Interview with Dynamis author, Kristie Cook

I'm thrilled to be hosting my #Dyanmis sister, Kristie Cook on my blog today! 


We have a fabulous interview from her and at the bottom, make sure to check out the links to pre-order The Supernatural Chronicles: New Orleans: The Wolves now!




Without futher adieu:Interview
*What would you be doing right now if you were not an author? Going insane? I mean, I’m doing that anyway, lol, but if I weren’t writing, I’d be even worse. In other ways, though, I might be less crazy. Haha! Seriously, probably still have my own business in one capacity or another. I’m a lifelong entrepreneur.*5 years ago: what were you doing? Getting ready to release the second book in the Soul Savers series, Purpose. Mothering a senior, junior, and freshman in high school (and trying to motivate that senior to get ready for college). Running a construction consulting business with a partner. I didn’t know it exactly 5 years ago, but about to receive a huge blow from the husband’s employer and become the sole bread-winner in our 5-person family.*Do you have a certain writing ritual? Turn on high-powered box fan (drowns out any household noise), plant butt in seat, and stare at screen until the fingers start clicking the keys. Often I’ll go back and read what I wrote the previous session to make minor edits while getting my head back into the story. I used to have more of a ritual that involved listening to mood-setting music, but I don’t have the luxury of that extra time anymore. If I have trouble getting into the story, I’ll listen to music and go for a walk or take a shower. The best ideas come in the shower!*What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? “This story is a Twilight rip-off.” There have probably been other things said that some authors would think was worse, but as a creator, I don’t personally think there’s anything worse than being called a rip-off. Almost every book in the fantasy and paranormal romance genres, especially about teens and early twenty-somethings, is compared to Twilight, even those written decades before. There are going to be some similarities across all books in these genres, but that doesn’t mean they’re all Twilight rip-offs. These kinds of statements give no credit to the author who created their own world, characters, and stories. And that hurts because we’ve all put our blood, tears, and very souls into our writing, but statements like this so easily dismiss our investment and our feelings. If people who say this would focus on the differences, they’d realize there are many more of those than similarities, and they’d come to enjoy a lot more stories instead of being so bitter.*Ever fangirled over another author? Who was it? I don’t know that I’m really a fangirling type, although I might fall over at the feet of Chris Hemsworth or Jensen Ackles. I’m an awkward dork when it comes to meeting most people, especially when I’m really excited or nervous (which is pretty much whenever I’m in public). I’m more likely to clam up than squee. I think if I had the chance to meet J.K. Rowling, I’d freak out. And probably not in a good way. I’d totally ruin the moment and any opportunity to actually learn anything from her. Or to even say “hi.”*Is there an author you'd like to meet? I’m dying to meet S.T. Bende in person! We’ve become good friends online, and one of these days, we’ll make that happen.*Biggest writing pet peeve? The blinking cursor on a blank page. Whether it’s chapter 1 or chapter 25, there’s always something a little nerve wracking about that cursor, as though it’s flashing to purposely taunt you. It’s all the worse when no other words surround it.* Do you read other's reviews of your books? Once in a while, I’ll skim them. I don’t think it’s healthy to give too much energy to them, but I also don’t think it’s healthy to completely ignore them. Good reviews can teach you what you’re doing right by your readers and lower star reviews can teach you where you can do better. It’s the troll reviews that are bad for you, but you have to learn that those reviews are not written for you. Someone is either having a bad day or they’re just plain mean, and that has nothing to do with you as an author or a person or with your story. They don’t count, and everyone else who sees them will know that, too.