Check out the fabulous anthologies by Dragon Soul Press. There are so many great stories and authors and for the third time, I get to be part of the group. This week Pinpricks: An Adult Fairy Tale was published in Magick & Mystery. Fate Sent Her Two, a 20,000 word short story, was accepted just today for Digital Love! Presales for that are coming soon and it will publish in February. I’m pretty danged excited!
In May, Beneath the Prismed Light was included in DSP’s Song of the Siren anthology. That story has been expanded and is now my gift to subscribers. Thank you for subscribing and sharing my newsletter. Your support means everything!
Here is an excerpt for Pinpricks.
A prince finds himself one morning deep in the Shangthorn forest, facing three foul and warty hags who peer at him with purpose in their eyes. When they pose probing questions and offer him peculiar choices requiring intimate sacrifices, everything he’s certain of—everything he knows about himself—flies in the face of mystery, magic, and these creatures who are more than what they seem.
This month I’ve got two romance writers from two continents stopping by to give us a dual chat on a day in the life of writing sizzling hot romance, marketing sizzling hot romance, and publishing sizzling hot romance. Abigail Hunter from the U.K. and Meg Stratton from the U.S. are writing buddies and have been collaborating on some exciting projects.
We will dive into their works and projects and find out how amazing they are at supporting and welcoming up-and-coming indie authors into the fold. I met these two through dark romance writer and previous guest, Gigi Meier, thanks to Gigi’s mission to shine the light on indie authors in her Let’s Go Live interviews.
I’m benefitting from this now as I get to know them while working on a new romance novel, which will be part of an anthology of novels with Abigail, Meg, and other great writers in our romance writers group.
Born and raised in Scotland, Abigail has always been surrounded by green hills, forests, and fairy stories. First a gardener, then a carpenter, now an author, she writes steamy stories about passionate and heartfelt characters who fight for what they believe in, especially love.
I absolutely loved reading Tearing You Apart. This book was so beautifully written I seriously couldn’t stop reading til the very last page. I’m still reeling over this book.
Meg is a new author looking to share her dream that spiraled out of control and has turned into a book or two. She enjoys time with her husband and four children and working on maximizing her way too large urban garden on her tiny plot of land in the Pacific Northwest, spending far too long in her commute thinking of new storylines for her heroines.
Here’s what a reviewer has to say about Oracle: Mia.
Really enjoyed this book so much that I finished this in the same day. If you enjoy: Why choose, spice, aliens, sci-fi/romance, you should read.
Let’s Get Started
Hello Abigail and Meg! Thank you so much for joining me today. I’ve been looking forward to our chat for weeks. You might guess my first question. How did you two get together?
MS: I’m not sure if I found Abigail or if she found me. But at one point about 6 months ago Abigail joined my babyromanceauthor group on IG. There she joined my first anthology book, contributing our spiciest story to the lineup of Fairy Tale stories retold. We have also joined forces to bring a world-building, fate-marked series with many other authors from the IG group and other author friends, coming out in 2024. Abigail has a wealth of book knowledge and is an excellent writer and editor. I’m so happy to have met her this year!!
AH: I feel like Meg has answered this one pretty succinctly!
DLL. I can’t wait to see what comes out of the new fate marked collaboration!
Now we’ll back up a little. How did you each get started on your writing journeys and what moved you onto the spicy path in the romance genre?
MS: I have always been a romance reader, coming and going throughout the years as I had more or less time to read, but I really got into why choose stories during Covid. I was reading so much that I had a very vivid dream that stuck with me when I woke up the next day. I started to write out my dream on my phone, in a week I was parked on the couch with my PC while my partner played games next to me. Within a year, I had written a very rough 300,000 word story. My partner turned to me one day and said why don’t you try and self publish whatever you have been writing over there. 😉 He hasn’t read a word of my writing but was willing to back my ambition. The best author support partner.
AH: I was in a pretty bad space in my life last October, and, quite like Meg, I started seeing snippets of scenes and ideas swirling around my head until I decided to write them down. And, when I started writing, I couldn’t stop. Then, in February, I woke up in the morning and said “Right, I’m going to do it.” and by May, Tearing You Apart was published. I don’t feel like I actively chose spicy dark romance. I let my characters guide me, and that’s the direction they take me in. I love writing about intense, emotionally-charged love, and sex and angst are the pinnacles of that in my character’s relationships.
