Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing for as long as I have been able to hold a pencil and writing professionally since college. My first novel came out in 2010, followed by another in 2012, and my most recent in March of 2014 (joke is I’m working on a two year cycle). That will break, however, since I have another book coming out this year. Book 2 of the Broken Line Series.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Copper Witch came out in March of this year. The original inspiration actually came from a boring weekend and a free trial of ancestry.com. I’ve always been rather interested in genealogy and lucky for me my maternal great-grandparents were both from huge families meaning there has already been a lot of research done into that side of the family that is available online. Following one line way, way back, I ended up running into some British nobility and a direct ancestor with the name “Adela”. For some reason, the name stuck with me and it got me to thinking what had happened to all these generations of people. Especially the ones where family connections were everything, but you ended up as the seventh son or were so far removed from the “important” line of your family that all you really had was your pride. From there, Adela just stuck around and everything began to take shape.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Apparently I make really funny faces sometimes when I’m working out emotional bits of dialogue. I won’t realize it, but all of a sudden someone in the room will look over at me and ask what’s wrong (or even just what I’m doing). It’s involuntary I swear!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’d have to say my biggest influence for this series was probably Philippa Gregory. I can’t say I much care for her having switched to present tense in her writing, but I was a huge fan growing up, and I think that has come through in my own writing.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on more Broken Line books at the moment (Book 2, The Porcelain Child, comes out later this year, and Book 3 is currently in rough draft more or less). Other than that I have a fantasy novella that I’m working on when I need a break and a Historical Fantasy Series I plan on getting back to one of these days.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think I’m still working that bit out. Goodreads has been a godsend, however, being able to connect with readers and host giveaways through a book-centric social media.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t compare your writing to others, especially not early on. I see a lot of new writers who get discouraged because their rough draft doesn’t sound as good as whatever they’re reading at the time. First, you should never ever compare a rough draft to something that’s already in print. Rough drafts are meant to be, well, rough. Published books are meant to have been edited about five-thousand times by the author, beta readers, and professional editors before it goes to print. Second, every book you write should be a little better, but you’re only going to get better by practicing. So what if your first novel sounds awful? I think most successful authors have an awful first story they keep buried in the depths of their desk/hard drive, only digging it out to see how far they’ve come. Lord knows I do.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Writing a novel is more like a marriage than a romance. You won’t have the shiny butterflies in your stomach throughout the entire process, but as long as you’re willing to put work into it you’ll end up with something you love.
What are you reading now?
I’m actually re-reading The China Garden by Liz Berry. It was one of my favorite novels as a teenager so I’m giving in to the nostalgia factor.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Keeping on writing and hoping people enjoy what I have to say. It would of course be nice to go best seller and get a movie deal and all that jazz, but mostly I just love writing. I’d do it even if I were only sharing novels with friends.
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?
Don’t make me choose…I would likely grab my copy of The China Garden since I’m in the middle at the moment and have been able to read it probably a dozen times without getting sick of it already. Perhaps also a collection of fairy tales because it’s nice to have a compilation of some sort/they’re great for inspiration/writing prompts. The Queen’s Fool by Philippa Gregory would likely also make a strong showing. Then, after all that, I would likely pick up one of the George R. R. Martin books simply because they’re huge and take me forever to get through. It likely would hold me over until I was able to flag down a passing ship.
Author Websites and Profiles
Jessica Dall Website
Jessica Dall Amazon Profile
Jessica Dall’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written. Hi there, thanks for having me here today,. My name is Laura Iding and I’ve written almost 40 books, mostly for Harlequin under a few names, although I have recently published a few indie books as well. I’m a critical care nurse by day and an author by night. I love writing and reading romantic suspense. My hubby and I are celebrating 30 years together and we make our home in Milwaukee Wisconsin.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written. This is my first book. I was born in 1964, and grew up in Northport, NY. I’ll never forget those days when we would walk to school, ride bikes to the beach, play stick ball in the street, and hang out under the street lights until well past dark. Life was simpler then and I learned something really important (although it took me many years to understand it). Every day of your life is what you make of it. I’ve had my share of good and bad days. No matter what we face in life, how we face it is just as important as the outcome. I like the current phrase “Be Present”, but I would take it one step further. Make the most out of every moment, so that if anyone is your last you can look back in pride at not having wasted it. How we touch the lives of those around us is far more important than what we’ve accomplished. I have been blessed with a wonderful wife and three sons who fill my life with purpose every day. Having traveled around the world for work (more places than some and a lot less than others) I have been blessed with friends all over the globe. I only hope that in some small way I have touched their lives as much as they have touched mine. I found my faith late in life. For a long time I didn’t believe. Then one day, I knew without a doubt that God existed. I knew that he was working in my life in ways I can’t always see, but that he was there. How I knew is one of the things I can’t put into words. It would be like trying to explain how I use the muscles in my hand. It is something that is beyond words. Onto the topic at hand, writing. My sincerest thanks to anyone who reads my work. Writing is my passion, it always has been. My college professor Judith Johnson wrote a poem, “the gift”. what have i got for you? only what i am, and you are not. More than thirty years later her words still resonate and inspire me. What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it? Seal of the King is the result of a few different ideas I had come up with over the years. I had decided I wanted to write a fantasy story that had a compelling love story as part of it. Then the idea of pulling these other elements into it helped it all fall into place. Do you have any unusual writing habits? I tend to write late at night mostly when everyone else is asleep so I can unwind. I see the story play out in my mind as if watching a movie so I often go back to the beginning to re-read it and get the thread and check for continuity. What authors, or books have influenced you? There are a number of authors I really like, but most recently I read all the Harry Potter and Sword of Truth series. JK Rowling did such a masterful job of bringing the characters to life and created an emotional connection to them that every challenge they faced felt so real and compelling. Terry Goodkind also did a fantastic job with his characters and I really enjoyed the relationship between Richard and Kahlan. I particularly liked the fact that we didn’t have to suffer through the will she won’t she, will he won’t he angst. There are plenty of other ways to create meaningful conflict for your hero and heroine. What are you working on now? I am currently working on the sequel Seal of the King into the Heart of Darkness. What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books? In my experience so far I have found a lot of success through all the social media channels and independent book sites. But it requires dedication and consistency. You have to work on it every day. Do you have any advice for new authors? You make your own destiny. It doesn’t matter if you self publish or publish through a publishing house. You have to get out there to get the word out. What is the best advice you have ever heard? Your goal needs to be getting people to read your book, not making money. If you can get people to read it and it is good then it will sell. What are you reading now? I just finished reading a draft manuscript for an author friend of mine so I am focusing now on wrapping up my next book What’s next for you as a writer? As soon as I have the draft of my next book complete I have another book to finish while it is being edited. 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? Books 1, 2 and 7 of the Harry potter series, The wizards First Rule and probably a book on how to survive on a dessert island.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.