Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Holly Bargo is a pseudonym and the registered name of an Appaloosa mare I used to have. (The horse has long since crossed the Rainbow Bridge.) I’ve been writing every since I could form a story and published my first book in 1995. That was followed by a long hiatus as I focused on building a career and raising a family. In 2014, I self-published Rowan, the first book in my Tree of Life trilogy. Since then I have published around 20 books, plus short stories, and nonfiction articles. I work as a freelance writer and editor and live with my husband on a small farm in southwest Ohio. We no longer have Appaloosas, but we do have Morgans.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Bear of the Midnight Sun. I’m not entirely sure what inspired it, except that I like paranormal romances. Most of the shifter-type of paranormal romances that feature bear shifters focus on black bears (and get them wrong) or grizzlies. Few have polar bears. Noodling on that, I envisioned a totally unique way of meeting and claiming, something different than the common “grab and bag” style found within the genre. It seemed a good fit to link to an existing 2-book series that began with The Barbary Lion. Atlas Leonidus from that series’ first book makes a brief, but important, appearance in Bear of the Midnight Sun.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t follow a set schedule or commit myself to a certain quantity of words or pages or hours per day to write, which is exactly opposite of what the “experts” recommend.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Robin McKinley, David Eddings, Robert B. Parker, Robert Crais, Nora Roberts, C. L. Wilson, Dick Francis, Robin Hobb, Julia Quinn, Madeline Hunter, and Mary Blalough happen to be among my very favorite authors and I learn a little something from all of them.
What are you working on now?
I’ve just completed Bear of the Midnight Sun and haven’t quite figured out what to tackle next. With over two dozen manuscripts started, there’s plenty from which to choose, assuming a new idea doesn’t capture my attention.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use my own website for promoting my books. I tried Facebook ads a few times. Results were not impressive. I tried a virtual book touring company a few times. Only one of my books did well with them. I tried advertising through Amazon and got dismal results. So, I hired a publicist, because apparently my marketing efforts leave much to be desired.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Hire a professional editor. I read a lot of indie work and much of it suffers from a lack of editing, everything from a failure to understand the difference between plurals and possessives to weak writing. A good idea does not automatically confer excellence in execution.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Focus on active voice.
What are you reading now?
Lately, I’ve been watching the BBC’s Father Brown Mysteries rather than doing much reading. It’s part of the winding down process when finishing a book. I have read some books, but nothing memorable, nothing that makes my mind work.
What’s next for you as a writer?
If I get really lucky, bestseller status. To be more realistic, I’ll soon embark upon a collaborative project with another author. Together we will build a collection of western short stories. Something different, something fun.
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?
Tough decision. Beauty by Robin McKinley, The Monkey’s Raincoat by Robert Crais, and I’m not sure.
Author Websites and Profiles
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