DLL. I love these stories! Thanks so much for sharing. So many inspiring journeys got started during the pandemic. And I can relate. I started writing after reading voraciously all things paranormal romance during the summer of 2020. I had that epiphany and started writing by the end of that year.
How would you each categorize your level of spice and the tone you like to strike with your romance?
MS: I didn’t know what my level would be when I started. I would classify myself as a solid 3 pepper spice level today. As a why choose author, it could be higher as there are multiple players in the relationship though I haven’t explored MM or FF relationships in my books yet. I like how in why choose stories, the characters need to overcome a lot of stigma and standard beliefs around how relationships should be. I love the discovery that the parties go through as they find their partners.
I write post-destruction/apocalyptic stories where the characters are trying to survive and find their way.
AH: Er…that’s kind of a hard one. When I finished Tearing You Apart, I thought it was at least a 4 out of 5 in the spice rating, but some reviewers were rating it 2. I’d say my anthology piece, Blood Princess, is at least a 4. Now that I’ve had time to think and develop my WIP list, I’ve got some very extreme books coming that I’d definitely say were 5s, so much so that I can’t publish them on Amazon! But, at the moment, I’m writing fluffy smutfics and longer books that are heavy on drama and angst.
DLL. This is the kind of insight on spice levels I was looking for. I see so many different ratings and rating systems that it’s easy to get a little lost on how to compare what I write. Thank you!
For each of you, tell me who your favorite character is to date in your respective works.
MS: J (Jaco) from Oracle: Mia, book 1 of my Oracle’s Journey series. Tough, tattooed but obsessed with the FMC and fated to meet her. His looks remind me of Wentworth Miller when he was in Prison Break.
AH: That’s so difficult! I absolutely adore all my female characters. Whether they are strong, meek, powerful, broken, I love exploring their lives and journeys. Out of my published male characters, there is a wolf shifter from my anthology piece called Lucien who I really enjoy reading and writing about. He is incredibly angry and despises his love interest, Ruby, which results in some very intense sex scenes, but, when he opens up and really falls in love with her he basically explodes with softness and will do anything for her.
DLL. Writing book boyfriends in addition to hording them from my favorite books was one of the best surprises in becoming a romance author.
Which character is your favorite in upcoming works?
MS: Wolf in Red is for Roxy. This is my anthology piece that is coming out Nov 15th. He is fun loving, but wants to be called daddy and call the shots with the FMC.
AH: I have a huge list of books I’m planning on publishing over the next few years, but one who really stands out is Sasha. She is a mafia princess, and she falls in love with three men who have been sent to take down her family. Her body is absolutely littered with scars from abuse, she is missing two fingers, and has a huge scar that slices up her face. Her personality is just fantastic. She is so tough, no matter how bad it gets she will fight, she loves her men and her friends so deeply that she will (and does) do anything for them. And her relationships with the three men are so different but so beautiful at the same time. I absolutely love writing her, and I can’t wait to publish her story next year so other people can meet her too.
DLL. Ah… to hear the passion from writers about their stories and characters. One of my favorite questions to ask. These sound fabulous. Thank you!
Can you share more about your respective works in progress?
MS: I will be finishing the second half of Red is for Roxy so that it can be fully published when the anthology is done. Then I will be either working on the fate marked world building story or move onto my gods/goddesses anthology work. So many stories in my head but I actually consider myself a slow writer, I need to maintain a consistent goal plan so that I can manage it all.
AH: Yeeeah, it’s a lot… I have a solid publishing plan until at least 2028. My anthology piece grew to become a fully formed series featuring each of the main fairy tale princesses and that is at least 14 books. I’m writing an omegaverse series which is at least 17 books. I plan on publishing one book of these two series alternating once a month starting next year. The Lovers and Liars series will be five books, (Tearing You Apart is already out, Book 2 is coming in May) but I’ve planned a few spin off series which could be another 8. Then my MM novellas, the first being published December 13th, which is looking to be at least 10 books. And my fated marks book too. So, yeah, you could say it’s a lot…
DLL. Wow! You are both on fire! I will enjoy following your progress. Abigail’s Book 2 in the Lovers to Liars series, Calling You Out, is available for preorder!
