E. Rachael Hardcastle's Blog, page 9

The Author Interviews: Jessica A Scott

My next author interview was with Jessica A Scott, the author of Chase and Charlie and Portrait of a Sunset who can be found online at: www.jessicascottauthor.com. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.a.scott.author Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessicaAScott89Have you thought about joining with another author to write a book?I actually tried this a few times when I was in college. My best friend and I had some great ideas for a book, and we planned to write it together. Unfortunately, though, in my experience, writing with another author is a recipe for disaster! It is hard to decide who gets to write what, and then you both have different ideas about what the characters are like and where the story should go (not to mention one author is usually more dedicated to the project than the other, so they try to stay on schedule while the other author just jots something down at the last minute...). I know that a lot of authors find success by teaming up, but I personally think I do much better work on my own.If you could have been the author of any book ever written, which book would you choose?Definitely the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (I know it’s more than one book, but I hope it still counts!) I don’t say that for the fame and fortune, though (although of course that would be nice too). To me, the Harry Potter books are some of the most imaginative things ever written, and I hope that one day I can write something with that much depth and creativity.Who is the most famous person you have ever met?I haven’t actually met anyone famous in person, but about ten years ago, I wrote a letter to the author of some of my favorite books, Dean Koontz, to ask him for some writing advice. Within two weeks he had responded with a real, genuine, personal letter – not just a form letter! It was one of the highlights of my life. And he had some great advice!Tell us a little about your plans for the future. Where do you see yourself as a writer in five years?In five years I hope to be writing novels full-time. Right now I have to keep juggling side jobs (writing articles, tutoring, editing, etc.) in order to make ends meet while I try to get my writing career off the ground. I would love to be able to just spend my entire day writing. That’s the dream!Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?My characters are never intentionally based off real people, but I think that sometimes my own personality and characteristics tend to seep into my main characters a bit. Sometimes when I re-read a completed draft I can see some of the other people in my life in some of the characters I write too, but I never intentionally write them that way! I think it is kind of inevitable that the things that inspire you or that you notice about other people make it into your books, even if you don’t mean for it to happen that way. That isn’t a bad thing though; I think it makes me feel even closer to my characters.Could you tell us a bit about your most recent book and why it is a must-read?My most recent book is Portrait of a Sunset. It is a romantic suspense novel about a young woman named Clara Halpert who is trying to cope with the traumatic loss of her older sister. She is not doing well at all, and she’s just about at the end of her rope when she meets Casey Linderman, who is struggling with a dark trauma himself. The two of them both seem to find hope in each other, but just as they start to try to move on together, their pasts come back to haunt them again.I think the book is a must-read because the characters are just so human. It speaks to that vulnerable part in all of us that sometimes wishes we could just give up, but deep down we know we have to keep trying. The book shows how difficult it can be to overcome something and accept the past and yourself, but ultimately I think it gives the reader hope and inspiration to keep holding on.What do you love most about the writing process?The thing I love most about the writing process is when I start off writing something, and I can tell I’m totally in control at first, but then, as I keep writing, I find that the story is completely taking off on its own path. All of the sudden I’m just like a conduit for the story to run through, and I’m mostly just writing so that I myself can know what happens next! That is why I love writing. Nothing else makes me feel that way. It’s quite a rush!Of all the characters you have created, which is your favorite and why?That’s a tough one. I