As a mother of six children, do you ever take advantage of their knowledge and experience to have your characters react in modern teen way? Do they ever read your novels and say 'Mom that would never happen'?

I love to have my kids read my work and give their input. I have to say I’ve never had them tell me that I’d portrayed something wrong, but that could be due to the fact that I’m just one giant kid with a lot of teenaged interaction! But if they ever did, I would most definitely appreciate any advice they had to give me. I like to get critiques from a few different sources. I have beta readers that range in age from 12 to 58, both male and female, so that helps to give me a pretty broad perspective of reactions to things. I love the input they give me and they’ve yet to lead me astray! Go Team! LOL

In the news recently there has been talk about self-pubbed authors and their ability to support themselves with their writing versus the extra amount of time it takes to be a truly successful self-pubbed writer. Do you find that promoting your books eats away at time you wish you could have been writing?

Sometimes it does, yeah. The marketing can be a lot of fun, but it’s also very time consuming and it seems like before I know it the day is gone. I recently had to schedule every hour of my day and what I need to be doing with it, because my writing was getting pushed to the side for everything else. But I also think that’s something most authors experience. I’ve chosen to do my publishing with three different kinds of publishers, one indie, and one which was kind of a cross between indie and self publishing, after a bad experience with a “traditional” publishing company. 

But really I find it common to hear stories of authors with big houses even who aren’t getting a lot of marketing. I think that area is where companies are cutting costs so I don’t really think many authors out there are getting what they truly need, it’s not specific to one group of writers. I think any author who wants to be successful should be out there on the front lines making sure the news of their work gets out there and they should cultivate some good relationships with their readers. 

I know I really enjoy talking with people, even if it’s not about my books in particular. I’ve joined book clubs and writers groups and met a lot of wonderful people whom I consider to be friends. I can really talk to some of those people often, so it becomes a matter of trying to balance things out for me. Some days I do very well at sticking to my schedule…others not so much, but it’s all good!

Some stories liked to be wooed and coaxed into being while others are aggressive and demanding, which has been your experience with the "Of Witches and Warlocks" series?

For the most part, this series has been of the aggressive and demanding voice. I could hardly keep up with the writing in the first three books. I had to force myself to stop and sleep sometimes. I’ve often joked that it felt like someone stuck a funnel in my head and just started pouring the story in there and it was all I could do to stay with it. The last two books haven’t been that way quite as badly since my schedule doesn’t really permit me to have the kind of writing sessions I used to, but once I tap back in, things usually roll long fairly quickly.

Do you prefer a structured work environment (outline, time set aside, goals to meet) or a more loose atmosphere when writing?

Most of the time, I’ve been very loose about my writing schedule. Until recently, I never had a schedule outlining things to do. I’m naturally a pretty laid back person, but I know I can count on myself to be reliable with the things I need to do. It was never an issue to me until I started adding more things to my plate and then something was always suffering or getting left behind. I’d discussed the idea of a schedule with my husband one day and he thought it would be very helpful to me. I admit that I like the structure it gives me now, because I know exactly where I need to be with everything. I will probably stick with doing it this way.

What is the one thing you hope your readers will take away from your novels (aside from enjoyment of course!)?

Well, in these particular books there’s an underlying message of unconditional love. This is a story of two young people who are crazy for each other, but sometimes things get bad for them and it leaves them in a place where it would be easy for them to want to give up and let it all go. But this tale is about sticking it out, even when you want to quit, and it’s about standing by someone, even if they’re at their worst. I think we could all use people like that in out lives, a champion of sorts, who will cheer us on no matter how badly we
stumble.

Quick Q's

Cake or pie? Pie (Strawberry and Peach are my faves!)
Favorite Holiday? Christmas!
Most comfortable piece of clothing? My P.J.’s ( several t-shirt/Capri styled combos!)
Reading at the moment? Divine by Mistake, by P.C. Cast

Thanks so much for hosting me! It’s been a blast!! Thank you for being here Lacey!

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Author Bio:
Lacey Weatherford has always had a love of books. She wanted to become a writer after reading
her first Nancy Drew novel at the age of eight.  When she is not reading, writing, blogging, or doing book tours for her current series, she can often be found out at sporting/musical events which her kids are in or texting like crazy with her best friend.  Lacey resides in the White Mountains of Arizona, where she lives with her husband, six children, one son-in-law, and the family dog Sophie.

Want to know more?  Check out Lacey's website, blog and follow her with Bookish Snob Promotions for a chance to win the Grand Prize!