Ask the Author: L.A. Nettles
Answered Questions (5)
L.A. Nettles
Rachel,
As with most publications, there will always be mistakes. Before I published Butterflies, I went through the steps of ensuring it was vetted before it was uploaded/printed/published. This year long process involved 5 Beta Readers, a professional Copy Line Editor, a professional Copy Editor, and a professional proofreader. Even though this was "Fun Read", I did take it seriously enough to pay professionals and do the edits/rewrites, because this book has my name on it. Thank you for bringing it to my attention, and I'm glad you enjoyed the story, even if you felt it wasn't polished. I appreciate you taking the time to let me know.
As with most publications, there will always be mistakes. Before I published Butterflies, I went through the steps of ensuring it was vetted before it was uploaded/printed/published. This year long process involved 5 Beta Readers, a professional Copy Line Editor, a professional Copy Editor, and a professional proofreader. Even though this was "Fun Read", I did take it seriously enough to pay professionals and do the edits/rewrites, because this book has my name on it. Thank you for bringing it to my attention, and I'm glad you enjoyed the story, even if you felt it wasn't polished. I appreciate you taking the time to let me know.
L.A. Nettles
Always show/share your work to people. Don't hide it. Criticism is your friend. You may not like what you hear, but you need to hear it. It allows you to see a different perspective and update/edit for the benefit of making your story better. Beta Readers/Editors always help improve the story. My friends read my work to encourage me, but I needed unbiased criticism. Having strangers read your 'erotica' is somewhat humorous, because they never edit the 'sex scenes'.
L.A. Nettles
My daughter is bipolar. We have a very close relationship that is nonsensical to most of my friends. My daughter tells me 'everything'...from how her vagina feels to how she feels empty. Her mood swings created this unusual dichotomy in our relationship. It is like living with Jekyll/Hyde, and having the patience to understand, as well as help. Our relationship is the basis for my next book. Yes, there are sad days, but so many funny crazy days that seem unreal. As a single mom trying to understand her depression, sexuality, and strong political views... there are many stories to pull from.
L.A. Nettles
Having free time to write is a bonus, but music always inspires me.
Listening to music is a great motivator for me. I have multiple playlists for my moods. For example, I'll just put Depeche Modes, "Violator" on, and just write. Sometimes when I hear the power of music, it persuades me to write...even a paragraph. I'm working on a book now about the complexities of a Mother/Daughter relationship, especially when the daughter is bipolar. I know who the characters are ...but songs trigger scenes or conversations. It's what I hear playing in that scene.
Listening to music is a great motivator for me. I have multiple playlists for my moods. For example, I'll just put Depeche Modes, "Violator" on, and just write. Sometimes when I hear the power of music, it persuades me to write...even a paragraph. I'm working on a book now about the complexities of a Mother/Daughter relationship, especially when the daughter is bipolar. I know who the characters are ...but songs trigger scenes or conversations. It's what I hear playing in that scene.
L.A. Nettles
Writing has always been cathartic for me. I've never written stories but I made it a point to write down how I was feeling or just random thoughts. I was pretty traumatized after my divorce, and I couldn't sleep at night, so I would just sit up late with my laptop and make up stories. The stories were like conversations to myself. Fast Forward to 2 years after my divorce, I started dated. That's when my characters evolved. I found modern romance humorous and foreign. I was a "Beta Machine" in a fast paced Netflix world. Emerson and Dr. Alexander were in a sense, "Me". Sex and romance after being with the same person for 17 yrs is pretty shocking, liberating, and pretty damn funny.
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