Interview with V.R. Janis

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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span id="goog_1676347618"></span><span id="goog_1676347619"></span>Can you
give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The most recent published book is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hidden Conflicts</i> which is the final book in the Hidden Magic
Trilogy. The trilogy is about a young elf maiden who lives in the world as it
is right now and she is fighting for the people and beliefs she has. It is a
unique blend of Ojibwe culture/language and fantasy. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What is
your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I love listening to instrumental music such as flute,
Lindsey Stirling (violin), classical and movie film scores. Sometimes the songs
can help the scenes come alive.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you
outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I outline what I want to happen in each chapter and then I
let my characters create their own world. Sometimes it goes the way I want it
to and sometimes it goes off in a whole other direction. When a scene is
developing and I leave it, sometimes I will have a dream or a flash of
inspiration and then the scene explodes. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What have
you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I have learned that you have to have courage and motivation.
I also have learned the benefit to research (google) and that no feat is too
small to celebrate. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Besides
Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My books can be found on Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/OjibweWonder...
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What kinds
of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for
promoting your book(s)?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I do twitter, facebook, LinkedIn, Goodreads, I am part of
Yahoo groups, forums, I have a blog www.janisvr.blogspot.com and never
underestimate the power of word of mouth, I pass out business cards, I do
presentations, book signings and talks to classes. I look for new experiences
and connections on a daily basis. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vhc-Ly9vQMs..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vhc-Ly9vQMs..." width="208" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you
find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and
writing your next book?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I do find it difficult to juggle marketing and writing,
however I have created a schedule for myself and that has helped greatly. I do
a little of everything, everyday and then I do not get stressed that something
did not get accomplished. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What
advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing
arena?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Research everything before agreeing to anything, remember
Google is your friend. Try - because your failure will be in giving up. One
last thing - take the criticism and use it to make your writing better, but take
it to your heart. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Besides
writing, do you have any other passions?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I am a Fine Art Photographer, a Conservation Biologist, and
I am passionate about my Native American culture and language. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What’s
next for you?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I am in the process of editing an entire series and I am
writing a dystopia. I have at least twenty new book ideas and do not plan on
slowing down any time soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I just wanted to say thank you for the opportunity to do the
interview and I enjoyed answering the questions. </span></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TwoEnd..." height="1" width="1"/>