Where do you each see your writing careers in five years?
MS: This is so hard to say. I have had a lot of fun with all the projects and writing. The very best part is meeting and helping other new authors find their way. I really enjoy bringing people together to support and rally around each other. Being a baby author is so intimidating. I want to complete my Oracle series in the next 3 years but don’t have a set timeline on that. I think the hardest part is the fact that everyday I think of a new writing idea.
AH: My goal at the moment is for people to love my books. I’m very nervous about publishing so much but I want to put myself out there and tell my stories. Ideally, in 5 years time, I’ll have built up a solid following as well as having a large back list. I want to be earning a steady income, enough that I can call it a job. If I have roughly 40 books out, that feels very achievable!
I see some authors having instant success and I get jealous at times, but, at the moment, I’m approaching it like a slow burn. If I keep working hard and writing good quality books, I’ll see the returns. I mean, obviously, getting instant success would be amazing too. But I’m thinking long term (hence the publishing plan to 2028)
DLL. I love this! Slow burn is a smart approach and building that solid following. I see you both doing well with this right now and I know you’ll meet your goals and then some.
Having gotten involved with you in the Marked Mate Romance project, I’ve seen how much work is involved with shepherding something of this magnitude, but you both have been so awesome to work with and endlessly patient. You’ve got one of these projects well underway. And I must say, I am in love with the idea and the name of your Fairytale Reloaded anthology series… and its cover art. Fabulous!
Tell us about that project and how you put it together, including artwork, marketing, and publishing efforts.
MS: In January of 2023 we (babyromanceauthors) all began talking about doing an anthology together. We decided on the topic of spicy fairy tale retellings. I had already made a publishing company for myself and my books, so I took on the position of organizer and publisher. We all agreed to work together to beta read each other’s stories, design the cover art work, format our works in 3 volumes and promote it throughout. The authors all supported with the ARC reader groups and building up a following.
I started with a calendar of major steps to hit our release date of November 15th. This helped us all know when we needed to support and complete our beta read, final read, formatting, and publishing steps. I supported each other by reading all of the submitted stories and giving tips and guiding the steady increase of spice that I was going for in the volumes. Artwork was provided by Charlotte Mallory who was part of the anthology but had to step out for personal reasons. She took some time to listen to our feedback and build out the 3 covers that get steadily darker as you go.
For the marketing, I wanted to showcase the fairy tale theme throughout the promotion period. I began with fairy tale dresses, shoes, then jewelry. I also wanted each one to give a piece of the story it was supposed to represent but from the author’s new story, a quote, the tropes, etc. I have blended all three of these themed graphics with an image of the author and called out their other works and how they supported during our anthology work. I made many of these graphics available to the ARC group members and my fellow authors to use for reels and their own posts.
Finally, the publishing efforts were times 3. Due to the 3 volumes and the 14 authors, I feel that I have spent a lot of time managing this process. I have learned a lot about Amazon and how this part could go more smoothly in the future. I will say that the covers have been the most difficult to fit the book sizes.
AH: Meg is 100% the show runner for this series. She has done an incredible amount of work to get the project off the ground and keep the momentum running. It’s truly awe-inspiring!
How would you compare the Fairytale Reloaded short story anthology project to the new novel project? Is it more complex? Do you have bigger or different goals? What would you say are the benefits of this kind of collaboration? And what’s next on the author collaboration horizon?
MS: The Fairy Tale Reloaded project was more of a true anthology design whereas the Fate Marked will be a series. The Fate Marked Series will be published under each author with the author setting up the Amazon pieces and completing their own editing. The covers will be designed to be similar and interconnected. Each author will support the others’ launches by promoting on their sites and building ARC readers groups.
I think this new project will be a bit less complex. I also think the goals change as we will be slowly promoting the series over a few months. This may help relieve the pressure of a mass promotion or draw out the promotion piece for longer. Not sure which way will be better to be honest.
