Colleen Houck Book Club discussion

Welcome to the group! Wendy will be answering questions in February in this thread only. In the meantime, if you have a question for the author or just want to introduce yourself feel free to do so in this thread.

Hi! I know it’s a little early but I just wanted to post my questions now Incase I forget lol

I was wondering where your ideas come from?

How is your writing routine structured throughout the day?

Do you outline your books before you write them or do they write themselves as you go so to speak?

Which character is most like you?

What is your favorite book that you have written? Btw I love your Great Hunt series! Are you planning to write anymore in that world?

How did you get started writing?

What did you do before you got into writing as a career?

Ashley wrote: "Hi! I know it’s a little early but I just wanted to post my questions now Incase I forget lol

I was wondering where your ideas come from?

How is your writing routine structured throughout the d..."

Hi Ashley!! My ideas have come from all around me--my own experiences and people I've met, music/television, books--basically anything that grabs my interest and makes me feel and think.
I write from 9am-2pm each day while my kids are in school. I also squeeze some marketing/social media into those hours and throughout the day.
Anna Whitt's personality is most like mine, although there's a piece of me in each lead female I've written.
I don't outline the whole book. I will outline 1-3 chapters if I get stuck, and then jump into the writing. I'm mostly a panster. :)

Louise wrote: "What inspired you to do a story about Psyche? It sounds like such a difficult topic to tackle."

Hi Louise! An author/reader friend of mine named Heather Nichols asked me to write it. I'd never heard the tale of Psyche and Cupid, so I looked it up and fell so in love. I knew it would be a challenge, but that was part of the appeal. :)

Ashley wrote: "What is your favorite book that you have written? Btw I love your Great Hunt series! Are you planning to write anymore in that world?"

Hi Ashley, I'm so glad you enjoyed the Great Hunt duology!! I actually offered to write more in that world to the publisher (namely a novella for Lief) but they passed. *sadface*

It's really hard to choose a favorite because each story was immensely important to me and pivotal to the times of my life when I was writing them. But SWEET EVIL will always hold a special place since it's the book that allowed me to first achieve my dream of becoming an author.

Colleen wrote: "How did you get started writing?"

Hi Colleen! Thanks for having me!
I've been writing since I first learned my letters. I've always been lost in my imagination, a huge dreamer. My love of books drove me to become a high school English teachers (because I never thought being an author was achievable and I wanted to push reading on teens). But when I was 32, staying at home with my children, I felt very strongly that I needed to be doing MORE with my life and that's when my first book idea hit me.

Colleen wrote: "What did you do before you got into writing as a career?"

I've had sooooo many jobs!! I've sold bras at Maidenform, scrubbed toilets and grills at the state park, been a birthday party girl at Chuck-E-Cheese, gave out loans for Navy Federal Credit Union, worked as a cocktail waitress at a night club called Studebakers, flew the friendly skies as a flight attendant for Continental Airlines, and taught high school English to 9th and 12th graders. Whew! That's just naming a few. :)

I heard Jennifer Armentrout Took inspiration from Sweet Evil to write one of her series. I think it was her Lux series. Have you read any of her books?

Louise wrote: "Wendy wrote: "Louise wrote: "What inspired you to do a story about Psyche? It sounds like such a difficult topic to tackle."

Hi Louise! An author/reader friend of mine named Heather Nichols asked ..."

It will be self-published so I doubt it will be in any stores. Sorry! <3

Ashley wrote: "I heard Jennifer Armentrout Took inspiration from Sweet Evil to write one of her series. I think it was her Lux series. Have you read any of her books?"

Hi Ashley! Jennifer is a good friend of mine and I've read many of her books! She actually did not take *inspiration* from my series, but she DID reference my books in one of her books. She asked my permission first. Basically, her characters have to take on secret identities, and since the MC is a book blogger, she chooses the characters from my Sweet Evil series--they use Anna and Kaidan's names. It's very cool. :)

That is very cool! Thank you for the info :D.

Wendy wrote: "Colleen wrote: "How did you get started writing?"

Hi Colleen! Thanks for having me!
I've been writing since I first learned my letters. I've always been lost in my imagination, a huge dreamer. My ..."

That's awesome! I always wanted to be a teacher too. That would have been my choice of a career.

Wendy wrote: "Colleen wrote: "What did you do before you got into writing as a career?"

I've had sooooo many jobs!! I've sold bras at Maidenform, scrubbed toilets and grills at the state park, been a birthday p..."

I would have loved to have been a birthday party girl. I made party trays for a grocery store before so I guess that's the closest I've come. In another life I think I'd like to be a party planner.

Thank you so much for joining the chat and thanks to Wendy for being such an awesome guest! The winner of the chat this month is Louise! Don't forget to join us next month when my featured author is Rosalyn Eves!