Author interviews
Can you tell us about your book(s)?
I have two series. Shattered Lives will be complete in April when I publish the fifth book, Full Circle. It’s a post-apocalyptic saga featuring a little paranormal twist. You follow Henry, Elaina, and Gunther, along with a ragtag band of survivors, on a journey not just about survival but about living. Henry is a troubled man with a past that could wreck the strongest of people. It causes him to go into a downward spiral of self-hatred, alcoholism, and mental illness, leaving him to wonder if survival is truly the best thing. In the Corvidae Guard series, the first book, The King’s Fate, was published in June of 2016. It has a full cast including a Vampire King and Fae. The King’s Fate starts you right into the twisted plot an Incubus devises, eventually taking the Vampire King and torturing him for two centuries. Currently, I’m writing the second book, The King’s Destiny. I think this will be a long series and I am so excited to get it out to the readers. How did you get started writing? I had an idea pop into my head that would not go away. Every time I thought about it, layers upon layers peeled away making me decide I needed to write it down. I have been writing since. It’s been a crazy journey! What was your first story? My first published story is Broken Dreams (Shattered Lives, Book One). Can you remember a specific moment when you realized that you were a writer? I felt weird saying it. Still do. Generally, when people ask what I do, I don’t tell them that I write or that I’m an author. I’m not even sure why. I live outside of the box with my little weird world of characters. I chalk it up as I’m an introvert. What is your advice on procrastination, when it comes to writing? I am the worst person to give advice about this. I have the attention span of a gnat. I can focus for only bits at a time. But when I do focus, I can write down a large amount of words. I suppose, just keep trying to move forward. Even if it’s only five minutes at a time Are you an outliner, or planner, when it comes to writing? Why? No, not really. Though, some stories do take a certain amount of research, making me to jot down notes of what the story could consist of. With The King’s Destiny, I’ve had to do a lot of research. That type of planning gets me excited to write the story. I go right past the outline and just write. I’ve been getting better about writing in order. There are times when scenes pop in my head and I drop those in a separate file for later use in the story. Do you have anyone you share your “rough” drafts with? Yes, my husband. He is my Alpha reader. What made you decide to be published? How did you go about it? To be honest, I’m not really sure exactly how I decided. I had heard of self-publishing, but I knew nothing about it. Both avid book readers, my husband and I discussed publishing many times and eventually we decided to give it a go. In 2013, I made a profile on Facebook and started looking at author and blog pages, finding more self-published authors. I joined groups and just started getting me and my writing out there. I marveled at the authors who had thousands of likers. I was thrilled to get 10 followers. I began to do more research, googling everything. Even now, I research whenever I can. I have a journal titled “Learn Your Craft”. I read the term on a bullet journaling site and decided to start writing down all the tips that could help me become a better writer. It seems easier than scrolling through endless bookmarks. It does take a lot of time, but the end results are worth it. Looking back on your life as a writer, what would you change? I would’ve started the Shattered Lives saga in Henry’s point of view. I love writing as him. It has been difficult and gets very dark, but I feel like Shattered Lives is mostly his story. Any final thoughts? (This is an optional question.) Thank you so much for this interview. It has been a wonderful experience. To those who are just starting out writing or are considering writing, take your time but press on! Out there in the masses, someone is waiting for your novel. I’d like to invite your readers to sign up for my newsletter and join my readers’ group. Newsletter: http://www.subscribepage.com/RissasMilitia Readers’ Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rissasarmy/ /
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A Three Tiered WorldA Guest Post By Hope Ann
I’ve created three fantasy worlds in the past four years. Designing worlds, writing legends, holding the first printed copy of your book…it carries a thrill of creation. Of bringing to light something which didn’t exist before. For those on one end of the spectrum, creating worlds is exciting and it can be tempting to avoidactually writing the story while forming layer upon layer of details worthy of Tolkien’s MiddleEarth. On the other end of the spectrum are those who want to get the world building over as quickly as possible so they can move onto the story. In either case, it’s important to have enough development in your world so the story rings true and yet not get so bogged down or glide so high that you don’t ever move on with the story by which this world will be known. It may be easiest to view your world like a three-tiered structure and, while I’m focusing on fantasy worlds here, this same template could work if you are writing about our own world in the far future. 1. The Foundational Tier The first, or bottom level is the Foundational Tier of your world. This is your geography. The lay of the land. Whether you have one nation or several, there are the same basic formations such as rivers, forests, mountains, cities and roads. National lines need to be drawn and the nations themselves named (there’s no need to worry about national flags and cultures yet…that will come in a bit). Also part of this first layer are fun details, like how many suns and moons your nation has. And then there are other aspects which you may or may not decide to develop depending on whether you need them or not…details such as what stars travelers use to guide them, nighttime constellations, weather patterns, unique storms, and length and type of seasons. 