think my favorite will probably change with every book I write, because I have a tendency to fall in love with the characters of each individual book while I am working on it. Right now, though, if I had to pick a favorite, I would say it is Annabelle, the main character from the book I am working on now. She is a combination of the best qualities of my two previous books’ protagonists: she has the vulnerability of Clara from Portrait of a Sunset, but she also has the plucky, “never say die” attitude of Charlie from my first book, Chase and Charlie. She is a huge believer in people, and she never gives up on them, or on the idea that she can improve the world somehow. I really admire that about her. I think that is a quality that too many of us lose as we get older and get more experience in the “real world.” We tend to get jaded and to give up on people, but Annabelle never does. I wish I was more like that!Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?Oh, my characters definitely hijack the story. I might have one idea for a plot when I start a book, but almost immediately the characters tend to take it in a completely different direction. I don’t mind though: it’s more interesting to see what story they want to tell!What made you want to become a writer? That is an interesting question. I never really thought about why I wanted to become a writer, I feel like I have always just been one. I started reading and writing when I was three years old, and by the time I was six I was writing stories all the time, and I have never stopped since then. So I don’t think it was ever really a matter of “wanting” to be a writer – I don’t think I could be anything else if I tried!Million dollar question, are you working on another book? Yes, I am. In late 2017 or early 2018, I will be publishing my third novel, Love and Squalor. I don’t like to give away too many details before everything is set in stone, but it is a contemporary romance that takes place in an impoverished, broken-down city where nothing good ever happens and the streets are run by violent gangs. The Annabelle character I mentioned earlier, though, wants to change all that, and with the help of a few of the city’s other lost souls, she just might.What do you think about the ebook revolution? Hmm... I have mixed feelings about it, to be honest. At first I was VERY reluctant to embrace ebooks, because I have always loved the solid, comforting feeling of a real, ink and paper book in my hands. But, since I started the Indie Eden Book Club on Facebook (where we read a new indie book every two weeks), I am definitely starting to see the value of ebooks. They are usually much cheaper and more convenient to buy than a paperback, and in today’s society, not only does it often happen that you can’t find an indie author’s book in a book store, but I have found that there are no longer really any physical book stores near me at all! With ebooks, though, authors can sell more books because more people have access to them. Plus, I can order the book and be reading it within minutes, as opposed to ordering a physical copy, which would take at least a few days or a week to arrive. That being said, though, I’ll always love “real” books the most.What is your advice to Indie Authors? On writing? Marketing? Probably everyone says this, but my advice to Indie Authors is to never give up. It is tough to do all this stuff by yourself! But never let it make you stop writing. Maybe you won’t sell that many books at first because no one knows your name yet, and maybe you’ll have to spend too much of your writing time on marketing, but that doesn’t matter. If you are a writer, be a writer. Don’t let anything stop you or make you think your work isn’t good enough. My advice on marketing would just be to keep in mind that it is a lot of work! Try to build a following on Facebook and Twitter, and have a good quality website. Then never stop seeking out new marketing strategies to reach a bigger audience. Once you establish a fan base, it will be fairly self-sustaining, and you won’t have to work quite so hard at it (I hope!). That being said, never let marketing take up all of your time. Writing should always come first!You can find me on Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14022075.Jessica_A_Scott and if you are a fellow indie author (or a reader who wants to support indie authors), you can join my Indie Eden Book Club on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/IndieEdenBookClub/?ref=group_coverIf you would like to download a copy of Jessica's books, you can use the link/s below:

