Indie Author Interview with Amy A. Bartol

[Sylvia]

Okay members this is our 1st Indie Author Interview for the month of September and it is with the amazing Amy A. Bartol, author of . This is our 20th Author Interview and it is conducted by one of our moderators. Please read this interview and we hope you will be able to pick up lessons about her experience. If there are any questions you would like to ask Amy A. Bartol please post any comments you wish. Thank you!!

1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? 
I didn't realize I wanted to be a "writer" at first; I only knew that I wanted to see if I could produce a story worth reading. I know it sounds counterintuitive because you'd think that it would be a logical conclusion that I wrote a book so I could be a writer, but for me, it was more like I became a writer because I had to write a book—I had to tell a story. I didn't have "be a writer" aspirations, maybe I did when I was younger, but when I began writing Inescapable there was no real fantasy of becoming an author. Inescapable just began as an experiment to see if I could write a book—I wanted to see if I was capable of writing a story and then LIKING what I wrote.

2. How long does it take you to write a book?
The rough draft usually takes around four to six months to complete, but I spent over two years revising and editing Inescapable before I published it. I have completed four other novels, which have taken around the same amount of time to rough draft, but now I seem to have developed a “style,” so editing them is easier and less time-consuming.

3. What do you think makes a great story?
I think that well-developed characters are essential to a great story. If the reader can begin to hear the characters and dream about them even when she is not reading, then the story has life. It breathes. It has a soul.

4. What is your work schedule like when you're writing? 
When I’m writing, I go until someone interrupts me or until I have to be somewhere else. When I first began, I wrote while the kids swam in the pool (I know that’s not recommended by the Red Cross Lifeguard manual). Then my youngest started preschool and it was GAME ON! I wrote from the moment I dropped him off until I had to pick him up three hours later. First grade was a whole new world for me. I turned off the phone and wrote for hours.

5. How do you balance family and writing?
I used to be so much better at balancing my family life and my work life, but that was when I was just a writer. Now I'm an author, a publisher, an editor, a designer, a promoter, a social media networker, a blogger, a reviewer, a mentor, and the president of my own production company, so it's a little harder to handle. I'm working on it!

6. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books? 
I'm in love with the paranormal romance genre, so it was without question that I'd try to write in that genre when I started. I knew that I wanted to write a story that took place in the "real world" but one that had supernatural elements to it. The idea for angels came when I was reading "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe. One of the stanzas had the word "Seraphim" in it. I love words, they're my addiction, and when I find a word I don't know, I look it up. I looked up the word Seraphim and found that they're angels, but not only that, they're said to be the highest rank of angels in Heaven according to a theologian name Pseudo-Dionysius the Aeropagite who wrote about a hierarchy of angels in the 5th Century. I thought to myself, Angels have ranks? Really? From there, the idea for Inescapable grew.

I also get ideas from music. Sometimes, a song will be visceral in a way that triggers something, an idea for a storyline or a twist in a story I'm already writing. For me, music is amazing like that.

7. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books? 
The most surprising thing I learned when creating Inescapable is that the characters began to live. I don't mean that in a physical sense, I mean that the more I wrote, the more it seemed like I wasn't the one writing it. The characters began to "talk" to me in my mind, I could literally hear their voices in my head, and they would take over and show me what they wanted to do and where the story should go. It became, for me, like watching a movie and I just had to listen to what they, the characters, were saying and then try to write it down. I know it sounds insane. I call whatever it is "catching the stream" because once it starts happening, I find myself just writing down chapter after chapter without "thinking" or "plotting" it. In fact, the characters took me in directions that were opposite to where I thought the story was going. They often surprised me. (I recently learned that there is a name for this kind of writing; it’s referred to as being a “pantser.” There are “plotters” who plot out the story and then follow the outline and there are “pantsers” who write by the seat of their pants, so to speak.) I am definitely a pantser. No question.

