Eyes on Authors: A.J. Culey

It’s storming like crazy where I am, which is awesome for writing and chatting about books! Cozy up in your favorite chair and let’s talk to A.J. Culey, author of the newly-released The Trouble with Antlers, the first book in the Melvin’s Rampant Rack series!

A.J. Culey is a teacher, world traveler and writer. She is a fan of books, bunnies and cats (and also blue hair, but that’s another story).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I just lightened my hair from being blue. *fist bumps forever* Now, tell us about The Trouble with Antlers! (Which, by the way, makes me sing “Sugar, We’re Going Down” by Fall Out Boy. Go watch the video, people)
In a high school full of shifters, it’s the one inquisitive human who poses the biggest threat.

When a human is the only applicant for town veterinarian and moves to Shifterville with his teenaged daughter, Amelia, the town residents conspire to keep the humans in their midst from discovering their secret. If only they can keep Melvin away from Amelia.

Melvin Moose has a problem. Anytime a girl gets too close, his antlers go on walkabout, popping out of his human head at the most inopportune moments. As if that weren’t bad enough, a human girl just enrolled at his school, and if she catches sight of his unruly rack, it’s all over for Shifterville.

(Contains typical teen language, which does include the occasional swear word. It’s also full of rampant, teen hormones and the subsequent fallout.)

Rampant, teen hormones. Those usually make for wild stories! So expand more on what types of books you write!
I write for children and young adults, mostly in the paranormal and fantasy genres.

What inspired you to start writing, and what keeps you going?
When I was in 4th grade, I wrote a story for school that I read aloud to my class. All of my friends laughed at the perfect spot, giving me a rush unlike I’d ever experienced before. That’s when I knew I wanted to write and to bring people laughter through my writing. It’s experiences like this that keep me going. Being part of a writing community and a reading community, both online and in person, help to keep me motivated and inspired.

Well said. That’s how I felt about theater as a kid! (And maybe yesterday. Still.) Any advice for your fellow writers?
My best advice is to focus on writing the best poem/story/essay/book that you can and to believe in yourself and your work. Just keep at it!

Do you have any favorite authors, titles, etc. that you’d like to share? What are your inspirations in the author world?
Some of my favorite authors are Doreen Cronin, J.D. Robb, JK Rowling, Nalini Singh, Mo Willems and Cinda Williams Chima.

I’m admitting it now: I have never read a J.D. Robb novel. Or her not-alter-ego, Nora Roberts. Sorry! I need to get on that. Now, where can we find you out there in the great wide open? (Yes, I’m on a song roll today. Go Tom Petty!)