2. The Spiritual Tier After the Foundational Tier is complete, I like to jump to the third Upper level. Because of how it intertwines with and effects the central layer, I like to develop what I’m calling the Spiritual Tier before or alongside the middle level. When I first started writing, I tried to ignore this level. Creating a ‘God’ and religion of my own for a fantasy world seemed, well a bit sacrilegious. And yet, Christianity affects my whole life: what I do, why I do what I do—my outlook on life. And since I want to write godly and inspiring fiction, I couldn’t just ignore the whole reason that a character should, and would, act in a God-fearing manner. Eventually, after much thought and reading of other Christian fantasy, I began to create allegorical religions for my different worlds. Though quite different in specific events, they all contain the same basic elements of a great, all-powerful King, a perfect world, an evil servant, the entrance of evil into the world, the sacrifice of the Prince’s life for His people, and Him rising again: a retelling of the salvation story which is founded in Scripture. This same story also gives the foundation for evil and sets the stage for those who walk in the light and those who follow the darkness. This has worked very well for me and enables me to bring Christian values andlessons into an allegorical or fantasy story. Another element of this Spiritual Tier is power and magic. Do any characters have abilities that exceed what we’d call ‘natural’? These could be racial traits, such as one people group having the ability to read minds or sense the presence of others. They could also be gifts from the Great King, with opposing ‘gifts’ being given by the ‘Prince of Darkness’ to others. I, personally, tend to use one or the other of these options, but there’s also what is commonly called ‘magic’. In some fantasy worlds, what could be considered magic is more of a way the world works than anything else. Other times there’s light and dark magic, enchanters, witches, etc. Since here in our world, magic is from Satan and is always evil, I’m more leery of the approach to fantasy magic that sounds too much like the real thing. I also don’t care for the idea of an ‘amoral’ magic that can be both light and dark (note that this idea is different from ‘magic’ being some sort of unexplained science that is natural to your world). I’m not saying these things can’t work in a fantasy setting, or that you should never use them…I’m simply not as comfortable with them as with other options. So, after creating and setting the guidelines for the spiritual/power level of your world, you are ready to move on to the thickest and most complicated level…the central Cultural Tier. 3. The Cultural Tier First off, there are national cultures. These may or may not be very important, depending on whether your story takes place in one country or your characters come from several. To start with, especially if you do have a number of different countries, you might want to consider basing each country off a modern or ancient culture. For example, in one of my worlds I have a nation based off medieval Anglo-Saxons, while a neighboring country is a Roman/German mix and yet another has a more Spanish/French feel. While everything in these nations are not based off of the real nations, it does give me a foundation for choosing names for people in each country as well as an overall feel for the country’s character. And then comes the fun part. National flags. National symbols. Seals for the kings. The authority and judgment structure. Gathering of taxes. The size and mentality of the army… Alright, so some parts might be more enjoyable than others. And some things which aren’t important to the story can be skimmed over. And don’t get too carried away by the formalities of the nation. Each nation is made up of people, and it’s through their eyes readers will view the culture. While developing the culture of your world or your nations, there are a few broad questions that can help give you a feel for the society. Some answers may remain the same throughout the world while others might be specific to each nation. What is the basic moral and belief system? (even though you’ve already outlined or developed the upper tier, you still must decide how many people believe in the King, to what extent do they follow Him and His laws, ect.). What’s the authority structure, both in homes and in nations? What is the role of the man and the woman? Is it a farming culture, a nomadic group, or an urban society? It might also help to write a list of six (as a random, non-specific number) words or phrases that describe your country. For my Germanic land I mentioned above, I’d write: Courageous, hard, mercenaries, wolf-riders, oppression, firm leadership. For the Spanish/French nation, the words are a bit different: Orchards, music, bright colors, careless, lush lands, warmth. While creating a world or nation, it can also be helpful to find a question and answer template. Many of these can be found online and, below, I’ve shared the template I’ve created and use when developing my own nations. National colors National accent (as their speaking sounds to the people of neighboring countries) Population (and, sometimes, the ratio between men, women, and children) National flag National symbol National salute Music Location (general geography) Authority structure (national and family) Finances (yes, this includes taxes) Legal system (laws and judgments) What the people are known for Real country model (optional, as mentioned above) Sayings (another category I sometimes don’t answer. This is for common sayings the people of the nation use and sayings/stereotypes that others speak of them) How people generally look How people generally dress How people generally act (in manners, speech, and values) Main occupations Insults (this can be fun…it can also show where people of these various countries are sensitive and to what degree) The woman (treatment and role) Size of national army Rule in the army (including divisions into regiments and such) Armor of the army Normal army tactics There are, of course, smaller details which can be equally important, such as national foods, size and structure of cities, layout of roads, style of buildings…the list could go on and on. As you can see, there’s almost a limitless depth you can dive when developing a country. There are so many details…and then you can progress to finding pictures for a storyboard, writing legends, forming superstitions, and in general discovering several story ideas while simply creating your world. But in the end, you must decide what you really need to know, bring the development of the country to a conclusion, and start writing the story for which it belongs. After all, it’s through your book that readers will finally see another world…one which never existed before. You might remember a previous interview I did with Micahel Reid Jr, it was full of details about his book "Debt of Fear." He is now releasing a new book, "The Beyond Experience," and I was able to have a wonderful discussion with him on it's writing. Enjoy!