The Author Interviews: J. A. Myers

Today my featured writer is J A Myers, a 22-year-old fantasy author. She recently finished studying creative writing at university and released her novel, Phaser.Read her blog here:http://findjodiee.wixsite.com/jamyersWhat made you want to become a writer? I enjoyed getting lost in a book, but when looking for the next book to read, I couldn’t find the right book. So someone told me, if you can’t find the book you want to read, write it.What are your thoughts on the indie vs traditional publishing argument? It depends what you want from the book, I am just happy to say my book is out there for people when they see it. I did want to be traditionally published, but abandoned the idea, when self-published on amazon you can do everything and monitor it all yourself.Tell us about your latest novel. Phaser came out on the 2nd of August 2017, five years after it was written. It’s about a young girl who is struggling to find where she fits in, until Jason introduces her to a whole new world of living and a gift she could only dream of.Please give us your top 3 marketing tips. For me I don’t really count my sales, I don’t push it as much as I should. I was told a networking session at Uni that if you only push your book and aren’t interested in anything else the audience might not be as persuaded to buy your book because they don’t know you. I have my website that covers a range of different thing, from writing tips, to reviews and it advertise my editing services. I have a gallery page because I enjoy photography. I want people to know who I am and what make me tick before they are introduced to my book. I think it bridges the gap between reader and writer.Please give us your top 3 productivity tips. I don’t write when I’m not inspired, I edit instead. This allows your brain to think in a different way, rather than trying to be creative when you don’t feel like it. Don’t force yourself to stick to a plan, I find if I have a plan it gives me a reason not to stick to it, I like to be a bit spontaneous and creative with my time.Tell us about your typical writing day. It depends on what I am doing and who else is in the house. I am a little too sociable, I like to be around people, so if there is something going on around me I could concentrate. I usually have my music on (loud). The music helps get my mind to flow and to relax. I do about 5-6 hours, flicking between writing and editing.What is your definition of success? Would you say you are a successful author? I am a successful author because I have a book that is published. I have succeeded my own goals I set. I think as long as the writer succeeds their own goals they are successful, it can’t be determined by someone else. Don’t feel like you have to compare yourself to someone else who might have got further. Everyone works and moves at their own pace. Share some of your writing goals with us. Have you met any of them yet? I have 7 more books I would like to published over the course of next few years. I would also like to become some sort of editor as well. If that’s just by running on my own, or getting a job in a company, I don’t mind either way. As long as I can edit other people’s work and help them achieve the goals they have set.How do you deal with negative reviews and criticism? I haven’t come across any yet. But I have been declined by publishers, which is hard, but then you think about all the time you apply for a job and don’t get it. To me it is the same thing, there is something they don’t like and most of the time it is based on personal preference. It doesn’t mean it will never happen, it just hasn’t happened yet. There is no point getting hung over it and winding yourself up about it. Book reviews are all based on personal preference, read the review and see if there is anything that you might be able to improve on. It’s a way of refining your skills and learning about your own writing.Do you have a favourite author for fiction and non-fiction? Why are they your favourite and which of their books would you recommend? Why? I have many authors I love, I could be here all day to name them all. They change everytime I find something else that’s fun and exciting to read. Jon Graham’s Reaper is one I recommend to a lot of people, because of the writing style. But if someone was struggling writing fantasy, Lara Adrian’s midnight Breed Series is great, it’s a vampire series written in the real world based in America. Lucy Blue inspired me to write 2 of my books, so they are very special to me. I love Robert J Crane, Sanctuary Series because well they are just incredible. I actually recommended them to family members and they have enjoyed reading the series immensely. Where do you get your ideas/ how do you find inspiration? Every writer hates this question because no one is satifised with ‘they just appear to me’. It’s not what they want to hear because it’s not exciting enough, but for most writers it is true. You could be looking at a cloud and it reminds you of a dragon. Or something someone says might link two ideas together. My dad has a thing about scary trees, we had a whole conversation about scary trees, by the end we came up with a whole new vampire concept. Honestly, ideas just happened, they can’t be stopped or forced.Can you share any free resources or tools you have found helpful? Grammarly is a brilliant tool that has helped me understand a lot. It’s free to download the basic version but you can pay for the whole lot. I used it a lot in my coursework and my novels.Please give us your top 3 world-building tips. Research. Understand how the world works before you start creating your own. I created a whole world for one of my novels and someone asked me which way my rivers flowed and I had no idea.Be creative. Once you understand how the world works you can bend the rules to what you want.Are you a plotter or a pantser? Please tell us why and what your pre-writing processes are. I don’t plan unless it’s a world building situation. I don’t like planning, I feel like I’ve already written it and I lose interest. I get the idea down first. Why do you write? I enjoy the chance to get away from normal life and explore in a different one. And now for the real reason- CONTROL! I love being able to make all the decisions, well most of the decisions.In order of importance (most important first) when shopping online, what do you look at first? Cover design, formatting, reviews, description, price, publisher, author name, page count, preview, formats available.1.cover design2. description3. reviews4. price5. page count6. author name7. formats available8. formatting9. publisher10. previewI agree that indie publishing gives the author more control.Yes. The writer can decide what they want from their marketing,I agree that indie books should be difficult to identify amongst traditionally published books. Yes. Indie books are often just as good as traditionally published books. So there shouldn’t be a difference.In order of usefulness (most useful first) when marketing your book, which techniques do you recommend from these options? Social media. Media coverage (newspaper, TV, podcasts etc). Blog tours. Perma-free/ giveaways. Writing more books.1. social media2. writing more books3. giveaway’s4. media coverage5. blog toursWriting is my dream.Yes.I agree the ideal price for an e-book on Amazon is 99c-$2.99. YesI have suffered writer's block in the past.Yes. Every witer does at some point or another. There are many reasons. It might be lack of creativity or you lose the spark with a project. Do something else for a while. Just give your brain a chance to relax.Leave a comment or note of thanks for your readers?I appreciate the support from readers and audience, and thank you to all those who have downloaded my book so far.***To download Phaser, please use the link below: The e-cover for Phaser was designed by me (E. Rachael Hardcastle)! To explore my services, pleaseclick here.

