Interview With Author Erin Wilkerson
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Resonate is my debut novel. Within 22 days on Amazon, it reached an Amazon Bestseller list and I received an orange banner. It was such a huge surprise, I couldn’t stop crying, and my family and friends were so excited for me. Resonate took me ten years to write, and 45 drafts. I put a lot of blood sweat and tears into that book, so it really is something special to see that effort fruitful. I live in Houston TX, with my large family.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Resonate was inspired by a Nova special I watched on geomagnetic reversals. It brought on the idea of, what if one did end the world?
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
If I’m having trouble with particular scene, I’ll go clean something. Some menial task, like scrubbing the tub, maybe listen to some epic music at the same time. With kids, something is always dirty and there’s never a lack of menial tasks. So it’s also kind of a way of multitasking.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I know it’s cliché now, but the Hunger Games was a huge inspiration. I loved Susan Collins writing style, so I tried to mimic it. And my favorite book of all time, I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson. I loved how he put true and realistic problems into his main character, but it a supernatural setting.
What are you working on now?
Resonate 2, which is currently titled, Fallout.
And Axe and Fire, which is a fem-style King Arthur retelling in a cave-dwelling society.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far, the Law of Reciprocity has been the best. Before launch, I gave away fifty paperbacks and 26 ebooks. People read it, loved it, reviewed it the first week and told their friends and family.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I was in a lot of critique circles and had many critique partners, which were great. But my writing didn’t really advance like it needed to until I hired an editor. I went through three until I found my best match. Have them do a first chapter. Don’t pay more than $35. Try to negotiate, if they won’t, more on to the next. It is a lot of money, but I put aside a little here and there for a summer until I had enough. $2k should do it for a dev edit for basic novel, anymore, move on. The professional edits are well worth the cost!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Make friends. Social media, library writing groups, join local non-writing things, some of the best support I got was from my synagogue. I know it’s hard, but it’s good to be pushed out of your comfort zone.
I couldn’t have done it without my awesome writer friends. Make some really good, determined friends and offer to read for other people. Put effort into others before you expect them to put effort into you. And it takes time, a lot of time.
What are you reading now?
I’m reading Soul Sucker by awesome CP and writing friend, Kayla Maurais.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Resonate is outlined for a trilogy.
Axe and Fire as a duology.
So I will be putting all my effort into those!
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?
3 books on surviving on a deserted island and 1 book on how to get off a deserted island. lol
Author Websites and Profiles
Erin Wilkerson’s Social Media Links