#SupportIndieAuthors, there be demonhunters about!
I grew up on Long Island, NY, and moved up to Rhode Island when I was in high school. My wife and I have been married for almost 13 years now, and we have one daughter and another on the way in February. I work full-time as an accountant, and take pretty much any free moment I can find between work and our little girl to get some reading or writing done. I started writing short stories back in the fifth grade, and back then my writing was more Sci-Fi based than Fantasy. Eventually it became Fantasy based on a Sci-Fi world when I got a little older and into roleplaying games with friends.
Blurb:
The War was over, the Devil Queen cast down.
In the wake of the Apocalypse, veteran demonhunter Karian Vanador understands that the vigilance of her Order means there is rarely any time to rest. Even with a paragon of evil cast down, it isn’t long before another rears its head, and for Kari, the War never ends. She will head into danger again, for it is the life she’s chosen and the only path she really knows. Along the way she will face the tests of friendship, the fires of love, the heat of battle, and the limits of her faith, and in those trials, she will seek the answer to her most pressing question:
“Why was I resurrected?”
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shoelessauthor
Twitter: @ShoelessAuthor
1. What do you do to keep your spirits up through a bad review?
If there’s actually usable and/or constructive criticism, I try to take a step back, take a breath, and see where the reviewer is coming from. My debut novel was geared toward adults originally, and consequently, it had some content that was inappropriate for younger audiences. My test readers gave me honest feedback about it, and though at first it seemed harsh, I eventually took their advice. I’m a lot happier with the end result than what I had originally given them, so a “bad” review can sometimes be the one that really makes a difference.
On the other hand, if the review is spiteful or a troll, I try to just ignore and skip over it. It’s inevitable that they come once we’re out there for the world to read.
2. What has been your greatest inspiration for writing your story?
Mostly, reading the works of Fantasy mainstays like Tad Williams, Raymond E. Feist, and other similar authors, and realizing I have an interesting story to tell, if I’ll just take the time to get it done. The works of my favorite fantasy authors have shown me how to build a world, create a compelling cast of characters, describe combat without getting into absurd details, draw the reader into a complex tale that they can still relate to, and create a style of writing that flows and pulls the reader along. So while the movie Aliens was the original catalyst for me getting into writing, it has been the work of these heavyweights of Fantasy that inspired me to put my own tale out there.
3. Are there any people you feel need a shout out for supporting you?
I have a couple of pages’ worth of people to thank, but first and foremost is my wife, who’s encouraged me and acted as editor-in-chief for my writing for years. It was actually a fan-fiction I wrote years back that led to us meeting in the first place, if you can believe that. I’d also have to give a big shout out to my old D&D crews, because my books are based on a world that those folks helped me to create and refine. So thanks to Rich, Rob, Pascal, Lenny, Dave, Mike, Vinny, Dave, Thanas, Erin, Rachel, Louis, and Crystal.
4. Has self-publishing taught you any lessons that you feel will help you in life?
It’s been a pretty staggering exercise in never quitting and being willing to put in hard work. The indie author goes nowhere without a network, and building that network is a lot more work than writing the book in the first place. And so, getting back to people I have to give a shout out to? Well, thanks to you for taking the time to help me get the word out and promote my work!
5. Favorite color?
Blue…I mean yellooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow
(Actually, it’s black. Go figure.)
Filed under: Riley Amos Reviews, Support Indie Authors Tagged: SupportIndieAuthors
