AUTHOR! AUTHOR! REDUX - Chapter Two with S.C. Wynne
As longtime viewers know, I used to occasionally do author interviews with friends and folks who interested me. It's been awhile. Not because I don't still have friends and folks who interest me, but, for a variety of reasons, I've become very...disengaged with social media.
I still use it to promote new releases, and I do the Advent Calendar as a thank you to readers, but beyond that, I just don't have the time or emotional bandwith. There's so just so much going on right now that isn't at all related to my writing life. I think you hit a certain age and that becomes inevitable.
Still.
The interviews were fun, and helpful to readers and authors alike, so I thought maybe I'd go back to throwing them into the mix now and again. And what do you know? We have someone celebrating a book birthday this very week!
JL – Tell us who you are and what you do. AND NO PEEKING ATTHE ANSWERS!
SCW - Firstof all, thank you for having me on your blog, Josh! (And I only peeked a little!)
Now I’lllet the voices in my head introduce me third person: S.C. Wynne is a LambdaAward winning author and has been writing MM Romance and Gay mystery since2013. She lives in California with her wonderful husband, two quirky kids, anda loony rescue pup named Ditto.
JL – The last time we spoke (online in blog format *cough*) you still owned the coffee house and writingwas not yet your fulltime gig. That’s all changed now. Share a little bit aboutthat journey.
SCW - Has it really been that long? Oh, God, the days ofrunning a coffeehouse. Don’t remind me. Talk about an exhausting endeavor.These days I like to enjoy my coffee without the joy of jumping up and down toserve customers. Originally, writing was just going to be a side gig. However, Iloved it so much, and it proved to be profitable for me, so I dove in withabandon and, in 2017, became a full-time author. Before we sold the coffeehouse and the writing was full-time, there was crossover. That was a tiring periodin my life. I was writing full-time and also running the coffeehouse. Many,many books were produced during that time. I had amazing concentration skillsback in the day. Probably from the gallons of coffee I drank.
JL – Up until now you’ve mostly written contemporary mysteryand romance, with some paranormal thrown in, but now you’ve partnered up withmy friends at Blind Eye Books and completely new and exciting project. Tell usabout Beyond the Veil.
SCW - The partnership with Blind Eye Books came about when Iposted about one of my WIP on Facebook. Nicole Kimberling, the editor of BEB,reached out because she happened to have a free slot in their publishingschedule. Before that, the book I was working on was originally going to be mybasic MM mystery romance thing with paranormal elements. But Nicole needed abook that was more fantasy based and so I tweaked the idea a bit. With Nicole’sskillful guidance, I was able, I hope, to hit the marks needed to make thestory actual fantasy.
JL – I remember what an intense and instructive experience itwas working with Nicole Kimberling, the editor at Blind Eye Books, on StrangeFortune. What was the best part of working with Nikki. What was the mostchallenging aspect of the project?
SCW - The edits were indeed intense. That’s a good word for it. But I’ve worked with many houses over my writing journey, so I felt ready for them. The best part was I learned a lot from Nicole, especially about the difference in writing fantasy romance from writing a regular mystery romance. In the mysteries, I hold a lot of info back and feed it out in little bread crumbs. But with fantasy, it seemed as if Nicole wanted answers to things quickly. Perhaps she’s just an impatient little minx? She didn’t like being kept in the dark, which is what I do with mysteries. So, she pushed me to reveal things more quickly than I would have naturally. As I recall she was also very impatient with me for promising spirits, but then not having enough spirits appearing soon enough or often enough. There were many editing comments like this: See, like this scene would be much better with ghosts sprinkled throughout, or How about the ghosts. What are they up to? You promised me lots of ghosts!JL - THAT SOUNDS FAMILIAR. I believe in my case it was rolling heads. FORTUNATELY, a favorite of mine. 😂
SCW - The most challenging thing about working with a publisheragain was going through a real content edit. Since I’ve only beenself-publishing the last few years, I usually just get copy edits. I feelfairly confident in my story telling abilities, but not at all confident aboutcommas. They’re such confusing little things. Having another opinion aboutwhere the actual story should go took a little getting used to. Relinquishingcontrol when you’ve had total control for so long was probably the hardestpart. But I respect Nicole, and I did my best to do as she requested. I onlypushed back a little when her suggestions didn’t feel like something mycharacters would do. Other than that, I tried to be a very obedient littleauthor. Right, Nicole? I was a joy to work with, right? RIGHT?
