E. Rachael Hardcastle's Blog, page 26
November 1, 2016
The Author Interviews: Round 3, #11: Angelique L'amour
The Author Interviews continues withAngelique L'Amour, author of Chemo, Cupcakes and Carpools: How to go through chemo with your family, your marriage, and your sanity intact.Where do you get your ideas from?My imagination and my life.Why do you write?It is like breathing to me. I have always written and it centers me and keeps me moving forward.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?At the moment I am writing non-fiction which is motivating because I am able to help people. Love writing fiction because I love a good story. I enjoy telling stories.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?I try to see if it is personally driven or has some merit. If it has some merit I will consider it but I always consider the source.What do you find difficult about writing?Time. I have a family and a husband and a dog and another job so time is the hardest thing for me to grab.Do you ever outsource your work?I outsource line edits, editing and formatting for ebooks and self-pub. I also hired an artist to do my cover art.What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?Both have merits. I like the amount of money you get to keep from indie sales. I have published both ways and for my next book I will pursue the traditional route.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.I write my first draft without stopping to edit or I try to but I am a stickler for spelling and punctuation. Then I rewrite by actually rewriting every word and changing as needed. I put both drafts up and work them side by side.With the next drafts I will go into the work in process and work on it. I have one book I have done several drafts on but not finished yet. I think that is because I am still trying to see what the appropriate ending is. I have to let my characters tell me.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Onlu way to be a writer is to write and don't get caught up in the social side to the point that you don't write.If you could go back in time 12 months, what would you advise yourself?Write more and faster.Would you agree a good book must withstand more than one read?Not sure. I have re-read in my life but not as much as an adult.What do you look for when shopping on Amazon for a Kindle book? Highlight those you would consider. Are any of the below more important to you than others? Cover / Title / Author / Price / Description / Publisher / Sample Chapter / ReviewsNone of it matters. Story matters.Who is your favourite author and why?Louis L'amour - really you need a why? Great adventure, great love, great story.Do you have a favourite genre? Tell us more!Love mysteries and historicals and other than that I love Laurie R King, Tasha Alexander and Diana Gabaldon.Do you shop for indie books online? If not, why?I shop for books. Good stories. I don't care who published them.What would it take for you to leave a review on Amazon/ Goodreads & recommend to a friend?A good book I feel passionate about and the time to write the reviews.After downloading book one for free/ 99p or 99c on Amazon, do you ever return and pay more for book two? If not, why?If it is a good book and part of a series I just read it and don't worry about price.Do you ever visit an author's website and if so, why?Usually to find out when the next book is coming out.What would it take for you to sign up to a mailing list?I would have to love love love the author. I get a lot of email.Do you ever enter giveaways and/ or order signed copies?Not really.Thank you to Angelique Lamour for this interesting interview. To show your support, please consider purchasing a copy of the author's book.
October 31, 2016
The Kindest Words
Posted with the permission of the author - click to check out his website.I love hearing from fans of my work, no matter which aspect of my writing life it relates to. Today I spoke with a very kind Facebook user- Allen- and I'd like to share his lovely comments with you all.
In relation to a share of myAnxious Bookaholic guest post:"Excellent blog post, Emma! You obviously know from personal experience and have incredible insights as to how to combat such things. I appreciate how thorough and dynamic your insights were as well. I would second Emma's offer to share this excerpt , it certainly does cover a great deal of "emotional battleground," as well as providing feasible, applicable solutions. Well said indeed.""But really, though, you have an incredibly gifted mind; twice so for having to fight aginst the emotional grain. I will surely read your offered excerpt as well...Something tells me you can either be an incredible friend...or a fierce enemy... I would much prefer to establish myself on the right side of that equation! If not, I neither fault you nor cast blame; I would merely count it a shame."In relation to my later Anxious Bookaholic Guest Post:"Excellent metaphor with the playground...in 30 plus years of anxiety I guess I never looked at it so deeply and dynamically, but I can both see and relate in hindsight."In relation to Finding Pandora: World:"Am I wrong in discerning a great deal of yourself, your path, emotions, and self-view in the work? It would seem that you reveal a bit of yourself in almost every page so far...You have a very unique "openness," and bluntness in the way the words wear "you" on their sleeve. Its very engaging actually. I cannot stand drull, lifeless books..to me a good book should come alive, and yours so far paints a moving picture in my mind.""Yet I can sense the stings of your own battles within the emotional realms of anxiety, depression, and doubts which are highlighted on every page. I can sense the similarity between the main character and just enough of yourself tucked in between the words. Sometimes I think writing is like playing chess...sometimes it's easier to see these things when watching from the side of the board...when we are the ones playing we tend to miss the obvious."Further thanks to Allen for these lovely comments. Please do visit his website above.E. Rachael Hardcastle
In relation to a share of myAnxious Bookaholic guest post:"Excellent blog post, Emma! You obviously know from personal experience and have incredible insights as to how to combat such things. I appreciate how thorough and dynamic your insights were as well. I would second Emma's offer to share this excerpt , it certainly does cover a great deal of "emotional battleground," as well as providing feasible, applicable solutions. Well said indeed.""But really, though, you have an incredibly gifted mind; twice so for having to fight aginst the emotional grain. I will surely read your offered excerpt as well...Something tells me you can either be an incredible friend...or a fierce enemy... I would much prefer to establish myself on the right side of that equation! If not, I neither fault you nor cast blame; I would merely count it a shame."In relation to my later Anxious Bookaholic Guest Post:"Excellent metaphor with the playground...in 30 plus years of anxiety I guess I never looked at it so deeply and dynamically, but I can both see and relate in hindsight."In relation to Finding Pandora: World:"Am I wrong in discerning a great deal of yourself, your path, emotions, and self-view in the work? It would seem that you reveal a bit of yourself in almost every page so far...You have a very unique "openness," and bluntness in the way the words wear "you" on their sleeve. Its very engaging actually. I cannot stand drull, lifeless books..to me a good book should come alive, and yours so far paints a moving picture in my mind.""Yet I can sense the stings of your own battles within the emotional realms of anxiety, depression, and doubts which are highlighted on every page. I can sense the similarity between the main character and just enough of yourself tucked in between the words. Sometimes I think writing is like playing chess...sometimes it's easier to see these things when watching from the side of the board...when we are the ones playing we tend to miss the obvious."Further thanks to Allen for these lovely comments. Please do visit his website above.E. Rachael Hardcastle
The Author Interviews, Round 3: #10: Lindsey Anderson
Round Three of the Author Interviews closes withLindsay Anderson, author of Syrin.
