Feb 23 2020

Author Cilla Raven #interview

Please give a warm welcome to

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m Cilla Raven, an indie author that published my first book back in July of 2019 and just launched the preorder for book 2 in that series about 2 weeks ago. When I’m not writing, I’m a homeschooling mother of 5 who’s been married for 15 short years, and all of them mean everything to me. I obsessively read anything I can get my hands on and write basically anything that pops in my head. However, my favorite genres to read and write are fantasy and paranormal reverse harem romances. Some other weird facts about me: if I could live in shorts, tank tops, and flip flops, I would; I don’t think there’s any such thing as too many tattoos (I have 6 so far); good music and food are essential elements for keeping me happy, and I absolutely love naps.

Have you always wanted to become an author?

I’ve always written when I could, but the idea of becoming an author was never really on the table until my husband pushed me toward it. He’d read some of my writing before and always said I could do well as an author, but I’m prone to self-doubt on a large scale, so for the longest time, I ignored his suggestions. Then, one day I just got it in my head that even if no one read what I wrote, I’d enjoy the writing, so what harm could it do? Publishing my first book was one hell of a task (well, many, many tasks, lol), but I loved every minute of it, and in doing so, I realized that being an author was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

To be real, I’ve got a lot of demons in my closet. Some of which are extremely hard to deal with. My first book tackles some of those demons, as well as explores a fantasy I can only dream about in real life. It was inspired by what I wanted to read, my past, my desires, and let me imagine for a while what it would be like to live in a world with magic. Honestly, all of my stories are like this, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What are you working on now?

Right now, I’m working on finishing up book 2 in my Beholden to Balance Series, and starting a whole different series as well. I’ve got some big plans for 2020! Releasing book 2 is the top priority, followed by the surprise series I’m working on, and finally wrapping up the year with Beholden to Balance book 3’s release in December. So, a total of like 6 books I’m planning for the year… whew, that seems like a lot when I write it out, haha.

Do you have any quirks while writing?

Yep. I have twinkly lights above my bed (where I write because sitting at a desk drives me nuts), a diffuser that releases smelly good stuff into the air around me, and I’m almost always wearing a hoodie. I like to have grabbable snacks that won’t get on my laptop within reach, and I love having the lights out while I write (it lets the twinkly ones create mood lighting, lol). Basically, the better and isolated the atmosphere, the better I write because it makes escaping into these different worlds that much easier.

What are your hopes for the future?

My hopes for the future include short- and long-term goals. Fully attainable goals as well as best-case scenario goals. Short term, I hope to finish up book 2 within the next few weeks to have it ready for release in April, as well as building up a community in my Facebook group. Long term, I hope to become a USA Today or NYT best-selling author or to see one of those orange tags on Amazon next to my name. And even if those are hefty aspirations, a girl can dream, right? Really, what it comes down to is that I want to tell all the stories that are swirling around in my head and even the new ones that pop up on almost a daily basis.

Do you have any advice for new authors about the publishing world?

I’m still a baby author, and I’ll probably never know everything about this business, but I’ve learned a few things that might help others: Just go at your own pace and stay true to who you are, writing what you want to write. Don’t let others tell you what you should be writing, only you know the stories you want to tell. Sometimes, going hard and writing fast is excellent, but there are also times when letting the story ruminate can lead to some of your best ideas. Don’t underestimate the importance of cover art and editing! And lastly, get organized. I am not usually a very organized person, but when I started writing this series, it was painfully apparent that I needed some way to keep track of not only all the things I had going on in my schedule, but also just to keep the story correct, and on track. With a series, there are a ton of small details in those pages that readers will know by heart. You don’t want to be three books in and get somebody’s hair color wrong, lol.

Do you have anything to say to your readers?

