SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2024
Pia Manning is visiting and talking about Who She Was Before #MFRWAuthor #Event planner, #contemporary small town #romance #Star Brides
1. What were you before you became an author? Did this influence your choices as a writer?
I was many things before I started writing – we moved around quite a bit, and that necessitated career changes. I worked as an event planner for a hotel and conference center, supervised operations for a couple of banks, taught pre-K (four-year-olds could rule the world!), and was the community development coordinator for a large medical system’s hospice affiliate. Whew!
Making up stuff for a living tugged at me – always. But adding four kids to the mix, all the moves as well as career changes made doing that almost impossible. It wasn’t until a kind guy in a white coat informed me I was medically unable to continue working in a traditional way, that I was able to write.
Over the years there have been a lot of people, towns, and jobs. I’m sure they influence my world view just as anyone’s life experiences do – but there’s not one specific thing that stands out. Rather all the years have come together to form a rich tapestry. Every so often I walk through those memories when I need inspiration.
2. Are you genre specific or general? I don’t mean major genres but subdivisions or romance, mystery or paranormal.
These days I write more contemporary small-town romances (the where-I’m-at-today factor) set in the Northwoods territory of Wisconsin. I find plenty of inspiration in the rich tableau of characters, settings and situations that are found here..
I also love creating new worlds, hence the creation of the Star Brides universe of futuristic sci-fi romances. There’s something freeing when writing about the future because there are no known rules or societal expectations to observe. There’s no historical commonality to weigh me down. It’s exciting as a writer because I can let my imagination fly freely in the atmospheres.
3. What is your latest release?
Hometown Spirits Caveman Creek 4 is my newest. As with my other books in the Caveman Creek series, it’s an erotic romance that’s set in the beautiful little town of Pinecone Creek, Wisconsin.
4. What are you working on now?
Cleaning my house, lol! Seriously, I have plans for Caveman Creek 5, tentatively titled ‘Daddy’s Home.’ My website desperately needs some updating, so that’s on the list as well.
5. Does your reading choices influence your choice of a writing career?
Kinda sorta, but not always. How’s that for a definite answer? I do read a great deal of romances books: contemporary, menage, sci-fi, paranormal, etc. While I enjoy feasting at the literary banquet available, I don’t necessarily write in those imprints.
I also read horror, crime/mystery, dystopian, sci fi, paranormal etc, but I don’t necessarily write in those genres.
6. Where can we find you?
If you’d like to just chat, my email is best: https://www.pia.manning@yahoo.com NOTE: I don’t have a newsletter, I’m not collecting emails. That said, if you do email me and want me to answer, then yes, I’ll need your email.
Otherwise:
Website: https://www.piamanning.com
Siren Bookstrand page: https://www.bookstrand.com/pia-manning
Amazon Author Pg: https://www.amazon.com/author/northofhwy8
Apple Books: https://www.apple.co/4aOraBY
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/caveman%20creek
Twitter: https://twitter.com/piamanning3
Email: pia.manning@yahoo.com
All Author: https://allauthor.com/book/87193/hometown-spirits/