Where do you get your ideas from?I listen to classical or instrumental music and develop a scene to go with it. Characters and places have popped up from there. Then I elaborate upon them. Also, ideas build while I write. Sometimes a background character steps forward into a stronger supporting character. Madrid did that in Syrin.Why do you write?It is another way to create! I draw and paint and sometimes my ideas are long and elaborate. Writing is the best way to capture those ideas. I love how it is a simple medium but can build worlds.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?I like how science fiction can be whatever you want. As simple or as complicated as you would like it to be. I like to take real things and ideas and stretch them, so I read a lot of current science news. Sometimes those real things inspire new and original ideas.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?I haven't had what I would call a "bad review" yet. I have had my share of criticism or critique and rejection. Criticism can be jarring at first, but I read it objectively and do my best to understand the writer's point of view. Oftentimes they can be helpful for future works. Rejection is rejection. I don't put a lot of emotional stock into it and view it with as much a business mentality as I can.What do you find difficult about writing?Writers block is the most difficult. With my sequel to Syrin, I have been going through a few re-writes and seem to get stuck in the same place. I know where I want the story to go, it's getting it to that point.Do you ever outsource your work?I haven't outsourced my work. I'm not sure what that would be...What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?I can see the appeal of both. Indie: you are faced with a lot more work before AND after you publish, but you're published! Traditional: they do the marketing and such for you, you're more easily in stores, your book is in the public eye but it is a lot of work and patience and time to find an agent or publisher.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.Once I have an idea, I elaborate on it in my mind. Sometimes that is laying in bed with headphones and flicking through music tracks. Then I write down a list of characters and biographies to get a background on them and give them different motivations. From there I create cultural notes on the world. Throughout this process I tend to sketch out things as best I can. Once I have direction, I start to write the first draft. If something isn't working, I don't force it. If I need a second opinion on a plot idea or direction, I get one by having someone read what I have so far. Syrin had a few versions. It was an idea I had in high school. It has changed a LOT. Only two characters remained the same and the rest were changed or chopped. Especially the main character.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Keep writing! Practice makes perfect! What really got me going to actually finishing my first novel (which is still a work in progress until I can do it justice) was when my father and I would send each other 10 pages of our work to one another each week. That helped me finish my first draft and sometimes that is the hardest part. Once you have a draft, you have a map and you can better know where you are going.If you could go back in time 12 months, what advice would you give yourself?I had just published 12 months ago. I would probably tell myself to start contacting blogs and getting a better social media presence right away. Perhaps have a better plan in place on building reviews.Many thanks to Lindsay Anderson for this interview. Please show your support by downloading a copy of the book!
Where do you get your ideas from?I listen to classical or instrumental music and develop a scene to go with it. Characters and places have popped up from there. Then I elaborate upon them. Also, ideas build while I write. Sometimes a background character steps forward into a stronger supporting character. Madrid did that in Syrin.Why do you write?It is another way to create! I draw and paint and sometimes my ideas are long and elaborate. Writing is the best way to capture those ideas. I love how it is a simple medium but can build worlds.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?I like how science fiction can be whatever you want. As simple or as complicated as you would like it to be. I like to take real things and ideas and stretch them, so I read a lot of current science news. Sometimes those real things inspire new and original ideas.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?I haven't had what I would call a "bad review" yet. I have had my share of criticism or critique and rejection. Criticism can be jarring at first, but I read it objectively and do my best to understand the writer's point of view. Oftentimes they can be helpful for future works. Rejection is rejection. I don't put a lot of emotional stock into it and view it with as much a business mentality as I can.What do you find difficult about writing?Writers block is the most difficult. With my sequel to Syrin, I have been going through a few re-writes and seem to get stuck in the same place. I know where I want the story to go, it's getting it to that point.Do you ever outsource your work?I haven't outsourced my work. I'm not sure what that would be...What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?I can see the appeal of both. Indie: you are faced with a lot more work before AND after you publish, but you're published! Traditional: they do the marketing and such for you, you're more easily in stores, your book is in the public eye but it is a lot of work and patience and time to find an agent or publisher.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.Once I have an idea, I elaborate on it in my mind. Sometimes that is laying in bed with headphones and flicking through music tracks. Then I write down a list of characters and biographies to get a background on them and give them different motivations. From there I create cultural notes on the world. Throughout this process I tend to sketch out things as best I can. Once I have direction, I start to write the first draft. If something isn't working, I don't force it. If I need a second opinion on a plot idea or direction, I get one by having someone read what I have so far. Syrin had a few versions. It was an idea I had in high school. It has changed a LOT. Only two characters remained the same and the rest were changed or chopped. Especially the main character.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Keep writing! Practice makes perfect! What really got me going to actually finishing my first novel (which is still a work in progress until I can do it justice) was when my father and I would send each other 10 pages of our work to one another each week. That helped me finish my first draft and sometimes that is the hardest part. Once you have a draft, you have a map and you can better know where you are going.If you could go back in time 12 months, what advice would you give yourself?I had just published 12 months ago. I would probably tell myself to start contacting blogs and getting a better social media presence right away. Perhaps have a better plan in place on building reviews.Many thanks to Lindsay Anderson for this interview. Please show your support by downloading a copy of the book!
October 27, 2016
The Author Interviews, Round 3: #9: N. C. Stow
For interview 9 of round 3, I spoke toN. C. Stow,author of “Balancers: The other sound” (13 August 2016).
Where do you get your ideas from?I tried to write when I was younger and found that I couldn’t. I simply had not lived enough to be a writer. For my debut fantasy novel, I sat down and asked myself, ‘What do you think of everything?’ This time, magic happened, and I’ve been writing ever since. What helps me is that, in a sense, I am a traveller through worlds. I was born in Siberia ten years before the Soviet Union collapsed. Today I live in France. I know how my heroine felt when she was transported to a different reality.Why do you write?Writing makes me happy beyond words. It is a source of pleasure.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?A YA quest is one of hope, wonder, and meaning: the three legendary whales who carry us all through space on their backs. They are Life.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?There are no bad reviews. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. As a writer, I want to know what my readers think of my work.What do you find difficult about writing?I work better in complete silence, so I write mostly at night, and, on the next day, it hits me. I end up feeling tired day and night.Do you ever outsource your work?No. I do everything myself. I made my book trailer and even drew the characters for my cover by hand.What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?I’ve only seen one side of the coin, but I enjoy being self-published. It is a lot of work but also absolute freedom. I’ve learned a lot about book creation and marketing.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.I spend a lot of time looking for the right characters. When I find them, something goes click in my head, and then I can finally begin to write. I do some decent planning, of course, to get the creative process going, but I must admit that I improvise a lot because my characters guide me through the narrative as much as I guide them.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?My advice to anyone would be to do as much as they can themselves. Learn, learn, learn.If you could go back in time 12 months, what would you advise yourself?Make your first draft as perfect as you can.Thanks to N. C. Snow for this interesting interview. Please show your support for this indie author by clicking the below link orbuying their book!