'The Author Interviews' returns! Take part now!

Are you a recently published independent author, or perhaps you're looking to promote a novel already on the shelves?My Author Interviews blog series is returning - complete your free author interview and have it displayed and shared across my social media platform.Below is a copy of the form, including the questions and rules. Please read through this post in full before you submit your interview. To submit, please contact me to request an e-form.COMPLETE AN AUTHOR INTERVIEW (WRITTEN) ON E. RACHAEL HARDCASTLE'S JOURNALAuthor Name:Bio:Genre:Headshot (please attach to document or email):Website:Facebook:Twitter:Permission to post on blog? Y/NPermission to use elsewhere on any E. Rachael Hardcastle platform? Y/NThere is no charge for the interview.The interview and any previous interviews you have completed for my website/ blog may be used as research or quoted in a future book by E. Rachael Hardcastle. Any personal info provided will of course remain private. If any quotes are used, your given author name will be referenced in full, and the interview/s will be shared on E. Rachael Hardcastle's online platform. You may also use the interview content for your own purposes.You can, however, opt out here:Interview can be used: YES/ NOPrevious interviews can be used: YES/ NOAll advertisements for your book/s on E. Rachael Hardcastle's site will be through her Amazon Associate links.If you would like to schedule this interview to go live for a specific day in line with a release or other promotions, please state the date and time. This cannot be guaranteed; you will be given the closest available to your request.Date:Time:Please answer in as much detail and be as honest as possible. We want the reader to have a clear insight into you as an author and your work. You can use bold or highlighted text to answer.RULES:Please no swearingNo direct sexual referencesNo hate/ slander of people or businesses please.If your book is suitable for 18+ years, please advise this as your book will be linked to the interview using Amazon Associates.You are under no obligation to share or mention E. Rachael Hardcastle when this goes live, although a mention to help drive traffic to www.erachaelhardcastle.com would be appreciated.Part One: Your Interview Questions:What made you want to become a writer?What are your thoughts on the indie vs traditional publishing argument?Tell us about your latest novel.Please give us your top 3 marketing tips.Please give us your top 3 productivity tips.Tell us about your typical writing day.What is your definition of success? Would you say you are a successful author?Share some of your writing goals with us. Have you met any of them yet?How do you deal with negative reviews and criticism?Do you have a favourite author for fiction and non-fiction? Why are they your favourite and which of their books would you recommend? Why?Where do you get your ideas/ how do you find inspiration?Can you share any free resources or tools you have found helpful?Please give us your top 3 world-building tips.Do you outsource your work (editing and cover design specifically)?Are you a plotter or a pantser? Please tell us why and what your pre-writing processes are.Why do you write?What is your mission statement?What do you love the most about writing and why?What do you dislike about writing and why?Do you ever visit other authors' websites and if so, what do you look for? Why?Part Two: YES/ NO and ListsFor Y/N questions, please add a sentence or two to explain following your response.In order of importance (most important first) when shopping online, what do you look at first? Cover design, formatting, reviews, description, price, publisher, author name, page count, preview, formats available.1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.I agree that indie publishing gives the author more control. Y/NI agree that indie books should be difficult to identify amongst traditionally published books. Y/NIn order of usefulness (most useful first) when marketing your book, which techniques do you recommend from these options? Social media. Media coverage (newspaper, TV, podcasts etc). Blog tours. Perma-free/ giveaways. Writing more books.1.2.3.4.5.Writing is my dream. Y/NI agree the ideal price for an e-book on Amazon is 99c-$2.99. Y/NI have suffered writer's block in the past. Y/NCause of writer's block:How you resolved it:I use (Word Processor):ScrivenerMicrosoft WordNotepadOpen OfficeOtherI tried and failed to get a publishing deal and/ or literary agent or had one in the past. Y/NI outsource my editing. Y/NI outsource my cover design. Y/NI outsource my formatting. Y/NI write to a specific word count every day. Y/NI set goals and frequently review them. Y/NI write across genres. Y/NPart Three (Promos) -If you hold a bestseller status, please tell us which book this relates to, in which categories, what kind of bestseller you are and how you achieved this.If you have an advertisement or would like to promote a specific book, please do so here:Title:Genre:Blurb:Cover (please attach below or on an email):Link to Amazon US:Link to Amazon UK:Formats available:Perma-free? Y/NLeave a comment or note of thanks for your readers?I would like to say...Please leave a short testimonial.What did you think of this interview?Was it fun/ helpful to you?What did you think of the website?What was the service like from the author?Would you like to download and review a free, #1 bestselling e-book, Finding Pandora: World at your leisure?If so, please feel welcome to download it FREE from any of these distributors.

