Interview With Author Aurora Stenulson
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was inspired to take writing more seriously after I began teaching creative writing to students from all over the world. I already had a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and experience with behavior health; mental health always peaked my interest. But I found that there was a limited amount of fiction that brought awareness to mental illnesses. I wanted to bridge the gap between education and pleasure reading through my writing. If you look for mental health reps in the fiction world, you won’t find much except for the villain having a bizarre mental illness from childhood trauma that makes them go crazy (Joker anyone?)
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest title is Four More Words. The story is very personal to me as it was inspired by one of my family members who had struggles and personality traits similar to the MMC. I wanted this story to bring awareness to mental health from a different perspective. So many times, and I’m guilty of this as well, we see the main character’s struggle in their lives with their mental illness. But we don’t often see from a main character’s point of view how these mental illnesses affect them personally and how they might best love the person struggling with mental health issues.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have a beautiful desk with a very comfortable chair, but nearly all of my writing is done in the driver’s seat of my car. I’m constantly chauffeuring my kids around and typically wait in the car for them anywhere from one to three hours. So I take full advantage of that time to work on my stories.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Pretty much anything my sister recommends to me. When we were younger she introduced me to Francesca Lia Block and as an adult she demanded I check out Colleen Hoover.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on a story that portrays the way in which someone can get so caught up in another person’s manipulation that they become completely stripped of who they are. And it follows the battle it takes to gain their voice and choose what kind of person they want to be. Of course it’s a love story like my other books. But the way the main character overcomes so many obstacles is what drives me to keep writing this one.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Oof, this is a great question. And a difficult one to answer. There’s so many resources, but I’ve found it’s best to hone in on just a few and give 100% to doing it well rather than trying to find a million different resources and feeling stretched thin. With that said, I tend to use my publisher’s marketing team as well as resources like Awesome Gang to gain exposure.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Absolutely, I love this question because I remember feeling so overwhelmed as a new author and not having much support. I love encouraging new authors and reminding them that this isn’t race to the top. It’s a learning experience. And there’s a lot to learn. The best way to learn all the ins and outs of writing, character development, publishing, marketing, etc. is to start writing and don’t give up. I never published my first novel. And the only person outside of my mom to read it was my editor. The first thing I learned, was that I was writing in the wrong genre. And the second thing I learned, was that there was a lot more to being an author than just getting words on paper. But if you stick with it, you’ll develop your voice and writing style. You’ll continuously learn and develop new skills. It can be overwhelming after you finish that first draft of your manuscript. But my advice would be, don’t stop there!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve heard that spoke directly to me as a new author was, “Write when you feel inspired.” And I know this doesn’t work for everyone. I know a lot of authors that need to sit down and write something in their book every day. But for me, I learned that my best writing happens when I’m inspired. So I don’t force or rush the writing process. And I feel like this is advice that’s not popular, but it is relevant for a lot of writers.
What are you reading now?
I just finished reading Living With a Narcissist by Daniel Paul. I actually don’t read a lot of fiction, which is ironic since I write fiction. And I enjoy reading psychology articles and research more than entire books. Especially since I’m only able to give my attention to reading in short spurts because I have my four homeschooled children to care for.
What’s next for you as a writer?
My newest book, Four More Words, is actually in a few writing contests and I’m eager to see how it does. I’d be happy if I saw it as a finalist in any one of the contests.
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?
My Bible, Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, It Ends With Us and It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover.
Author Websites and Profiles
Aurora Stenulson Amazon Profile
Aurora Stenulson’s Social Media Links
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