8. How many books have you written? Which is your favorite? 
I have completed five novels—two are yet unpublished. My favorite so far is Indebted: The Premonition Series Volume 3. I think it's my favorite because the fellas ( the villains in my second and third books) make me laugh and are very fun to write.

9. Are your characters based on anyone you know?
There are two characters in Inescapable that are based on my friends. Buns and Brownie were written into Inescapable because I began to love Evie, the main character, and I wanted to give her friends that would help her so I gave her my two best friends from college. Molly, in Indebted, is based on my best friend from childhood (of the same name).

10. Do you have a favorite place you love to write?
This is embarrassing to admit, but I do almost all my writing in my bed at home. I used to prop my laptop on a pillow, but then I went hi-tech and got an e-pad (which is a glorified pillow with a hard top surface).

11. How hard is it to get published?
I'm an Indie author: that means I publish my own books. Once I made the decision to self-publish, it was relatively easy, just a matter of researching the best avenue to bring my product to market. I publish my print books through CreateSpace, which is a division of Amazon. I sell my e-books on Amazon through Kindle Direct Publishing and I currently use Smashwords as an aggregator to put my ebooks on Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Sony, etc. The BEST part about being an Indie author is that I retain all the rights to my books.

12. What do your family and friends think about your books?
My mom is my biggest fan, but she's also my editor and critic. Aprille, my sister, and my dad love them, as well as the rest of my family. (But they have to because it's required.) As for my friends, that's a mixed bag. The young adult, paranormal romance genre is not for everybody...just us sexy people. (Sorry, I had to say that, it was required by Prince...or The Artist Formally Known As Prince.)

13. What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I like to read and make the neighbor kids clean my pool.

14. Do you have any suggestions to help aspiring writers better themselves and their craft? If so, what are they? 
Start a blog and if you have a hard time coming up with things to write, use it like a journal. It will get you writing and it could also build a fan base for when you do publish.

15. As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up? 
I wanted to own my own country and have servants do everything for me...so I guess I wanted to be a dictator. Instead, I grew up and created my own world where characters do everything for me...so I guess I am a dictator. Life plan realized.

16. What are your favorite books and which authors inspire you?
I . Love. Romance. Novels. The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon is my favorite series of all time. I was inspired to write, however, by Markus Zusak’s book entitled I Am The Messenger. The book is about Ed Kennedy, an underage cabdriver who has a coffee-drinking dog named The Doorman and a secret crush on his best friend Audrey.  Ed has a peaceful routine until the day he inadvertently stops a bank robbery.  After that day, Ed becomes the messenger.

The book, written in the first person present tense, was funny and heart pounding and sad and euphoric.  It read like you could step into Ed’s shoes, breathe his air, see what he is seeing.  In short, it was amazing.  But, there was a message at the end of the story that struck me as if it was written just for me.  It says, quote: “Maybe everyone can live beyond what they’re capable of…I’m not the messenger at all. I’m the message.”

I knew instantly that I had to try to write a book because maybe I was able to live beyond what I always thought I was capable of.
 
17. For an aspiring writer what do you feel are certain do's and don’ts for getting their material published?
Do: Be present—that means be on every social networking site you can think of and several you can't. Be accessible—write a blog so you can showcase who you are as a person (they want to see your brand, which is you). Be kind.

Don't: Go for the hard sell or respond negatively to criticism (even if you feel it's unfair or unwarranted), in fact, try not to respond to it at all.

18. What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on the fourth book in the Premonition series entitled Incendiary. You can find a teaser for it on my website. Here’s the link: http://www.amyabartol.com/incendiary-...

*Small Caveat* If you haven’t read the first three books in the Premonition series, this will be a HUGE spoiler!

[Sylvia]

Thank you so very much Amy for doing this interview for our group and you made me crack up laughing when you said you loved to read and make the neighbors kids clean your pool LOL that's the best..something I would do :)

[Dee]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has taken 2 years in revisions! :) I completely agree that character formation is the backbone to any story. I like how you say your characters speak to you - they do me, as well. I've even gotten into arguments with them on the direction the story should go! lol Thanks for a great interview.

