Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I actually graduated from Baylor University with a bachelor of science in nursing. I currently work part-time as a registered nurse in surgery. Between working and watching my son, I don’t have as much time to write as I would prefer, but it’s still my passion and one of my absolute favorite things to do! I’ve published two books so far, with a third that is written and in the editing stage, and a fourth that needs to be both typed and edited.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
In order to talk about the most recent book, I’ll have to start from the beginning! I write what I call “YA paranormal romance with a Christian twist.” My first book, “The Heart of Everything,” took almost ten years from initial idea to publication to create – it’s a YA paranormal romance where an ordinary young woman, Emer, discovers her own magical past and must choose between her two former lovers – a vampire (Alex) and a half-devil (Jesse)– one of whom is convinced she is the key to the salvation of his soul. And my latest book, “The Supernatural Reasons Why I Love You,” is a collection of paranormal romance short stories, with almost half the collection being “origin stories” that go into the background of characters you meet in the first book (mostly it follows Jesse and Alex, but it also sheds light on the “priestess” that Emer is reincarnated from). The only “inspiration” that I have for my books is my overactive imagination: these stories are literally daydreams that I’ve written down and strung together to make a cohesive plotline!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know that my writing habits are particularly “unusual,” but a large part of my writing process involves sticky notes. Whenever I have an idea for a scene or snippet of dialogue, I jot it down on a sticky note. Then, when I actually start putting the novel together, I take the gigantic pile of sticky notes that I’ve accumulated, put them in order, and voila! The book practically writes itself!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I don’t know that there are specific authors that inspire my writings… the intimate first-person perspective of “Twilight” and Rick Riordan’s books are similar to my style though, and I admit to using vampires in my books because of “Twilight!” But I would definitely say my faith is one of the many places where I find inspiration for what I write.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently typing up a handwritten manuscript that has literally lain dormant for the past decade! (I’ve had subconscious fears of my house catching fire and the *only* draft of this book going up in flames, so I’m finally doing something about it!) It’s the first book of what will be my Elven Trilogy, and it connects to both of my previously published books. I’m also in the beta reading stage of my third novel (which is actually the sequel to the first book).
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t have a “best” method or website for book promotion, because I’m honestly still not very good at promoting my books at all! I do think social media platforms (FB, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) are great for book promotion, because you can reach a lot of people and it’s all free. I also think Goodreads is a great place to connect with readers, because it’s a community designed around the love of reading!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. Then write some more. Then go back, and keep writing! Practice makes perfect and never give up, because that’s how books are created: one page at a time.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
One of my author friends in the Coast Writers group told me, “You can’t edit a blank page” and it’s absolutely true! You can’t make improvements to your writing until you actually have something written!
What are you reading now?
I’m almost finished with C.S. Lewis’ space trilogy (“Out of the Silent Planet,” “Perelandra,” and “That Hideous Strength”), and after that I’m planning to dive into Lauren Kate’s “Fallen” series!
What’s next for you as a writer?
I really think I want to take the step from using a self-publishing service to doing it all myself. I know it will take a lot of work to learn how to format books correctly and design covers, but between the tools and programs available today (plus a lot of help from my tech-savvy husband!), I think I can do it!
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?
Probably the “Twilight” series or the “Lunar Chronicles”… either one of those would keep me distracted enough not to care about being stranded on a desert island! XD
Author Websites and Profiles
Lynn Wallace Website
Lynn Wallace Amazon Profile
Lynn Wallace’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
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