The benefits from collaborations on projects like this are the knowledge and support of many minds, writer support in times of frustration and lack of focus, a network of more followers to gather interest in your stories, learning many marketing tricks from each other, and many other perks.
I will be starting another anthology for a goddess/god collaboration in January 2024, to be published tentatively in June 2024. This will be a spin on an existing god story that will be a spicy read. More needs to be discussed in this project as it hasn’t really been worked on yet. I have had a lot of focus on publishing Reloaded.
AH: I agree with all of Meg’s points. The idea for the Fate Marked series is that it is also a long-term project that ideally works around the participating authors own WIPs. The books themselves will most likely be longer than a standard anthology piece (15-50K) (I’m aiming for at least 100K) and there is also a huge amount of freedom to write. The deadline stretches all the way until the end of 2026, with each book being published a month apart, meaning that we’ll organise publishing schedules based around the needs and readiness of each author, as opposed to handling 12 or so full length novels at once. And participating authors can easily work around their own WIPs at the same time.
DLL. Again. Wow! Ambitious and oh so many benefits in collaborating. Truly remarkable and impressive.
Can you each share what you have learned about growing your indie author communities? What has worked best for you? I believe you both do well with Facebook groups. How are those working out?
Meg, maybe here you can share your goals for your publishing company.
MS: For me I started with Facebook and IG. On IG I grew with select follow trains and engaging the bookstagram community. I think I work best and more consistently with IG as it is easier for me to use and connect with.
For Facebook, I and another baby author, Lark Hersey began a group that I have since taken over. I use this group for parties and sharing other authors’ work and book launches. It is mostly designed to be a Spicy readers group so most posts are romance author posts. I also run 1 sometimes 2 Facebook Parties in the group a month. I will be running my next one on Dec 10th for Rhea Ryan’s book launch.
For Stratton House Publishing, I always intended it to be the place where my books can be showcased and as I learn more about self-publishing, I have added a promotions page and a page for the anthology work. I will continue to work on anthologies and possibly open a shop to sell designed stickers and other bookish content.
AH: I stay mainly on Instagram. I gave a lot of group chats I’m part of and friends there, and I also focus on growing my ARC reader list by contacting people directly. I’d say the beat community I’ve found is through the baby romance author group Meg runs, as well as the Fairy Tale anthology group.
DLL. So many exciting ideas and ways to connect. And more follows in the next Q&A! Wow! Thanks you two. I’m sure our readers will get a lot from this section. I know I have.
I would like to dig into your respective writers’ lives. I’ve been eager to chat with two writing buddies from such different locations and backgrounds to enjoy your side-by-side accounts of your daily schedules, favorite places to write, how you stay productive, and how you balance writing with other aspects of life. This is a tall order, but take all the space you want and give us your best tips and practices.
MS: Finding time to write is the hardest part for me. I have a real job that requires me to commute up to 4 hours a day. So if I’m not at work, I’m in my car. When I wrote my first two books, I was working from home and had no commute. Times for writing are hard to find now.
Recently I have been trying dictation as I drive to see if it will help me at least get ideas out. I am a pantser so this may not work as I need to let the characters speak but I’m loving the ability to be creative in a down time. I really get my best work done when my partner plays video games and I sit and write next to them. I work best with a plan, specifically a calendar of due dates. I also have learned to not push myself too hard as it does cause me to burn out.
Tips and Tricks:
Beta readers- I found some amazing ones on the Facebook groups Beta Readers/Proofing/Editing, Beta Readers find Authors, and Indie, Alpha, and ARC readers for ALL Genres. When you find one that works for you, lots of communication and praise for their efforts is important. Hang onto a good beta reader. They are your super fan and will bring others to your stories.
Find an author who writes works similar to yours. They will help you when times are dark, when you don’t feel motivated, or want to bounce ideas off someone. That is how I started the babyromanceauthors group.