Yes! I’ve got a lot planned out for you, and I can’t wait to hear what you think. Also, I freaking love you guys! You’ve given me so much encouragement and love, it makes my heart swell! You guys are what make it possible for me to keep writing and living this dream I didn’t think I was good enough for, and for that, I will never, ever be able to thank you enough for taking a chance on this baby author! But I’ll forever keep trying anyway: Thank you so very much!

Buy links

Beholden To Balance: Initiate (book1)

Beholden To Balance: Reign (book 2)

Author links

LinkTree

The Raven’s Nest – A Cilla Raven Reading Group

Jan 30 2020

Author Clairissa SinClair #interview

Please give a warm welcome to

Tell us a bit about yourself

I live on the nature coast of Western Florida. The Gulf of Mexico runs through my yard so we have manatees and dolphins and sharks. I work at the local police station during the day.

Have you always wanted to become an author?

Yes! I have always loved writing and illustrating books.

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

My latest short story was inspired by one of my oldest and dearest friends. He gave me the idea and I ran with it

What are you working on now?

I am working on a dystopian/EOTWAWKI book that was inspired by watching too many episodes of naked and afraid. The man always talks a big game and taps out three days in. The woman’s quiet strength gets her through 21days all by herself. I have a very strong female heroine who keeps her RH alive.

Do you have any quirks while writing?

I require coffee. Hit with cream only and the company big my Chihuahua, Gizmo.

What are your hopes for the future?

I would love to find a publisher to work with and see my books in the shelf at the local library.

Do you have any advice for new authors about the publishing world?

Don’t give up. A journey if 50 thousand words starts with a single keystroke.

Do you have anything to say to your readers?

I would love to hear your thoughts on my books. It is an honor to hear from you!

Buy link

Author links

Jan 16 2020

Author Clover Payne #interview

Please give a warm welcome to

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m a mother of five asylum escapees masquerading as children and the wife of a Californian that I dragged kicking and screaming to the wilds of the Oregon west coast. I love to laugh and am addicted to coffee and Pepsi, though I may do a little dance for Reese’s cups. I’m the oldest of three girls and was always called an airhead with my head in the clouds.

Have you always wanted to become an author?

When I was young I wanted to be an author, but never felt like I was good enough since my support group wasn’t that supporting. It wasn’t until I went to Radcon in Pasco Washington and met author James K. Burke later in life that the question of being an author came up again. Because of my continued weariness, he offered to let me beta and review for him. This led to me reviewing other authors and betaing for them, then I became an editor.

It was during my time editing that I met authors BC Morgan, Rozie Marshall, Cassandra Trussell, and Melody Calder. They encouraged me to branch out into writing after reading my short, Woods. Rozie, Cassy, and Melody even offered to let me co-write with them on Deadly Desires to ‘get my feet wet’. This led to me gaining more confidence and more characters started invading my head, screaming to be written. With the support of the indie-author community and my family, I finally gained the courage to follow
my childhood dream and the rest, as they say, is history.

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

Death Walks with Love was inspired by J.D. Robb’s in Death series and Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather from his Discworld series. My Chosen by the Gods series is inspired by Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Darkhunters series, while my upcoming Unicorn Assassin series was inspired by my daughter and Orion Rose PA.

What are you working on now?

Right now I’m working on Bast’s Stray, the first novel in my Chosen by the Gods series, and a short story for an Australian fire relief anthology, The Fires that Bind Us.

Do you have any quirks while writing?

In a seven person household, I have to use headphones to focus on my work, otherwise, I get distracted by all the activity around me. I also have to go to my parent’s house or wait until late at night to write adult content, since having little ones in my lap or running around isn’t helpful to adult thinking.

What are your hopes for the future?

I hope to continue putting out stories that people enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing, and to go to book conventions so I can meet the wonderful people I’ve been in contact with online.

Do you have any advice for new authors about the publishing world?

Having a PA is essential to any author, as is a good Alpha. I know I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on my writing or put out the best work that I can without Yashira Ortiz or Penny Servi in my corner. I would also advise that new authors contribute stories
to Anthologies and cowrites to help build a firmer support base with other authors and get their name out there.

