Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have two books under my belt now; SOMETIME AFTER MIDNIGHT: A COLLECTION OF POETRY & SHORT STORIES, and my debut novel—the first installment of THE OUTCROSSED SERIES—INTO THE FORGOTTEN FOREST. I’m a giant sci=fi and fantasy nerd, especially if there’s a dash of horror involved. I’m a gamer, a reader, an artist, a musician, and a whole lot of other things. A Jill of All Trades, I suppose. I became disabled about six years ago, so that’s been an interesting and oftentimes difficult journey.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I just released INTO THE FORGOTTEN FOREST recently. I kept seeing all these stories where young women fall in love with vampires, and there are werewolves lurking somewhere in the background. I wanted to change the trope around a bit. So my main character is a young woman, yes, but her struggle is with turning into a monster, herself. And instead of being mainly a romance, the themes are more about family, friendship, and the duality Oli’s own nature. There are hints of romances to come…but readers will have to wait a book or two for that!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I always have to listen to music when I’m writing. It fuels my fire! Also, lately, I’ve needed to use a stopwatch to make sure I don’t work for too long. I often get so focused, I don’t realize how much pain I’m in. It can be frustrating figuring out how to do things with a disability, but you eventually find a flow that works.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
So so many! To name a few authors, though; Susan Cooper, Ray Bradbury, Clive Barker, Melissa Marr, Holly Black, Anne Rice, Stephen King, C.S. Lewis, L. Frank Baum, J.R.R. Tolkien, T.H. White, Terry Brooks, and Orson Scott Card.
What are you working on now?
I’m about eleven chapters into outlining the second book in THE OUTCROSSED SERIES—UNDER THE WOLF MOON. On the side, I’m about half that far into outlining the first book in a series that goes more in depth into the magic—or Arcane—part of the universe I’m building. The first book in that series will be called WYLDE & STRANGE.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m on Twitter quite often, so that’s the best place to find me! Other than that, Instagram and my website are good places to watch.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Damn the naysayers! Follow your dreams, and never give up. And don’t let anyone tell you whether you should go indie or traditional; that choice is yours and yours alone.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never to mistake kindness for weakness.
What are you reading now?
I just started Holly Black’s THE CRUEL PRINCE. It’s been on my TBR list for forever, and I’m finally getting on it!
What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to have UNDER THE WOLF MOON ready to publish by January, and WYLDE & STRANGE not long after. Other than that, I have several other series’ planned in the same universe. Without spoilers, these will include a space opera, an Arthurian retelling, a dystopian society, some fairytale retellings, and a prequel to THE OUTCROSSED SERIES that takes place in the 1990s.
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’d cheat and take an omnibus of THE DARK IS RISING SEQUENCE by Susan Cooper, THE THIEF OF ALWAYS by Clive Barker, and THE HALLOWEEN TREE by Ray Bradbury.
Author Websites and Profiles
River J. Hopkins Website
River J. Hopkins Amazon Profile
River J. Hopkins’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account