Where do you get your ideas from?I tried to write when I was younger and found that I couldn’t. I simply had not lived enough to be a writer. For my debut fantasy novel, I sat down and asked myself, ‘What do you think of everything?’ This time, magic happened, and I’ve been writing ever since. What helps me is that, in a sense, I am a traveller through worlds. I was born in Siberia ten years before the Soviet Union collapsed. Today I live in France. I know how my heroine felt when she was transported to a different reality.Why do you write?Writing makes me happy beyond words. It is a source of pleasure.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?A YA quest is one of hope, wonder, and meaning: the three legendary whales who carry us all through space on their backs. They are Life.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?There are no bad reviews. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. As a writer, I want to know what my readers think of my work.What do you find difficult about writing?I work better in complete silence, so I write mostly at night, and, on the next day, it hits me. I end up feeling tired day and night.Do you ever outsource your work?No. I do everything myself. I made my book trailer and even drew the characters for my cover by hand.What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?I’ve only seen one side of the coin, but I enjoy being self-published. It is a lot of work but also absolute freedom. I’ve learned a lot about book creation and marketing.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.I spend a lot of time looking for the right characters. When I find them, something goes click in my head, and then I can finally begin to write. I do some decent planning, of course, to get the creative process going, but I must admit that I improvise a lot because my characters guide me through the narrative as much as I guide them.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?My advice to anyone would be to do as much as they can themselves. Learn, learn, learn.If you could go back in time 12 months, what would you advise yourself?Make your first draft as perfect as you can.Thanks to N. C. Snow for this interesting interview. Please show your support for this indie author by clicking the below link orbuying their book!
October 26, 2016
The Author Interviews, Round 3: #8: Carmen White
Round three continues with another fascinating author interview withCarmen White, author of How the Elf and I Saved Christmas.
*image from author*Where do you get your ideas from?I love things that contrast each other. If I see something, or if my husband and I are throwing ideas around, I automatically start thinking about what can turn it on its head. I think about two things that couldn't possibly go together and then imagine what it might be like if they did.Why do you write?Writing is how I sort through life. I write a lot about things that excite me, things that bother me, or things I want to 'figure out'. A lot of stories start because I see something I disagree with or see something I want to explore. It's the sort of thing that I just NEED to put into words or need to interpret on the page. I love how books can make people think like that, both as a writer, and as a reader.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?As a child, books were a huge part of my life. I loved the way I could do so many things just by opening a new book from the library. I love the way fantasy can talk about all the big stuff and disguise it as fiction.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?Not everyone is going to like my work, and that's fine. Rejection and criticism are just part of life, and the internet only makes it all the more available. It's tough. It can take some time to shake it off, but in the end the fact remains that I love what I do. When people say I can't do it it just makes me all the more determined to prove them wrong.What do you find difficult about writing?There's a lot of difficult things about writing. I think people look at it and say, 'Oh cool you wrote a book.' And it's just not that easy. It takes hours upon hours of sitting in front of the computer, giving up TV time or time with family, then hours upon hours of editing and fine tuning. . . After all that's done, you have to convince both yourself and others that it's worth it. Having the confidence to go for it and start selling yourself is one of the hardest things I've had to do in my writing career. It's not always something you think about when you say the word 'writing' but if you want your work out there, then you have to step up and not be afraid of moving out of your comfort zone a little bit.Do you ever outsource your work?I have friends who help me with edits. But I want to give someone else the final edit job after this first book because I worked my behind off on it and while it was fulfilling and I learned a lot, I'd much rather be spending some of that time starting on the next project.What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?It's amazing how indie publishing has grown since I started writing seriously. Even compared to as little as ten years ago, indie publishing has become so much more accessible to writers, with so many options that just weren't available before. That said, I love traditional publishing and the options it gives the author to reach so many people with the help of a publishing company. There's pros and cons to each.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.Oh wow. . . I'm not even sure how I do it. My process is still a little bumpy and each book comes about a little differently. In general I have a few key scenes in my head and I'll go ahead and write those down. Most of the time they're big character moments. As I write down what I have, I discover other things I can explore or questions I have about the story so I can build it from there. I write around them until I feel like I know where I should start and how the story should end. Once I have that, the rough draft works as a sort of outline and I start a clean document where I work at it until it looks somewhat like a book. Then of course comes the endless editing, making sure the plot is flowing, making sure the character arcs end in a satisfactory manner. . . Sometimes an edit can be very book specific like the time it took me some four or five tries to get a particular character's speech pattern down. (Only to go back yet again and change the theme of the whole story because I realized it wasn't personal enough for the main character.) It's an adventure and I try not to get bogged down in one idea or way of doing things because sometimes my best ideas only come after knowing my story well.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Experiment. Find what works for you. You can study the path of your favourite best selling author and that's great, but in the end, you have to figure out the process that works for you. You don't want to get bogged down in what everyone else says and forget what made you love writing in the first place.If you could go back in time 12 months, what would you advise yourself?Mmm. . .12 months. . . I was in a really weird place this time last year, we'd just moved, I had my first kid, AND I was working to get my first book out into the world. I guess if I could go back I'd give myself a hug and tell past me to take a chill pill. The journey is the fun part and hey, if there's a day or two where you just can't get any writing done, it's okay. It doesn’t mean you're not a writer. The dream is only as amazing as it is because it's a hardcore, gritty, and sometimes tearful reality. That's what makes it so amazing – it's real.Would you agree a good book must withstand more than one read?Definitely. I read Lord of the Rings twice in about three months, and it was better the second time. My favourite books get read again and again–once to myself, again to my family, again after that because they are just that good.What do you look for when shopping on Amazon for a Kindle book? Highlight those you would consider. Are any of the below more important to you than others?Most of the time when I buy a book it's because I am familiar with the author's work. But if I'm looking for new authors, the cover tells me if I even have a chance of being interested, and the description gives me a taste of the author's writing. As authors, especially indie authors, we write our own descriptions and if it sounds cliché or cheap I am going to assume the book is the same. It's not necessarily fair, but it's what happens.Who is your favourite author and why?Tony Abbott was my favourite childhood author and I credit him with introducing me to the world of children's Fantasy. The fun and drama he is able to pack into his books even though they are 'just for kids', is amazing. My other favourite author is Brandon Sanderson. He's the one author I buy without knowing what the book is about because I know it will be amazing. His take on fantasy and magic is unique and progressive. He doesn't just sit there and do what everyone else is doing, he's making his books his own, and I love that.Do you shop for indie books online? If not, why?Not often, sadly. I've done so more as I’ve been networking with other authors, but I think we still have this block where we don't want to risk spending money on someone 'a publisher wouldn’t pick up' and it's sad because that's really not the case anymore. Some people, myself included, indie publish because that is what they want for their book, and they work hard for that. I think as more indie authors get better known we'll be able to change this mindset for the better.What would it take for you to leave a review on Amazon/ Goodreads?I always rate on Goodreads, and I try to review books more often now that I have a better understanding of how reviews help authors sell books. The important thing is that I finish the book. I'm not going to review a book I didn't finish because that's not fair to the author, but I'm not going to finish a book that doesn’t keep my interest. So, I would say make sure you find ways to target the right audience, they're more likely to leave reviews.After downloading book one for free/ 99p or 99c on Amazon, do you ever return and pay more for book two? If not, why?Yes I would. If I liked the book then I have begun to trust the author and will be happy to spend more money on another book, especially if it's part of the same series.Do you ever visit an author's website and if so, why?I waste so much time NOT writing because of author websites. I especially love it when they post fan-art, Q and As, or short stories for their books.What would it take for you to sign up to a mailing list?I don't really do mailing lists. If I'm interested enough in the author I follow them on Facebook, or take the time to go check in on their site every so often.Do you ever enter giveaways and/ or order signed copies?I love getting free books. (doesn’t everybody?). If a giveaway book happens to be signed, that's cool but I prefer getting my books signed when I actually know or meet the author. It just means more to me that way.What would it take for you to recommend a book to a friend?If I loved it, I'll recommend it. My friends and I talk about books we like all the time, and I can't even tell you how many books my husband and I have read for each other just because one of us wanted to share our experience. So, give me a great reading experience and there's no way I wouldn't want to share it.Thanks so much for this interesting interview.Don't forget to support an indie author by checking out their work and/ or their websites. Thanks!
*image from author*Where do you get your ideas from?I love things that contrast each other. If I see something, or if my husband and I are throwing ideas around, I automatically start thinking about what can turn it on its head. I think about two things that couldn't possibly go together and then imagine what it might be like if they did.Why do you write?Writing is how I sort through life. I write a lot about things that excite me, things that bother me, or things I want to 'figure out'. A lot of stories start because I see something I disagree with or see something I want to explore. It's the sort of thing that I just NEED to put into words or need to interpret on the page. I love how books can make people think like that, both as a writer, and as a reader.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?As a child, books were a huge part of my life. I loved the way I could do so many things just by opening a new book from the library. I love the way fantasy can talk about all the big stuff and disguise it as fiction.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?Not everyone is going to like my work, and that's fine. Rejection and criticism are just part of life, and the internet only makes it all the more available. It's tough. It can take some time to shake it off, but in the end the fact remains that I love what I do. When people say I can't do it it just makes me all the more determined to prove them wrong.What do you find difficult about writing?There's a lot of difficult things about writing. I think people look at it and say, 'Oh cool you wrote a book.' And it's just not that easy. It takes hours upon hours of sitting in front of the computer, giving up TV time or time with family, then hours upon hours of editing and fine tuning. . . After all that's done, you have to convince both yourself and others that it's worth it. Having the confidence to go for it and start selling yourself is one of the hardest things I've had to do in my writing career. It's not always something you think about when you say the word 'writing' but if you want your work out there, then you have to step up and not be afraid of moving out of your comfort zone a little bit.Do you ever outsource your work?I have friends who help me with edits. But I want to give someone else the final edit job after this first book because I worked my behind off on it and while it was fulfilling and I learned a lot, I'd much rather be spending some of that time starting on the next project.What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?It's amazing how indie publishing has grown since I started writing seriously. Even compared to as little as ten years ago, indie publishing has become so much more accessible to writers, with so many options that just weren't available before. That said, I love traditional publishing and the options it gives the author to reach so many people with the help of a publishing company. There's pros and cons to each.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.Oh wow. . . I'm not even sure how I do it. My process is still a little bumpy and each book comes about a little differently. In general I have a few key scenes in my head and I'll go ahead and write those down. Most of the time they're big character moments. As I write down what I have, I discover other things I can explore or questions I have about the story so I can build it from there. I write around them until I feel like I know where I should start and how the story should end. Once I have that, the rough draft works as a sort of outline and I start a clean document where I work at it until it looks somewhat like a book. Then of course comes the endless editing, making sure the plot is flowing, making sure the character arcs end in a satisfactory manner. . . Sometimes an edit can be very book specific like the time it took me some four or five tries to get a particular character's speech pattern down. (Only to go back yet again and change the theme of the whole story because I realized it wasn't personal enough for the main character.) It's an adventure and I try not to get bogged down in one idea or way of doing things because sometimes my best ideas only come after knowing my story well.