Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
In a nutshell, I grew up around a mother who never let the truth get in the way of a good story. Hardly a day went by when she wasn’t verbally telling or writing one. Although it annoyed the hell out of me as a child, somewhere along the way, I picked up her love of the craft and I never looked back.
I’ve written and published a couple of short stories in local magazines and an academic text book. PAWN OF THE GODS is my first full-length novel, and I’m currently working on a Young Adult Fantasy piece.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
PAWN OF THE GODS is my first full-length novel.
The inspiration for my story occurred during a tour of the Mayan pyramids in Belize. The culture’s complex mathematical, astronomical, political and scientific achievements, along with the society’s mystical beliefs about creationism, captured my attention.
I wanted to write a fictional story that wasn’t totally historical, but still captured the essence of the ancient Mayan culture. After a lot of mulling, I decided to make my story about a celestial Mayan object that had been protected by the same family for more than four-hundred years. When it fell into the unsuspecting hands of my MC, Soledad Mendoza in this century, she had to use it to stop an unspeakable evil.
The story has a little bit of everything, horror, political intrigue, romance. It was a fun to write. I learned a lot about the craft along the way.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Define unusual, LOL.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
There’s so much talent out there it’s tough to nail down one author who influenced me the most. I do love reading after all.
Whoa, that’s a tough one. I’d say Bram Stoker’s Dracula had a huge influence on my writing. The horror that Johnathan Harker experienced when he saw Dracula scaling down the castle wall like a lizard, will be forever etched in my mind.
I also admire [d] Phillipa Gregory’s works. Her vivid storytelling skills, and knowledge of English history, has never disappointed.
Others that have influenced me are Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Dianna Gabaldan, Arturo Perez-Reverte, Tolkien, Dickens. Frankly, there are too many to name. Each of the above named authors have taught me something new about writing.
What are you working on now?
I’m half way through a Young Adult Sci-Fi/Fantasy, where the sixteen-year old MC is transported back to an ancient civilization with a mystical twist (not Mayans).
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Since I just completed my first novel, I”m new to the marketing side of things. Certainly, Awesome Gang is up there, LOL. Also, Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, and email play a major role in getting the word out. I’m a quick learner. Hopefully, by the time my next novel rolls around, I’ll be an expert at it.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be patient, don’t give up, and write, rewrite, and write again.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
In regard to writing: “Kill your darlings.” Hemingway.
A writer friend from Italy once said, “Cut the fluff.”
What are you reading now?
I am in the throws of reading three books. I usually hit a couple in the morning, and finish out with the third before bed.
CLASH OF KINGS, by George R. R. Martin
SALAMBO, by Flaubert
THE FIFTH WAVE, by Rick Yancy
What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish my current W-I-P, try to publish it, and then move onto the next novel I’ve outlined.
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?
That’s a tough question. It would have to be a book that I could read multiple times without becoming bored. I’ll rule out DRACULA. It would scare the crap out of me. The following books would offer a nice mix of romance, suspense, and fantasy elements.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
THE GODFATHER
OUTLANDER
Author Websites and Profiles
Andrea Franco-Cook Website
Andrea Franco-Cook Amazon Profile
Andrea Franco-Cook’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile