A Conversation with Amber Perez, a Sapphic Fiction Author

Amber Perez is a sapphic fiction writer and full-time college student majoring in forensic psychology. She grew up on the east coast but currently makes her home in Northern California with her partner and her daughter. Amber faithfully cheers for the Dallas Cowboys during football season, regardless of their record. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys scrapbooking, planning her next tattoo and being an amateur grease monkey tinkering on her Jeep.

She is admittedly addicted to crime documentaries and single-handedly keeps the coffee industry  afloat! Amber shares her home with one dog and two cats and melts at the sight of anything Snoopy.

Let’s get started with a quick rapid fire.

Q1. If you could be transformed into one animal, which one would you choose?

A cat! They get to lay in the sun and sleep all day? That’s the life!

Q2. Finish the phrase “the way to my heart is…”

Cheer louder for the Dallas Cowboys than I do!

Q3. Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert?

Is there a word for someone more introverted than an introvert?! Because that’s what I am!

Q4. Do you watch shows one episode at a time or binge whole seasons?

Binge! Hit me with it! I hate waiting for the next episode.

Q5. Would you rather travel to the past or to the future?

Would have to be the future. I’d take notes then return to present day and make a killing betting on sports events and buying successful stocks!

Q6. What is your last Google search?

How quickly does a wildfire spread? (It’s for a book…I promise!)

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Q7. What object do you misplace or lose the most?

Does my patience count?!

Q8. What is the kindest thing someone ever did for you?

When my mom passed away, a family friend paid for my trip back to the east coast.

Q9. If given the chance to start your life over, would you take it?

Nope! I would not want to relive the school years.

Q10. What is the best present you have ever received?

I was given a pitbull as a Valentine’s gift.

Q11. Describe your style in one word.

Eclectic.

Q12. If you were to devote the rest of your life to philanthropy, what cause would you choose?

Feeding and housing children.

It’s time for a more detailed conversation, Amber.

You’ve answered our rapid fire brilliantly, Amber. Now, it’s time for our readers to know more about the person behind the book.

Q. Describe your journey so far.

I was married for 22 years and had 3 wonderful kids. At, 42 I divorced and came out as a lesbian. I’m now going to school full time with the goal to earn a degree in forensic psychology and writing books in my spare time. I wrote my first book, Shay’s Gamble, shortly after my divorce finalized.

Q. So, what books did you grow up reading?

I loved mysteries! Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, and The Hardy Boys turned into Agatha Christie as I got older. Of course, I also loved mixing in R.L. Stine and Stephen King along the way. I just loved reading! Books of any kind were welcome. It was a rare occurrence to find me without a book in hand as a child.

Q. Interesting. Has writing and publishing a book changed the way you see yourself? 

I think it has. I am more confident going into challenges now. I think doing the work of writing a book, going through the process of editing and revising, and finally publishing, showed me I’m capable of setting my mind to a goal and achieving it. When I was a kid I always said I wanted to be an author. Now I am! It’s a surreal thing to see a dream come true.

Q. Would you share something about yourself that your readers don’t know (yet)?

I see music. Let me explain. Readers will quickly notice that I include a lot of songs in my books. The reason for that is simple. I can hear a song and instantly see a scene playing out in my mind. So, I sometimes will craft an entire scene in one of my books around a particular song that I enjoy.

Q. Now comes the most anticipated question that every author must answer. How do you process and deal with negative book reviews?

Ignore them? No, I know that’s what we’re supposed to do. Honestly, I’m so new to the game I do still take them to heart. I struggle with that moment of feeling like a failure. But, I remind myself that I’ve read plenty of books or watched movies that had bad reviews and ended up loving them. Different people enjoy different things, so I just focus on maybe my story just wasn’t right for that reader.

Q. What comes first for you — the plot or the characters — and why?

The characters! I develop my characters so fully it’s as if they are actual people. I have entire backstories, family trees, personalities, even social media accounts created for my main characters! Honestly, they feel like they are actual people in my life, and I think I will be a bit sad when I move onto my next series.

Q. How do you develop your plot and characters? 

I do a ton of research. I start looking up sites and doing research as soon as I get an idea. Some of my main plot points have come to me in dreams or when I’m listening to music. I find inspiration for certain characters when I’m watching TV shows. I have a file in my phone of characters from different shows that are inspiration for a character I have in mind for upcoming books.

Q. What does literary success look like to you?

Obviously, I would love to see my books on the best seller lists and become a household name. Maybe a movie deal? Honestly though, I just want to continue to write stories that have meaning to me and touch readers. It would be an amazing thing to be at a level where my writing could be my sole source of income. Still, the most important thing, for me, is to connect with readers.

Q. Let’s talk about your book. Tell us about it. No major spoilers.

My newest book, Lexi’s Cup of Tea, is the second book in my Worlds Apart Romance Series. It follows Lexi, the sister of one of my main characters from book one, as she takes an extended vacation from her life in Australia in an attempt to find direction. She’s struggling with where her life is taking her and decides a summer fling may be just the thing she needs. Feelings have a way of messing up no strings arrangements, though!

Q. What part of the book did you have the hardest time writing?

I think my biggest struggle was presenting my other main character, Van, in a way that showed she was a womanizer of sorts but was likeable! It was a challenge to present her in a way that would show her growth through the course of the story but also have readers connect with her. A loveable bad guy, in a way!

Q. If you could meet your characters, what would you say to them?

Just say what you feel!! I know the point of the story is to use angst and develop the relationship in a way that leaves readers wondering what will happen next. Sometimes I just want to reach through the screen, grab my characters, give them a good shake, and tell them to stop hiding behind what others think or want and be true to themselves.

Q. What is your writing process like? Are you more of a plotter or a pantser?

I’m a mix of a plotter and a pantser, I guess you would say. A plantser?? My characters? As I mentioned, they are developed to the max! I search name sites, create families, find pictures that match the way they look in my head…I go all in on character development. With my plot, I usually have major points in my head then the story develops as I go. I’ve actually shocked myself a few times with things that pop up in the plot!

Q. Let’s talk about the process of writing. When you’re writing an emotional or difficult scene, how do you set the mood?

I try to get out of my head and into the mind of my character. I think about how the scene would hit me if I was the character. I will listen to music that matches the mood for the scene and just really shut out every other part of the world. If it’s a situation that I’ve experienced myself, I will recall the emotions I felt in that moment and draw from them.

Q. What has helped or hindered you most when writing a book? 

The biggest help to me has been finding a community of other writers. I’m in quite a few groups that support and encourage me along the way. Being able to jump into a chat and ask a question about the process has been such a huge assistance. On the flip side, I think the biggest hindrance has been getting too caught up with the wrong types on social media. There are plenty of negative voices out there so we just have to ignore them and look for those supporters I’ve been lucky enough to find.

Q. It’s been fun. Now, before we wrap this up, do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so, what are they?

Are you kidding? I’m still figuring this all out for myself! No, I guess my number one suggestion would go back to my last answer: find your community. They are out there, I promise! Whatever genre you are interested in, search out others that share your passion. I’ve been very fortunate with the sapphic literary niche. There is a very vocal presence that supports and encourages newcomers. It’s wonderful to be lifted up by those who you’ve looked up to. Find those people!

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