Read other writers’ blogs on their writing journey, Facebook groups for authors and see what questions are asked and the answers given, write a short story or novella as a free magnet reader story to gather subscribers to your newsletter and use Bookfunnel promotions to get that free read into people’s hands. Just like anthology, people will read a bit of your writing, like the story and go buy your other books. And while it feels counter productive to give away a book or story, it really does draw people in. Quick personal Bookfunnel fact, I gave away 800 copies of a prequel to my Oracle’s Journey Series (a total of 11k words) in a year. That is 800 people who checked out my story and could have turned around and bought one or both of my books. It’s hard to capture that much of an audience without a magnet story.
AH: I live a really free life. I persist, so I travel around the UK staying in other peoples houses, and it gives me the space to write for however long I want. Sometimes I’m working 12 hours just because I can. I know I’m very blessed to be in this situation so I hope it will continue. I am pretty much a hermit. Unless it’s walking, I don’t really do much with myself apart from write and manage my social media accounts. I live vicariously through my characters. My schedule tends to vary depending on what I need to do. If I’m writing I will take a lot more breaks. If I’m editing I may work for hours without stopping. I prefer lounging on the sofa with my laptop whatever work I’m doing. Unless I really need to smash something out, then I’ll sit at a table!
Meg mentioned dictation, and that’s one of the fastest ways I work. I will spend hours talking out play-by-plays of scenes to my phone and then past them into a google doc and write out the story. Sometimes I spend an entire day planning out a full book just by dictating. It’s an incredibly useful tool and I highly recommend it.
Tips:
Number 1 – always, /always/ get a sample from any editor you’re thinking if hiring. I essentially lost over £1,000 publishing my first novel because I didn’t properly vet my editors. And make sure you keep checking in with them too. (one actually canceled on me 5 hours before I was due to send her my manuscript)
Number 2 – if you feel like you are blocked or stuck, stop writing. Go for a walk, go do some laundry, watch TV, cook, do something to put your brain into cruise mode and wait for the idea to come to you instead of forcing it. The ideas will feel better and more naturally. You’ll soon be able to tell when you’re in the flow.
Number 3 – your first draft is going to be absolute trash, so own it. Even if you use the same word 5 times in one paragraph, you’ve already written a whole paragraph, and that’s great! Dont edit, dont delete anything more than a paragraph. If you need to change a scene, make a new file and call it “Scrap” or “Scenes for later” so you can reference it. Even if your first draft is the worst thing you have ever read, it lays the foundation for you, because you’ve already made a huge achievement
Number 4 – self edit like mad. Before you send it to betas, get your story tight. After betas, tighten it up even more before a dev edit (though I see debs as optional). Do character edits! If you have more than one POV, copy all of their individual POV chapters into one document and run through the whole thing to develop their internal voice. For a copy/line edit, go through every single line of text yourself and look at character movements and see if there are lots of repeats (eye movements is a huge one for any author). And, use Prowriting Aid!! The subscription fee is 100% worth it and you will save money when you send it off for edits. Also, by the time I get to the publishing stage, I absolutely hate my book because I have read it so many times that I don’t want to see another word of it.
Number 5 – always ask for help if you need it. YouTube is great for learning, and there are tons of authors around who are happy to share their knowledge.
DLL. I am definitely going to have to try dictation. Easier on the eyes too, and my eyes need all the help they can get. And again, thank you for sharing so many wonderful ideas here. This is an excellent example of how you both are so responsive to your community. Thank you!
Thank you both again for visiting! And all the best to you on the great things coming your way. Do you have any last words of advice for those getting started on their writing journeys?
MS: Write for you. You will get criticized, people will be mean and will give poor reviews. Know what you can handle. Have a friend or your beta read the reviews and share the most important takeaways. Don’t take random strangers’ thoughts as a personal attack. One comment sent me on a 2 day spiral of why do I do this, I’m the worst author. It took another author to remind me that I write for myself, I write for my super fan, I write for my future super fans. Hold on to what drove you to write and publish your work.
AH: Agree with Meg. And don’t try and change your story to fit other people’s likes and dislikes. It’s your story, you know what’s right and wrong. Feedback can be amazing, but don’t go overboard. Find a people you can trust to give you honest feedback and criticism to make your story better, not just turn it into what they want. And, make sure you are proud of your work. When it comes to the publishing deadline, make sure you’re sitting back and thinking that you have done your best and you are happy with the end result. Every review is someone’s personal opinion, and, even if it’s a negative review, if you are proud of the story you’ve written, then everyone else can fuck off.
