Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest and first book is titled “The Shadow’s Grasp” and is the first book in the Dark Angel series. I’ve had the idea for it for nearly a decade and find a lot of inspiration in the fantasy genre, specifically more modern books, movies, and even TV shows, and enjoy taking readers into another world.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
A lot of my writing is influenced by the music I listen to. When I sit down, I have to have some sort of melody in mind to “set the mood” so to speak. This allows me to have the mindset for what is taking place in the story to help convey what emotions the characters are experiencing.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite fantasy author is Mercedes Lackey and her Heralds of Valdemar series. I remember wandering through the public library and seeing “Take a Thief”, pulling it off of the shelf, and flipping through the pages in interest. That was my first real experience reading outside of school requirements, which is an important moment as individuals mature in life, and her series has provided the most motivation for me to begin writing.
What are you working on now?
Currently, I am writing the fifth book of the Dark Angel series. It’s funny to admit I began the publishing process for “The Shadow’s Grasp” at the end of the fourth book because at the time I wasn’t certain I would even be publishing anything. This final book in the series (probably) is far more extensive than the first, allowing me to review and revise certain plot points and details. I hope to begin publishing the second, untitled book in 2021 as well.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
When I began promoting my first book, I had a few people mention that they have ideas for stories or wrote some pieces on the own time. I think amateur writing is really important on the journey to becoming a professional author or for even publishing your work. The difficult aspect is simply having the motivation to sit down and write. You can compare it to going to the gym: it’s really easy to find excuses not to even though you have built up encouragement, but once you start and continue on the results are evident. If you’re considering writing, sit down and write in your free time because the words aren’t going to throw themselves on the page for you.
Author Websites and Profiles
Courtney Lillard Website
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