grew and developed their own stories and a rich personality. They’re also very different from me, and super fun to write.
How do you deal with emotional impact of a book (on yourself) as you are writing the story?
Whiskey (LOL).
No, seriously, sometimes I have to take a break and do something else to get out of the story for a bit. But then again, sometimes I just have to power through and fight/cry/hurt along with them.
Are you on social media and can your readers interact with you?
Yes, absolutely! I love hearing from readers. You can connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Goodreads, BookBub, and Medium.
When writing a series how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
Since my series are standalone stories, they don’t get “stale” to me. It’s so much fun taking a side character and bringing him/her into the spotlight, discovering the story of their own journey. Then you get to re-read earlier books and really appreciate how they’ve grown!
Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with me?
Yes and no! I can’t say much right now, but I have a very exciting venture in the works that should release in April. It is a rom-com and not part of the Anti-Belle world, but that’s all I’ll say for now!
What advice would you give to other authors?
Write whatever you want. Let the story come out. Then, figure out if and how you want to share it. But first, just tell the story.
What is the one thing you want people to know about you and your books?
Everything I do, from the books to podcast to articles to personal training/life coaching, is designed to light you up and make you shine a little brighter. If my books make you smile, then I am humbled and honored to have brought that delight to you. You deserve it and so much more.
Thank you Skye McDonald for chatting with me! I will include her information down below. Check out her Anti-Belle Series today!
~Synopsis~
The competition is stiff, the stakes are high… and what happens on Halloween night is definitely not ‘suitable for work’.
Celeste and Ben were thrust into a fierce competition for the web design position each of them desperately needed. Rivalry they can handle, but the smoldering chemistry and intensifying passion between them is quite another story. Is the risk worth the reward for a broken ice queen and a tall, dark and handsome musician, who cares more about friends and music than cutthroat office tension? Find out in the first volume of the Nashville based Anti-Belle series.
Skye McDonald is the author of the Anti-Belle series, contemporary romance novels set in her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. She is also a podcaster, an English teacher, a fitness instructor, and a life coach. Skye’s Anti-Belle series are standalone books featuring sassy GRITS (Girls Raised In the South) learning to love themselves before they can claim their happily ever after. (Spoiler: they always do!) Her classes and blog content seek to teach individuals to do the same.
When not writing sexy books or cheering for you to live your best life, Skye can be found out on a new adventure, wherever that may take her.
The Literary Vixen 