Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandria Watson
Hi Alexandria, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey as an author began when while I was still in nursing school. I found that creating and telling a stories helped alleviate the stress of balancing school, work, and clinical rotations. After graduating, I began working as a registered nurse in the hospital, primarily caring for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) and ICU step-down unit. While I loved being a bedside nurse, the work was mentally, emotionally, and physically taxing. That is when I began to use writing as a creative outlet. During the first year I worked as a nurse, I wrote the initial draft of a story that would eventually become my first published novel. The story went through many rounds of editing and revisions and was picked up by a micro press and published. The entire process was a labor of love, but holding a printed copy of my book made all of the sacrifices worth it. After that, I was hooked. I immediately began working on another novel, and continued to write and publish stories during my graduate studies as well. I predominately write paranormal and contemporary romance, and I now have eight novels published under a pseudonym. Even though I currently work as a nurse practitioner performing aesthetic injections, I still find time for my favorite hobby. As of this moment, I am working on a rom com that I hope to finish writing and have published later this year.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My journey with writing has not been a smooth road at all. I tried the traditional route of searching for a literary agent and attempting to have my books published by a larger press, but I was rejected by every publisher and agent I contacted. Granted, in the beginning of this journey, my writing was anything less than polished. However, I didn’t let that deter me. I made a promise to myself that with every novel I write, I would work on and improve one aspect of my writing, whether it be character development, sentence structure, grammar, or plot development. Holding myself accountable proved to work, because my aunt (a former English teacher) commented on how much my writing had improved from my first to my most recently published novel. Her encouragement makes me want to improve even more and is proof that hard work and dedication do pay off.
Writing was also something I kept close to my chest. For a long time, only my closest friend knew that I had secret aspirations of being an author. When I finally confessed to an ex of mine that I wanted to write, his reply was “but you already have a job”. The lack of encouragement and support in that relationship is part of the reason it didn’t last. I dropped him but kept my writing, and it’s worked out well for me.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I love to use my experience as a nurse in my writing. I have written characters who are nurses or who have medical knowledge, so it has been a fun way to merge my passion for nursing with my passion for writing. I enjoy writing strong, opinionated, and downright sassy female characters. I believe that characters who speak their mind and aren’t afraid to break away from the typical female heroine mold are much needed in modern storytelling.
Another aspect of my life that I have incorporated into my writing is my passion for pole dance. I have been poling for over ten years, and during the last three years, I have been teaching pole dance as a certified pole fitness instructor. I have found that utilizing my love for pole dancing and nursing has helped me to create more memorable characters and stories.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Accepting criticism.
Some criticism can be constructive and informative. I actually love the editing part of the writing process because I view it as a way to improve as an author. I try to keep the mindset that needing improvement does not mean I need to quit writing or is not intended to be a personal attack. Instead, it is an opportunity to grow my skills and my finesse as a writer.
Pricing:
- E-books: $0.99-3.99
- Paperback: $12.99-14.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.apwatsonauthor.com
- Instagram: @apwatsonauthor
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apwatsonauthor
- Other: TikTok: @apwatsonauthor
