Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in Western Colorado and work full-time in manufacturing. My day job keeps me on my toes and I’m usually exhausted when I get home, so I try to do most of my writing between 4 and 6am. I have written and published one novel and I’m hard at work on a second. I’m fortunate to share my life with my wonderful husband and our pack of rowdy rescue dogs.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Heroan, the first in The Hale Gunslinger series, was inspired by so many things. I adore Stephen King’s Dark Tower series and Joss Whedon’s Firefly, and I started imagining what life would have been like for a woman who was raised to be a gunslinger. The more I played with the idea, the bigger it grew, and the story of Cameron Hale took shape.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Every time I tried to write a novel in the past, I would get hung up on the first few chapters. I would read and edit, read and edit, and make zero progress beyond trying to make those first pages perfect. Now, I never write directly in my book file. I keep a notes file where I’ll write for a few days, then I’ll transfer all but the last 500 or so words into the novel file. I only open the novel file to paste the words into it
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve been influenced by every author I’ve ever read. A few that come to mind (and in no particular order): Agatha Christie, C.S. Lewis, Stephen King, Kathy Reichs, Adrian J. Walker, Hugh Howey, Andy Weir, Erin A. Craig, Nnedi Okorafor, Gena Showalter, Nicholas Sparks, Nora Roberts, Dennis E. Taylor, and Rosamund Hodge.
What are you working on now?
I am currently writing Book 2 of The Hale Gunslinger Series.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far, Amazon ads have been the most beneficial, but I’m exploring other options as well.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
This is advice I heard/read, but I can’t remember where now: Treat your work-in-progress like Fight Club. What’s the first rule of Fight Club?
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The very best – best of the best? You can’t edit a blank page. Whatever you do, keep writing. Dive in, don’t look back, and keep writing until that first draft is done. It’s okay if it’s akin to a trash fire. That’s what first drafts are for.
What are you reading now?
Project Dandelion by Heather Carson
What’s next for you as a writer?
Finishing The Hale Gunslinger Series and learning more about marketing and self-publishing as I go.
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?
This list changes from month to month:
Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King
The End of the World Running Club by Adrian J. Walker
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor
Artemis by Andy Weir
Author Websites and Profiles
Casey Bering Website
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