Do you have anything to say to your readers?

Thank you so much for reading my work! I am overjoyed and honored that you would consider my stories as something worth your time. I’m not ashamed to admit that when I read your reviews I cry tears of astonishment and joy at your words. There is no greater honor for me than reading a review, even if it contains criticism or your opinion, because it tells me that my work made you need to take time out of your life to let me know what you thought.

Buy link

Author links

Dec 9 2019

Author Callie Rose #interview

Please give a warm welcome to

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m 26 years old, and I’m a full-time author. I have a very cute dog who thinks he’s a person and a husband who has listened to me talk through the plots of every book I’ve ever written. He’s my sounding board, and even though he’s not really much of a romance reader in general, he reads all of my books. When I’m not writing, I like to spend time with my husband and our puppy, drink wine, and binge Netflix shows (sometimes all at the same time!). I also love to travel. Going new places and seeing new things provides so much of the inspiration for my writing, and it’s my favorite way to spark my creative juices. I loooove angst in the books I read, but a lot of my favorite TV shows are comedies. My favorite genre to read is reverse harem. I discovered it several years ago and have been hooked ever since.

Have you always wanted to become an author?

Yes, which makes me so very grateful that this became my job! I’ve always loved writing. In school, I used to take any opportunity I could to turn a project or assignment into a chance to tell a story.
Once I got out of college, I started writing more seriously, but it took a while for me to take the plunge and decide to publish. I’m so glad I did, because it’s been really life-changing. I have so many stories bouncing around in my head, and being able to put them down and share them with people is so incredible. I don’t think there was one single ‘ah ha’ moment that made me decide to jump in. It was more of a slow build, a dawning realization that there was nothing else I wanted to do as much as write!

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

I have three complete series out now, and I’m currently working on two more, with a couple of others floating around in my head in the ‘idea stage’. My most recently completed series is Fallen University, and the seed of inspiration for that one was the question of whether the traditional ‘villains’ of a story could become the heroes instead. At Fallen University, demons who have pledge to help humanity train to protect the world from other demons who have evil intentions. It’s a fast-burn RH with lots of steam, snark, and action, and I had so much fun writing it!

What are you working on now?

I have two projects. One hasn’t been announced yet, but the other is a dark reverse harem series called Ruthless Games. The first book, Sweet Obsession, will release in early 2020.

Do you have any quirks while writing?

My biggest quirk is that I like to write for loooong stretches. A lot of my writer friends to sprints, where they write in short bursts, but I like to sit at my computer with as few interruptions as possible and just go. The longer I write, the more it plays like a movie in my head, and i just feel like I’mchanneling the characters and letting them flow through me.

What are your hopes for the future?

To keep writing! And to travel more.

Do you have any advice for new authors about the publishing world?

First, if you want to write, then do it!! It sometimes still amazes me that I can write down the stories in my heart and then put them out in the world so easily, but in the digital age, there’s really nothing to stop you! So if you have a story you want to share, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t or that there isn’t room for your story. You can. And there is. ❤

And second, find your tribe! Find the people who want to build you up when others tear you down and keep the good ones close. It can definitely be a hard journey to succeed as a writer, and having people you can trust in your corner makes all the difference. I’m so lucky I had people who supported me at the beginning, it literally made all the difference.

Do you have anything to say to your readers?

I would like to tell my readers “thank you!” Your love and support has meant the entire world to me, and is really the reason I’m still here publishing. i’m so excited to be looking head to what the next year holds and planning my next releases.

Buy links

Author links

Aug 10 2019

Author Cassie James #interview

Please give a warm welcome to

Tell us a bit about yourself

Hey, y’all! My name is Cassie and I’m a full-time author and a reality TV junkie. When I’m not writing, I’m usually acting as professional servant to my dog, a three-year-old Great Pyrenees with serious attitude. (I swear, you’ve never heard a dog huff more than mine.)