1) Can you tell us about your book, The Beyond Experience? The Beyond Experience is tough to place into one genre. It's suspenseful, with elements of sci-fi and a love story spanning two-decades. The story is driven by strong, emotional characters. Their stories are relatable to nearly anyone, because everyone has experienced loss, love, regret. The Beyond Experience centers around an emotionally erratic Dr. Ethan Lewis who's hidden past drives his research to cure anxiety and depression. He's successful, allowing millions to experience the treatment, all of whom state they'd visited heaven; but had they really? The supporting cast of characters include deep and complicated people who all gravitate towards Dr. Lewis through their circumstances. Your heart will bleed for them, cheer with them, cry, smile, laugh, and believe in their hopes. There's a murder, patients go missing, and Dr. Lewis is forced to do something he's promised himself for over a decade he wouldn't do. An incredible ending forces anyone who reads the book to ask the question: what if? 2) What day will your book be released? December 11, 2016. I'm planning on having a pre-order sale of $0.99 through Kindle. my website is www.michaelreidjr.com, and includes the first 2 chapters of my book for those interested in a sneak peak. 3) What was the hardest part about writing this book? Finding the time to sit and let it happen. The idea came to me one afternoon and wrote itself in days. I remember being on vacation, without a computer. Over and over again in my head I built the story, forcing my self to memorize the plot in broad strokes, changing the plot here and there until I finally got back home and began writing. It was a good problem to have, but it did make me nervous that one day the ideas would leave as soon as they came so I had to write like a madman. There was one day i wrote 10k words. It was magical, but I was out of commission for a week after that. 4) Have you ever encountered that problem before? No. usually I have access to a computer. It's rare I get a vacation. You know how it is. 5) Did you write an outline for this book? Or did you "pants" it? I write rough outlines. Sentence fragments which essentially act as dots for me to connect as the story progresses. I allow the characters to write most of it for me. It's very important to let a character have their voice. 6) What is your opinion regarding "pantsing" and "planning"? Pantsing is my life. I know where I want a story to go, more or less. It's the job of the characters to write the in-betweens. Sometimes the characters decide to force my hand on the larger plot points and I need to make some accommodations. But for me, that's exciting, and often times the story works better that way. Planning works for some, but not for me. The idea of writing long, elaborate outlines just doesn't work. It bores me to think of mapping every stage in a story before finally getting into it. Fortunately for me, I've been very productive this last year and I can't imagine spending hours on an outline, especially one my characters will likely force me to change. It makes me feel like I wasted time. Nothing worse for productivity than wasted time. 7) What was your inspiration for writing this book? I don't often talk about emotional things, so I think this was an outlet for me. I hadn't even realized how close to home this novel was until some of the test readers and editors came back to me and asked if the characters were modeled after my personal life experiences. After re-reading it myself, my experiences did parallel with some of the character's. Without giving away plot points, I've suffered quite a bit of loss in my life. The ideas in this book are very appealing and, although impossible, makes you wonder; what if? This book is so rich with emotion and events we all go through in life. I think it's relatable across all people of any generation and, for that matter, all time. You could have picked this book up 200 years ago, read it, and felt the same emotions as the characters. This book will stand the test of time. In a thousand years people will still be feeling the emotions of loss, love, regret, guilt, sorrow, heartache, joy, elation, disappointment. They'll still taste success, failure, battle ethics and work hard. And even if they never talk about it, they'll always crave one more moment with someone they lost. 8) Will you be working on any more books in the future? Absolutely. I currently have two more sequels planned for the Logan Falcone thriller series, a historical fiction piece I'm incredibly excited about, a biography of a man I knew my whole life, and a very secret hush-hush sci-fi series I'm brainstorming. 9) What advice do you have for writers who are hoping to publish? My advice would be to find people who are tough critics, who know a good book, who are HONEST and not afraid to tell you something sucks. I have those people, and they are irreplaceable. A bunch of "yes" men and women won't lead to success. You need to hear the bad and grow from it. Constructive feedback is critical in growing as a writer. Author Derryan Derrough was a treat to interview, I am sure you will all enjoy his writing advice!
To start off, can you tell us a little about your book(s)? Well, The Sound You Made is about a billionaire crime fighter that takes an orphan under his wing after her parents are murdered. The story also follows his day-to-day life, not just fight-fight-fight-rest. That’s one of the things I always wondered: Yeah, you fight crime, but how do you juggle everything else? What was the inspiration of your most recent story? When I was younger, I used to read comic books. As I got older, I kind of got out of that, but when comic book-based movies started coming out, I was hooked again. I love that stuff. Making your own technology, making cities how you want to make them…it’s a lot of fun. When did you start writing? How did that come about? I started writing short stories when I was around eight, but took a break when I got a Nintendo. Wow, what an old-fashioned sentence. I started writing in bulk when I was around 27, getting on RPG (Role Playing Game) boards, making characters, and seeing where they would take me. I started writing books when I became impatient with my partners. I always wanted to write, but found myself waiting on a reply from them. One day, I talked myself into it. I remember telling a friend, “Well, no matter what’s written, it’s always my turn.” I might pop up every once in a great while, but I haven’t really looked back. As a writer, what did you struggle with most writing your book(s)? Editing, without a doubt. I’m not the self-deprecating type that thinks that their first draft is the worst thing ever put together. I hate to cut my own words. I wrote them for a reason! I feel like I’m the only one that feels that way sometimes, so if there is anyone out there that feels that way, let me know. It’s lonely over here. How have you overcome that struggle? Coming to the realization that it’s a completely necessary part of the process. Trust me, when you look back through it a couple times, you’ll find that you may have something better to say, when the pressure of just “getting it out” goes away. What made you decide to publish? I was getting to a point in my life where I was writing so much, but it was for no real reason, other than fun. I had so many ideas I wanted to get out there, so many things to say, and doing it on a writing board limited the potential for that. It’s public, but that’s not where the majority of your readers are. That was another realization. Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently, in writing, or publishing? I would’ve done more research in the beginning. I started off thinking, “Oh, I’m good” when in reality, I was just a kid with some talent and no real discipline. It’s one thing to write words, but it’s another thing to really sit down and create something. What has been the highlight of your writing career so far? Besides doing this interview? Going on Author Visits. That’s a really fun part of what I do. I get to go into places and talk to kids about writing, share stories, and listen to them share, as well. One time I read an excerpt from my book, and stopped at a point of high tension. I heard groans of frustration, and a request to keep going. On my way home, I thought, “Man…I wrote that.” When the words hit your readers’ ears or eyes just right, there’s no better feeling. What advice would you give to writers who are considering publishing? You only live one life. If you want to put your words out there, do it! Learn from the positive feedback, but your ability to learn from negative feedback will be important, too. Be undeterred, no matter what. Dealing with Writer’s Block, Distractions, and Priorities - By Shadow Dragon
So everyone knows writing is just a walk in the park, am I right? It’s so easy, I can write the next best seller in a month, right? WRONG! If you haven’t already realized, I’m a very sarcastic writer. Come on. When you grow up with not one, but two older brothers, you learn sarcasm at a very young age. But enough about me. There will be time for that later. I love alliterations, if you could tell from the title. They’re fun, catchy, and they grab the reader’s attention. Don’t we wish all of our writing could be like that? Unfortunately, it’s not. Let’s be real for a second. We would all love to think that our writing is spectacular and perfect. But it’s not. I’m not the type of person to sugar-coat information. I’m blunt, and sometimes come off as a perpetually angry, cup-is-half-empty type of person. But let’s get real, writers. Sometimes that’s what we need to give us the push to finish the daily, weekly, or monthly word goal. So no sugar-coating today. Put your game face on and Let’s get down to business! To defeat the BLOCK!!! (If you didn’t sing that, you really need to rethink your life) No. 1 – Writer’s block: Face it writers, bloggers, and poets. Writer’s block is inevitable, and the sooner you accept this, the better. If I took a survey, I bet the number one writer’s frustration is that mean old block. When the imaginary friends leave you alone, when the muse is asleep, when the character’s won’t cooperate. Whatever you want to call it, it is plain and simple. Your brain refuses to create words. So the question of the hour is this: Since it is inevitable, how do you defeat the writer’s block? Problem is, there is no definite answer. However I can give you a few tips on what I do to get inspiration. 1) Re-read your writing. If you’re writing a novel, look back at some of your completed chapters. If you’re writing an article, a little research never hurt anyone. And poets… um idk, read some poetry? (I’m sorry, I don’t enjoy poetry, so I can’t really help you there.) 2) Look at some inspirational pictures. Go on Pinterest and make a storyboard. Find pictures of people that remind you of your characters. Costumes, scenery, or places, that will inspire you. Trust me on this one, it actually works. Plus, it fulfills your desperate need to procrastinate, which is a huge bonus. 3) If you’re a music person, then fill your soul with all the music it can hold. Don’t stick to just one genre. Diversify. Listen to something that just makes you want to cry, or laugh, or sing. Part of writing is keeping a positive attitude. Music make me happy. Which leads me to point number four. 4) Find your happy. In my opinion, this is extremely important in the life of any writer. If you are sad, depressed, or angry, your writing will not flow as well. Do your happy thing. Read a book, cook something, listen to music (that’s me!), cry over your favorite character, derp around on the internet (also me), or just take a nap. That fixes everything. But that’s all introvert stuff, ’cause I’m an introvert. No. 2 – Distractions: Admit it. Writers, above all else love to procrastinate. Especially if we have some writing to do. Here’s a few tips on Destroying Dumb Distractions. 1) Make yourself an inviting atmosphere in which to write. Make it personal, make it relaxing, but most of all, make it yours. No child may sit there and scribble on your notes, no random clutter of someone else’s, however a cuddly pet may be allowed if they are not too distracting. 2) Set a specific time for writing. No one should bother you during this time. Get a cup of coffee if that’s your thing (I prefer Young Living’s carbonated ZING) and get to work. DON’T check your email, or your phone. Avoid the internet at all costs. Eat a snack before you start writing so you don’t leave your work to eat. 3) Set a word goal. I used to just write until I was tired of writing, or had written myself into a corner I couldn’t escape. Bad idea. I would get tired of the writing because I was stuck. I wouldn’t want to come back to it. In fact, I didn’t write for an entire month once because I had done this to myself. Set yourself a goal, and stick to it. I usually like to write about 1,000-1,500 words at a time, every other evening. Why every other evening? The long and short of it is this. On my “other” nights, I watch movies or tv, read, spend time with family, or do extra studying. This may not work for some, but I have found it works for me. Find what works for you and stick to it. And last but no least, No. 3 – Priorities: This may seem boring, but there must be priorities in your life, and writing, surprisingly may not be the first thing on the list. Do you wake up and immediately start writing? If your like me, a teen who’s still in highschool, then maybe not. Even if you write for a living, still maybe not. There are pets to feed, children to feed, self to feed, laundry to do, homework, paperwork, or yardwork. The list goes on and on. Writing may have to be shuffled down the list a bit until the priorities are taken care of. Rabbit Trails is near and dear to my heart, but it is not my number one priority. My suggestion to you is to make a list of your daily tasks and get them in order from “Must do or the world as we know it ends” to “Yeah, I’d love to try that new hairstyle I found on Pinterest”. Make a list of daily, weekly, and monthly tasks that need to be taken care of. Do you have a test coming up? Maybe you should study a bit more instead of writing. Does the car need to be washed? Maybe do that before writing. I’m not saying that life needs to be all work and no play. That’s depressing, and does not align with No. 1 sub-section 4. Schedule out time to do something fun besides writing. Go see a new movie at the theater with some friends. Do a little shopping (bookstores do count you know). Spend some time relaxing, so that you can come back to your work refreshed and with new strength to tackle that story. P.S. A planner or a schedule book helps, but don’t let it rule you. Be flexible! Regards, -ShadowD- This interview is so good! Ashley has some very good writing advice, which I am sure you will all enjoy.
