About Mya O’Malley:
Mya O’Malley was born and raised in the suburbs of New York City, where she currently lives with her husband, daughter and three step-daughters. The family also consists of two boxers; Destiny and Dolce and a ragdoll cat named Colby. Mya earned an undergraduate degree in special education and a graduate degree in reading and literacy. She works as a special education teacher and enjoys making a difference in the lives of her students.
Mya currently has two new releases: At First Sight, a contemporary romance about dating in the modern world, published by Astraea Press, and Where There is Love, a contemporary romance in which a woman struggles with past obstacles, ultimately faced with whether or not she will open her heart to love. Where There is Love is published with Solstice Publishing. Mya is excited to say that Astraea Press will be releasing her contemporary holiday paranormal romance titled If You Believe on November 18, 2014. Due to be released late January is The Calm After the Storm, published by TouchPoint Press. This novel is a contemporary romance taking place in the setting of Hurricane Sandy. The story revolves around the idea of a utility worker from Georgia falling in love with a woman in New York.
Mya’s passion is writing; she has been creating stories and poetry since she was a child. Mya spends her free time reading just about anything she can get her hands on. She is a romantic at heart and loves to create stories with unforgettable characters. Mya likes to travel; she has visited several Caribbean Islands, Mexico and Costa Rica. Mya is currently working on her sixth novel.
What inspires you to write?
I get inspiration to write from past experiences and just observing life around me. My daughter inspires me to write as she also has an interest in writing, it’s great to share ideas and get feedback. I love to share my stories with others and there’s nothing quite like the feeling of holding your own book in your hands for the very first time.
Tell us about your writing process.
When I sit down to write, I find a spot right in the middle of my dining room. I can sit for hours and write, it seems as if no time has gone by. I write on my Mac laptop, starting with the sparks of an idea, I expand upon the central idea and take notes in a journal so that I remember the details as I go along. I like to visualize my characters and find that they often stay with me long after I’m finished writing.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I visualize my characters and try to imagine getting inside of their heads. What would they see, feel, what actions would they take? It’s tricky trying to get inside the head of a character that may not share the same morals or values as you. I like writing characters that have flaws, but are also kind and have big hearts. I think that when you make your characters seem human with all their strengths and weaknesses, readers can relate better. As I stated before, my characters stay with me long after I have finished writing my stories.
What advice would you give other writers?
I would tell aspiring writers to keep writing, to never give up, if writing is truly a passion. It can be discouraging and challenging at times, but there’s nothing like the feeling you get as a writer when your story is accepted by a publisher and you sign your very first contract. It’s so important to have a good support system to bounce ideas off of, and to provide constructive criticism. Another area of writing that is often overlooked is the promotion of your book. Marketing and promoting your books can be extremely time consuming but so much fun at the same time. Join author groups on social media sites, try to do book signings and radio interviews. Finally, someone once said, a writer keeps writing, the great thing is, you grow as a writer the more time you spend writing.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I decided to try to get my first book published, I dove into a book inundated with agents, large publishing houses and small publishing companies. I was discouraged at first when rejections came flooding in but something told me to persist, to keep trying. I did and I was offered a contract with a small, eBook, print on demand company. Once I got that first contract, I was inspired to keep writing. I now have three books published and two more on the way.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think that the future of book publishing is opening up in such as way that writers have so many choices of ways to get their books out there. From trying to secure an agent to self- publishing, small presses and large companies, there are so many different paths a writer can take. There is, however, much competition in the publishing industry today. Serious writers have to persevere and never give up on their dreams.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer
What genres do you write?: Contemporary Romance, Women’s Fiction, Young Adult, paranormal
What formats are your books in?: eBook, Print
Website(s)
Mya O’Malley Home Page Link
Link To Mya O’Malley Page On Amazon
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