DLL: Fantastic advice! Both of you. Are you sure you’re baby authors?? Thank you so much.
You can meet the very talented fantasy author J. V. Hilliard on my June Sunday Spotlight. Joe released the third book in his Warminster Series in July and we talk about that and what’s coming next.
From that writer’s life collaboration came the invitation to chat with Joe on his YouTube podcast The Realm. I’m thrilled to be included among Joe’s many talented guests, including my writing buddy and space opera author Nicolas Lemieux in Episode 119. Nicolas and I did a two-way interview on my Spotlight in April.
Here is my chat with Joe. To meet more talented authors, visit Joe’s channel. Thank you for supporting indie authors like me and all the new voices with great stories to tell.
I have been waiting to chat with this author for too long and I’m excited to welcome Linda Ling to my blog and talk about her exciting debut series, The Land of the Sun.
I’m in the middle of Sundred and finding the pages turning fast! This amazing complex fantasy world was presented in a concise, clear manner and I was able to dive right in and get immersed. I found the division of the lands captivating right off and wanted to know how the rent in the world would be resolved and Faelyn’s part in it. I love all the names of the characters and was taken immediately with Faelyn and Khare.
Here is what one reviewer has to say about Sundred…
This whole year has been tough reading-wise as I’ve only had a few books that I really LOVED.
It’s nice to have another book to add to that list with Sundered by Linda Ling. Five stars!!!
There’s a good amount of worldbuilding upfront that took a bit to get into and internalize. But once I met Princess Faelyn and Khare, I was hooked.
I loved Faelyn’s strength, impulsivity, and passionate personality – as I am writing a similar FMC for my second book, I found myself feeling inspired by how well Linda brought her character to life!
I think one reason fantasy can be hit-or-miss for me is because I always want my fantasy to be grounded in real problems that I can relate to. Even though there are kingdoms and magic and cool creatures (I loved the Sarpentii), there also are struggles of finding your identity, unpacking family trauma, and fighting for your voice as a female in a world of male leaders.
There were several POV changes and while sometimes I struggle with keeping up, the shifts were seamless. Each new voice brought a new perspective to the story within this vast world.
I loved the resourcefulness yet imperfections of the characters, the careful reveal of mysteries, and the beautifully engrained magic and worldbuilding
Well done Linda and I can’t wait to read Forged!!!
Kyle
Let’s meet the author.
Linda is a self-published author with a passion for reading and creative writing. Her favorite genres are fantasy and paranormal. She juggles a full-time job as a doctor, being a mom, a wife, and the editor of a local newsletter. Linda is a pen name under which she has published her epic fantasy trilogy and a children’s book.
All That Glitters Is Not Gold, was just released in July 2023 and is a standalone prequel novel in the Land of the Sun fantasy series.
Thank you for visiting with me today, Linda! [Let me know if this is your preferred name for our interview]
The first question I’ve been dying to ask is how you came up with this world, its place names, and the character names. To me, it is well thought out and crafted yet also organic and real. Did you create the world first, or the story?
LL. Thank you so much for reading Sundered and for your thoughtfully curated questions! The world and its story came at the same time if I think about it. Years ago, I had a dream about a king and queen separated by a desert due to a misunderstanding. I thought, why not write a story where they become reconciled? And why not get a rambunctious princess to lead the way in finding her family? The result, Sundered.
The races and cultures have a basis in traditional fantasy races like the Fae (elves and fairies and such), but you’ve put your spin on them as well as created hybrid races and new races. This must have been so fun to immerse yourself in as a writer. How long did it take you to craft it all and finish the series?
LL. The entire series took me 10-11 years to complete. Here’s why. I wrote the first half of Sundered way back when but then hit massive writer’s block. Life also happened (like finishing my residency and kids). It was only some time during the pandemic when I decided to complete what I’d started, and then the remaining books took a year to finish the initial drafts. So it was a very slow start but a rapid finish!