[Julie]

"Inescapable just began as an experiment to see if I could write a book—I wanted to see if I was capable of writing a story and then LIKING what I wrote."

Boy, I really relate to that! :) Thanks for the awesome interview and introduction to some great looking books. I love Poe so I'm intriqued with the story line and inspirations :)

[Annie]

Great interview!!
Amy I love your Premonition series! And Reed, swoony.
We are alot alike as far as writing goes!!Love it! Keep on keeping on!

[Julie]

"The characters began to "talk" to me in my mind, I could literally hear their voices in my head, and they would take over and show me what they wanted to do and where the story should go. It became, for me, like watching a movie and I just had to listen to what they, the characters, were saying and then try to write it down."

It was exactly that way for me while writing my latest soon-to-be published novel "How I Became a Teenage Survivalist." I'm so glad to know I'm not crazy (or at least I'm not the only crazy author out there - lol). Thanks for a wonderful interview! Julie L. Casey

[Elena]

Oh, I started the first book, Inescapable, just yesterday! It's kinda nice so far.

[Maggie]

I love your comment on being a dictator. However, self-published dictators get to do a ton of work. I can certainly sympathize with that. It can be overwhelming. Good luck with your publishing ventures!

[Uvi]

"I didn't realize I wanted to be a "writer" at first; I only knew that I wanted to see if I could produce a story worth reading." I find this honest, humble and endearing.

[Christie]

I'm so pleased to meet a fellow "pantser"! Your description of writing was like reading my journal :) I've heard such wonderful things about your books and I'm looking forward to reading them.

Great interview, Amy, and to the Moderators, great questions!

Thanks for sharing.

[Ann Marie]

Can't wait for Incendiary! Thanks Amy!

[Tina]

I am starting Inescapable hopefully tomorrow! I am looking forward to it!!!

[Kris]

Love her series. Can't wait for more from Amy!!!

[Nereid]

Hi Amy, I love your books and can't wait to read the next one. Terrific interview and I agree that sharing of yourself does get positive feedback from readers. :)

[Tee Loves Books]

Awesome interview, Amy!! Thank you again for taking the time to do this for us! The Premonition series is always going to be one of my all-time favorites; you've created such a captivating world to get lost in, and it's addicting! =)

And the fellas...yep, thoroughly enjoyed every minute with them!! ;-)

[Amy]

Heinzypop wrote: "Okay members this is our 1st Indie Author Interview for the month of September and it is with the amazing Amy A. Bartol, author of ...."

Thank you, Heinzypop! The Tom Sawyer effect works every time. I just have to start cleaning the pool and pretend it's a ton of fun and I have many, many kids show up wanting to help (and swim). LOL Thank you for reading my stories. I'm grateful!

[Amy]

Emily wrote: "I'm in love with words so I can understand that, and I feel the same about characters. After their personality is made I feel like I understand what they would or wouldn't do, and at the same time ..."

Ahhh, Emily, it's so nice to run across another word lover! (It's a little bit of an obsession with me!) Thank you for reading my interview! I appreciate your well wishes ;)

[Amy]

Dee Ann wrote: "I'm glad I'm not the only one who has taken 2 years in revisions! :) I completely agree that character formation is the backbone to any story. I like how you say your characters speak to you - they..."

Dee Ann! I love that you have arguments with your characters! It's also fun when you can find a person who you can talk to about your characters like they're real and not have that person think you're insane! This is probably a great group for that! I wish you all the best with your stories.

[Amy]

Julie wrote: ""Inescapable just began as an experiment to see if I could write a book—I wanted to see if I was capable of writing a story and then LIKING what I wrote."

Boy, I really relate to that! :) Thanks f..."

Hi, Julie! Thank you for being so gracious! I'm grateful :)

[Amy]

Annie wrote: "Great interview!!
Amy I love your Premonition series! And Reed, swoony.
We are alot alike as far as writing goes!!Love it! Keep on keeping on!"

