Ariz Brune | Helle Gade

Please give a warm welcome to

Tell us a bit about yourself

Oh, dude, this is weird. I don’t like talking about me. But let’s see what I can come up with that won’t bore you to death. Haha. I write steamy paranormal romance and urban fantasy. I’ve gotta say, though I’m an author, I’m a reader first. I love to read. What I read varies with my mood. I may be in the mood for Stephen King or Anne Rice one day and Genevieve Cogman or JK Rowling the week after. Whatever I pick up almost always has to have some sort of fantastical element (with or without romance): magic, mysticism, and far-fetched creatures. Oooh! And I love a well -written gorefest and action scenes.

Have you always wanted to become an author?

I have, actually. I was the odd kid that liked school. If the teacher announced an essay, I was the weirdo in the back internally squealing for joy. Well, unless I wasn’t allowed to be creative with the assignment. Life just made me wait and grow up a little before I could reach that dream, but dammit, I did!

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

Life. My current series is about a group of family and friends who each have their own problems to deal with and a bigger problem that affects more than just them. And as life goes, when you find your click, your tribe, you know that you can handle whatever comes your way—even if you don’t necessarily get the results you wanted.

What are you working on now?

At the moment, I have a couple of things going. I’m working on book 3 in my series, The Coverton Chronicles. I also have a side project going that may or may not ever see the light of day. Ha. It’s a co-written work, and we’re still trying to smooth out the details. The other author and I wanted to see if we could actually write something worth a damn together, and so far, so good. We’ll just see how everything goes between now and then.

Do you have any quirks while writing?

I don’t know that they would be called quirks, but when I write, everything has to be set just right. For example, my coffee cup to my right, a bowl of mixed nuts or cashews to the right, music for the mood, and no one else around or my brain just stops. I can’t focus, and the brain will enjoy a long walk in the woods all by itself—or some other random “WTF, where are you going” adventure.

What are your hopes for the future?

I hope to keep writing and creating characters that people can resonate with on some level. I know the feeling all too well of connecting with a book, a character, a problem and thinking, “Holy shit! I know how that feels.” Those emotions, that connection, they’re profound, and they reassure us that no matter what happens to us individually, someone, somewhere can see the deepest, darkest parts of who we are, even if they didn’t know they were looking.

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

Newbs. Ha. I am a newb. But yeah. I can go on a tangent. I won’t, but I’ve learned so much in the last year since I published my first book that I could. I’ll go for 3 quick things I’ve found to be in the rules, no matter what you write: One, being an author is a business. Treat it as such. Part-time or full time, you don’t get paid if you don’t work. And it is hard work, don’t let anyone lie to you, especially yourself. Two, writing is the easy part. There is so much to getting your work out to the public; editing, art (cover and internal graphic), marketing and advertising, platforms, TAXES (city, state, federal, and in some cases, international), and so many other behind-the-scene pleasantries that readers don’t see. Research and learn it all. And the third and possibly most important, is be kind to yourself. There’s a lot to learn. Your first draft will look like shit. You’ll sit and look at a blank or partially blank page for hours. You’ll erase and start over. Marketing sucks. Math and I don’t work well together, and so much math is involved. Some of your author friends will make this shit look easy, whereas others might cry out in desperation. Don’t let their successes or failures determine what YOU want to happen. Be a cheerleader for your fellow authors who are doing well (we are not competing for readers, there are enough to go around—I promise) and a listener to those who may be struggling but take none of it personally. Your hard work will be what determines whether or not you reach the goals you desire.

Do you have anything to say to your readers?

Oh. My. Gods. My dear and wonderful readers! You all amaze me. I have struggled with getting my work out to you. Life has thrown obstacle after obstacle in my way and yet, you have been patient with me. I want you to know that if you’re cheering me on from the back corner, all quiet and shy, I hear you. If you’re up in my face every day with exuberance, I see you. I adore each, and every one of you and I don’t think you can ever grasp how truly humbled I am that you’ve taken a chance to waste your precious time on me and my work. You’ve trusted me to bring you something that you can enjoy, relate to, to take you away from your daily stresses and that I will entertain you. All I can ever hope to do is live up to the challenge. You are the best part about this entire adventure I’ve taken on. Thank you so very much for allowing me into your lives.