DLL. That’s amazing. So many writers I’ve interviewed had some kind of turning point during the pandemic. Difficult times equal new outlooks on our priorities it seems. I find that fascinating and amazing that you had this story in you for so long.
I love how there is a mix of different levels of technology in The Land of the Sun depending on what side of the rent or separation you’re on. There’s a feel of modern mixed with Medieval. How did that come about?
LL. I honestly have no idea! I always knew Tir’Sunaa (where we first meet Princess Faelyn in her father’s kingdom) would have tanks and guns but no magic. To contrast that, I envisioned Elvarue (the kingdom of Faelyn’s mother) to be more medieval, and less advanced but bolstered by powerful magic and traditions around magic.
DLL. That must have been a fun way to build this world with two completely different systems to write about, like writing two stories.
The review provided above talks about how fantasy works best if it is grounded in real problems that make the main character and story relatable despite the fantastical settings. Can you talk about the importance of this element to you as a writer?
LL. I definitely try to do that in every story I’ve written, because it makes the story more real, more emotional. I’ll focus on Sundered for this question. This book is special to me because of the strong themes of family. No family is perfect. Each family has its own dynamics, and every member has their quirks. We talk a lot about the found family trope, but I grew up with a huge extended family with its warmth and love, but also clashing points. I wanted to portray that in Sundered. So you have Princess Faelyn growing up without her mom and eldest brother, but having her dad and her slightly-older brother around. Then, she sets out to find all her other relatives and experiences what it’s like getting to know all these people for the first time as a young adult. Found family in both senses of the phrase.
What is the main inspiration behind writing high fantasy and separately, paranormal fantasy? These are my two preferred genres as well and if you’re like me, you did a lot of reading in these genres, but what else motivated you to go this direction?
LL. I love both genres too! I went with publishing high fantasy first because out of all the stories I’ve written all my life, I felt that Sundered and its subsequent stories were more coherent and complete than the other things I’d written. But as implied, high fantasy is not the genre I wrote in first. My first stories were about vampires in an urban setting, but without other paranormal elements and with some magical realism involved.
This series is categorized as young adult. Is this your preferred market? I believe you’re working on a new vampire series [feel free to correct or modify anything]. Is that a young adult series also? Are there other stories in these or other genres in the works?
LL. Perfect question to follow up from the last one! Sundered is young adult-ish, with a lot of coming-of-age elements. But I would say that as the books progress, the characters mature and develop as more stuff happens to them, and by the end of the series it’s no longer very young adult. This makes the series a challenge to market, I realize. But it’s true to the stories and characters. I’d say that as a writer, I like exploring adult themes while keeping the story suitable for young adult readers who have the capacity for reading these older themes. Therefore, my upcoming vampire series is like that.
Other stories – for sure! The universe of Princess Faelyn wouldn’t let me go after I finished my trilogy. That’s why I wrote the prequel, and that’s why I ended up writing a bunch of sequel drafts set in the same world. But my vampire WIPs were calling for me, which is why I’ve switched gears for now. I even churned out a contemporary romance novel last year, though where that’ll end up going is anyone’s guess!
DLL. It sounds like you’re striking the right balance for your audience. That is such a difficult thing to do. I can’t wait for your vampire series. As you’ve just proven, these are great genres for generating multiple stories from one, and I totally get it when you say your universe wouldn’t let you go. I had no idea my secondary characters were writing their own stories as my series came to life. And all of them are calling to me. I really wish I could become a faster writer!
What or who is your biggest inspiration and set you on the path to becoming a writer?
LL. I grew up reading Michael Crichton, some Stephen King, Anne Rice, Christopher Pike, and RL Stine (you can see some common themes there). These authors inspired the types of stuff I write about. One very influential TV series was Buffy too. I can’t talk about my vampires without talking about Buffy. She’s the OG bada$$ FMC.
DLL. LOL! I wonder if they knew back then Buffy would never die. I’m so glad we have so many seasons for inspiration, and then there’s Angel…
Can you share your top three books? Or in the alternative, top three authors?
LL. That is such a hard question to answer! Let’s go with authors: Anne Rice, first and foremost. And my recent other top 2 are Jay Kristoff and Sarah J Maas.
