Author Interview: Lori Ann Nelson

Howdy, Y’all!
Danielle here with a very special guest, whom I am very excited to introduce to you! Today I have with me the author of , Miss Lori Ann Nelson! It is a real pleasure and a sweet blessing to have her here today. So please give a warm welcome to Lori Ann Nelson!

Lori Ann Nelson often vanishes into the realms of her imagination where she creates intriguing science fiction worlds filled with found family, daring escapes, and hope. With all her writing, her goal is to pen words that encourage her readers as well as give them a little adventure. Her non-writing hours include finding her own adventures, searching wetlands or woods for various animals and plants with her camera, traveling whenever possible, and exploring bookshops with friends. She currently resides in Texas with her family and her Malinois mix pup.

Danielle: Thanks so much for joining me today, Lori Ann!

Lori Ann: Hello, Danielle! I am excited to be here!

Danielle: Awesome! Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m super excited to get started! First things first though, why don’t we let my readers know a little about your short story and the anthology it’s published in? We can start with a brief synopsis and then you can share anything else you’d like to add.

Lori Ann: Illuminate the Dark is a collection of Christian fantasy short stories & poems that feature dragons and Walkers, firebirds, glowing blue stones, dark worlds, a poisoned throne, a White Stag and more. It’s characters include a girl lost in darkness, a one armed boy, a prince determined to protect his people, and even a villain. These various stories are tied together by one theme: light over darkness.

My short story, Fire Feathers to Home, is about a young girl who finds herself far from home and the slave of her master’s dragon army. A strange man approaches her with an offer; he can help her escape if she chooses to trust him. As the eve of battle draws near, will she choose to accept the offer of a man capable of controlling the very northern lights, or will she remain a slave and separated from her father for good?

The proceeds from every anthology copy purchased go to BeLoved Asheville to help those still impacted by hurricane Helene.

Danielle: That’s great! Thanks so much for sharing that with us, Lori Ann! Now, let’s learn a little about you. I have a few questions for you. Are you ready?

Lori Ann: Absolutely! Fire away!

Danielle: Great! Alright, here it goes. Reading plays an important role in a writer’s line of work; different books play different roles in shaping us into better writers. They have the ability to tug at our heartstrings in many different ways. I’m curious, what is the first book that made you cry?

Lori Ann: If I remember correctly, I think it was the last book in the Peleg Chronicles series (written by Matthew Christian Harding). The ending was so good!

Danielle: It sounds like a good one! So what is your favorite childhood book?

Lori Ann: One of my top favorite books to read as a kid would be the Peleg Chronicles series I mentioned. I loved reading about dinosaurs and finding fossils as a kid, so finding a book with a dragon and other strange creatures got me started on the idea of imaginary worlds with creatures I might be able to find in this world. And it was a quite possibly the book that got me started on the found family trope.

Danielle: That’s so sweet! Lori Ann, I’ve had the great pleasure getting to know you and I consider it a huge blessing to be your friend! I was wondering, what other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?

Lori Ann: Thanks, Danielle! I have enjoyed getting to know you as well! Oh, good question. I have connections with several authors, all of whom are amazing! But Kimberly Grace, Sarah Abegglen, Kaytlin Philips, Daisy Henckle, Merielle Henning, Olivia G. Booms, and K. Ann are all amazing author friends. These girls are such an encouragement whether it’s a moment I am doubting my capabilities, reached a goal I worked hard on, or am cheering them on in their success. They are some of the people that if I didn’t know them, I probably would not have published some of my stories nor would I have had the courage to do the hard things (such as getting my first story published, writing my first book proposal, or sending pages of my book requested from industry professionals).

Danielle: That’s is truly amazing! Friends are a true blessing of Elohim(God). Does your family support your career as an author?

Lori Ann: My family has been one of my biggest supporters of my author career. They have encouraged me to submit to anthologies, supported me during cover reveals, and helped me with reaching any learning opportunities I have found!

Danielle: I can see that Elohim has truly blessed you with an amazing family, Lori Ann! Here’s a fun question: Do you Google yourself?

Lori Ann: Occasionally. I do think it’s important to do it at least once or twice in an author career to check your website’s first impression or how visible of a presence you have (you know, the fun marketing stuff). Plus, it’s kinda fun to see who else might pop up when searching your name!

