Interview With... Shannon Eckrich
To all who are reading this,
This is the final interview of the month and we are ending it with an upcoming novel from Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Press!
Let's meet the woman herself.
---
Name: Shannon Eckrich
Age: Not telling!
Location: Delaware
Hi Shannon, thanks for joining me! So what are three interesting facts that you'd like to share with the readers?
1. I believe in ghosts and aliens.
2. I've been with my husband since I was fifteen years old.
3. I'm absolutely terrified of praying mantises.
What made you want to be a writer?
The funny thing is I had no intentions of being a writer. I was creative in many other ways, but I never thought in a million years I would write a novel. My biggest inspiration was Twilight. After that, I woke up the next day and began writing. I wanted to create my own world and characters. And I wanted to be able to control the ending. I'm really happy I did start writing even though it hasn't been easy. But nothing beats slipping away from reality and into your own imaginary world. Everyone needs to get away sometimes.
What motivates you to write?
Definitely music.
Do you have a particular writing process?
My writing process is fairly simple. First, I create my rough draft. This is pretty basic stuff. I don't get into a lot of detail, and I don't have an outline. My main goal is to just get the entire idea out of my head and onto the computer. After the rough draft is complete, I reread the story and add in the detail, change the chapters around, and make any other changes that need to be done. Once I'm finished, I rewrite it again. This time I make sure the format is correct. I reread it again, checking for grammar, spelling etc. Then I send it off to my betas!
How do you manage the deadly problem that is writers block?
Writing block is my nemesis! But, if it happens to strike, I'll listen to music to give me some more ideas.
What is a piece of writing advice that you will always remember?
Always start your chapters with a hook and end with a hook. You must give the reader a reason to turn the page. If not, they may put your book down and not pick it back up.
What is the most influential book you have ever read, and why do you think so?
The most influential book I've ever read was If I Stay by Gayle Forman. Her voice is awesome, and it really makes you think. What if I was the only one to survive a car crash and my family died? Would there even be a reason to come back? The book had such an impact on me that I was in tears.
Have you ever derived inspiration from your home or from anywhere you have visited?
All the time. I'm sort of the quiet person in the room that sits around plotting ideas while everyone is in deep conversation. Everywhere I go I always ask myself, "What if?" I think a majority of writers do that.
Your most recent publication is Haunting Lia. Have you had any publications prior to this?
Yes, I have a YA novel out now called Other Side of Forever. It's available through most online book stores. Here's the synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Allie Anderson's telekinetic powers are anything but useful - she can't bring her father back, can't stop her mother's downward spiral into alcohol, and can't keep her from falling in love with Ethan Bradley. loving Ethan is easy but it comes with a hefty price: Ethan is prohibited by his people from interacting with mortals - because he isn't mortal himself. When Allie and Ethan's love is discovered, there's someone who will do anything to keep them apart. If Allie can't learn to control her powers and fight to save Ethan, this dark entity will make every attempt to sop her beating heart. And if that happens, not even the energy of an immortal can bring her back.
What is Haunting Lia about? It certainly sounds interesting!
Thank you so much! I think if readers like a little dark in their paranormal, they'll love this one!
Death is her destiny. But she has other things in mind.
Lia Starr's life isn't a fairy-tale. It's a reality overflowing with scary monsters, death and betrayal - a past she left behind when she entered her new foster home. Now, with a loving family, a sister she's always craved, and relief from the gruesome corpses that tormented her as a child, she's finally content. Until a freak accident changes everything.
The monsters are back, and their mission is simple: drag Lia straight to their murky hell. When Aiden, an apparition, appears to Lia, she has hope once again. Because Aiden can cross the veil between the spirit world and the earthly dimension, physically fighting off the monsters and sending them back. With Aiden's determination to keep her safe and his absorbing blue eyes, Lia can't help falling on love with him. But who is he, and what does he really want? As Lia and Aiden's relationship deepens, so does the mystery surrounding him.
Once Lia finds out Aiden has traded his soul to save her, she enters the darker dimension where nightmares are reality, ready to kick some serious butt. But surrounded by twenty-eight mutilated monsters and a deranged cult leader intent on bringing his dark world to the surface isn't what Lia expects. And even worse, she must face her traumatic past in order to destroy them. If she fails, not only will she lose the guy she loves and face certain death, but she will also risk the one thing she can't afford to lose: her eternal soul.
What drove you to write Young Adult Fiction, especially what some would deem as paranormal?
For some reason I just seem to connect more with my YA side. And I love the paranormal!
Most will not know this, but you need a glass of Pepsi before starting writing. Why is this? What is it about Pepsi?
Ha ha, have you been stalking me? Just kidding!
Yes I do drink Pepsi all the time, and I definitely prefer it over Coke. It's fizzy and sweet and refreshing, just like the characters I bring to life in my head.
What does the future hold for you as a writer?
I don't focus on the past or the future. I try to concentrate on the now. And, for now, I'll continue to write to the best of my ability, for the reader and for myself, as long as the characters and the stories stay alive in my head!
Thank you for such a fantastic interview, Shannon!
Be sure to check out Haunting Lia on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com on October 11th.
You can also find Shannon here:
https://www.facebook.com/hauntinglia
https://www.facebook.com/authorshannoneckrick
www.shannoneckrich.com
---
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading:
This is the final interview of the month and we are ending it with an upcoming novel from Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Press!
