Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m BUSY! haha. Being a mom, wife, student, photographer and author keeps my schedule extremely full. I have written two novels. Both are apart of The Sapphire Star Saga. I am also working on a continuous story called Unity Commanded, on Wattpad.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Thy Daughter’s Enemies is currently available for FREE at most major ebook retailers. I am currently finishing up the second novel in The Sapphire Star Saga. Gilded Moon will be released on October 1st, 2015 and is currently available for pre-order at a special price.
I started Thy Daughter’s Enemies when I was sixteen. I liked the idea of creating strong female characters that I could relate to. The story changed and evolved over the years of course, but I would still like to think I created strong female character that young girls can relate to. Although the series is set in a fictional world, I believe that the character’s thoughts and emotions are transferable to everyday life.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Haha I wouldn’t say unusual. I am the mother of two special needs children. They require a tremendous amount of time and care. So I don’t have set times or places that I write. Whenever and wherever I have a few moments to set down my computer, is when I get my time in. Occasionally I will have a whole day to myself. On those days I spend the majority of my time writing. I don’t really have a process either. There are pages and pages of handwritten backstory and character development strewn about my house. You could say i’m a tad unorganized ha. Creating a solid outline before starting a new project, to reference and ensure I am achieving the flow I originally envisioned, is about the only habit I stick to pretty regularly.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
This question, along with who is your favorite author or what is your favorite book, are my least favorite questions to answer. I have been an avid reader since a very young age. My reading list varies, much like my music playlist, depending on my mood. I gravitate toward fantasy novels, but I will read ANYTHING! I enjoy everything from biographies to classics to thrillers. And anything in between.
What are you working on now?
I am putting the final touches on Gilded Moon, then I will get to work right away on the third book in the series. Also I update Unity Commanded on Wattpad, with a new chapter each week.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Oh gosh, I have to admit I am horrible at marketing. I have had some good success with a few paid and unpaid sites. I feel like marketing is something you are either really great or really bad at. I try. And i’m getting there, but I hate being pushy. Even if I know someone will enjoy my book.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be Patient! Success as an author doesn’t happen over night. There are very few exceptions, people who have had break out books that sky rocket up the charts. But they really are exceptions. It can take months, years even, to really start seeing results. Just keep at it and have faith in your work!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Let it go, Let it go! Haha. No, really. Before Disney ever coined the phrase, I heard it from someone close to me. Holding on to things that you have no control over, or that don’t really matter at the end of the day, can be toxic. To you and the people around you. Finding a way to communicate effectively, forgive someone and move past the issue will make you a more positive and happier person.
What are you reading now?
I just finished Witch Song by Amber Argyle. I found it incredibly unique and entertaining. I read it almost entirely in one sitting.
What’s next for you as a writer?
To keep promoting the books currently available in my series and writing new ones. It is my plan, if my characters cooperate, to complete the series with five books. I have several ideas for novels after The Sapphire Star Saga ends. But for now I am enjoying every moment!
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Hmmm. Ideally I would have something titled How To Escape A Deserted Island, or How to Survive Being Stranded on a Deserted Island. But for the sake of the question, I would have to say The Stand by Stephen King, Little Women by Louisa M Alcott, To Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee and Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling. Each of these books I can/have read over and over.
Author Websites and Profiles
A.L. Meinhold Website
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