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Experiment. Find what works for you. You can study the path of your favourite best selling author and that's great, but in the end, you have to figure out the process that works for you. You don't want to get bogged down in what everyone else says and forget what made you love writing in the first place.If you could go back in time 12 months, what would you advise yourself?Mmm. . .12 months. . . I was in a really weird place this time last year, we'd just moved, I had my first kid, AND I was working to get my first book out into the world. I guess if I could go back I'd give myself a hug and tell past me to take a chill pill. The journey is the fun part and hey, if there's a day or two where you just can't get any writing done, it's okay. It doesn’t mean you're not a writer. The dream is only as amazing as it is because it's a hardcore, gritty, and sometimes tearful reality. That's what makes it so amazing – it's real.Would you agree a good book must withstand more than one read?Definitely. I read Lord of the Rings twice in about three months, and it was better the second time. My favourite books get read again and again–once to myself, again to my family, again after that because they are just that good.What do you look for when shopping on Amazon for a Kindle book? Highlight those you would consider. Are any of the below more important to you than others?Most of the time when I buy a book it's because I am familiar with the author's work. But if I'm looking for new authors, the cover tells me if I even have a chance of being interested, and the description gives me a taste of the author's writing. As authors, especially indie authors, we write our own descriptions and if it sounds cliché or cheap I am going to assume the book is the same. It's not necessarily fair, but it's what happens.Who is your favourite author and why?Tony Abbott was my favourite childhood author and I credit him with introducing me to the world of children's Fantasy. The fun and drama he is able to pack into his books even though they are 'just for kids', is amazing. My other favourite author is Brandon Sanderson. He's the one author I buy without knowing what the book is about because I know it will be amazing. His take on fantasy and magic is unique and progressive. He doesn't just sit there and do what everyone else is doing, he's making his books his own, and I love that.Do you shop for indie books online? If not, why?Not often, sadly. I've done so more as I’ve been networking with other authors, but I think we still have this block where we don't want to risk spending money on someone 'a publisher wouldn’t pick up' and it's sad because that's really not the case anymore. Some people, myself included, indie publish because that is what they want for their book, and they work hard for that. I think as more indie authors get better known we'll be able to change this mindset for the better.What would it take for you to leave a review on Amazon/ Goodreads?I always rate on Goodreads, and I try to review books more often now that I have a better understanding of how reviews help authors sell books. The important thing is that I finish the book. I'm not going to review a book I didn't finish because that's not fair to the author, but I'm not going to finish a book that doesn’t keep my interest. So, I would say make sure you find ways to target the right audience, they're more likely to leave reviews.After downloading book one for free/ 99p or 99c on Amazon, do you ever return and pay more for book two? If not, why?Yes I would. If I liked the book then I have begun to trust the author and will be happy to spend more money on another book, especially if it's part of the same series.Do you ever visit an author's website and if so, why?I waste so much time NOT writing because of author websites. I especially love it when they post fan-art, Q and As, or short stories for their books.What would it take for you to sign up to a mailing list?I don't really do mailing lists. If I'm interested enough in the author I follow them on Facebook, or take the time to go check in on their site every so often.Do you ever enter giveaways and/ or order signed copies?I love getting free books. (doesn’t everybody?). If a giveaway book happens to be signed, that's cool but I prefer getting my books signed when I actually know or meet the author. It just means more to me that way.What would it take for you to recommend a book to a friend?If I loved it, I'll recommend it. My friends and I talk about books we like all the time, and I can't even tell you how many books my husband and I have read for each other just because one of us wanted to share our experience. So, give me a great reading experience and there's no way I wouldn't want to share it.Thanks so much for this interesting interview.Don't forget to support an indie author by checking out their work and/ or their websites. Thanks!
October 25, 2016
Letting Myself Down
As you know, I like to be open and honest with my readers. I'm always finding things I'm not satisfied with and tweaking my books, even when there's nothing wrong with them to begin with. I make a point of reading every review I find because as indies, we can learn so much from them. Sometimes it's painful which is why some authors don't read them at all, but itisbeneficial. So here's how I dealt with a recent criticism.It's always disappointing for an author to read a negative review of their book, particularly when it's in relation to something you have repeatedly worked at that lets the side down. Such errors shouldn't be there, but they do slip through (even for traditionally published books, so I feel less like crying).Editing has always been a long, strenuous process for me, and it takes several re-writes and alotof ironing to perfect each book. Then of course it gets sent off to the many who assist with proofing for me. Sadly, it seems this reviewer found a few creases I hadn't managed to get prior to the book being published.First of all I'd like to apologise that this reviewer found those errors distracting - there's a new version available. That's the great thing about being an author with Amazon Kindle - updates are so flexible and convenient. Hopefully I can change my C grade to an A!Secondly, I'd like to thank this reviewer for pointing out these errors. I strive for perfection so I'm heartbroken to see that the quality of editing has let the overall star rating down (but I'm glad to know the story was enjoyed - at least I did one thing right!).My readers are important to me and I need to ensure their feedback is taken on board.Indie authors - if anyone else has this problem, here's a link to A-Z homonyms you can search for and check one at a time. This job takes a while but it works!Sneaky homonyms, we will find you, and we will kill you...I'd also like to suggest if you have a negative review in relation to something fixable, that you reply to it with a comment to reassure that person that you are listening and you do care. Invite them to re-read and review again. Ask for a second chance.So thanks again, reader from Canada, for taking the time to purchase, read and review my book. Stick with me and I'll not let you down again.E. Rachael Hardcastle
October 23, 2016
The Author Interviews, Round 3: #7: Dock Wharff
Round 3 of the Author Interviews continues withDock Wharff,author of Who’s Your Neighbor (Book One of America’s Worst Nightmare Trilogy) and upcoming release What Goes Around (Book Two of America’s Worst Nightmare Trilogy).