Have you always wanted to become an author?

I’ve known I wanted to write romance since the day I picked up my first romance novel. It was a Harlequin novel in my great-grandmother’s upstairs bedroom and I was absolutely not old enough to be reading it. But then I picked up another… and another… and well, I never put them down. I knew there was nothing I loved more than books, and nothing I wanted to write more than romance. I still have a handwritten copy of the first novel I wrote—a young adult romance so cringe worthy I hope it never sees the light of day!

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

Confession: I have a serious fear of a world where humans are overthrown by artificial technology. Yeah, I’m scared of robots, y’all. That means I spend much more time obsessing over them than I probably should, which is how my good friend and co-writer, Christine, and I started the discussion that led us to the idea that became The Thorns of Rosewood series. And yes, I do realize how bizarre it is that I chose an android for a main character—but I’m all about facing my fears!

What are you working on now?

I’m working on two projects right now. The Proxy, book two in The Thorns of Rosewood series, which I’m working on with a co-writer. Also, Saviors, which is the fourth and last book in my Pawns of Patience series.

Do you have any quirks while writing?

Mumbling aloud. Sometimes, when I’m trying to get a line of dialogue just right, I’ll sort of say it under my breath the way I think my character would say it, just to see what needs to be tweaked. And yes, sometimes I do (very bad) accents.

What are your hopes for the future?

More books! There might even be a little something supernatural in the works…

Do you have any advice for new authors about the publishing world?

Do the work! Before I was a writer, I spent some time working in the film industry, and the one thing that has always held true is that one thing sets apart some dreamers from others. Their willingness to work. It isn’t always easy but if it’s really what you love it is so, so worth it.

Do you have anything to say to your readers?

Thank you. Thanks you times a million. I love writing books, and I love even more that I get to share them with all of you.

Buy link

Amazon

Author links

Goodreads

Cassie’s Sinners

Jul 11 2019

Author Cassandra Trussell #interview

Please give a warm welcome to

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m a self published author from Utah. I published my first book Sincerely, Ira before I graduated high school, and I’ve republished it on ebook to correct teenage me’s mistakes. The sequel is still in the works just needs a little touching up.
I love to swim, write, and camp. I live with my family and together we have 6 horses, 3 dogs, and 2 cats. We’re thinking about adding some goats and alpacas to the mix, but I really just want to add a bearded dragon.

Have you always wanted to become an author?

No, I always wanted to become a vet or a cosmetician. Then I looked at the schooling for becoming a vet and decided not to go that route, and there was just no passion in cosmetology for me. But I loved to write and there was passion in that.

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

I actually had a dream about it while going on college tours, and it only took off from there.

What are you working on now?

My sequel to Sincerely, Ira and a couple of other books that are still in the works but not ready to be talked about just yet. I don’t want to jinx the flow.

Do you have any quirks while writing?

I have to watch something in the background while I write. Or listen to very loud music to tune the world out. I need to be able to submerse myself into the world I’m creating or it doesn’t flow as freely.

What are your hopes for the future?

That my books will be read by someone who’s not friend or family. It’s a near future hope.

Do you have any advice for new authors about the publishing world?

If you can, find yourself a mentor. Someone who’s published a book or is knowledgeable about the whole process and is willing to help you out. Some of us have made a group that might be able to help out here’s the link

Ebook Mentors for Romance Authors

Do you have anything to say to your readers?

Thank you thank you thank you! Thank you for reading my book I hope you enjoyed it! Don’t worry everything will be fine I’m making the sequel!

Buy link

Author links

Jun 17 2019

Author Candace Wondrake #interview

Please give a warm welcome to

Tell us a bit about yourself

Oh, God. I suck talking about myself. Well, let’s start off with the basics! My name is Candace Wondrak, and I’m an author, a wife, a mother of 5 fur babies, and a lot of other stuff. My husband and I flip houses in addition to our full time jobs, so I have a lot on my plate! Eventually, though, I’d like to focus on writing.