1) Tell us about your latest book: I am very excited about my upcoming book, Alone in Paris! It will be released next year. I haven’t set a date yet because I am still revising to make it as perfect as can be for my readers. If you follow me on Instagram (@ashley_earley) or Twitter (@ashleyc_earley), then you’ve seen all my editing updates. I’m so close to finishing, and I’ve been sharing my excitement constantly! It is already available for pre-order on iBooks, Kobo and Nook (Barnes & Noble) for $2.99. Here is the summary: Breathe, Taylor. Taylor Clay’s family isn’t exactly perfect. They may look the part with the nice, big house and her dad’s fancy job, but that’s what’s tearing them apart. That, and her dad’s sudden recurring drinking problem. Though her family is close to falling apart, she never wished for something like this to happen. She never wished for her father to drive off a bridge. Especially not while they were on vacation; especially not when her and her mom were in the car with him at the time. Breathe. She’s devastated after the fact. And it isn’t helping that the papers are gossiping about how the pristine lawyer could have driven off the bridge on purpose. And just when she thinks nothing could possibly make things worse, she realizes she’s left alone with no relatives to care for her. So she’s alone. Her parents are dead. And she’s stuck in the country her family was visiting for their vacation. She’s alone in Paris. Just breathe. Then Nathan walks into the picture. Funny, snarky, persistent, and sometimes, just flat out rude, he annoys Taylor to no end. He won’t leave her alone, but Taylor doesn’t know whether or not she should push him away. 2) How old were you when you started writing? I was 14-years old when I started writing. At first, it sort of started out as an experiment. I wanted to see if I could write a book—to see how difficult it was. I ended up loving it and couldn’t stop. I wrote one book after another! 3) What do you do when you are lacking inspiration? I listen to music; I read for a little bit, or I take my writing gear and go somewhere else for a change of scenery. I love writing outside on my back patio! 4)What made you decide to publish your book(s)? I had tried to get published the traditional way, but when that didn’t work out, I decided that I wanted to take one of my books to the next step myself and publish it on my own. It was very challenging to publish The Darkest Light. I ran into a lot of bumps in the road, but I was determined to get it in print. It was all worth it once I got to hold a physical copy of The Darkest Light. I’m looking forward to publishing another book! 5) At this point in your career, what has been the most memorable experience as a writer thus far? Actually submitting my book to publish it. It was horrifying and exciting all at once. I wanted to take it back as soon as I had done it because I was worried what people would. I was really worried that no one would like it, like every author. It’s a scary thing to share something you’ve created. It’s even scarier to share a part of you because every book (even if it’s fiction) holds a bit of truth. I’m not saying that dragons are real, but life struggles or thoughts that character(s) have can be true—as well as other things. 6) What would be your advice to fellow writers who want to publish their work? Don’t give up on it. Sometimes you’re going to feel like your book isn’t good enough to publish, and you shouldn’t feel that way. You can always edit and revise your book to make it better. You should be proud of what you wrote! You worked hard, whether if it was for weeks, months, or years. You should publish your book if you feel like you’re ready for the challenge. And do your research! Don’t just hire anyone to do your book cover art. 7) Share one of your past obstacles in your writing career, and how you overcame it? I battle with one obstacle constantly. It is one of the most common obstacles for writers and the most difficult to overcome. Writer’s block. I hate writer’s block just as much as every writer. Having a block is horrible, and pushing through it isn’t always the best solution because you’re not doing your best writing. Sometimes, listening to music can help me, or reading another book. Though, most of the time, I have to wait out my block. It can take days or weeks until I’m ready to write again. But, once I do, I usually find myself unable to stop. 8) If you were starting your writing career over today, what is one thing you would do differently? I would have done a better job at putting together The Darkest Light and done a better job spreading the word about The Darkest Light. I plan to do a much better job with Alone in Paris. The story is put together a lot better, and the writing style and grammar are all much better, at least, I think so. Hopefully, everyone else will too! Looking for writing tips, look no further than this interview!