*image from author*Where do you get your ideas from?My ideas come from what is current and relevant in today’s news. I like to research the history of my topic to build a basis for the story line and then let my imagination take over. My writing is fictional but has its roots in history, making it more compelling and believable. I also pull from my own life experiences and utilize people I’ve known to add authenticity.Why do you write?I have always been very creative, having been in marketing and advertising most of my life. After retiring, I found it was tough to express my creativity. I turned to writing as a form of expressing my personal views on our American way of life; past, present and future.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?I feel historical fiction allows me to take exception to our past and project a fictional prospective to what brought us to our current state. Once established, it allows me to wander into the possibilities of our future.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?Simple, I write for me. My goal is to reach one reader at a time. If they like it and are moved to purchase the next book in the series, great. If they don’t like it, that’s okay, too. I listened to constructive criticism and take it into consideration as I move forward. However, I have found most negative comments are from those with differing points of view and aren’t about the quality of the writing.What do you find difficult about writing?I write when an idea or inspiration pops into my mind. When I write I go into my own world. I block out my spouse, my dog and everything around me, which makes me very anti-social during those times which may last six weeks or longer. It makes me most unpopular with the love of my life and my dog. She has missed lunch a couple times when I get on a roll. But, both have learned to get my attention. My wife throws things at me (luckily soft things like pillows, at least to this point) and my dog barks continuously until she’s fed, has her play time or does her business.Do you ever outsource your work?No.What is your opinion on indie vs. traditional publishing?I would love for my books to be best sellers and make me a ton of money. However, like I mentioned above, I write for me and so indie publishing was the best route.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish?The process starts when I see a trending story that peaks my interest. For the next couple weeks, I write down anything that may pertain to the subject. I spend another week assembling those thoughts into a possible direction. The next step is to put it into a personal context and start to build a backstory, including characters. At this point, I look to personal friends that may have expertise in the subject to act as a sounding board and to add authenticity. I have a team of three that I meet with monthly to bounce ideas around and to work on an outline. Once there is a direction, I’ll write for three weeks, self-edit, then send to my team. We meet monthly to review what I’ve written, make adjustments and set the direction for the next section. Once roughly half way, I give the self-edited version to my editor, do re-writes and review with my team. This process continues through final editing.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Write for yourself. Have a small group familiar with your subject matter. I have found using Grammarly as I write and the Hemingway editing program to review and self-edit my writing has helped reduce the amount of changes requested by the third party editor. Have a third party editor as well as Beta readers (no more than five).If you could go back 12 months, what advice would you give yourself?Set time each day to write something. Whether it’s an idea or a 5,000 words, write something. One thing I am planning to do is start a journal, a chronology of my writing.Thanks to Doc Wharff for this interesting interview and don't forget to show your support for this indie author by purchasing a copy of the book.
*image from author*Where do you get your ideas from?My ideas come from what is current and relevant in today’s news. I like to research the history of my topic to build a basis for the story line and then let my imagination take over. My writing is fictional but has its roots in history, making it more compelling and believable. I also pull from my own life experiences and utilize people I’ve known to add authenticity.Why do you write?I have always been very creative, having been in marketing and advertising most of my life. After retiring, I found it was tough to express my creativity. I turned to writing as a form of expressing my personal views on our American way of life; past, present and future.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?I feel historical fiction allows me to take exception to our past and project a fictional prospective to what brought us to our current state. Once established, it allows me to wander into the possibilities of our future.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?Simple, I write for me. My goal is to reach one reader at a time. If they like it and are moved to purchase the next book in the series, great. If they don’t like it, that’s okay, too. I listened to constructive criticism and take it into consideration as I move forward. However, I have found most negative comments are from those with differing points of view and aren’t about the quality of the writing.What do you find difficult about writing?I write when an idea or inspiration pops into my mind. When I write I go into my own world. I block out my spouse, my dog and everything around me, which makes me very anti-social during those times which may last six weeks or longer. It makes me most unpopular with the love of my life and my dog. She has missed lunch a couple times when I get on a roll. But, both have learned to get my attention. My wife throws things at me (luckily soft things like pillows, at least to this point) and my dog barks continuously until she’s fed, has her play time or does her business.Do you ever outsource your work?No.What is your opinion on indie vs. traditional publishing?I would love for my books to be best sellers and make me a ton of money. However, like I mentioned above, I write for me and so indie publishing was the best route.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish?The process starts when I see a trending story that peaks my interest. For the next couple weeks, I write down anything that may pertain to the subject. I spend another week assembling those thoughts into a possible direction. The next step is to put it into a personal context and start to build a backstory, including characters. At this point, I look to personal friends that may have expertise in the subject to act as a sounding board and to add authenticity. I have a team of three that I meet with monthly to bounce ideas around and to work on an outline. Once there is a direction, I’ll write for three weeks, self-edit, then send to my team. We meet monthly to review what I’ve written, make adjustments and set the direction for the next section. Once roughly half way, I give the self-edited version to my editor, do re-writes and review with my team. This process continues through final editing.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Write for yourself. Have a small group familiar with your subject matter. I have found using Grammarly as I write and the Hemingway editing program to review and self-edit my writing has helped reduce the amount of changes requested by the third party editor. Have a third party editor as well as Beta readers (no more than five).If you could go back 12 months, what advice would you give yourself?Set time each day to write something. Whether it’s an idea or a 5,000 words, write something. One thing I am planning to do is start a journal, a chronology of my writing.Thanks to Doc Wharff for this interesting interview and don't forget to show your support for this indie author by purchasing a copy of the book.
October 21, 2016
The Author Interviews, Round 3: #6: Joshua Harding
I spoke with authorJoshua Hardingtoday about his writing habits and here's what he had to say!
Where do you get your ideas from?Usually while I'm on the toilet. No, seriously, I always get ideas in the most inconvenient places--and always when I don't have a pen. In the shower, after I've turned out the light and I'm trying to sleep, while I'm driving. My wife and I were moving our family from New Mexico to Texas and we'd stopped for the night at a hotel. At about 2:00 am I had to get up and sequester myself in the bathroom so I could write without waking my wife and kids. The muse just wouldn't be silent.Why do you write?(See above.) Because if I didn't the voices in my head would never shut up.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?Stories or films dealing with the interpersonal have never held my interest. I’ve got enough drama in my real life; I don’t need to get more of it in my art. I’d rather read or write a piece that makes me think and wonder and say, "I’ve never read anything like that before!” Throw some robots or zombies in there!How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?I relish it! No, really, used to keep all of my rejection letters from publishers (back when they still sent hardcopy letters) tacked to the wall above my desk as a sort of morbid inspiration--a challenge for myself. Recently, there was a person who commented online that an award-winning story of mine sucked. I went on Facebook and celebrated my first troll. It was like I was finally official. I also attend writers' workshops regularly. Criticism (when it's honest) is the best tool to becoming the best writer you can be.What do you find difficult about writing?Carving out a solid hour every day to get it done. I get the most done when I'm doing it every single day. If I get off schedule, I lose practice and the content starts to suffer.Do you ever outsource your work?I don't edit my own work. Investing in an editor is money well spent. And, as an indie author, you can shop around and build a great relationship with the person who will work with you to bring your 'babies' to life.What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?I think signing the rights to your hard work over to someone else versus the freedom to take your vision in the direction you want it to go just don't compare. It's a fascinating time to be an author. I'll admit, I used to dream that I'd sign on with one of the big publishing houses and then roll naked in my money while I worked on my next book. But, that's not the case whether you're traditionally published or self-published. You've got to help market your book no matter what. Embrace the hustle as an indie author. When all is said and done, it's my novel and my marketing plan. If it works, I can pat myself on the back; If it doesn't, I have no one else to blame.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.(Inspiration. Elation. Frustration. Resignation.) *Kidding* I usually take my germinal idea (like an old folks' home for androids, or a guy who dated Mother Nature, or God's ex-wife) then start to populate that setting or premise with characters--often people I've met in real life (with different names). Then I try to apply a standard story arc structure to it to give it a viable plot, which also helps solidify my ending. When I'm done with the first draft, I revise and edit heavily before I take it to a writers' workshop to get feedback on it.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?I could be cliché and say that you should write every day (which you should). But I think what I've learned in recent years, especially in the social media environment is to seek out your fellow writers. We're in this together, not as competitors. Knowledge, inspiration, and exchange of ideas are why we do this. A victory for one author (indie, traditional, newbie, or established) is a victory for all of us. Connect and network with your peers. Fanboy (or girl) about the authors who influence you. Networking with other authors has introduced me to new books, built friendships, gotten exposure for my work, and helped me improve my craft.If you could go back in time 12 months, what advice would you give yourself?Ugh. I had a horror piece that had won an award and was featured on MrCreepyPasta's YouTube channel. It got thousands of views during the first week it was posted. At the same time, my novel wasn't finished yet and my author website was brand new. My site got tons of hits, but since there was no novel on there to sell, I missed a huge opportunity. I would advise myself to carefully time my releases so they have the greatest impact.Many thanks to Joshua Harding for this interview. Please show your support for this author by checking him out on social media or purchasing a copy of his book/s.