Have you always wanted to become an author?

Yes! I’ve written ever since middle school. I used to sit with my mom and read my stories out loud to her. She had written a book years ago, too, but she never followed up on it or tried to get it published. I didn’t want to be like that. I wanted other people to read my stories.

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

Spite released on the first, and it was my take on a contemporary bully reverse harem. It’s a standalone, so things happen fast. When I was younger, I was the bully, and in a lot of these bully books now, the guys always have some deep, secret meaning to why they’re jerks. In Spite, they were all kids when the majority of the bullying happens…and we all know kids don’t always think through what they’re saying or doing. In Spite, Alec, Xander and Christian were mean pretty much just because they could be. I know some readers don’t like that reasoning, but sometimes that’s all there is to it. Kids can be cruel for pointless reasons.

What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on finishing up a standalone academy book with some bully elements and a bit of a murder mystery. I’m hoping to release it on my birthday, which is July 6th!

Do you have any quirks while writing?

I don’t think so, but I do need no distractions. I can zip through books if I sit down and focus, so that’s what I try to do.

What are your hopes for the future?

I hope to eventually make enough money steadily every month through writing that I can afford to quit my full time day job and really focus on my writing. And soon I hope my husband and I flip enough houses that we land in our forever home and have no mortgage!

Do you have any advice for new authors about the publishing world?

Keep trying. When you finish a book, don’t keep coming back to it. Sometimes new ideas are better. And always write every day, even if it’s only for a few hundred words. It really does make a difference!

Do you have anything to say to your readers?

Uh, what else besides thank you and I love you! I’m a teeny author still, so every reader means a lot to me. Without you guys, I’d just be writing for myself, and there’s no fun in that!

Buy links

Author links

Candace’s Cult of Captivation

Jun 5 2019

Authors C L Raven #interview @clraven

Please give a creepy welcome to C L Raven

Tell us a bit about yourself

We’re identical twins from Cardiff, Wales and we write horror novels and short stories. We’ve just started writing comics and film scripts and are enjoying the change. Most of our time is spent looking after our animal army, who are all rescue or rehomed pets. There is currently 15 of them. In our spare time, we love doing polefit and are training to become instructors. We also do gymnastics, but the less we say about that, the better. We somehow ended up with lead roles in our friend’s horror film, School Hall Slaughter, so we’ve been rehearsing stunts for that. We’re hoping to start directing our own short horror film after summer. We love travelling and find the creepiest places to visit. We’ve just returned from a book signing in Sweden.

Have you always wanted to become authors?

Originally, we were obsessed with horses and wanted to be either professional showjumpers, or riding instructors. But not being able to afford a horse was quite an obstacle. We started writing novels when we were 12, so as we became teenagers, we decided we wanted to become authors and nothing else. By then, our depression had forced us to give up horse riding so we needed a new career plan! Our teachers were less than happy, and we often got detention for not doing our homework – we were too busy writing!

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

Our most recent release, Empty Graves, is about the body snatchers in Edinburgh in 1828. We love history, and learning about body snatchers Burke and Hare (they were really murderers, not body snatchers) made us interested in Edinburgh. We were fascinated that it’s two cities in one – Old Town and New Town. We fell in love with it before we visited. Now we go back every year and get inspired by each visit. We now have three historical books set in Edinburgh. The Malignant Dead is about the plague in 1645, and The Devil’s Servants is about the witch trials in 1649. They are a series, in a way, as they’re linked by minor characters, or descendants, and are all set in Edinburgh. Edinburgh itself inspired them, as all three are based on true events. We have plans for a fourth one, based on the legend of Sawney Bean and his cannibal family.

What are you working on now?