Mrs. Puelma, can you tell us about your books? Here are my back blurbs! The Missing Crimoire Twelve-year-old Luke Cedrus lives in the most un-magical place (an adoption ward), under the authority of the most un-magical person (Mrs. Hall), believing only un-magical things happen to him (detention). Until one night, Luke discovers he is anything but un-magical. He is a keeper of magic. The one thing Luke wants in life? Family. With his new magical powers, he’s convinced he can have just that. Or can he? Immediately, life flips upside-down as in one night, he must escape from the ward to save his life and learns that his mother is dead and his father is wanted for the murder of a powerful keeper. Now, engulfed by his new magical surroundings, Luke faces ridicule and ultimate danger for the actions of his father. Plus, after discovering an evil keeper’s secret plot to dominate keepers everywhere, Luke is thrust into an adventure well beyond his years. It’ll take the help of his new friends, magical key, and sheer belief in himself to tackle the terrors facing the keeper world. And discover what family truly means. The Naming of Colton Black Seventeen-year-old Breslin Black grew up in the royal family; in a kingdom where a mystical naming ceremony determines everyone’s destiny. Where every thirteen-year-old receives a definition of their name, one that sets the tone of their life to follow. For centuries, royals have received Namings that mean powerful; leader; protector. Until one. Princess Breslin. Her naming’s results? Rattled her royal lineage and worse, fractured the once sweet relationship she had with her father the king. For years, Breslin vowed to prove to him she’s more than her Naming. That he can trust her; love her. But nothing she did made any bit of difference. Until her brother Colton is Named. Until he too receives mind-numbing results, sending the kingdom into a panic as a once unshakeable tradition begins to unravel. Her father, desperate to conserve order and peace, approaches Breslin for help. This is her chance. She agrees, promising to follow him blindly. But as Breslin submits to her father’s plans, she discovers things about the Namings that have been overshadowed for centuries. Dark secrets. And if they’re not exposed, the future of the kingdom could crumble. Breslin’s loyalty is now put to the test. If she departs from her father’s plans she risks never healing their relationship again. But if Breslin ignores what she uncovers, she could be responsible for the kingdom’s demise. Were you ever turned down by publishers? If so, how did that affect you? YES — For a year, I queried The Missing Crimoire to agents and publishing houses and received several rejections. All very nice--but all said no. I then queried The Naming of Colton Black to over 40 literary agents. Once again, I received rejection after rejection — this time, however, agents were more encouraging in their responses—“This is such a subjective field”; “Keep querying”; etc. One agent asked to see my entire manuscript, she liked it so much. But in the end, decided to pass. Each no is ALWAYS hard to hear. Your work is such a personal representation of you, so any kind of rejection of your work feels like a rejection of you. But, I knew this was part of the journey. I knew that every writer has heard a no. And that all it takes is one yes. I think rejections also help you develop tough skin, which is most definitely needed in this industry. While I decided to go the self-publishing route, I am still interested in and curious about traditional publishing. Which authors inspired, and influenced, you the most? Like many, J.K.Rowling has been a huge influence on my writing — how she created such a fantastical story with such depth and detail blows my mind. Not to mention her adoring characters. When I create new worlds, I’m always thinking about Rowling’s depth. Orson Scott Card, hands down, has forever changed how I view and write internal character monologues / emotions etc. One of my favorite characters in literature is Ender; I never thought I’d feel such emotion for a young genius boy who fights battles in space. But. The way Scott reveals Ender’s character, desires, wants, I can’t help but fall in love with him. And lastly, F. Scott Fitzgerald. I admire his poetic prose so much and aim to write not only interesting stories but to write them in a beautiful, melodic way. I am always trying to find the right cadence to my sentences; the right flow; the right sound--even if it’s a kid’s book. How would your writing be different, if you hadn’t read their works? Interesting question! I want to say my writing wouldn’t differ too much, but that’s probably a lie. These three authors helped me find my style; my voice. It was reading their works that lead me to know how exactly I wanted to write stories. Without them? I think that process would have taken much longer. I might not have discovered my style as quickly--or at all, for that matter. How old were you when you started writing? I was *old* in the “I want to be a writer” world--I was 18. I always loved drawing and spent my childhood creating characters through art. Not until I was a senior in high school did I start to enjoy writing. Then, when I began college (as an undeclared freshman), I received such praise for my writing from peers and professors. The amazing support gave me the confidence I needed to start my journey as a writer. Do you have a favorite time of day to write? I used to think night time, since I’m a night owl. But honestly? Any time of day works. Afternoons are a little tricky, since I’m usually most sluggish then. For me, it’s more about the ambiance. The space. Set me up in a coffee house in a big city with a mug of coffee, and I could write for days. When you have an idea for a story, what is your first step in writing it? When an idea hits me, I grab the nearest writing instrument and write everything down that’s flowing through my mind. I want to get as much of the original thoughts on paper/screen as possible. No time for editing. No time for anything but putting words down. Was there ever a time when you felt like quitting writing at all? If so, what motivated you to keep going? Yes! But I think knowing that who I am is a writer and if I quit, what then? I look at those times now — those “I can’t do this” times — and seem them as I need a break from whatever project I’m working on. Then, once that passes (and it always does), I feel recharged and motivated again. I don’t think I could ever stop writing. It’s as necessary as breathing. What do you do to combat writers block? Write through it! Often times I set either a page limit, a word limit, or a time limit on my writing days. And no matter what, no matter how I’m feeling; no matter if I’m inspired or not; not matter if the words come or they don’t, I force myself to reach that goal for the day. True, this doesn’t always happen. But there have been plenty of times I sat down to a 4-hour writing session and the writing didn’t happen until hour three. But had I let“writer’s block” determine my day, I would have missed out on some amazing prose! Is there a certain person you turn to when you lack inspiration, or just want to brainstorm? My husband. He has been the most fun and helpful person to brainstorm with! He’s not a writer,but he is a jazz musician so a lot of our processes and vocabularies cross over. He has such a great imagination and can see a story from a new perspective. His ideas are fresh; his words encouraging; and he’s easy on the eyes, which doesn’t hurt! Can you remember any specific milestones in your life as a writer? Every time I finish a first draft, I cry. There’s something so exhausting, so rewarding, so overwhelming when that moment comes. Along with those moments, I’d have to say the first time I saw my published book in my favorite bookstore. This blew my mind. I worked at that bookstore; met my husband there; and now have my books on its shelves. What?? To wrap it up, can you tell us your advice for your fellow writers, new or otherwise? One of the greatest pieces of advice I received from an amazing professor of mine (who oversaw the Creative Writing department at Pepperdine University) was if you want to be writer, write. I had contemplated on getting my MFA; he asked me what I wanted to do with my writing. “Write books,” was my answer. His reply? Then, just write. I knew that it would take practice; that I wouldn’t get it right away; that I wouldn’t even know what I was doing. But if I kept at it, kept writing, I would get there. I would write books. My other piece of advice is to always show up. No matter how little time you have, show up. If you schedule writing time, make sure you’re there. And stay there until your time is over. Like I said before, often times my best writing comes just minutes before my writing hour is up. Had I left? I never would have discovered some of the best plots/characters/dialogue that I’ve written. You're going to love this interview I did with Amy Bearce! It is full of great writing advice!
