To celebrate the release of my latest novel, An Uncertain Confidence (now on sale at several retailer sites), I ventured over to Smashwords where they were kind enough to put together an interview for me.
Describe your desk
I write on a number of surfaces which have varying degrees of clutter. Too much clutter and I become distracted by the mess. Too little clutter however immediately puts me on edge. What if I make a mess? Where did I place my notes?
When did you first start writing?
I’ve been writing off and on since early childhood, though those early attempts will never see the light of day. I didn’t get really serious about writing until 2013 when I told myself it was time I stopped talking about writing a novel one day and actually tried doing it.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
The story picks up five years after my first book, An Uncertain Faith. Charlotte is following her dreams, however, living happily ever after is not as easy as it sounds. There is a saying that when you do something you love, you never work another day in your life when in reality the opposite is often true. We wind up working harder when it is our passion. Not less. Unfortunately, because it is our passion, we sometimes forget that others aren’t quite as devoted to our dreams as we are.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
Time for the most part – it became very clear to me how quickly life can change, and how it often does so without warning. I decided I wanted to publish on my own schedule rather than wait for it to be convenient for someone else.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
Few things beat holding the novel you’ve spent months on in your hand when it is finally published (aside from holding your real-life children), however in terms of writing overall I believe my greatest joy was the day I received my first piece of fan mail telling me how my words had mattered to them. Writing itself can sometimes feel like a lonely process, a letter like that reminds you it is anything but.
What do your fans mean to you?
I am deeply honored and yet at the same time terrified whenever anyone tells me they have read one of my books. Part of me hopes that is always the case. I am grateful to every single person who has taken a chance on me, even if it turned out my writing and their tastes weren’t a match.
What are you working on next?
I am currently working on the third book in my science fiction, Project Gene Assist series. It’s currently a mess of disjointed scenes mixed with word vomit, but experience has taught me that it will eventually get to a point worth sharing.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
If the sound of my kids’ feet running down the hall or my dog hitting the bedroom door as she follows them doesn’t do it, an annoying alarm clock and the promise of a hot cup of coffee or tea certainly helps.
When you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?
Most of the time, if I am not writing or otherwise working, I am picking up after my kids, doing the dishes, or getting lunches prepared. But during those rare, rare moments I am not wearing my ‘mom’ hat, I’m usually reading, watching a movie, or going for a walk around the neighborhood.
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
I am highly susceptible to suggestion when it comes to ebooks so friendly recommendations go a long way, but I also make use of the public library, support other indies as I can, or watch for intriguing blurbs in book mailings.
Books by This Author
An Uncertain Faith by Allie Potts
Be careful what you wish for. Trapped by her responsibilities in a dead-end job, Charlotte used to yearn for the life she had before marriage and motherhood. That was until the day she came home to find her husband and son missing. Did they leave her or is there a more dire explanation?
An Uncertain Confidence by Allie Potts
Will Charlotte’s confidence prove to be her greatest strength or will it be her greatest mistake yet? An Uncertain Confidence is a sweet contemporary story and fast read about friendship, trust, and the lengths we often go to protect those we love.
The Fair & Foul by Allie Potts
Brilliant programmer and researcher, Juliane Faris agrees to be part of an experimental procedure involving a manufactured virus. Subjects are granted unprecedented knowledge and cellular control over their bodies, but viruses have a way of mutating and altering the altering the lives of those who never knew they were at risk.
The Watch & Wand by Allie Potts
Between a war declared on all but the most basic technology, worldwide economic collapse, and a plague-spurred global panic, governments have collapsed leaving law and order to be defined by those left behind. Stephen knows he should be grateful but can’t help wishing his life was more than survival. That was until he met a girl on the run from a group known as the Watch.
Allie Potts 
Great interview! I agree–every time someone says “I read your book”, I get this weird feeling until they say “I really liked it” or whatever, just in case they didn’t enjoy it!
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For me it’s like taking a shot of whiskey. I have to plaster a smile on my face while I fight the urge to cringe until they either tell me they liked it (in which case I get that nice warm fuzzy feeling) or it wasn’t really their thing (in which case I try not to vomit)
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Glad to know I’m not the only one!
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Great interview!
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Thanks! Always fun answering the occasional Q&A
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Always great to read your work. Looking forward to reading the next novel.
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Thanks! I’m pretty happy it’s finally here too
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“Word vomit.” Ha ha. I can so relate, Allie. I really enjoyed reading about the insights behind your latest book. Great interview and good luck with your book!
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Thank you! Gotta love the first draft, because it’s guaranteed no one else will.
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Ha ha ha. 🙂
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Great interview. I admire your ability to make your novels happen, and then to have the energy to promote them. So much work, so much reward?
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Thank you! The promotion side of it is not nearly as fun as the writing side, but at least it is better than waiting for the little spinning progress wheel to finish its magic during formatting
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