We’re currently writing a new novel about a woman who gets possessed by a demon, but she likes the effect the demon has, so allows it to stay. Her demon is after an object that will give it ultimate power, but it’s not the only demon that wants it, so together, they exorcise other peoples’ demons to stop them from getting the object first. We’ve just finished writing a gothic novella about a cursed castle that drives people to insanity, and we’re editing a novel about a necromancer who helps the police by resurrecting murder victims to interview them. Our first comic is due to be published at the end of the year.

Do you have any quirks while writing?

Does falling asleep at the laptop count? If not, then no. We usually have the company of a cat, Theo. He’s not ours, but every time his owner collects him, he returns after a few days. Before Theo arrived, our tortie, Mina, would sit on our laps. She also isn’t ours but has been living here for a year now. Before Mina arrived, our youngest cat, Ripley was our writing buddy. So we guess having a feline writing buddy is our quirk. The other cats. Storm and Phoenix have no interest in helping us.

What are your hopes for the future?

To be successful, and to make a proper living from our writing, so people will stop telling us to get a ‘proper job’. Not sure they think teaching polefitness counts as a proper job either! Neil Gaiman is our inspiration and we’d like to switch between books, comics, and other projects with the same success that he has. We once tweeted him to tell him it was his fault his publisher turned our book down (they loved but it didn’t want another funny apocalypse book). Neil tweeted us back, apologising.

Do you have any advice for new authors about the publishing world?

Don’t expect overnight success. It’s incredible tough to get success in writing. You have to have the courage to keep submitting work, despite all the rejections. (We’re nearing 500 with our short stories/novels/articles). We often feel like giving up, particularly when our depression is bad, and at times we wish we could quit. But we can’t. You’ll always see writers posting about their success and it will feel like you’re the only one failing. You’re not. They’re only showing you the highlights. Nobody likes to look like a failure, so nobody posts about their rejections. We do, because we want people to know how hard it is. Plus only posting about your success is like a kick in the boobs to someone getting nothing but rejections. But you have to keep going. If you don’t put your work out there then it can’t be accepted. It’s terrifying, but it’s worth it. And if someone tells you to get a proper job, punch them in the teeth. Seriously. Punch them hard. Then hit them with a book. Those same people would be the first to complain if there were no books, no comics, no TV shows, no films. For those things to exist, you need writers. Also, things change so quickly. A couple of weeks ago, we did a signing in Sweden’s oldest book shop and were on the front page of two newspapers and a large spread in a third. People came up to us in random places, recognising us and came to the shop just to meet us. This week, we’ve had nothing but rejections from publishers! It’s a fickle world.

Do you have anything to say to your readers?

Thank you so much for reading our work, and making what we do matter. It often feels like nobody cares, but then we’ll get a message from a reader, saying they loved one of our books, and it makes all the heartache worth it. So thank you. You’re the reason we keep fighting.

May 16 2019

Author C.A. Storm #interview

Please give a warm welcome to author Chris “C.A.” Storm | Kinkaid Knight

Tell us a bit about yourself

Oh, this is always a difficult one. Right, I’m a 40-something gay male who writes romance novels primarily for a female audience. From male/female romances through polyamorous/reverse harem novels, and even dipping my toes into gay harem and dystopian omegaverse stories. I write under the pen name C.A. Storm for my paranormal/science fiction romance stories, and started a new pen name, Kinkaid Knight, for my more contemporary and “adult” erotica books.

I grew up a military brat, joined the Navy out of high school, then after getting out of the Navy, proceeded to spend my twenties hopping around the world, trying to “find myself” while I pursued my dreams – I ended up working for a game publishing company producing tabletop roleplaying games based on the works of a New York Times best-selling author for a few years, then went to England for a year to work for an early independent publisher of alternative fantasy fiction. When I got back to the States, I finally finished getting my degree—in graphic design—before ending up in Hawaii of all places, where I finally made the plunge and started self-publishing romance novels.

I’ve been reading romance novels since I was about 10, when I first got a hold of my mom’s Zebra Historical romance novels, and I’ve been addicted to “love” and “romance” ever since!