Can you tell us a little about your books? My books are best suited for tweens and young teens who enjoy fantasy with some dark elements, as well as anyone who likes a bit of light romance with a strong female protagonist. I have two books out in the World of Aluvia series now, and a third is scheduled for May 2016. To tell a little about the stories themselves… The world of Aluvia has always been full of magic, but as humans greedily use too much of it, magical creatures suffer and the world itself begins to shake apart. In Book 1, when the fairy queens disappear, it marks the beginning of a long journey for three girls who seek to heal their world. Sierra must find the fairy queens who spread magic throughout the world. In Book 2, Phoebe must help the gentle merfolk find their magic once more. And in the final book of the sries, Nell must hold the line when a new enemy arrives on dragonback who wants to turn back the clock to the glory days of human domination of Aluvia. What gave you the idea for them? A number of years ago, I wrote a short story that required some research on Colony Collapse Disorder in bees. I found the mystery of it fascinating and alarming. Because I love fantasy so much, I suppose it was inevitable that one day I asked myself, “What if instead of bees going missing, it was fairies disappearing? And what if instead of collecting nectar for their hives, fairies gathered magic?” And the story developed from there. The very first line I had wrote was, “All the little fairies were dead.” Can you describe your writing process? It varies, but these days I do a lot of planning prior to writing much. I brainstorm ideas and might write a possible first chapter or so, to see if I can feel the voice of the character. But then I stop and try to sketch out the whole story. I don’t have to know the whole story, but I do need to at least know the main problem and how the story will end. I used to try to go with the flow, and it just didn’t work for me. What do you do to gain inspiration? I read a lot, both fiction and nonfiction. There are so many interesting, strange things in the real world that just beg for a story to go with them. I journal daily (or tryto.) I travel a lot with my family. I rest. I daydream. Basically, I live life and try to pay attention to what’s going on around me as much as I can. What prompted you to write your first story? I was writing short reading passages for state assessments at the time. I used to teach English and reading, so I began by writing test questions, and then someone asked me, “Hey, can you write a story for us?” and I gave it a shot. I sold over 250 articles and short stories over ten years…but along the way, I grew tired of always writing the same kind of stories. I wanted to write fantasy and science fiction, but those are uncommon for state assessments. I read a book called The Artist’s Way that encouraged keeping a daily journal. Soon, as I was writing, a new story sort of poured out onto the page. That was my first full-length manuscript. I never sold that one (with good reason) but it was a turning point for me, when I began writing for me and not just for others. What was your favorite book as a child? I don’t think I have just one favorite book that I can point to from my childhood (though the Ramona Quimby books come close), but I do think one book that had a big impact on me as a young teen was A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle. I have always appreciated her ability to write about deep, dark subjects while maintaining hope for her young readers. I love that she never talked down to any of her readers. I reread that book so many times it fell apart…twice. Would your writing be any different, if you had never read that book? I’m not sure…I’d like to think I would still respect my tween and young teen readers as the savvy, smart people that I see them as today. I believe that kids and teens can handle a lot, and I think a lot of that comes from Madeleine L’Engle’s no-nonsense approach to writing and the trust she offered to her audience. She also showed me it was possible to write seriously about life through a story full of magic and science fiction. I have never viewed speculative fiction as the fluff that some do, probably because Madeleine L’Engle’s books are so rich in theme and reflection. She opened the way for me to fall in love with Mercedes Lackey, Anne McCaffrey, and Elizabeth Moon as well. What advice do you have to writers looking to get published? Read a lot, in a wide variety of genres. And write a lot. It’s hardly original advice—Stephen King says this in his book On Writing—but it’s the truest that I know. The other is to get connected to other writers and study the industry. There’s a ton of information online if you simply search for it, about how to query, the pros and cons of various types of publishing…do your research and go from there. Can you tell us about your newly released book Kingdom?
