Today I’m thrilled to have Desiree Williams with me. She’s on a blog tour for her new book Illusionary. I have all the important information below on how to get your hands on it. But I took some time to ask Desiree some questions about her life, her writing, and Illusionary.

J: Hi, Desiree! Welcome to Jilligan’s Island! I’m so glad to have the chance to chat with you. I’ve been wondering if you read or write every single day. Do you?

D: In a way, yes. I may not get to add words to my work-in-progress every day, but I’m writing and/or reading in some version each day. I love journaling, as well. It’s proven to be very relaxing for me and a way to release all the stress I tend to bottle up within myself.

J: It’s wonderful you’ve found a stress reliever. So are you a full-time author or do you balance writing with another job?

D: I’m a full-time juggling nut-case. LOL. I have multiple responsibilities in life. For example, I’m a: wife, mother, homeschooling teacher, multi-role church worker, business owner, etc. Lots of hats to wear and flailing duties with writing all woven in. I seem to make it work. =) Haven’t had anything crash on me yet.

J: It sounds like you stay very busy! Do you have a playlist or favorite songs/composer you listen to while writing?

D: I love listening to music BEFORE I write. With my A.D.D., I need silence during my writing sessions to make them the most productive. But I love listening to my book playlist to get my creative mind on the right track. That way I can visualize my characters and prepare my body for the magic that’s about to happen.

J: That’s a fantastic idea – I’ll have to try that. Speaking of visualizing, do you use any visual aids while you’re writing (i.e., maps, Pinterest, magazine pictures, etc.)?

D: Oh my goodness, Pinterest is a time stealing fiend! But I love it for storyboards. <3 I usually stop there and a few stock images sites when I’m building my storyboards for each project. I’ll add the images to character sketches and setting locations. The visuals make everything fun and pretty, and it also helps get the creative juices flowing.

J: You mentioned building storyboards, which leads me to my next question. Are you a Pantser or a Plotter?

D: By nature, I’m a Pantser, but I understand the importance of plotting. Therefore I strive to be a blend of both. I don’t want to shut down any creative possibilities, so I allow my mind its wandering. But plotting everything out first does make for more productive writing sessions because I know exactly where I’m going each time.

J: So while you’re doing all this creating, what does your writing space look like?

D: Uh…a disaster zone? 😉 Well, at least that’s what my desk looks like. I hate the admin duties of my business, so paperwork usually piles up for several weeks before I drag my pouting self to the filing cabinet and get to it. Thankfully, writing life is more of a mobile lifestyle, which means my writing space can be anywhere. Some days I write at my kitchen table, or on my nice comfy couch. And rarely at the library or Panera—my easily-distracted self tends to people-watch more than write.

J: Sometime people-watching is more fun! How do you select the names of your characters?

D: For most of my books, the character names are chosen based off of their meanings, which then is incorporated into their personality traits. However, I’ve found that’s not always the case. For example, in Illusionary, Kamryn was picked just because I liked the name. But Reese was inspired by the Reese’s Pieces candy I happened to be eating at the time of his character sketch. Sorry, Reese. Your name was inspired due to my love of candy. =P

J: The blurb for Illusionary is intriguing. Where did you get the idea for this book?

D: While doing laundry.

J: Really?

D: No kidding. Grumbling and stressing over life, I was stuffing clothes into the dryer, wondering over the possibility of the dryer eating me and taking me to another dimension. Escaping reality had been my goal at the time.

J: Well, we’re glad you turned the idea into a story! What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned while writing it?

D: Learning how closely I put myself into the story. One of the characters (Reese) has several inner demons that match my very own. Except it wasn’t until I was deep into revisions that I realized what I had done. But in a way, pouring out our pain into stories is what a writer does best. 😉

J: That’s very true. Now before you go, Desiree, if you’re comfortable doing so, can you give us one fun fact about yourself others might not know?

D: Sometimes for family functions, I’ll make desserts I know people don’t care for just to have the tasty treat all to myself. I feel no shame for it either. *cheeky grin*

J: I’ll have to try that at my next family get-together! Thanks so much for coming to Jilligan’s Island and sharing a little about you and Illusionary. Speaking of which, here’s all the information about it and the blog tour.

Illusionary Blog Tour Schedule

June 5^th Launch Day – HOPE through the Pages

Spotlight – Rachel Lopez

Book Review – Jebraun Clifford – Dream. Write. Repeat.

June 6^th Book Review – Indie Book Reviews

Spotlight – Christian Book News

Interview – Bookworm Mama

June 7^th Book Review – Zernia Blossom’s Books

Book Review – Prismatic Prospects

Interview – Dolphin18cb

June 8^th Book Review – Lands Uncharted

Book Review – Seasons of Humility

Interview – Liv K. Fisher

June 9^th Book Review – She Hearts Fiction

Book Review – Chrissi Reads

Spotlight – Dreams of Faerytales

Guest Post – Jannette Fuller

June 10^th Wrap-Up Post – HOPE through the Pages

About Illusionary:

Dorothy got sucked into a tornado.

Alice fell down a hole.

Wendy flew to Neverland.

Kamryn? She tripped down the stairs.

Now, Kamryn Kensington finds herself in a strange new world. Within minutes of her arrival, she dodges an archer’s arrow and avoids getting sliced up by a cosplay reject holding a dagger to her throat. And that’s before the storyteller’s breath brings stories to life.

Home is the mission—to return to her family and pursue her life’s dream of art and travel. Yet the longer she’s in the Land of Ur, the harder it is not to feel for the people she meets. Even her artistic side can’t help but breathe in the beautiful wonder and magic of this new world. So when the Oracle hands her a different quest, she takes it on the condition he sends her home afterward.

No one thought to warn her of a jealous queen and her dragon minions. Or that, by helping her, the cute storyteller would go crazy. Or that her heart would rip in two when she left. Those would’ve been great facts to know ahead of time.

Considering that nothing in Ur is what it seems, the mission proves to be more than she ever imagined. But more than her own future will be in jeopardy if Kamryn doesn’t succeed.

Purchase Links

• Amazon: http://a.co/hj1bDtH
• Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/illusionary-desiree-williams/1125821432?ean=2940154019337
• Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/illusionary
• iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/illusionary/id1207467393?mt=11
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34363709-illusionary

About the Author

Desiree Williams is a dreamer by day and chocoholic by night. She lives in the beautiful state of Kentucky with her husband and daughter, where she juggles life as a wannabe supermom. Desiree is a lover of food and avoider of dirty dishes. She delights in making people laugh and strives to bring hope and love with her wherever she goes.

You can find out more about Desiree and her books at www.desireewilliamsbooks.com

Social Media Links

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ILLUSIONARY BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY HERE

 

Desiree has graciously offered to give away the following prizes shown above: a “Make everyday an adventure” pillow, “Don’t Grow Up! It’s a Trap!” metal sign, book cozy, signed paperback of Illusionary, notebook with pens, sketch book with colored pencils, and a “Eat Cake for Breakfast” travel cup.