Currently, I live in Honolulu, Hawaii, with my partner of 14 years now. Hm, what else? I’m a Gemini, a bit of a Heathen, used to be called the #GlitterKing but have lately been embracing my #IrishViking heritage. I also have a fondness for hashtags, gifs, and posting pictures of good looking men in my Facebook groups to help spread joy, happiness, and eye-candy to those in need!

Have you always wanted to become an author?

I’ve always been a storyteller. Growing up, I’d make up fairy tales for my younger brother and sister as bed time stories. When I was 8, I won a school Halloween story writing contest for a short story about an alien plant—for the record, I won a set of fake vampire fangs and make-up kit—and ever since then, I’ve been a bit addicted to writing. In high school, I was the moody poet and channeled a lot of my storytelling into running Dungeons & Dragons and Vampire: The Masquerade/Werewolf: The Apocalypse games for my friends.

In my twenties, I started writing adventures for the Third Edition of Dungeons & Dragons, which ended up getting me a job as a game designer, writer/editor, and art director for Dragonlance Third Edition, but that was more technical writing than fiction. My first actual “published” fiction stories, however, were short stories that took place in Storm Constantine’s Wraeththu Universe.

Through my thirties, I didn’t do too much writing. I’d start projects, but never really finish, and was more focused on working on my degree in graphic design than I worried about actually submitting manuscripts for publication. It was only once I had my degree, and once I had moved to Hawaii and was in a better “mental place,” that I finally decided to take the plunge and start writing romance novels—because they’re fun.

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

I’m a bit of a mental sponge. I absorb everything I’m exposed to; never knowing what may spark an idea. For one of the series I’m working on, I drew upon my usual inspiration of world mythologies – I love myths and legends, ever since first learning Greek mythology in school. However, I love the interaction between mythologies, how wildly disparate and separated peoples might have developed eerily similar monsters or stories, probably drawing from some long-lost primordial tales that somehow survived migrations.

Heh, then again, I’m also working on a contemporary story involving the Mafia, the Bratva, a Heathen motorcycle club, and a cleaning lady—which was inspired by the term “clean” romances, even though this one will definitely not be “clean”!

What are you working on now?

Let’s see…more than I should probably admit to.

C.A. Storm has Lilith: the First Omega coming out next month, a twisted tale of how Lilith tricks some of the most wicked and monstrous beings from myth and legend into causing the apocalypse; which will kick off my dystopian/paranormal Omegaverse universe dubbed Omega Apocrypha. I’m also revamping and expanding my ELF Omegas Christmas short story to a full novella, so that’s another Omegaverse novel—although this one is that gay harem I previously mentioned. After I get those finished, I’m heading back to my first series, about a paranormal Renaissance Flair, with A Wolf in Period Clothing, which I hope to have out by the end of June-ish.

Kinkaid Knight is hard at work on The Cleaners, the first in my Big Bad Men series of standalone novels. It’s introducing my contemporary universe, so will contain hints of future series to come. Kinkaid’s also working on an erotica short story, introducing another universe—this one a “contemporary” type of dystopian, revolving around “primal” males…you’ll have to stay tuned for more on that one!

Do you have any quirks while writing?

Oh jeez. This is a little tough.

Hm. Okay, I have to write in order, from the beginning of the story through the end. I can’t jump around. If there’s a certain scene that I desperately want to write, I just have to bulldoze through the story until I get to it. That said, I save each chapter in a separate file, which makes it easier to edit in the long run and keeps my “master document” from getting too large and unwieldy.

I always have 2 drinks at hand. One is water, I drink a lot of water. I also always have either a cup of coffee – if it’s early (say, before 3-4pm)—or either a beer (if it’s a “work night”) or a mixed drink, typically Dr. Jack (Jack Daniels & Dr. Pepper).