Where do you get your ideas from?Usually while I'm on the toilet. No, seriously, I always get ideas in the most inconvenient places--and always when I don't have a pen. In the shower, after I've turned out the light and I'm trying to sleep, while I'm driving. My wife and I were moving our family from New Mexico to Texas and we'd stopped for the night at a hotel. At about 2:00 am I had to get up and sequester myself in the bathroom so I could write without waking my wife and kids. The muse just wouldn't be silent.Why do you write?(See above.) Because if I didn't the voices in my head would never shut up.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?Stories or films dealing with the interpersonal have never held my interest. I’ve got enough drama in my real life; I don’t need to get more of it in my art. I’d rather read or write a piece that makes me think and wonder and say, "I’ve never read anything like that before!” Throw some robots or zombies in there!How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?I relish it! No, really, used to keep all of my rejection letters from publishers (back when they still sent hardcopy letters) tacked to the wall above my desk as a sort of morbid inspiration--a challenge for myself. Recently, there was a person who commented online that an award-winning story of mine sucked. I went on Facebook and celebrated my first troll. It was like I was finally official. I also attend writers' workshops regularly. Criticism (when it's honest) is the best tool to becoming the best writer you can be.What do you find difficult about writing?Carving out a solid hour every day to get it done. I get the most done when I'm doing it every single day. If I get off schedule, I lose practice and the content starts to suffer.Do you ever outsource your work?I don't edit my own work. Investing in an editor is money well spent. And, as an indie author, you can shop around and build a great relationship with the person who will work with you to bring your 'babies' to life.What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?I think signing the rights to your hard work over to someone else versus the freedom to take your vision in the direction you want it to go just don't compare. It's a fascinating time to be an author. I'll admit, I used to dream that I'd sign on with one of the big publishing houses and then roll naked in my money while I worked on my next book. But, that's not the case whether you're traditionally published or self-published. You've got to help market your book no matter what. Embrace the hustle as an indie author. When all is said and done, it's my novel and my marketing plan. If it works, I can pat myself on the back; If it doesn't, I have no one else to blame.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.(Inspiration. Elation. Frustration. Resignation.) *Kidding* I usually take my germinal idea (like an old folks' home for androids, or a guy who dated Mother Nature, or God's ex-wife) then start to populate that setting or premise with characters--often people I've met in real life (with different names). Then I try to apply a standard story arc structure to it to give it a viable plot, which also helps solidify my ending. When I'm done with the first draft, I revise and edit heavily before I take it to a writers' workshop to get feedback on it.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?I could be cliché and say that you should write every day (which you should). But I think what I've learned in recent years, especially in the social media environment is to seek out your fellow writers. We're in this together, not as competitors. Knowledge, inspiration, and exchange of ideas are why we do this. A victory for one author (indie, traditional, newbie, or established) is a victory for all of us. Connect and network with your peers. Fanboy (or girl) about the authors who influence you. Networking with other authors has introduced me to new books, built friendships, gotten exposure for my work, and helped me improve my craft.If you could go back in time 12 months, what advice would you give yourself?Ugh. I had a horror piece that had won an award and was featured on MrCreepyPasta's YouTube channel. It got thousands of views during the first week it was posted. At the same time, my novel wasn't finished yet and my author website was brand new. My site got tons of hits, but since there was no novel on there to sell, I missed a huge opportunity. I would advise myself to carefully time my releases so they have the greatest impact.Many thanks to Joshua Harding for this interview. Please show your support for this author by checking him out on social media or purchasing a copy of his book/s.
