After a little break during May, we are back with a brand new Q&A session. Today we introduce DeDe Ramey, a traditionally published author who found her passion for writing only a few short years ago.
Born in Texas, I now live in Oklahoma and have been married for nearly 40 years to my husband Keith. We have two kids and one grandson.
I started out writing lyrics to songs when I was thirteen, then moved on to writing skits and plays as a young mom. I read my first romance novel in 2018 on a trip, Nicholas Sparks, Safe Haven, and I was hooked. But something connected on a deeper level. I wanted to write those stories.
With my husband’s encouragement, I sat down and started writing, and I immediately realized I found my passion. With the help of a mentor, I was guided into the world of writing. After my first book was accepted in 2020 for publishing, I haven’t stopped.
Getting to Know You
What motivated you to become an indie author?
I’m actually traditionally published. I may have gone Indie if I had the money upfront to publish but, at the time, I didn’t. My mentor encouraged me to submit the story to a couple of publishers and one accepted it.
When you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?
Right now, since I’m a new author, I try to do as much promotional stuff as I can so that my books will be seen.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
The completion of a story. For me it’s like watching a movie. I never know which way the story will turn even when I have a plan laid out.
The Writing Process
What is your writing process?
I like to do writing challenges. I try to set four months throughout the year to be my writing months and I challenge myself to write as much as possible. Sometimes I have just an idea in my head, and I just let it flow, and other times I have more of an outline for the story. It depends on how complicated the storyline is.
How do you get inspired to write?
Sometimes it’s a story on TV, or a song, or something that has occurred in my life, or someone else that I’m acquainted with. And sometimes I have absolutely no idea where the story came from.
What’s your advice for aspiring writers?
When you sit down to write, just put the scene on the paper. Don’t worry about the grammar or even that you might have holes, write the scenes you have in your head. Then you can go back and fill in the blank spots.
Reading
What are your five favorite books, and why?
Well, I’m a hopeless romantic so I love a good love story with a happy ending. But, choosing five specific books would be hard.
I love the stories Claire Kingsley writes and Reckless Miles is one of my favorites. Her hero Cooper is one of my favorite characters of all times.
Lucy Score is another of my favorite authors. Worst Best Man is another of my favorite books. This book just stuck with me for some reason. Score and Kingsley collaborated to write an entire series called Bootleg Springs that is one of my top series.
Max Monroe are also two women who collaborate to write their stories. They, along with Kingsley and Score, write rom coms and their Tapping a Billionaire had me hyperventilating.
Brittney Sahin writes military thrillers, and I will read anything she writes. The Real Deal is my favorite of her books.
Kelsey Kingsley writes dark romance, and her story Warrior Blue ripped me apart and put me back together. It was amazing.
How do you discover the books you read?
Usually, word of mouth in groups I’m in. Sometimes ads, but primarily it’s people commenting on books they’ve read.
What books are on your reading list this year?
Honestly, I have no idea. I know several of my favorite authors will have new releases so I’m sure they will be on my list.
Life in the Limelight
Although he didn’t want to be famous, Brant Ellington never had a choice. Moving away from his Hollywood family, he hopes to distance himself from the memories of his wife’s tragic death and start anew. Instead, he spirals into a self-medicating black hole. After a stint in rehab, he’s rocked by haunting text messages that appear to be from his dead wife. When he begins counseling, the last thing on his mind is romance. But when his counselor, Bekah Adkins, needs rescuing, he becomes her knight in shining armor.
Life in the Limelight, DeDe Ramey
Bekah Adkins isn’t about to let her cheating ex back into her life. When he threatens to blackmail her and seek custody of their baby girl if she continues her relationship with the addict Hollywood prince, she calls his bluff.
But when Brant is accused of a crime, Bekah is faced with the ultimate decision—fight for his innocence, or sacrifice everything to keep her baby. She just didn’t expect to also be fighting for her life.
What inspired you to write Life in the Limelight?
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The story is about a guy who was born into a famous family. I got to wondering about the kids of the people who are always in the magazines. What if they don’t want to be famous?
Is there going to be a follow up to Life in the Limelight?
The story is part of the Dalton Skies series, so although it is a stand alone story the characters will be in following stories of the series.