Kingdom is my debut novel; a contemporary fantasy story based on the concept of an enchanted manor which brings story characters to life. I had been playing around for some time with the idea of sentient characters, and the basis for this story came to fruition when I merged it with a dream I had back in the summer of 2015. It is an action-packed story following the adventures of 18 year-old Pepper Fairfield after she realises her new job isn’t quite what she expected! Which authors inspired, and influenced, you the most? Growing up, a firm favourite of mine was The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.I just love all the ideas behind it and the way it combines real life with a slight flavour of fantasy. Nowadays—and I largely have the online writing group, WriteOn, to thank for this—I tend to veer towards books written by authors similar to myself: comparatively lesser known writers, often independently published. I enjoy giving thorough reviews and feedback which, in turn, allows me to develop my own writing. I’ve never been a big reader of the ‘classics’, so working like this give me a unique outlook on the literary world. How would your writing be different, if you hadn’t read their works? Reading and reviewing works by these wonderful, undiscovered authors offers me a much broader look at what is out there, and I feel there is a lot to be learnt from working closely with other writers. Sure, I may be unconventional in my approach, but who knows? Maybe it’s the future of writing! How old were you when you started writing? Honestly, I find it difficult to pinpoint the exact moment I started to write. It has been a hobby of mine pretty much entire life, but I guess I only really started taking it seriously when I started work on Kingdom just over a year ago when I was seventeen.What? You didn’t know I’m still a teenager? But, as I said, there really was no exact moment when I decided that I wanted to write. I often joke that I might have been an author in a previous existence! Do you have a favorite time of day to write? In the evenings is always a nice time to write. I like to work in my bedroom, which is filled with strings of twinkling fairy lights. When it’s dark outside, it looks like you’ve stepped straight into a fantasy world! Great for finding inspiration! When you have an idea for a story, what is your first step in writing it? I grab my beautiful fountain pen and whichever colourful notebook I happen to be using at the time, and jot the idea down. I’m more of a panster than a planner, so I will begin writing pretty much straight away, allowing the ideas to unfold as I go, but referring back to my notebook whenever a concept requires more thought. Was there ever a time when you felt like quitting writing at all? If so, what motivated you to keep going? On the first day after Kingdom was released, I sold far less copies than I expected to. There was a moment then where I felt like all my efforts had been in vain. Thankfully, the sales picked up throughout the week but, even if they hadn’t, I wouldn’t have quit—giving upsimply isn’t in my blood. Besides, I love writing too much! What do you do to combat writers block? I have many techniques—taking a break, re-reading what I’ve written, ploughing through until I break the block—but my favourite method is to make a mental list of all the worst things that could possibly happen. Oftentimes, when I’m stuck in a rut, it means that my storyline has become bland and I’m losing interest. The only way to bring back the spark is tomake something crazy happen! Which character’s appearance would cause the most mayhem? What if something were to set on fire? Is there a certain person you turn to when you lack inspiration, or just want to brainstorm? My younger sister, Claire, is as crazy and insane as I am. When we’re not arguing, we get along extremely well. While I’m drafting my ideas, I will tell them to Claire. I admit, she’s not always that interested, but just the act of explaining the whole idea to someone else really helps me to find any major plot holes and flesh out the story.Sometimes, telling the story to my cat works just as well.Can you remember any specific milestones in your life as a writer? Publishing my first story on Wattpad. In retrospect, it was absolute pants, but it was the first step I ever took in sharing my stories with other people. Before then, I was terrified of people judging my efforts, being the definition of the word ‘introvert’. That first movement inmaking my work public was a huge step for me.To wrap it up, can you tell us your advice for your fellow writers, new or otherwise?Be open to criticism, don’t be afraid of letting yourself fall before you fly and, above all, WRITE! Write because you love it, and because the world will be a better place once it hears your story. This is Hope Anne, the author of the Legends of Light series. She is an inspiring author, and I am so excited to share this interview with you! With our Fantasy Contest underway, I think that her advice on Fantasy will be very helpful. Enjoy!
Can you tell us about your latest book, Song of the Sword? Song of the Sword is a retelling of Rapunzel and the second novella in my Legends of Light series. Though history progresses the series, each story stands alone and focuses on one aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit. In Song of the Sword, Evrard is a wingmaster, a warrior in the alternate dimension of the melody realm most people discount as legend. But even as the war about him seems to draw to an end, another battle rages through the Melody, one Evrard knows he doesn’t have the power to win. And he’s not the only one who will suffer if he fails because he’s made a discovery. He has a sister. Why do you write fantasy? I love swords, bows, griffins, and the freedom to create whole worlds. I also enjoy the allegory aspect I can use in fantasy; the ability to delve deeper into some topics without being preachy, or giving readers a fresh look at other topics without the emotional views they may take on the subject. When you are lacking motivation, what do you do? Work through it. There are plenty of times I don’t feel like writing, but I set deadlines for myself and force myself to keep moving even when I don’t want to. Because I know the lack of motivation won’t last and, when I’m excited about writing again, I’ll be further on in the story and able to press on with more vigor. When did you first start writing fantasy? What prompted that first story? I’ve written on and off since I was around eight. My first stories where short, mainly based off the world around me. I was fifteen or sixteen when I began writing fantasy. I’m not sure what I wrote first, or why. I enjoyed reading fantasy whenever I could. I liked the sword fights and heroic knights and archers and rescues. Somewhere along the way I switched from reading to writing fantasy…and I’ve never stopped. What is the first thing you do, when you come up with an idea? Write it down, because I will forget it if I don’t. I have several documents full of ideas. Generally I’m working on a few projects at one time while other ideas sift around in my brain…sometimes for a few years before I actually do anything with them. Do you plan and outline before you start writing, or write some first? I outline. All the time. If it’s a novella, I might just write a basic outline. If it’s a novel, I write an extended chapter by chapter outline along with character profiles and (sometimes) bits of backstory. Some people say that young people don’t have experiences needed to be successful as a writer, as a young author yourself, what is your take on this? Well, most writers don’t go through what their characters go through. They haven’t fought in battle or traveled through space or led a rebellion. If we were limited to writing about just what we’d experienced, we’d be very limited indeed, even as we grew older. But writers, no matter their age, can research to make sure their stories are grounded in reality. We can read well-written books and ‘experience’ things that way. Experience might deepen your writing, but if a writer understands emotions and can show them well, then they should be able to write about almost anything. Having said that, I personally write very little romance even as subplots and don’t intend to write much about characters getting married until I’m married myself. Though not impossible, marriage and romance, for me, is one thing I find hard to just ‘make up’ realistically. What is your advice for young people, thinking about getting published? Don’t cut corners. If you’re self-publishing, make sure you get a good cover. Make sure you proofread and proofread again and again and again. Make sure you format your book correctly. You’ve spent a lot of time creating it. You don’t want to put off readers due to a rush to get it published. Alright, to wrap it up, what advice do you have for your fellow writers? Spend a little time thinking about your purpose for writing. Is it a hobby, for personal enjoyment? There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Is it to spread a message? Is it to earn a living? Nothing wrong with that either. But once you know your purpose for writing, that knowledge can help you relax or help you set deadlines and figure out how you want to go about your writing. |
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