October 20, 2016
The Author Interviews, Round 3: #5: Tahani Nelson
I spoke toTahani Nelson, (whose novel is currently in a competition where the top 3 winners will get MASS publication) about her writing habits. Here's what she had to say.Where do you get your ideas from?The idea for my debut novel, The Last Faoii, started as a dream. I woke up at 1 a.m. and wrote the first three chapters in one sitting, then went back to bed. The next day, I couldn't stop thinking about it. And the next. I worked on that book every waking moment that I wasn't at work. There's something about dream-ideas that feel more organic to me. I can't force a story very well, but this one wanted to be written.Why do you write?There are a lot of reasons that I write. I've always loved Fantasy, but growing up I could never find a heroine in my stories that weren't being saved or wearing bikini armor. I wanted to create a world and group of heroines that my future daughters could look up to. I write because in my fantasy stories there are no social barriers except for the ones I put up. It doesn't matter that Kaiya is a woman, or black, or gay. In Clearwall, women are given swords at a young age and taught to be warriors. I write because the world has enough helpless princesses. I write because there are too many young people out there without heroes they can identify with. Too many Bella Swans and not enough Katniss Everdeens.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?I love sword fighting and castles. I love magic and dragons and worlds where the only restrictions are those you create yourself in order to make it feel "real." I love armor that covers all of your body parts. And I love being able to create stories that can incorporate all of the above and more.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?I found out yesterday that I'd finally sold enough pre-orders of The Last Faoii to actually publish the book. Yesterday. After five years of trying to succeed in the literary world. I've found a lot of ways to cope with rejection. I got almost 200 rejections from agents before I was told that my original draft was too long to be published. I made origami animals out of the letters. My zoo was huge-- but it was beautiful. The minute I learned why I was being rejected, I worked to make it right. To make the story better. I cut 20,000 words out of the draft. I cut characters and subplots. I listened. And I improved.Of course, by then I'd already queried every agent I knew, so there was no where else to turn. I thought. I'm so glad that I found Inkshares and that it offered another avenue to publication.What do you find difficult about writing?Finding time. I have two jobs-- one of which is teaching. I'm exhausted by the end of the day, and I only get a couple days off each year. But I force myself to write at night. I force myself to keep my skills fresh and to improve my abilities. Luckily, it was easy to do with The Last Faoii-- again, that story wanted to be written and there was no forcing it. But it is always hard to find time to write.Do you ever outsource your work?If you mean do I sell my skills to help others, then yes. I have an English Lit degree and use that to help edit/ beta read other people's work for free. If you mean whether or not I hire others to help, then that's also a yes. I commissioned a portrait of my main character from one lovely woman and abook trailerfrom someone else.What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?Since I've never succeeded with traditional publishing (and have only just barely succeeded with Indie) I don't have a lot of opinions on this point. I think that traditional publishing might be outdated, and that the rules that govern it don't necessarily apply to today's readers. However, I also think that traditional publishing is still more visible and that authors who can succeed there have a better chance of financial gain or publicity. There are good and bad to both sides.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.There are planners and pantsers in writing. People that plan ahead every detail and then flesh it out, and those who are just along for the ride from day one. I'm definitely part of the second group. Which is why this answer is going to be long. Ready? Here we go.Usually, I'll start a story with a single scene in my mind-- it will be crystal-clear and perfect and I'll write the entire thing immediately. If I'm really lucky I'll start off with more than one scene in my head at the beginning, but that seldom happens.After I write the first scene, I start writing everything else that comes to mind as it comes. Things that led up to the scene, aftermath of whatever went down. I don't edit or stop writing at this point. I just write until everything I can think of is in a jumbled mess on the pages.After all the major parts are written out (this can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on how much the character inspires me or how helpful the original scene was to the entire story). I start putting all the parts and pieces in order of when they should have happened. This is a lot of copying and pasting. But eventually I end up with a pretty decent skeletal outline.Obviously an outline needs to be fleshed out, so I start on page one and fill in all the gaps between big scenes. As I work, I refine the big scenes and take out what doesn't work, is too similar to something else I've written in outline, or that doesn't add anything to the overall story. (NOTE: This almost always means taking out the original scene that inspired the entire book. I don't know why that is, but it almost always happens).Once I feel that the entire thing is fleshed out, complete, and a coherent story, I read the entire thing again from cover to cover, making sure that it really is as complete as I think it is. If so, I send it to my dad (he's my first line of defense against bad writing). He'll tell me if it's something worthy of following through on or if it should go into my "fun tries" folder.If it gets my dad's seal of approval, I start sending it to betas. I usually send an original draft to 10 people. After they read it and respond, I compile all of their notes and ideas, keep anything that more than 50% agree on, and pick and choose what I agree with of the rest. Then I apply the changes to the manuscript.Then I read through the entire thing again and make the necessary changes.Usually there are more than a few changes, so I send the updated manuscript to 1-3 beta readers who don't mind reading the new draft.Eventually I get it back again and look over/ apply any new changes. If there are a bunch I re-read the entire thing again, then send it BACK to my father (I really trust his opinion). If he likes it I start looking for a professional editor and the process of sending out/ receiving/ editing/ reading/ father's approval starts again.Once it hits all of these steps I start querying again. So far, I've only been through every single step without it being halted somewhere along the way one time. And it's proven effective. So, while it's tedious and time-consuming, it seems that my process is at least effective.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Your first draft is never good enough. Never assume that it is--hubris is not pretty. You need an outside opinion. You need a rewrite. Or five. You need the help of someone that's not so close to the world you created and love with every fiber of your being.I know it sounds harsh, but the literary world is harsh. If you market a book that's not the best you can give, people will always remember you for it and will judge your writing ability on it from then on. It's better to take your time and get help-- it's better to achieve something closer to perfection than to send something less than amazing out when you can't get it back.If you could go back in time 12 months, what advice would you give yourself?Practice saying your book's premise out loud. Learn to answer "what's your book about" in three sentences or less. NEVER answer that question with "ummm..."Many thanks for this author interview, Tahani Nelson. If anyone's interested in The Last Faoii they can read excerpts, chapters, reviews, watch a trailer andorder a SIGNED copy.
October 18, 2016
The Author Interviews, Round 3: #4: Misti Kemp
The author interviews, round 3, continues with the author of Crack Whores of Donaway Street 1 & 2,Misti Kemp.Where do you get your ideas?I get many of my ideas from my past, I have lived a colorful life. I use my life of being an ex crack whore which makes me thrive to write about that dirty type of life style.Why do you write?I write for myself and wanting to get everything out and that there are also voices in my head that tell me to write.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?To tell the truth I am not sure what type of genre that i am writing in. What I do know its woman's fiction with a splash of street lit.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?I cry and get mad. My bipolar disorder makes me highly emotional.What do you find difficult about writing?What I find hard about writing is making sure that my book notes aka outline is detailed with every scene that I want in my book.Have you ever outsourced your work?No I have never outsourced my work.What is your opinion of indie vs traditional publishing?Indie Author is a lot better than traditional, for one being an Indie author gives you full credit for your book. For me I really actually have no opinion. I think traditional publishing is very hard to get into. Most agents are looking for fluff pieces and what they consider mainstream. Indie publishing allows full creative control.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.Well first I start off thinking of what I want to write and then I write a rough outline and then take every small outline piece and form chapters out of the mess. Then I start writing a detailed outline, and then I start to write what I wrote down.What advice would you give aspiring authors?Live life first then take what you live, and write what you know.If you could go back in time 12 months, what advice would you give yourself?Rewrite book two of my series that I am working on.Many thanks to Misti Kemp for this interview. Please show your support for this indie author by purchasing a copy of her book or visiting her online.