Oh! I tend to speak out-loud when I’m writing dialogue, to make sure it’s flowing properly, that it makes sense. I…may have also acted out certain scenes, in order to make sure the mechanics of it work out properly. I should probably not discuss which scenes, in particular, I’ve done that with.

What are your hopes for the future?

Honestly? Just to keep writing. I want to get to the point my writing is fully supporting myself and my family, and I’d be quite happy doing that for the rest of my natural life. Wherever it takes me, though, I’m sure it’ll be an interesting ride—and provide plenty more inspiration for future stories.

Do you have any advice for new authors about the publishing world?

Hm, this is another tough one.

First, I’d say “find your voice.” Find what makes your stories different, the unique “voice” that allows readers to relate to you, your distinct turns of phrase or what makes you different from the millions of other writers out there.

Second, editing is important. I cannot stress the importance enough! However, and this is the tricky one…don’t let them edit out your personality and your voice!

Third, keep writing. Just write. Don’t worry about making it perfect in the first draft. Just focus on getting it finished. Once you can prove to yourself that you can craft a story from beginning to end, then worry about polishing it, editing and revising it, but don’t let yourself get caught up in the stress of ensuring it’s absolutely perfect before you let it out in the world. Perfection is impossible. Just make it as good as you can, and move on.

Fourth, make friends and don’t start drama. In the indie world, who you know can make or break you, but never, ever talk bad about anyone – they will find out. Some authors, and readers, thrive on the drama, but in the end, it takes away from your writing, from the enjoyment of writing and telling stories. Yes, you’re going to see other, newer authors suddenly become huge while you may still be struggling, and it’s going to make you doubt yourself; that’s sadly just the way things are. Don’t become “That Person,” who starts trying to tear down other authors, don’t become the bitter critic—just double-down on your own writing, and keep pushing forward!

Find your own path to happiness. Learn what you can, figure out what works for you, and kill them with kindness!

Do you have anything to say to your readers?

I adore you all—yes, even you! Thank you for reading my stories, and hopefully, even if just for a minute or two, I managed to entertain you! If I made you laugh, or made you swoon, or even made you mad or sad, then my mission was accomplished! Now, just be sure to leave a review!

Buy links

Author links

Facebook Kinkaid Knight

Fan Group for C.A. Storm

Fan Group for Kinkaid Knight

May 5 2019

Author Carrie Whitethorne #interview

Please give a warm welcome to author Carrie

Hi!

I’m Carrie and I write under two names. Carrie Whitethorne for paranormal romance and urban fantasy, and Shae Banks for contemporary romance.

I live in the north west of England with my husband and children, and I write full time.

I began writing just after my youngest child started school- three years ago now- and haven’t looked back.

In three years I’ve become a USA Today bestselling author, have published eleven books, and have my first author signing at the end of this month.

Have you always wanted to become an author?

No.

I’ve always written, but I never believed I would write an entire novel and see it published.

Error

This video doesn’t exist

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

I’m in the process of marketing a reverse harem series. It has a strong Ancient Egypt theme and centers around a competitive eater and three genies.

I’ve always loved mythology. My first series explored European fae myths, and this one delves into the Egyptian gods and their roles.

As for the competitive eating, Kate Ovens is my tiny blond hero. I just don’t know how she does it.

What are you working on now?

Right now I’m writing the third book in my summer series. It’s another reverse harem, because I love having so many different personalities at play in one relationship and working out the dynamic between the characters, and is based on The Wizard of Oz.

Do you have any quirks while writing?

I need music. I need to be able to block everything out.

I also need a constant supply of Pepsi max and an empty house. Some days are better than others. On the days the words won’t come I take myself out for a walk or turn up at a friend’s house begging for coffee.

What are your hopes for the future?

That I can keep writing. Each series takes hundreds of hours to write, weeks to edit with a beta reader, professional editor, and proof reader phase to pass through, and marketing is time consuming and a bit of a minefield.

It’s a labor of love, and I hope to keep working at it for many years to come.