Danielle: Those are some great points! Alright, here’s one: Do you believe in writer’s block?

Lori Ann: Yes! I think it’s a very real thing.

Danielle: How do you overcome it? Any advice for aspiring writers who are struggling with it?

Lori Ann: Sometimes brainstorming helps, other times it’s a writing sprint with a friend or writing something random outside of my current project. My advice is when you are hit with writer’s block, examine whether you need to give your mind a short break from writing or from writing the project you are currently on. Sometimes your mind just needs to focus on something besides writing (going on birdwatching walks or watching a show usually works for me), or needs to work on fresh ideas before it can move forward with your current story. But if you need to push through on your project, spend some time writing down notes on where you want the story to go next. It’s about evaluating what your mind might need before pushing through it.

Danielle: Thanks for that great advice, Lori Ann. So tell me, what is your writing Kryptonite.

Lori Ann: My writing Kryptonite tends to be imposter syndrome. I enjoy sharpening my skills as much as possible, though sometimes I struggle with the lie that only having small stories published or not reaching certain goals like others means I am not a real author–or a good writer. Though I have a few things I can remind myself of to dispute that because neither is true.

Danielle: So, how long does it take you to write a story on average?

Lori Ann: If it is a short story, it usually takes me a week or less to write the first draft. If it is a full length project, usually a couple of months.

Danielle: How do you come up with your character names?

Lori Ann: I have created a list of names with meanings, so when I am developing a new character I start there. What meaning fits the character? And what name would fit the story best (some names might not fit a character living in a high tech city like they would a character living in the country in a more historical setting)?

Danielle: That’s so interesting! that sounds like a great process! So, do you read your book reviews? If so, then how do you deal with the bad or good ones?

Lori Ann: I have read a few reviews for my short stories, yes. For the bad, I keep in mind that some of them were for my first published stories or poems, so I didn’t have as much experience then. I was newer to this and growth has happened since then. And if it was for my more recent stories, I keep in mind that no story is going to be for all readers. I have my favorite books and books I didn’t like as much, and it goes the same for whoever picks up my writing. A bad review doesn’t automatically mean that my story is awful, it just means it might not have been that person’s favorite. And that is okay. Just like more chances to improve my writing will come, more readers who do love my writing will find it. But if a bad review points out an area I need to grow in, then I will do my best improve.
For my good reviews, I reflect back on them for days I might doubt myself or my writing. They are good reminders for the things I am improving in and which stories have left an impact on people. And it’s just good to see which things from the stories might have been readers’ favorites!

Danielle: Same here! What is your favorite under-appreciated novel?

Lori Ann: That would be Dreamtreaders by Wayne Thomas Batson!

Danielle: Do you mind telling us a little about it?

Lori Ann: It’s a story of a young man who is a guardian of a lucid dream realm. Because it is easy to get lost or deceived in that realm, he must pick an anchor to keep him tied to reality so he can wake up. But he discovers there are others in his world seeking to control the dream realm. And they are not who he thought they were. How can he protect his own family and the realm? The friendships and family relationships (along with a sassy squirrel who loves fashion) quickly made it one of my all time favorites!

Danielle: Thanks so much! So how many unpublished or half-finished stories do you have?

Lori Ann: I have a handful of unpublished science fiction and two unpublished fantasy short stories. For unpublished full length projects, I have three!

Danielle: What does literary success look like to you?

Lori Ann: For me, that would be seeing how my writing has reached people. Did it help a reader feel less alone? Did it make someone laugh or cry? Did it help them see the courage in themselves? Did it help them see the hope, healing, and wonder that pops up in the world around them? If so, then that is what I consider literary success. It’s the impact my writing leaves.

Danielle: That is a great way to look at it! Now, what’s the best money you ever spent as a writer?

Lori Ann: Oh goodness, that would probably be a conference I went to last year! It was for writers, filmmakers, actors, and podcastors. It was a great chance to get feedback on my book pitch, networking with people face to face, and strengthening friendships I already had.

Danielle: That’s so neat! I’m hoping to get to go to a conference in the near future. So what is the best way you’ve found to market your stories?

Lori Ann: As strange as it might sound: showing readers me. Readers love to see what authors are up to or their writing and publishing process. What better way to do that than showing them you? Whether it’s responding to comments and emails or sharing posts with your smile and goofy marketing reels, connecting with people is one of the best ways to market your writing.

