About Me

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Silver James?

Come back later….I haven’t had my coffee yet. What? You’re still here? Persistent, aren’t you. So, what do you want to know? Why yes, I am a bit snarky first thing in the morning. I like to think it’s part of my endearing charm. So…you still want to know about me? As Inigo Montoya said in The Princess Bride, “Let me ‘splain.” Silver James is the nom d’plume (or pen name for those of us who don’t speak French) for the writer formerly known as Penny James. Like that rock star, she uses a symbol instead of her name. That is the alchemic symbol for silver, by the way. Inquiring minds wanted to know.

Please tell me you are kidding?

I am, actually. ‘Silver’ is a nickname that has evolved within my writing group and I like the sound of it. Besides, it’s more glamorous than ‘Copper’. Penny James is known for technical writing and forensic photography within the fire, law enforcement and emergency services communities. She is also an award-winning fire photographer. Did I mention that I’m a little silly and sarcastic when I’m caffeine deprived?

Oh Rly? Seriously, tell us about yourself.

Hello. I’m Silver James and I write romance novels filled with magic and mystery! I’m a proud member of the Oklahoma Outlaws – the wonderful ladies of Oklahoma Romance Writers Association, RWA, the RWA Kiss of Death (Mystery and Thriller) chapter, and International Thriller Writers. I’ve been married to my best friend, who also happens to an attorney, for thirty years. Our wonderful daughter (The Only) is a museum studies honors graduate with her Masters in Museum Studies, a love she came by honestly from her dad and me both. She’s gainfully employed as a corporate historian and happily married to my favorite son-in-law, affectionately known around these parts as Baseball Boy, who has his Masters in Museum Studies. If you need a museum educator or history teacher/baseball coach, call me! Especially since these two present me with my very first grandchild, the Magic Bean Sprout. 😀

Over the course of my lifetime, I’ve been a military officer’s wife, state appellate court marshal, airport rescue firefighter and forensic fire photographer, crime analyst, and technical crime scene investigator. I’ve since retired from the “real world” and live in Oklahoma. I spend my days at the computer with my two Newfoundland dogs, the “lolcat” who rules us all, and myriad characters all clamoring for attention. Eventually, I’ll get around to telling each of their stories.

How long have you been writing?

I suppose it would be trite to say, “All my life.” While I have always been a storyteller, even as a small child, I committed my first romance novel to paper when I was thirteen. “The Talisman” had a decent plot along the lines of “Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” but was processed through the brain of an adolescent girl. Needless to say, it was abysmal. Really. In other words, it sucked.

What do you write about?

As a writer, I have the inconvenient habit of being in the right place at the wrong time. I was “either/or” but never “just right”. I hoped that would change some day and it finally did. My first paranormal romance novel FAERIE FATE released on April 9, 2010 from The Wild Rose Press. More paranormal romances, contemporary romances, and dark paranormal thrillers followed. While my work traverses a wide range of genres – paranormal, romance, mystery, thriller, fantasy – they all have one thing in common – a belief in happy ever afters.

What have others said about your work?

See what’s being said In the Words of Others for yourself.

Where else do you hang out?

All the usual social media locales. You can click on the pertinent icon or click any of my needy references for attention on the side bar. (Yes, that’s a joke. About being an attention slut, not about clicking.)