Thank you, Annie! I love the word "swoony" <--That's so great! Reed would smile over it! Best wishes for your writing endeavors!

[Amy]

Julie wrote: ""The characters began to "talk" to me in my mind, I could literally hear their voices in my head, and they would take over and show me what they wanted to do and where the story should go. It becam..."

Hi, Julie! I will look for "How I Became a Teenage Survivalist." When is the release date? I wish you the best with it! I appreciate that you took the time to read my interview. I can't wait to read yours! EEEPPP! That's exciting, huh?!!!

[Amy]

Elena wrote: "Oh, I started the first book, Inescapable, just yesterday! It's kinda nice so far."

Thank you, Elana!! I think you're kinda nice, too! LOL I'm really grateful for your sweetness! :D

[Amy]

Maggie wrote: "I love your comment on being a dictator. However, self-published dictators get to do a ton of work. I can certainly sympathize with that. It can be overwhelming. Good luck with your publishing vent..."

Thank you, Maggie! Yes, we dictators get things done...or someone loses a head. Heads will roll!! LOL! You are very kind. I appreciate that you took the time to read my interview. :D

[Amy]

Uvi wrote: ""I didn't realize I wanted to be a "writer" at first; I only knew that I wanted to see if I could produce a story worth reading." I find this honest, humble and endearing."

Thank you, Uvi! I'm grateful (this gave me goose bumps and almost made me cry. You're so kind).

[Amy]

Christie wrote: "I'm so pleased to meet a fellow "pantser"! Your description of writing was like reading my journal :) I've heard such wonderful things about your books and I'm looking forward to reading them.

Gr..."

I LOVE meeting a fellow pantser, Christie! We're a crazy breed! I think we may need to start a special club so that we can talk about it. Plotters think we're nuts. I was talking to Fisher Amelie (she wrote Callum & Harper). She's a plotter and we were cracking up over our different styles. But, whatever works, right? I wish you much success with your writing! xoxo, A kindred spirit!

[Amy]

Annmarie wrote: "Can't wait for Incendiary! Thanks Amy!"

Thank you, Annmarie! You're a rockstar! I'm dying for Incendiary to be out so I can talk about it. I have to keep everything a secret and it's killing me! Ugh! Not much longer now!

[Amy]

Tina wrote: "I am starting Inescapable hopefully tomorrow! I am looking forward to it!!!"

Yaaaay, Tina!! Thank you!! I'm grateful.

[Amy]

Kris wrote: "Love her series. Can't wait for more from Amy!!!"

You're the best, Kris! I had a great time hanging out with you this past weekend! Decatur Book Festival was a riot!

[Amy]

Nereid wrote: "Hi Amy, I love your books and can't wait to read the next one. Terrific interview and I agree that sharing of yourself does get positive feedback from readers. :)"

Thank you for reading my stories AND the interview, Nereid! You're wonderful! I love seeing who is reading them!! :D

[Amy]

Erin wrote: "Awesome interview, Amy!! Thank you again for taking the time to do this for us! The Premonition series is always going to be one of my all-time favorites; you've created such a captivating world t..."

Thank you, Erin!! I LOVE this group! Now that I've joined, you'll be seeing a lot more of me!! I LOVE that you enjoyed the fellas! You're awesome!!!

[Christie]

Amy wrote: "Christie wrote: "I'm so pleased to meet a fellow "pantser"! Your description of writing was like reading my journal :) I've heard such wonderful things about your books and I'm looking forward to ..."

Isn't that the truth? The funny thing is, I've met more and more "pantsers" lately, so I don't feel as crazy ;) It's funny how different people process information. Everyone just has to find out what works for them.

I've tried plotting, but it just doesn't feel right to me. Although, at times, it seems like it would be easier, lol. Great to meet you, Amy! I wish you the best in your writing. You are so approachable and I love that!

