Brenda's books and blog

Interview with author Judy Serrano - check out her latest book Brother Number 3 at Amazon.

Here's a synopsis of her super book - Coming in third place was something that was all too familiar to Hector Montiago. As his strength and grounding personality pushes him into first place with the woman he loves, lines are crossed and sides are chosen. In the second book of the series, Brother Number Three depicts family ties in a light unequal to any other. Lilly tells the story of how the brothers unite in the effort to recover her missing son, as blood becomes both the indestructible bond that holds them together and the opposing force that pushes them apart. They fight temptation, while the enemies of the Montiago cartel unleash their wrath, only to discover that the true danger lies within.

Tell us about your latest release.

The second book of the Easter’s Lilly Series is called "Brother Number Three." It is a romantic suspense and was released June 16^th this year. It is a book about Hector Montiago who is the third born in a family of four brothers. As his strength and grounding personality pushes him into first place with the woman he loves, lines are crossed and sides are chosen.

In this second book of the series, Brother Number Three depicts family ties in a light unequal to any other. Lilly tells the story of how the brothers unite in the effort to recover her missing son, as blood becomes both the indestructible bond that holds them together and the opposing force that pushes them apart. Read on as they fight temptation while the enemies of the Montiago cartel unleash their wrath, only to discover that the true danger lies within.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I am the mother of four boys and have been happily married for 15 years. Although I am originally from New York, my family and I currently reside in Texas. I am a substitute teacher during the school year and full time writer during the summer. I carry my flash drive with me everywhere I go, just in case I find myself alone with a computer. (Don’t tell my husband).

When did you first start thinking of yourself as a writer?

When I was young, I wrote songs, poetry and even novels. I’d say I was about 12 years old when I started. But I was also a singer and pursued that career path instead. As an adult I went back to college and I suppose my imagination got re-stimulated. I started writing novels one right after the other, non-stop. I decided to try to publish one and to my surprise a publisher told me he wanted the book. Now, I think of myself as a writer.

Have you taken any formal training in writing?

When I went back to college I was an English major. I took a few writing classes and of course some very interesting literature classes. I think learning about other people’s writing is very important to the process of developing your own style. My writing classes were my most fun and I must admit that I coasted through them. It’s like telling a child that they have to take a gaming class in order to graduate. I was more than happy to take as many writing classes as they'd let me.

What do you bring from your life that adds to your writing?

Sometimes I secretly weave in some of my personal experiences. They are hidden very well and I must admit that no one would notice unless they knew me very well. I do use a lot of emotion in my writing; things that I know I have felt or still feel and I think that comes across when reading my novels.

Do you use external supports in writing? Such as a writing program or an ongoing editor?

I belong to a few writers’ groups on-line. I find them through my social networks. They can be very supportive and encouraging. Writing tends to be a very solitary profession and having people who do what you do and understand what you are going through, is very helpful.

Is there a theme that runs through your writing?

So far I’m writing a series, so the theme is certainly all about the Mafia and the families that organized crime touches. But if we were talking about a style issue, I would say that I write in the first person. Personally, I prefer books written that way and it comes too naturally for me to change that. In my humble opinion I think It makes it a more personal read when the story is told from the protagonist’s viewpoint.

Who are your favorite authors?

My favorite authors are Nora Roberts and Stephanie Tyler. I love the classy way that Nora presents her romance and the thrill Stephanie exuberates all through her novels. I also like how both writers use strong male characters susceptible to a certain amount of vulnerability.

How has your writing evolved over time?

I’ve learned a few basic rules about the mechanics of the trade, which is fortunately unavoidable. I also think I have learned to develop my characters more deeply and have been told that the page-turner aspect of my writing is even more prominent as my books move farther through the series.

How do you promote your books?

Promoting the books is the hardest part after finding a publisher. I do book signings, I use social networks, I pass out flyers and I have a web site and blog set up for people who have any interest in my novels or me. We have found that passing out first chapters has been the most effective marketing tool. We discovered this during a reading I was doing at the Dallas Library. After I had finished reading the first chapter of Easter’s Lilly, my book started to sell. Now we simply carry them around with us and give them out to people we meet. It was my husband’s idea and I am thankful for his input.

How do you promote your web site or blog?

My website is printed on almost everything we hand out. The blog I promote through social networking. I try to tap into subjects that might be of interest to the people who follow my blog and then I advertise the subject of discussion on my social networks.

People can follow Judy

on twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/AuthorJSerrano

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Easters-Lilly-by-Judy-Serrano/106636956074771?ref=ts

Her website is http://www.JudySerrano.com.