USA Today bestselling author Stephanie Nicole Norris is showing readers it’s never as good as the first time in her latest release Rules of Engagement.
Tell me about your latest book.
Rules of Engagement begins with two people having such a great first date that they want to see more of each other, but not in a relationship setting. They want more “first date” type experiences with each other, where you’re spontaneous and can go anywhere, have a good time with conversation or intimacy, with no rules or expectations beyond that. Initially, it sounds perfect for the h/h [hero and heroine], but eventually, the rules aren’t enough when they each want more.
How long did it take you to write it?
It took me two months to write it, and an additional month of rigorous back-and-forth with my editor to get it polished. It’s also the longest book I’ve written to date.
Which character could you relate to the most and why?
Naomi, the heroine. Who hasn’t had bad relationships that led to you being careful about how you like or love men moving forward? I think we all have. So I understood why she set the rules in place to begin with, and I understand why she was hell-bent on not moving past them, even when she wanted to.
How are you celebrating the book’s release?
I need to do more celebrating. I don’t do enough. But I rested. During the writing process, I don’t usually get proper rest because I’m always mentally with the characters. But once that’s done, I don’t think too much about them until I get ready to write a follow-up. It lets me rest.
Who is your author best friend (either in your head or in real life)?
Aja (Graves) is my real-life, dope ass, writing ass, author bae. Love her down. I may or may not have a few besties in my head, but I’ll never tell. LOL.
What is the most valuable piece of writing advice you’ve received?
It’s been a long time since I’ve received direct author advice. But some things I’ve seen randomly online that remind me to stay the course of what I’m doing are not to follow trends and write what you love. It’s easy to get caught up in the hype of a trend, and don’t get me wrong, sometimes it’s fun to explore what you can do with a topic or trope. However, for the most part, following trends is bananas.
What books have you read lately and loved?
Mr. Big Stuff by Aja and Anonymous Acts by CCJ [Christina C. Jones]. Mr. Big Stuff is so funny, hot, and sexy. It’s a quick and easy read with amusing characters and steamy scenes. Anonymous Acts is the first book I’ve read by CCJ. It was hot, and the mysteriousness of the storyline had me clutching my pearls. I was heavily invested in the whodunit because I couldn’t figure it out. But to be fair, I’m not the type of reader who tries to figure out anything. I read to escape and explore. I enjoy letting the story take me where it’s going, and I love that for me. When I found out who had done it, I never expected it to be that person anyway!
What books are you excited to read?
So, I choose books based on the book cover and the title. I know, I know, that might not be the best way to select books to read, but that’s how I choose them. With that said, This Is Law by Diamond Johnson and The Echo of Forever by Asia Monique have piqued my interest, to name a few.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on getting a few books recorded in audio. A new, exclusive book is coming to my website, stephanienicolenorris.com. My Billionaire Row series is available on all retailers, and my In The Heart of a Valentine series is currently a Kindle Unlimited series. I’m actively working on books from both series.
Do you have anything you would like to add?
Check out my latest books, Rules of Engagement and The Fire in Us available now on Amazon.
To learn more about USA Today bestselling author Stephanie Nicole Norris, visit her website or connect with her on social media.
Website: www.stephanienicolenorris.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/loveisadrugink
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/stephanienrrs1