Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a new, independent author and I just released my first novel, Taken By The Huntsman, in September 2014. As for my vital statistics, I’m a thirty-something gal who has lived on both coasts of the US, but never in the middle. My “real job” (it’s not really, but don’t tell my boss. ;-)) is as a hospital drudge and I also attend graduate school.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Well, the inspiration for my first book, Taken By The Huntsman, came from a dream I had after a rather spirited debate with an online friend about the nature of consent (and some other political issues I won’t bore you with). When I woke up I thought about the dream and realized it might make an interesting story (as well as provide me with a soap box ;-)). I texted a friend and asked her if she thought the idea had merit. She said she did and so I wrote the first couple of chapters and emailed them to her asking her to read them and tell me if she was bored yet. She was kind enough to say that she wasn’t bored and that she’d like to read the rest of the story, so I wrote it. The ideas for the next few books and short stories came from characters who came to me and told me that they deserved a story too, and it was my job to write them. So I will! 🙂
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Hmmm….I don’t know if I’m the best person to evaluate what would constitute an “unusual writing habit” since I’m so new at it. 😉 My stories have, so far, pretty much presented themselves fully formed and I’ve just had to smooth out the rough bits and fill in the details. Is that unusual?
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m dyslexic and I had a really hard time learning how to read when I was a kid. Timothy Zahn’s continuation of the Star Wars series is probably the reason I’m literate today. If my imagination hadn’t been captured by the characters and universe that George Lucas created and Timothy Zahn expanded on it’s possible I wouldn’t have had the motivation to expend the effort it took for me to learn to read. So thank you to both of those gentlemen. 🙂 Since learning to read at the age of 8, I could usually be found with my nose stuck in Sci-Fi or Fantasy novel. My interest in romance came a bit later. 😉
What are you working on now?
I hope to have my next book out by the beginning of 2015 (no promises). It’s the second book in the series that begins with Taken By the Huntsman and will be the story of Uaine, Fairie’s Summer Court prince, and Veronica (Roni), a human petty thief and con artist, who are united by a magical bond created by Fairie’s great mother goddess. I’ve only just started writing it, but you can read the first chapter on my Facebook page and I’ll try to post updates as I write it.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Since I’m just starting out I haven’t developed a best method yet. If anyone would like to offer suggestions I’d love to hear them. 🙂
Do you have any advice for new authors?
As a new author myself, I don’t really feel qualified to give other new authors advice. I can tell you that I have spent a large portion of my life reading the work of other authors and I feel that helped immensely in writing my novel, so maybe that would help others as well. 🙂
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Read what you like, write what you love.” 🙂
What are you reading now?
At the moment I’m reading textbooks. Once this school term is over I have quite a few books lined up that I’ve been waiting to read, starting with Warlord’s Honor: Krystile Warriors Series by L.W. Browning
What’s next for you as a writer?
I have a short story planned for after my second novel that I intend to invite readers to help develop characters for. At some point (in the next few months, hopefully) I will post an invitation on my Facebook page for readers to contribute ideas for characters to be included in that story. At this point I don’t know how many of these characters I’ll be able to incorporate, but if I get enough suggestions I’ll ask readers to vote on each other’s ideas and use the characters with the most votes. Details about the story and the parameters I’ll need for the suggestions will be forth coming, so stay tuned! 😉
I also have third and fourth novels in the series planned, as well as a couple of more short stories. After that? Who knows, but I bet it’ll be 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?
Oh no fair!! I can’t narrow it down that much, there are too many great books out there. I’d take my kindle (we’ll just pretend there’s electricity and internet access, hey, I write fantasy novels! ;-)) and that way I could keep them all! 😉
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Mistral Dawn Website
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