Tell me about your most recent book you’re writing and the title.
At present I am writing the 3rd Book in The Mercy Aymes Series. Though I have the title chosen I haven’t as yet revealed it and probably won’t for a little while yet.
The series is about following the life of Mercy Aymes. A young girl who believed she was a normal girl living a normal life. When both her parents mysteriously disappear, her life begins to unravel in ways she could never have imagined. With no other family to care for her, Mercy is placed into a series of foster homes, until at the tender age of sixteen an unforeseen event lands her in the Lincoln Boarding School; and that’s where the fun begins. From friendships to bullies and long kept secrets, Mercy soon discovers she’s not what she seems – Gargoyles can hear you; Demons are real, and Angels aren’t all sugar and spice.
Do you journal your thoughts? Tell me about it.
When I was younger, I would journal my thoughts. Reading over them as a mature adult I can’t tell you the number of times I rolled my eyes and cringed at my penchant for the dramatic flair. I don’t journal my day-to-day life anymore, but I do write almost every day. I mostly have the stories in my head and just write as they come. I have different processes each time, still figuring out which style suits me best. I began my writing journey by writing out an outline, plots, reasoning, and solutions, then handwrote the full story in small journals, then again in large journals with edits before typing it up in the laptop. My second book I wrote up the story outlines, plot etc. as before, but typed it directly into the laptop. Though it took far less time to write, I found my mind engaged far more when I hand wrote my work. My third, I decided to shake things up a bit and became a Pantser. No outline, no plot. I sat down with my pen and blank journal and dove in, handwriting the entire book in large journals before I type it into the laptop, with edits along the way.
Do you have another job other than writing? If so, what is it?
No not anymore. I am an Equine Stud Manager and did work for a wedding carriage company. Injury and illness put me on a different path, and I found my way to reacquainting myself with what had sparked my imagination as a child, books, and writing.
Why should people try out your books?
I guess if you are a lover of Paranormal Urban Fantasy that’s reason enough, but I also didn’t write these books with a formula in mind. I wrote from the heart, using many of my own experiences. A big influence on the story was my own sensory disorder. From as far back as the age of four, the things I see, hear, touch and smell are heightened. As a child I discovered the feel of stone walls and statues under my fingers gave me the heightened sensation of falling in love. Of course, I didn’t understand the crazy feelings as a child, that came much later. The feel of stone produces chemicals in my brain which results in adrenalin and nervous excitement, right down to perspiration that can soak the back of my shirt. A similar result when someone falls in love with another person. Strange I know, particularly that I get the same result from hearing ice crack. The portrayal of Mercy’s encounter with the Gargoyle Talus is largely based on that.
What are your hobbies?
Books, writing, movies. It was horse riding and training, but as I said, that side of my life changed.
Give me a description of the city you near so readers can try to guess where you’re from.
Though it’s part of a large country it is separated from it and often forgotten. There is an abundance of wilderness and beauty, surrounded by sea. If so, inclined you can drive across it and back from either direction in a day.
Do you ever have dreams about your characters?
Every night and they are there in my daydreams. They never leave me.
What kind of diversity might you have among your characters?
I suppose a diversity in sexual orientation, an undertone of racism in the form of speciesism, and differences in belief systems. I didn’t set out to include any specific topic; the story just unfolded that way.
How many times do you edit your drafts? Why?
So many times, I lose count. When I first joined the self-publishing ranks, I did everything wrong. I didn’t have the knowledge or supports to lead me the right way, and I wasn’t in a financial position to hire and editor or proofreader, relying on friends. I have come a long way since those lessons, creating the Authors and readers group on Facebook called The Ink Pot. I wanted to share everything I had discovered on my journey with other writers, so they didn’t have to struggle through the mistakes as I did. I have been working through those corrections since. I’m heading in the right direction now.
Tell me about your favorite character you’ve written and why?
That’s a hard question. I enjoy writing all my characters and love different aspects of each. I have loved writing the character Lucifer and the Archangels Chayyliel and Azrael, and of course my absolute love of Gargoyles led to many wonderful personalities. I also really enjoyed writing the Lincoln Imps, Gekas and Thaxus. Throughout the books historical facts, myths and legends have been woven into the story.
Do you read the reviews of your books? Why or why not?
In the beginning I did, until I realised it was causing unnecessary anxiety, so I stopped.
Give a shout out to another author who deserves some recognition.
Wow there are so many, choosing one is hard. For her constant support of not only my work but many other authors and the wonderful books of hers I have enjoyed reading, I would nominate Kelly Miller the author of books such as Death Takes a Holiday at Pemberley, Accusing Mr. Darcy and Mr Darcy’s Perfect Match.
What would your antagonist do first at Disney World?
Burn it all down.
What would your protagonist do first at a casino?
Mercy would have an internal war over the sins of alcohol and gambling while feeling deliciously excited about it all.
What’s your writing goals for 2022?
I’m hoping to have Book 3 ready for release and another stand-alone book going through to the proofreader, as well as finishing the final chapters of a novel I wrote when having to write Mercy’s sequel cut it off.
Tell me about a book you’d like to advertise and why?
Hmm, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I just love the characters and the whole idea of a 1945 war nurse going through the stones of Craigh na Dun Scotland and finding herself in 1745. I loved the sequels to follow and currently waiting on a preorder of the 9th book Go Tell The Bees That I Am Gone.
Social media links:
Amazon.com: Lord Have Mercy (The Mercy Aymes Series Book 1) eBook : Mills, H. M. : Books
Amazon.com: Mercy on Your Soul (The Mercy Aymes Series Book 2) eBook : Mills, H. M.: Books
https://hmmillslordhavemercy.wixsite.com/hmmills
Author H. M. Mills (@h.m.mills_author) • Instagram photos and videos
H. M. Mills (@HMMills203) / Twitter
Cassie Swindon 