Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My travels have taken me around the world and back again, but my favorite adventures will always be found between the covers of a good book. From rescuing dolphins in the Florida Keys, to getting chased by grizzly bears in Alaska, I have taken my adventures and used them as inspiration for my writing. Eventually, I married a horse trainer and settled down in central Michigan. I am now a farm girl with my husband, The Cowboy. We have four rescue dogs, a multitude of cats and chickens and a couple of cowponies. I love reading and writing fantasy and science fiction. I also love all things Outlander and Disney, can’t grow a garden to save my life and occasionally moonlights as a teacher.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Cut Her Out In Little Stars is my upcoming novel. I was reading Outlander for the thousandth time and I wondered what a similar story would be like in space. The idea just took shape after that, so thanks Diana for the inspiration! At that time I was struggling finding books I really enjoyed. There is a famous Toni Morrison quote that was shared with me that if there is a book you want to read but hasn’t been published then you have to be the one to write it. I wanted a time travel story to the future, so I wrote it. I am a firm believer that you have to be interested in reading your own book if you happened upon it on the shelves one day. This book was a thirteen year labor of love. I started writing it back in college and then life got in the way. I went to grad school, moved several times and started working. Life got busy and writing got put on the back burner. About three years ago I decided it was time to finally finish it and publish it. My first attempt at publishing did not go well. I signed a contract with a publishing company that turned out to be a massive scam. Lawyers had to get involved and it almost turned me off from publishing it altogether but I found a new publisher and the rest is history. I always hear author’s talk about how their characters speak to them and that is completely true. In a way, authors hear voices in their heads. As soon as the idea came to me for this book I immediately could hear my two main characters talking to each other and the scenes developed from there.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I get all my best ideas in the shower. Why? I have no idea. I am most definitely not a planner, although I usually force myself to at least complete an outline otherwise I am all over the place with my ideas. As ideas come to me I will research them extensively throughout the writing process. Cut Her Out In Little Stars required a lot of research into science because I had a lot of things to consider when worldbuilding. I wanted the science to be believable and realistic with a little bit of flair. I tried to imagine how the world would really be in a thousand years based on the reality of the world we live in today, from population breakdowns to theoretical technology. I also like having background noise as I write, so I will usually write with a movie or television show on quietly. I don’t like listening to music for some reason while I write, which I don’t understand. Music is too distracting to me but the quiet dialogue of a movie or show really helps.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Diana Gabaldon, the author of Outlander, has influenced me in a huge way because she was the inspiration for C.H.O.I.L.S. I love her character development. Her stories are so rich with characters that are so realistic and you learn so much about them that they feel like your friends. I also love C.S. Lewis. He was an amazing worldbuilder. He crafted the entire world of Narnia and as child, those books were what made me fall in love with reading and led to me start writing. I think authors need to have both pieces to be a great story teller so I try to emulate both of them to write my books.
What are you working on now?
I am working on the sequel for C.H.O.I.L.S and also a young adult fantasy novel with a little futuristic dystopian flair. I don’t want to give too many details about either, especially the sequel. I am hoping to get the sequel published in a year or two. I don’t want that to take me another thirteen years to finish. I have a couple fans who would be very angry if I made them wait that long.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I love Instagram because you can connect with so many readers. I do not have the hang of Twitter yet. There is definitely a learning curve, even for a millennial. I only started using Twitter this year for the book so I am a whole decade behind the times with that.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up!!! It can be so frustrating to get rejections, bad reviews or writer’s block. Just keep going. Especially with writer’s block. Write. Just write. Even if you have writer’s block about a plot point, just write around that spot or write anything and then you can always go back and edit it later. Your first draft does not have to be perfect. I changed my ending multiple times and revised major plot points several times before the final draft was complete. The biggest thing is people get stuck at a spot and stop writing. Even if you write something totally nonsensical, it is better to write and hopefully the creative juices will start flowing again instead of just giving up and walking away until inspiration strikes.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write what you want to read. I think as an author that is brilliant advice. You have to like your own book. It should be something you would see on a shelf and want to pick up because if you wouldn’t read it, why would anyone else want to? Also, I heard this a lot from an amazing friend Robert during my dolphin rescue years, “if you’re going to be stupid, you better be tough” and that still sticks with me today.
What are you reading now?
I am finally starting Sarah Maas’s Throne of Glass series. Again, several years late on that train but I’ve been busy writing !!
What’s next for you as a writer?
I am working on my upcoming books and hopefully some amazing things will come of it. I cannot wait to see how Caine and Cara’s story is received and where it will go. Putting your brainchild book baby out into the world is a terrifying thing to do. Ultimately, I’d love to make a bestsellers list or win an award, I think that is every authors biggest dream and goal, but if I have a bunch of readers who love what I write then I will be more than content with that.
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?
Outlander, hands down, must be in my bag. Wizard’s First Rule by Terry Goodkind will also be in there. Those are my two all time favorite books ever. I probably would also bring the first Wheel of Time book by Robert Jordan because I have tried reading that book a half dozen times and can never get past the fifth or sixth chapter so if I am stuck on an island I will have plenty of time to finish it without any distractions.
Author Websites and Profiles
Daniele Kasper Website
Daniele Kasper’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account