Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello!
I was born and raised in Scotland and started writing in my early teens. My first publication was in an anthology and was a story about a woman who lost her husband at sea then threw herself into the water when she realised he was never coming home. Several more short stories followed during high school and I started to notice something: people die in my stories.
ALL THE TIME.
They’re beaten, shot, stabbed, eaten and it has not improved since I’ve expanded into novels. My debut trilogy is called The Faction War Chronicles, containing three books and a novella, and there is a lot of darkness and death. If you like a woman who can handle a gun, fast-paced action and a dystopian Scotland then check out the first book, Captivity. It’s for adults due to its strong language and explicit content (including violence and sex scenes). I hope you enjoy it!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest published book is the novella from my Faction War Chronicles called Nationless Will Fall, which was published in November 2020. The final book, Homecoming, will be published on the 30th of December 2020. The whole trilogy was inspired by a dream I had as a teenager. In my dream, all the adults had fled the country, leaving the teenagers at war with each other and they split Scotland into factions.
Bit of a weird dream for a thirteen-year-old.
Obviously, a whole country version of Lord of the Flies wasn’t believable so the story has developed over the years into what it is today: a tale of Anita Carmichael’s search for the truth about who killed her sister and started a war.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Is anything really unusual in the life of a writer? I don’t sacrifice a goat or pray to Beelzebub before each writing session. I also don’t write every day though that’s often a ‘writing rule’ you hear from other authors. I write when I can, which is sometimes only at weekends. I suppose an unusual writing habit of mine would be that when I get a report back on a book from my editor, I let it sit, unread, for at least a month while I build up the courage to open it.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I recently re-read one of my favourite book series–the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton. It took me a while since there are about twenty-odd books in it but I noticed something interesting. Little snippets and phrases from those books have turned up in the books I write, though not on a plagiarism or copyright-infringement scale, of course. Laurell K. Hamilton has definitely been a strong influence on my writing, particularly as her books get a little erotic, too!
What are you working on now?
I’m working on my sixth book just now (technically eighth if you count novellas) and I’m about five thousand words away from finishing it but that’s when I find it hardest to get myself to just sit down and write. The book is about people who shape-shift into dragons and the normal humans that hunt them. The main character is a shapeshifter from a wealthy, brutal family and the book is actually the second in a series. The first book is being edited as we speak and the main character is a dragon hunter.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m new to publishing so I don’t have much experience with promoting my books yet. I’ve been experimenting with promotion sites, like Awesome Gang, that list your book in their newsletter and on their website when your book is on sale. It’s allowed me to sell my book to random strangers rather than just friends and family. I also have my own website (nadinelittle.com) and social media accounts where I do some promoting but they’re mostly to connect with people rather than be salesy. My goal in 2021 is to start properly advertising my books.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
There is so much to learn but perseverance is key. As long as you have a good, professional-looking book, you will find readers who love it. Publishing is a long game. No one becomes an international bestseller overnight. And promote your books. You can’t just stick them on Amazon and expect them to sell while you sit back with your feet up. Self-publishing is a lot of work to do right but it is very rewarding.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You cannot fail unless you quit.
What are you reading now?
I’m being a bit geeky and reading Joanna Penn’s Audio for Authors on my Kindle. I want to start producing my own audiobooks soon and need to learn as much as I can about it before I hit ‘record’.
What’s next for you as a writer?
International fame and fortune! But more likely a slow but steady path of finding readers and writing more books. I’d love for this to develop into my full-time job but I imagine that’s a few years away.
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 was going to be cheeky and say I’d take my Kindle and hundreds of books but I don’t imagine there’s a power socket. I’d be smart and take some kind of survival book, maybe Bear Grylls, then three books from Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series, possibly including one of the raunchier ones for when the nights get cold.
Author Websites and Profiles
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