Q&A with Nenia Campbell

You asked me questions and I'm answering them here!

Q: I've always been curious as to how self-published books are made. What's your writing and editing process like, and what happens after?

A: I have a day job, so I do all my writing around that. Typically, I'll jot down a few ideas in the morning before I go to work and I do my writing and editing after work. I can write a book in 4-6 months if things are going well, but if I'm struggling, it can take more than a year. I also tend to write based off of inspiration, so there are some projects that get tabled since I don't like to force things. Editing takes another couple months because I'll read through the document multiple times, tweaking sentences and editing mistakes. I have some friends who beta but apart from that much appreciated help, I do all my own editing and formatting.

Q: How do you deal with negativity on goodreads, both as a writer and as a blogger?

A: I used to be way more reactive when I was younger, but that was a mistake. Now, I just tend to disengage or block. I'm really not interested in arguing with people or participating in drama. Some people don't get that and feel like they're entitled to post their opinion in your space, even if it's not wanted. But part of growing up is realizing that you don't owe people your time, and your emotional well-being goes up when you devote your headspace to people who are actually interested in talking to you person to person, on a civil, humanistic level, regardless of whether they agree with you or just want to have you be accountable for your actions.

Regarding reviews of my own work, I'm mostly just grateful people took the time. It sounds hokey, but it's true. Sometimes, I might not agree with what someone says but it's their right as a reviewer to state their honest opinion and I have no right to tell them otherwise. (It would be pretty hypocritical of me, actually, since I started out as a blogger.) I don't block people or unfriend people over negative reviews and I don't pressure readers or ARC reviewers to write good reviews. I want people to be honest. I don't want to be part of a community where people are punished for their honesty. And I especially don't want people I'm friendly with to feel like their friendship with me is contingent on them telling me what I want to hear. It's hard to grow as a creator if you don't take in at least some critical feedback, even-- especially-- if it's painful to hear.

Q: Favourite book at the start of the 21st Century and favourite book now?

A: At the beginning of the 21st century, I was still a kid, so my tastes have changed a lot. I used to read mostly lit-fic and YA. Now, I mostly read romance and thrillers. Part of this is because, when I was younger, I used to self-validate by reading "smart" books. I didn't feel like I was allowed to enjoy books that were purely self-indulgent. Now I feel differently, and I tend to consume self-indulgent books almost exclusively, reviewing them critically but enjoying them unapologetically.

Q: What do you like more: reading or writing?

A: Writing is more satisfying but reading is more relaxing. I enjoy both, and tend to write the sorts of stories I enjoy reading (which is a good thing, because when I start editing, I end up reading them literally hundreds of times hahaha *cries*)

Q: Anything fun planned to come out this year?

I'm working on another dark stepbrother romance called Adeane and Ravina. The story starts when the characters are 10 and 13, and follows them up to adulthood, like Quid Pro Quo. I also have an erotic thriller I want to write called Raise the Blood, which will be written more in the vein of my Horrorscape series.

Q: Are any of your books inspired by real life?

A: Short answer: EEK, NO. Long answer: bits and pieces, yes. There's a scene in Batter My Heart where the heroine is mistreated by a snooty hotel manager because of the way she looks, and that's loosely based off a really terrible experience my mother and I had at a boutique cafe in the big city. Several of my heroines worked jobs that I used to work. And most of my books are set in California because that's where I live, and it's easy to write about places I've been.

Q: What are your favorite so bad they’re good books?

A: I love old school bodice-rippers. Some of them are objectively badly written and offensive, but that's what makes them so amusing. It's fun to talk about how the romance genre developed and see little glimpses into how people probably talked about and learned about history based on the way that history is represented in these old historicals. I also really enjoy trashy contemporary dark romance novels and sci-fi romance with aliens and space travel. I have a very sarcastic and dry sense of humor and tend to make fun of what I read, even if I enjoy it. There's a sweet spot between books that are good and bad, and a lot of my favorite books definitely fit into that niche.

Q: Got any fun stories about your cat?

A: Every time she "kills" one of her toys, she picks up in her teeth and parades it around the house while yowling. You have to follow the yowls, where she will be waiting, with the toy. Then she'll either drop it at your feet so you can throw it for her to chase, or lift up her butt so you can scratch her ass for a job well done. Either way, exuberant praise is expected and appreciated.