Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, my name is Lynn Veevers and I am originally from Washington State. I am a traditionally published author as well as a self-published author and a member of the RWA (Romance Writers of America) with PAN status. With my mother being from Christchurch, New Zealand, and my father being a well-traveled retired Navy Chief, I have always had a fascination with different cultures around the world. As an avid reader, I prefer books that take me to a place I’ve never been and teach me something new at the same time. I strive to do the same for my readers in all my works. The Young Adult Genre is my absolute favorite to read, so it comes as no surprise that it is also my favorite to write. On average, I pen two to three full-length novels a year. My first novel this year was, “Pinnacle”, a YA Paranormal Fantasy Romance intended for an older YA crowd. My second Book to come out is available for pre-order now and is a YA Fantasy entitled, “Chloe Shipton & The Quill of LeFay” (Think Harry Potter with a multi-racial female protagonist.)This novel’s release date is June 12th, 2018. My third novel slotted for this year will be coming out on September 18, 2018, and is the sequel to Pinnacle entitled, “Eximius”.
Nowadays I live with my husband and kids in Southeast Oklahoma. My young adult and adolescent children are supportive and avid beta readers of my work and give me a straightforward and honest point of view about how authentic my characters voices and personalities are for their age group. What better reference than someone close to the same age as the main character. They are all very busy athletic types, but still carve out the time to listen to or read a “Mom wrote” story. My kiddos always have and always will be her greatest inspiration. Aside from my literary side I am also a Ballroom Dance Instructor and cover art designer, although at the present I am not actively teaching dance.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest novel is Chloe Shipton & The Quill of LeFay. It is the first in it’s intended series of four novels and intended for readers 13 and up. This work was inspired when my twelve-year-old daughter told me she loved Harry Potter but wished there was a novel kind of like it that had a main character that looked and acted like her. since none existed I wrote one for her and thus, Chloe Shipton was born. The dedication page is addressed to my daughter. So now she goes around telling all her friends that it’s her book and in reality, I suppose she’s right. After all, Chloe Shipton would have never come into existence without her insisting that I find her a book that was like it. When all else fails…do it yourself!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I can’t say that I do have any unusual writing habits. I am what is known as a “panster” because I do not draw up a plot tree or plan anything out extensively. I have a general idea that blossoms in my mind’s eye and then I sit down and write. The character, the worlds the story in itself reveals itself to me and I transcribe that to the written word. It is like watching a movie or reading a book in my head and then writing a detailed account of it.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are so many! Some are in my working genre, some are not. Well let’s see as far as the young adult genre goes, there are the ones you might expect, Veronica Roth, Cassandra Clare, Gayle Forman, Brenda Drake, C.C. Hunter, Rachelle Mead, Suzzane Collins, and the list can just go on and on. My tastes are very diverse. As for adult, I am a big fan of Romance so Nora Roberts, Debbie Macomber, Jude Deveraux, and Stephanie Laurens are few authors I also love.
What are you working on now?
The novel I am working on now is an Ownvoices YA Paranormal Romance entitled “Eden’s Echo”. Here’s a working blurb for now.
Eden knew she was different when the imaginary friend who lived in her head turned out to be a real person who had partial control over her body. Only after she got older did Eden learn the voice in her head was her mother Echo, who’d been murdered when she was just 34 weeks pregnant with Eden. Instead of passing over Echo’s spirit merged with Eden’s body. Now at seventeen Eden has learned to separate her impulses from Echo’s so her mother can’t interfere with anything other than Eden’s thoughts. Over the years Eden struggled to appear normal by perpetually lying about the bizarre things she’d do, but all that changes when her longtime crush, Drew takes an interest in being more than just friends. Telling the truth in the past had made people think Eden was crazy and gotten her falsely diagnosed with multiple personalities. Not wanting to lie to Drew has Eden telling him that no one knows who her father is. Echo refuses to give up any information, but when Eden learns an unexpected detail about her father’s identity, it takes her and Drew on a journey that peels away the layers of Echo’s past. Learning who her father is and discovering who killed Echo might just cost Eden her life. After all, some secrets are best left taken to the grave.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
There is no one thing that I would consider the “Best” method. For me, it is a compilation of many things. Virtual book tours (blog tours), reaching out to reviewers personally, submitting manuscripts for consideration in magazine review publications, Facebook ads, Amazon ads, Goodreads ads, networking through Social media, like Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Instagram, Pinterest, Booklife, Snapchat, ect. That is just online. Then there is the “live” and in the flesh venue with brick and mortar signing events such as Barnes and Nobles and Books a Million, writers Conferences, radio, newspapers, reaching out to local libraries to name a few. A solid marketing plan is essential.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Know who you are signing with! There are a lot of scammers out there so do your homework when it comes to publishers and agents. Cross-reference them on the web. For publishers, look how many titles do they have, how many authors, how long have they been in business, are they on Absolute Write or Writer Beware. What does the better business bureau say about them. Do they have a PHYSICAL ADDRESS a contact phone number? As for agents, what does their client list look like, how many deals have they closed, how long have they been in the business, what kind of experience do they have in the publishing industry, are they active! In a nutshell are they legitimate or someone operating by themselves out of a garage? Do your homework!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Rejection is part of the querying process, it is inevitable and not usually an attack on your writing. Keep at it and don’t give up. Persistence and resilience is key.
What are you reading now?
Immortal Descent by Carolyn M. Walker, again…for the third time. It’s an adult Paranormal Thriller with a fresh new take on the Nephilim.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Writing, Writing, and more Writing. I am finishing up Eden’s Echo, and also have the second installment to Chloe Shipton & The Quill of LeFay, in the works. It is called Chloe Shipton & the Witches of Calvary Hall.
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?
Angels Fall, Nora Roberts – Immortal Descent, Carolyn M. Walker – If I stay, Gayle Forman – Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
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