I have the great pleasure of being in a writer group with MM/MMM author Bix Barrow. If you haven’t read her book yet, what are you waiting for? Holding On to a Hero is book One in her Bent Oak, Texas Series. It’s a 99k MMM romantic suspense story filled with hurt/comfort, thirsty throupling, sibling baiting, road tripping, a cat with angst, and everyday heroes. As you can tell, it also has a healthy dose of humor!
Bix kindly agreed to sit and answer a few questions for us so we could get to know her better. Feel free to leave comments or questions below for Bix!
What is your genre?
I call it Lighthearted Contemporary MM/MMM Romance with a Dash of Suspense. Mostly I just want the reader to have fun and to be in a better mood when they finish the book than when they started it.
When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?
When I was a kid, really. But I never had a “big idea” for a book until recently, so it was always just wishful thinking up to now.
When did you actually start writing?
In 2018, if you don’t count my writing for school. Everything else has just been in my head.
What was your first story about?
The first book I started is actually going to end up being the prequel to my Bent Oak, Texas series. I got about 25% of the way through it and the plot for Holding On to a Hero came to me. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, so I put my first book aside to concentrate on the new one.
When did you start writing your current genre? What drew you to it?
I started reading MM romance a few months before I started writing it. I guess I never really connected with the female characters in traditional MF romance, and MM romance seemed so much more interesting to me.
What is your writing specialty? That thing that is in every book you write?
I’m all about the inner dialogue. My own inner dialogue is always running, so all my characters have it too. And it’s great for a little comic relief.
What is your favorite trope to read? Why?
Wow, that’s hard to choose, but I would say probably grumpy/sunshine, especially if there’s an age gap. It just makes me go “awww” inside.
What is your favorite trope to write? Why?
Well, I MAY be writing a grumpy/sunshine story now, so…
What advice would you give aspiring authors?
Just start writing. I worried so long about not having a “big idea”, and I was intimidated by thoughts of “what if I don’t know how to develop my characters?” and “what if my plot sucks?” and “what if people don’t like my book?” It’s a learning process and it’s okay that your first draft sucks. That’s what first drafts are for. And second drafts, and third. You get the point. Everything can be fixed in editing!
Do you like to read angsty books? What was the last book that made you cry?
Ugh, no! I like to read books that leave me happier than I was when I started them. I can handle a little hurt/comfort, though. The last book that made me tear up (since I avoid the ones that make me all-out cry) was Rising from the Dust by Adrianna M. Scovill. One of the characters talked about feeling invisible sometimes, and it really struck home with me.
What’s the toughest part of writing?
Getting and reading editorial feedback, even if it’s valuable feedback.
Does writing give you energy or drain it? If it drains it, what do you do to re-energize?
Definitely gives me energy if it’s flowing well. But if I’m having an off day, I just have to walk away and do something else. Usually, I read a book!
What is your writing Kryptonite?
If you mean what destroys it, then it’s stress in my regular life. I find it hard to be creative when people around me are pulling on my time and energy more than usual.
Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what genre?
I can’t. I just end up listening to the lyrics or the melody and it distracts me. Same with coffee shops. I have to have silence for the words to flow.
How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
I’m definitely less worried about the first draft being perfect. I am a lot more confident that I can fix issues later, so now I just focus on getting the words on the page first, then make them perfect later.
What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
When was little I wrote my aunt a thank-you note and mentioned that my dad wasn’t excited about her moving to our city. As you can imagine that did not have a happy ending, and my thank-you notes were reviewed and censored for years after.
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters?
I have a hard time making them suffer for the plot – I just want them to get their happy ending already!
How do you select the names of your characters?
I found a fun name generator online called behindthename.com and you can select various ethnicities, etc.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
No, I have a friend read them for me. I also read something from another writer – Nora Phoenix maybe? – who said she avoids reading them because a bad one can derail her confidence in her writing. Since I already have an issue with editorial feedback, I absolutely know that would happen to me too. But I do love to get emails or social media posts from fans. That always makes my day.
What was your hardest scene to write?
The final action scene in Holding On to a Hero. I had a hard time figuring out the physics and logistics of it all while still making the characters act like themselves.
Do you Google yourself?
Ugh, no. See above with the editorial feedback!
What book got you into reading?
Wow, I have no idea. As I child I always had a book to read whenever I had a free minute. It’s been a lifetime habit/hobby.
Do you keep track of character attributes? If so, how?
I’m all about the Excel spreadsheets!
Who is the one character you wrote that wouldn’t shut up?
Cole from Holding On to a Hero. His voice was always the clearest in my head and he keeps trying to butt into this new book too.
Which of your characters was most difficult to write? Why?
The child character Abby from Holding On to a Hero. It’s been a while since I’ve been around young kids and I was worried she wouldn’t come across as authentic.
Do you have any writing rituals or quirks?
I am a lot more productive just after I’ve gotten up from a nap. Which is a useful way to justify taking a nap!
What’s your favorite thing to do when you aren’t writing?
Reading, of course! Unless I’m napping…