Interview With Author Beth A. Freely
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born and raised in upstate New York, with a brief and very influential stint living in Great Britain. I now call Texas my home.
With more than 14 years of writing experience as a copywriter, I hold a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Media Communication with a minor in Marketing and a master’s degree in English and Creative Writing.
In 2003, I published some of my fanfiction online and won awards for my stories. Two years later, I was awarded first-place winner of the 2005 Arche Books Publishing Novel Writing Contest, Women’s Fiction with my novel “Behind the Eyes of Dorian Gray.”
“The Legend of Captain St. Pierre,” my second novel, was written with my best friend, Mariam, and is the first book in a planned trilogy.
“The Loch” is my third novel.
“Beyond The Steps of Stone” is my fourth novel and won the 2022 SPRING BOOKFEST AWARDS – 1st Place Romance/Science-Fiction and 2nd Place Science-Fiction/Aliens & Alien Invasion.
I love horseback riding, swimming, reading, and helping other authors hone their craft.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Beyond the Steps of Stone” is my latest book and it was inspired by a conversation between a friend and I. She came to me with the “what if” story scenario, of a post-apocalyptic Earth where the remnants of humanity discover aliens really do exist. I couldn’t get the story out of my mind and went home from work that night and wrote the prologue and first chapter.
What’s funny about this book is that it took me 15 years to refine the story into something I was proud to publish. My dad read this book in its rawest form before he passed away and loved it. I had to make sure it was right before I published it.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I still enjoy sitting down with a notebook or journal and handwriting a story. It helps me reconnect with the craft and my characters. It also forces me to slow down a bit and relax. When I get into the mood to write like this, I prefer to do it at the local tea shop. I find the ambiance soothing.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love to read all types of books, fiction, and non-fiction. I primarily write romance novels, but my stories typically contain elements of other genres, such as paranormal and historical fiction. I love well-written vampire novels, such as “Dracula” and Anne Rice’s “Vampire Chronicles.” I have also been influenced by Frank Herbert’s “Dune,” J.R.R. Tolkein’s “Lord of the Rings” and the works of Russian authors Anton Chekhov, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and Leo Tolstoy.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on the sequel to “Beyond the Steps of Stone.” I wasn’t originally planning on writing it so soon, by the main characters are very loud in my head and won’t give me any peace!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Marketing and promoting my books take a bit of time. I utilize a variety of social media websites, my own author website, a podcast I am involved in, paid services, and author book signings. I also look for interview opportunities, such as this one, and occasionally run a giveaway for people who sign up for my twice-weekly blog.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Get your story on paper. Focus on that before you even worry about its publishable, if people will like it, who it is aimed at, etc. Nothing else matters unless the story is there to be read.
Editing and formatting all come later—the story you need to tell matters most.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never give up. Those bad reviews are just as good reviews and they will help you hone your craft…as long as you don’t give up.
What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading the “Dune: Adventures In The Imperium” dungeon master’s guide for the role-playing game. My husband has been trying to get me to run a game for years and I finally found one that piqued my interest.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I have started branching out into short stories for anthologies. I have always had a hard time keeping my stories under 25K so this is a good way for me to practice and get some anthology cred.
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?
Dune
The Hobbit
The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Last Wish (Book 1 in The Witcher series)
Author Websites and Profiles
Beth A. Freely’s Social Media Links