100 Instagram Followers!

Thank you to everyone following me on Instagram! You've helped me to reach 100 followers (goal set to reach 100 before the end of Sept 2017). I hope you're all enjoying the content and will continue to support me! If you're not currently following and would like to, you can find me at www.instagram.com/erachaelhardcastle or click the social media link from my home page.

Old Company Magazine Clipping - 2010

I found an old magazine clipping from a company who featured me back in 2010! To protect their privacy I've blacked out their details, but I thought you might like to see it (and the picture of me at just 18 years old!). Note, the links in this clipping are out of date and no longer work.Enjoy!

Old School Magazine Clipping - 2010

I found an old article from my high school's magazine when I published my debut novel, The Soul Sanctuary, in 2010. I thought you might like to see it! Note, the links on this article are out of date and no longer work, and the school have given their permission for me to use the above clip.Enjoy!

Second Photo Arrives!

Photo by the Whitby Bookshop.I'm excited to show you the photograph of Finding Pandora: The Complete Collection at the Whitby Bookshop from their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/thewhitbybooks1, posted today (17/09/17)!  Please visit their gorgeous store at The Whitby Bookshop, 88 Church Street, Whitby, YO22 4BH, UK and be sure to visit their website www.whitbybookshop.co.uk.This photograph has been added to my website's gallery, so please be sure to check my collection of Pandora snapshots out today.

Bradford Review Magazine, Issue 31

Thank you so much to the Bradford Review magazine for printing my interview with Radio Royal host Emma Truelove in their September (Issue 31) edition. If you would like to read it online, you can visit this link and check out my one-page feature, or you can pick up a physical copy of the magazine in and around the Bradford area in various tourist information shops, transport stations and businesses.To visit Bradford Review's website, please click this link. To check out Radio Royal and listen live, click here.

First set of photos are in!

I'm thrilled to share these lovely photos of Finding Pandora: The Complete Collection on display for just £10.99 at Millers Book Exchange, Keighley Market, Keighley. Each signed paperback book incudes all four of the Arriette Monroe books so far (and some extra goodies, too!).  Don't wait - they're selling fast!

Second Stockist for Finding Pandora Added!

I am excited to announce the second bookshop to stock paperback copies of Finding Pandora: The Complete Collection is Millers Book Exchange! Thank you to Daphne who was kind enough to meet with me today.If you live locally or are planning a day trip to the area, you can find the shop at Millers Books, Units 72 & 73, 38-56 Low St, Keighley, West Yorkshire, BD213PQ, UK. Be sure to check out their website via http://www.bradfordmarkets.com/traders/millers-books/and show your support for this amazing shop and Bradford Markets.Finding Pandora will be delivered to Millers Book Exchange soon - watch this space for updates and pictures!E. Rachael Hardcastle