JL - 😁
JL – What are you most excited about with this new book? Whatdo you hope readers take away from this literary adventure?
SCW - The most exciting thing about writing this book was itforced me to stretch my creative wings. I think authors should do that fromtime to time. I enjoyed the experience a lot. It was tough, but I look back onthe edits with a real feeling of accomplishment. I know the book is better forthem. I’d happily work with BEB again, if asked.
I’m not sure what I hope readers take away from thislittle adventure of mine. Hopefully, while the book has fantasy elements, readerswill see that Beyond the Veil is still very much an S.C. Wynne book. Whathappens to my characters is fantastical, but my characters themselves willstill always be true to my writing style.
JL – Are we going to see more spec fiction titles from you?
SCW - Perhaps. I do love writing all kinds of differentstories. I have a backlog of mysteries I’ve promised readers. But once thoseare published, there might be more spec fiction in my future. I’ll have Lorenzolook into his crystal ball and tell me what’s next!
JL – How would you say the writing biz has changed since yourlast visit to the blog?
SCW - For one thing, it’s way more crowded. There used to belike three books published a day in our genre, now there are sometimes thirty? Also,I believe Kindle Unlimited came about the year after I began writing. Thatdefinitely changed everything. Many readers now simply borrow books rather thanbuy them.
It also seems like the craft of writing isn’t anythinganyone talks about anymore. Everyone is very fixated on promotion. There are alot of people making money selling authors courses on how to promote theirbooks, but less people talking about the writing itself. I remember when peopledevoured and discussed books. I don’t see that happening much anymore. Everyoneis reading so quickly because there are SO MANY BOOKS.
JL – While it’s hard to get specific data, there’ssignificant anecdotal evidence suggesting most authors, particularlyself-published authors, give up within the first 2 -5 years of launching theirwriting career. So, you’ve already lasted longer than the majority of authorslast in this crazy business. What’s the secret to your success? Do you have anyadvice for someone starting out today?
SCW - I can’t imagine ever giving up. I’ve been writing foreleven years now, and I still absolutely love it. I don’t know that I have a secretto success. The experts say authors should pick one genre and beat that todeath. Maybe I’d be more of a household name if I’d been able to do that andonly written one thing for eleven years. I tend to jump around a lot because Ilove writing so many different things. While I’m not a person who is boredeasily, I do have a lot of things that interest me and so I try them. I don’treally regret that though because it’s made my writing journey more interestingfor me. I think if you’re bored writing something, and I would be if I onlywrote one thing, the readers can tell.
JL - What’s next for S.C. Wynne?
SCW - I have a standalone mystery idea I’m really excitedabout. It has to do with a lover presumed lost at sea, who isn’t actually lost.That’s all I’ll say for now. No, shhh. Don’t ask for details. I shan’t tell. Thatbook idea has been percolating in my brain for a year now. I can’t wait tostart that one. There’s also a Dr. Thornton book coming in the next few months.How I’ve missed Max and Royce. Also, I have another book planned for my KipO’Connor cozy mystery series too. Rest assured there are many story ideasping-ponging around in my brain. I’m excited for 2024. :)
BEYOND THE VEIL IS AVAILABLE NOW!
Being a psychic in the small seaside town of Fox Harbor is challenging enough, but winter months are brutal. Not that using his clairvoyant abilities to hunt down lost pets isn’t thrilling, but Lorenzo wouldn’t mind a tiny bit more excitement in his life.
Be careful what you wish for?
Things get more stimulating when the charismatic Dr. Ian Thatcher takes a romantic interest in him. Unfortunately, their promising evening takes a ghastly turn when an old man dies on Lorenzo’s doorstep, after warning Lorenzo his life is in danger.
Before Lorenzo can say “Give me my old boring life back, please” his home is ransacked, a fiery being tries to burn him to death, and he’s informed he’s the only hope to save the world.
LEARN MORE ABOUT SC WYNNE...