Danielle: I’ve never thought of it that way before. Okay, here’s a fun question for ya: If you could tell your early writing self anything, what would it be?

Lori Ann: I would say…Hold on, because you are about to start one of the craziest adventures of your life. It will be nothing like you thought it would be. You will have disappointments you weren’t planning on and will make mistakes, but you will also have victories you didn’t know could be so wonderful. You might not always know where to go, but keep asking questions. The people with answers will come at the right times and your willingness to learn will get you far. Also, this journey will let you meet the greatest friends who will have your back and who you will be sharing some pretty cool milestones with!

Danielle: I love it! Alright, in your opinion, does a big ego help or hurt writers?

Lori Ann: I think it hurts writers more than helps. The goal should be to have confidence in your writing. All writers need confidence, that will carry them far. Guess what can make your confidence carry you farther? Humility. Getting to the point you think your writing is better than anyone else’s or that the advice you get can’t apply to you is not a good place to be. Even the legends were still learning. Having the confidence to put your writing out there is great, but so is the ability to admit if you’ve made a mistake or the ability to learn from that mistake. Confident, but humble writers find the best connections and growth.

Danielle: Amen! What do you believe are common traps for aspiring writers?

Lori Ann: Perfection. Your writing will never be perfect. Even published books that have been edited a million times have at least one mistake in them (whether it be grammar, characters, setting, etc.). I’ve had a handful of smaller projects published and will be published later this year in an anthology at a bigger publishing house, but I still get mistakes pointed out in my stories. Don’t wait for your stories to be perfect. If you keep your writing to yourself while waiting for it to be good enough, it will never be ready and you will end up writing something amazing that no one will get to enjoy. Do your best, get good feedback, make a few edits, and show that writing to at least one person even if you aren’t submitting it yet. You might just be surprised at the results of that.

Danielle: Very well put, Lori Ann! Have you ever experienced reader’s block?

Lori Ann: Definitely! I tend to get it after reading a rather emotionally intense book or two, but I love suspense so it’s not too difficult for me to break out of it–usually.

Danielle: Since we’re back on the topic of reading, lets discuss your featured story a bit more. What inspired you to write this particular story?

Lori Ann: I was reading through Illuminate the Dark’s guidelines and came across the prompts. There was a picture of a guy carrying a girl under a stary sky and it stuck with me. An idea came to mind: What if that girl was on her way back home? Then another idea came to mind: I love dragons, but my science fiction stories so far don’t have anything too dragon-like. Why not write about shadow breathing dragons trying to keep this girl from escaping while eating the lights in the sky? So Fire Feathers to Home was born and submitted a while after.

Danielle: Which character is your favorite? Which one do you connect with the most?

Lori Ann: I could say the main character (Channary), but I am going to say her father. It’s been years since his daughter ran off, yet he’s still searching for her. He places his trust in a king commanding the very northern lights to get her home–a sign he still loves her. I love his determination to never give up on her no matter how hard the waiting has been. Sometimes you just can’t stop hoping for something, or perhaps hope is what you should hold on to.

Danielle: He sounds admirable. How much of you is in the story?

Lori Ann: Not as much as in my other stories, though the piece of me that’s in this one is the the familiarity of perhaps not wanting to find your home, but wanting to find your people. I struggled with that quite a bit in my teens (and again starting adulthood). That and the wonderful feeling of when you finally get there.

Danielle: What novel are you currently working on? What’s it about?

Lori Ann: The novel I am working on is a fast-paced science fiction adventure I am calling Escape Planet. It follows four individuals living life in a lone city on a desert planet. The fragile peace breaks as a mysterious planet killer draws near, leaving them three days to find hidden clues leading to evacuation ships heading back to their homeworld. It features a talking crow, plenty of found family, themes of worth, antiques, anxiety rep, and strange creatures!

Danielle: Sounds like a fun adventure! Well, it has been a wonderful blessing having you visit with us today, Lori Ann! I hope you’ll drop by again with your future novels. Thanks again for the wonderful time!

Lori Ann: Thank you for having me, Danielle! I hope to stop by again.

Danielle: Thanks for taking the time to drop by everyone! Please swing by Amazon and order a copy
of this amazing book; Illuminate the Dark.