Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.
Hi I’m Dakota Trace. I’ve been writing professionally since 2008, but when I’m not clacking away at the keyboard, you can find me putting around the garden, out on the marching band field or cooking up something yummy in the kitchen for my kiddos.
When and Why did you start to write?
I’ve been writing for a long time. I think I wrote my first story in third grade – one about an older sister who had to teach her baby sister all about life. (I was quite precocious at age 8.) The teacher was so impressed, she stapled it together, like a real book and put it in the school library.
I didn’t start my serious writing however, until I was in junior high. My eighth grade language arts teacher caught me scribbling in a notebook in class and asked me to read it. With her encouragement, and a lot of support from my dad, I wrote my first full length story that year – about a girl who could talk to animals. Since then I’ve written numerous full length books and short stories.
However, the why is quite simple. Not only is it an escape from my hectic life as mom to three teenagers, it also gives the voices in my head an outlet. 😉
What authors do you always read or suggest to others?
I devour most paranormal books. I love shifter series, particularly those by Shelly Laurenston, Lora Leigh, and Laurann Dohner. But you can also find me reading Draven St. James, Josh Landon, and Cherise Sinclair.
What is the most surprising thing you have found out with the writing process?
That when I started writing I was a 100% panster. I let the story take me where it wanted and if I had to cut out huge chunks during edits, okay, it was part of the process. Now, 10 years later, I’m a total plotter. I sit down fill out a GMC for my book before I even start writing it.
What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working a paranormal polar shifter book. I haven’t dabbled in paranormal for awhile, even though I love to read it. And thought it would a nice change from my sexually charged and intense bdsm books.
When writing are you a pantser or plotter?
Plotter, now. I use both a GMC and Beats worksheets to make sure that I stay on track.
What are your social links?
Website: http://www.dakotatrace.net/
Blog: http://alittlebitofnaughty.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DakotaTrace75/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dakota75
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trace.dakota/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/dakotatrace/
What are your buy links?