[Annie]

YAY Amy we love chit chatting with our favorite authors! Welcome to our club...take a seat and grab a latte. :)

[Sylvia]

Amy wrote: "Heinzypop wrote: "Okay members this is our 1st Indie Author Interview for the month of September and it is with the amazing Amy A. Bartol, author of [bo..."

hahahahhahahahahaha Love the way you think ;) and yes I can't wait to read on in the series :D

[Sylvia]

Annie wrote: "YAY Amy we love chit chatting with our favorite authors! Welcome to our club...take a seat and grab a latte. :)"

and a muffin :D

[Annie]

Haha or cheesecake....

[Sylvia]

Annie wrote: "Haha or cheesecake...."

Mmm yummy or cookie

[Tee Loves Books]

Amy wrote: "Annmarie wrote: "Can't wait for Incendiary! Thanks Amy!"

Thank you, Annmarie! You're a rockstar! I'm dying for Incendiary to be out so I can talk about it. I have to keep everything a secret and i..."

Ummm, yeah it's killing us, too!!! LOL Those pix you put up of the boys on the FB page isn't helping, by the way...I now have a visual to drool over as I anticipate Incendiary, and that's just cruel and unusual punishment!!! ;-)

[Amy]

Heinzypop wrote: "Annie wrote: "Haha or cheesecake...."

Mmm yummy or cookie"

LOL, I'm gonna have to go to the gym if I hang out here with lattes, muffins, cheesecake, cookies...oh, who am I kidding, I'm lovin' it. Best. Group. Evah. :D

[Amy]

Christie wrote: "Amy wrote: "Christie wrote: "I'm so pleased to meet a fellow "pantser"! Your description of writing was like reading my journal :) I've heard such wonderful things about your books and I'm looking..."

Christie, I know, right? I try plotting and then I blow it off to follow the panster in me and I never can quite get back to that plotter outline. *sigh* I think you're right, I think there are many more of us pantsers out there. Maybe we should advertise a support group--come to the dark side...our plans are evil-genius, even if we can't stick to them.:D

[Christie]

Amy wrote: "Christie wrote: "Amy wrote: "Christie wrote: "I'm so pleased to meet a fellow "pantser"! Your description of writing was like reading my journal :) I've heard such wonderful things about your book..."

LOL, yep! I'd be the first to join that group :) It's just funny how different people are, but I'm convinced if I trust in the story it always works out. If I start to doubt my characters or change the organic flow that is when I run into problems. If you ever put that group together, let me know! :)

[Brooke]

Amy thanks so much for the interview :)

[Sylvia]

Amy wrote: "Heinzypop wrote: "Annie wrote: "Haha or cheesecake...."

Mmm yummy or cookie"

LOL, I'm gonna have to go to the gym if I hang out here with lattes, muffins, cheesecake, cookies...oh, who am I kiddi..."

Awe we are one big family here and we love a great sit down with with wonderful treats :) once you pull up a chair you will never leave ;)

[Tee Loves Books]

Amy wrote: "Heinzypop wrote: "Annie wrote: "Haha or cheesecake...."

Mmm yummy or cookie"

LOL, I'm gonna have to go to the gym if I hang out here with lattes, muffins, cheesecake, cookies...oh, who am I kiddi..."

Oh, now see, therein lies my problem...I spend so much of my 'free' time with this awesome group that I end up SKIPPING the gym! LOL Guess as long as we're not actually eating all those goodies it's not too bad. =)

[Tina]

OMG. I finished Inescapable. I cried my eyes out. My husband thinks I am nuts. What a great story. I love Russel and his southern twang. Buns and Brownie are hillarious. Evie is so strong but with a vulnerability that just tugs at your heart. Last but not least, Reed, he is just damnable sexy! Loved it. I am off to start the next book.

[Marni]

My oldest daughter has it all planned out to be Dictator of the Universe. She's got all the stepping stones figured out. LOL!