Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a California based author with my debut novel, No Way Home, slated for release on July 16 with Black Rose Writing.
No Way Home is the first book I’ve written, so no one was more surprised than me when I received multiple offers to publish. It was a dream come true!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
No Way Home is a character driven time travel adventure. I had a very vivid dream about a woman trapped in the past and her struggle to get home. The dream stayed with me for a few days, and the more I thought about it, the more intrigued I was with the potential storyline.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My writing habits are a bit all over the place! I outline the basic plot very loosely, then let the subplots materialize as I write. I also make handwritten notes in a notebook, old school style, as ideas come to me. For my latest book I wrote a dream sequence first, and then started the first chapter.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am a voracious reader, and I have been since I can remember. I’ve discovered some great authors recently, John Hazen (Dear Dad, A Novel), Brendan Walsh (The Century’s Scribe), Freida McFadden (The Ex, The Surrogate Mother, and many others). I have read Justin Cronin’s and William R. Forstchen’s books more than once (I went through a long dystopian, survival phase!) I find inspiration from almost everything I read, to be honest.
What are you working on now?
I have just finished my second novel, Finding Home. It is the second book in my series of time travel adventures. I hope to have it polished and out by the end of the year.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I believe that social media is a major player for an emerging author. Facebook, twitter and Instagram are all great ways to get your book and name out there. However, sites like Awesome gang, who allow readers to discover new indie books, are invaluable. Readers want a more personal experience with an author, and reader recommendations are important.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I would tell a new author to whatever they must to stay positive and motivated. Believe in yourself. Rejection is part of the process, but do not allow it to drive your attitude. Someone wants to read what you have to say.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A fellow author told me to write the book I want to read. Be true to myself and write what I want, not what I think someone wants to read. An author writes because they must, because it is a part of who they are. Stay true to that.
What are you reading now?
I am currently reading two books. One a historical fiction, The McCarron’s daughter Sharon K. Middleton, and the other a thriller, Verity, by Coleen Hoover.
What’s next for you as a writer?
As I mentioned, I have just completed my second novel in my series, so I will be editing and polishing that. After that, I have a third book for the series in mind that I will start research on.
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?
Oh, this is a great question. They would have to be Justin Cronin’s series, The Passage, The Twelve, and The City of Mirrors. I would also take John Hazen’s Dear Dad, because I loved it so much.
Author Websites and Profiles
Christy Cooper-Burnett Website
Christy Cooper-Burnett Amazon Profile
Christy Cooper-Burnett’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
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