Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a mom of two, wife, engineer, reader, writer, runner, traveler, reluctant Gryffindor, and super nerd writing and trying to launch my debut novel. I live in Florida with my two wild boys, my long-suffering husband, and a dog that thinks she’s a cat.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Odriel’s Heirs is a mix of all my favorite fantasy tales twisted up in my own spin. I wrote it when I was 22 and fresh out of college, so it’s very heavily inspired by my own feelings and experiences of crashing into the responsibility of being out in the world.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, I seem to be developing a habit lately of writing 95% of a first draft and then waiting for 3-24 months before writing that last 5%. Personally, I hope this isn’t a permanent thing, but it does seem kind of strange. At least it gets done, right?!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I absolutely love Garth Nix. I think he’s probably my greatest influencer. But I also think I’ve been heavily molded by Patricia McKillip, Tamara Pierce, and Jeff Wheeler. They’re such fabulous writers. I love them all!
What are you working on now?
I’m currently juggling three WIPs. I recently finished the first draft of a Cinderella retelling that’s waiting for revision. Idriel’s Children, the sequel to Odriel’s Heirs, is in the works, and I’m also revising my first middle grade fantasy, The Gatekeeper’s Son.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far, I’ve had the best luck with engaging with other readers and writers on twitter and instagram. But I’m giving this book promotion thing my best shot, so I’m hoping in a couple weeks I’ll have a better idea of the answer to this question!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Start. Learn. Persevere. You may not be good at it at first (most people aren’t) but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start. Utilize the writing community on social media. Ask questions. Learn from others. And keep at it. It probably won’t be fast, but you’ll get there eventually- the race is long.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I absolutely love the Banksy quote: “Learn to rest. Not quit.” It’s pervaded my thoughts on almost all of my endeavors. It reminds me to be patient with my goals and that persistence doesn’t necessarily mean constance. Take a break, take care of yourself, come back, and keep going. Breaks are part of the journey.
What are you reading now?
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson – I love her style!
What’s next for you as a writer?
The goal is to publish one book a year. I’m hoping the next one will be Idriel’s Children (the sequel to Odriel’s Heirs) sometime late next year.
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?
I just googled longest Fantasy books. I’m going to count series as one, since I’m betting I could find the collection in a set. So, according to the internet I’m bringing:
Discworld by Terry Pratchett
Malazan by Steven Erickson
Valdemar by Mercedes Lackey
The Riftwar Cycle by Raymond Feist
That should tide me over for awhile I think on my hypothetical desert island.
Author Websites and Profiles
Hayley Chow Website
Hayley Chow Amazon Profile
Hayley Chow’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account