Let's meet the woman herself.
---
Name: Shannon EckrichAge: Not telling!
Location: Delaware
Hi Shannon, thanks for joining me! So what are three interesting facts that you'd like to share with the readers?
1. I believe in ghosts and aliens.
2. I've been with my husband since I was fifteen years old.
3. I'm absolutely terrified of praying mantises.
What made you want to be a writer?
The funny thing is I had no intentions of being a writer. I was creative in many other ways, but I never thought in a million years I would write a novel. My biggest inspiration was Twilight. After that, I woke up the next day and began writing. I wanted to create my own world and characters. And I wanted to be able to control the ending. I'm really happy I did start writing even though it hasn't been easy. But nothing beats slipping away from reality and into your own imaginary world. Everyone needs to get away sometimes.
What motivates you to write?
Definitely music.
Do you have a particular writing process?
My writing process is fairly simple. First, I create my rough draft. This is pretty basic stuff. I don't get into a lot of detail, and I don't have an outline. My main goal is to just get the entire idea out of my head and onto the computer. After the rough draft is complete, I reread the story and add in the detail, change the chapters around, and make any other changes that need to be done. Once I'm finished, I rewrite it again. This time I make sure the format is correct. I reread it again, checking for grammar, spelling etc. Then I send it off to my betas!
How do you manage the deadly problem that is writers block?
Writing block is my nemesis! But, if it happens to strike, I'll listen to music to give me some more ideas.
What is a piece of writing advice that you will always remember?
Always start your chapters with a hook and end with a hook. You must give the reader a reason to turn the page. If not, they may put your book down and not pick it back up.
What is the most influential book you have ever read, and why do you think so?
The most influential book I've ever read was If I Stay by Gayle Forman. Her voice is awesome, and it really makes you think. What if I was the only one to survive a car crash and my family died? Would there even be a reason to come back? The book had such an impact on me that I was in tears.
Have you ever derived inspiration from your home or from anywhere you have visited?
All the time. I'm sort of the quiet person in the room that sits around plotting ideas while everyone is in deep conversation. Everywhere I go I always ask myself, "What if?" I think a majority of writers do that.
Your most recent publication is Haunting Lia. Have you had any publications prior to this?
Yes, I have a YA novel out now called Other Side of Forever. It's available through most online book stores. Here's the synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Allie Anderson's telekinetic powers are anything but useful - she can't bring her father back, can't stop her mother's downward spiral into alcohol, and can't keep her from falling in love with Ethan Bradley. loving Ethan is easy but it comes with a hefty price: Ethan is prohibited by his people from interacting with mortals - because he isn't mortal himself. When Allie and Ethan's love is discovered, there's someone who will do anything to keep them apart. If Allie can't learn to control her powers and fight to save Ethan, this dark entity will make every attempt to sop her beating heart. And if that happens, not even the energy of an immortal can bring her back.
What is Haunting Lia about? It certainly sounds interesting!
Thank you so much! I think if readers like a little dark in their paranormal, they'll love this one!Death is her destiny. But she has other things in mind.
Lia Starr's life isn't a fairy-tale. It's a reality overflowing with scary monsters, death and betrayal - a past she left behind when she entered her new foster home. Now, with a loving family, a sister she's always craved, and relief from the gruesome corpses that tormented her as a child, she's finally content. Until a freak accident changes everything.
The monsters are back, and their mission is simple: drag Lia straight to their murky hell. When Aiden, an apparition, appears to Lia, she has hope once again. Because Aiden can cross the veil between the spirit world and the earthly dimension, physically fighting off the monsters and sending them back. With Aiden's determination to keep her safe and his absorbing blue eyes, Lia can't help falling on love with him. But who is he, and what does he really want? As Lia and Aiden's relationship deepens, so does the mystery surrounding him.
Once Lia finds out Aiden has traded his soul to save her, she enters the darker dimension where nightmares are reality, ready to kick some serious butt. But surrounded by twenty-eight mutilated monsters and a deranged cult leader intent on bringing his dark world to the surface isn't what Lia expects. And even worse, she must face her traumatic past in order to destroy them. If she fails, not only will she lose the guy she loves and face certain death, but she will also risk the one thing she can't afford to lose: her eternal soul.
What drove you to write Young Adult Fiction, especially what some would deem as paranormal?
For some reason I just seem to connect more with my YA side. And I love the paranormal!
Most will not know this, but you need a glass of Pepsi before starting writing. Why is this? What is it about Pepsi?
Ha ha, have you been stalking me? Just kidding!
Yes I do drink Pepsi all the time, and I definitely prefer it over Coke. It's fizzy and sweet and refreshing, just like the characters I bring to life in my head.
What does the future hold for you as a writer?
I don't focus on the past or the future. I try to concentrate on the now. And, for now, I'll continue to write to the best of my ability, for the reader and for myself, as long as the characters and the stories stay alive in my head!
Thank you for such a fantastic interview, Shannon!
Be sure to check out Haunting Lia on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com on October 11th.
You can also find Shannon here:
https://www.facebook.com/hauntinglia
https://www.facebook.com/authorshannoneckrick
www.shannoneckrich.com
---
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading:
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