What can you share with us about being an independent writer and self-publisher? Did you learn things as you went? Do you have a team who helps you with editing, marketing, and artwork? I love your cover art. How did that come about? Do you have favorite tools or software that you use for these services?
LL. All I can say is that self-publishing is hard work! Nothing goes perfectly. But it’s been an incredible learning journey, figuring out all the various moving parts of publishing my books, all the pitfalls, and so importantly connecting with a community of like-minded readers and writers! Thank you for loving the covers of my books. I won’t go into the agonizing details except that I’ve always outsourced my covers and each had its own headaches to deal with, but I’m happy with the results! That being said, I like playing with Canva and CapCut too.
DLL. I appreciate that insight. I haven’t tried outsourcing yet, but I want to! I love Canva, though. Just when I think I can’t come up with something, inspiration hits and it has everything I need.And thanks for the tip on CapCut!
Do you have plans to someday find an agent or go the traditional publishing route?
LL. So I tried to query my romance novel earlier this year and got crickets. Yay, that makes me a real writer, right? I might try again next year. We’ll see how that goes. Otherwise, my fantasy and vampire stuff will remain in the self-publishing realm where I retain full creative control of everything.
DLL. Awesome. I think you’re doing fabulous growing your community and getting your books shared as a self-publisher.
As far as your writer’s life, do you have a favorite place to write? What are your favorite techniques or methods you use to stay creative and productive?
LL. I have a handful of favorite places to write, it doesn’t always stay the same. But I work best when it’s quiet, and when I can put my phone away and not get distracted with social media. I set aside some time every day for writing, reading, and exercise because all of this just helps me relax and unwind, which also helps the creative process.
What advice can you share on how to balance your creative life with work and family?
LL. I have no easy answers. My kids are no longer so young and dependent on their mom, and they understand that mom likes writing and telling stories. My husband also understands that this is an important aspect of who I am now, and knows to give me my space. Conversely, I don’t let writing and creativity consume me so I neglect my family. That would be a big no-no.
Do you have any parting advice for those who want to pursue a writing career?
LL. Read and read and read. Then write and write and write. Don’t be afraid to learn, to make mistakes, and grow. You’ll only get better.
Fantastic! Thank you so much for visiting with me today and sharing your insights. All the best to you, Linda!
I’m talking about Grammarly here. It’s stalking me even as I write this and I’m not sure how I feel about that. Still, the invisible English professor peeping over my shoulder has saved me from embarrassment too many times already, and I’ve only just invited him into my writer’s den.
But is his constant presence worth the distraction? That little red underline flashing at me and the errors stacking up on the right are so annoyingly in my face that I often have the urge to holler, especially when it makes a stupid suggestion. Wait… What? How can you “meets” someone? [Confession, my structure needed changing… again. Now meets makes sense.]
I came across a glaringly simple tip for pounding out that first draft. Turn off Spellchecker! But it’s scary now that I’ve come to count on Professor Tom standing behind me with a comforting hand on my shoulder. [Grammarly told me to use “his” hand and not “a” hand. I like “a” better, dang it!] I’m so conflicted! I don’t want to miss a single, horrible, cringe-worthy typo, and I like that the professor is always ready to help me restructure my sentence [As alluded to previously, I can bang out a sentence backasswards with the best of them]. I admit using this tool and others like it has trained my brain to type it right more often now. (I just typed “write” instead of “right.” Eeek!)
The other issue… My comforting professor is a double agent and spies for Big Brother… [I’m just adding this for drama… but it makes you think.]
A blurb from Grammarly:
Grammarly helps people communicate with confidence across devices and platforms. Our AI-powered suggestions appear wherever you write, coaching over 30 million people and 50,000 teams every day to improve the correctness, clarity, engagement, and delivery of their writing.
Yes, statistics… lots and lots of statistics. My fiction writing is data now. Okay, it’s for my benefit to help me be a better writer, but Grammarly crunches all that data to learn how we humans can better engage our readers… Hey, I’m the one who invited the professor in.
Here are the statistics Grammarly highlighted for me to fix more areas… if I pay for the premium version:
Overall, no critical issues.
Wordy sentences = 3
Incorrect phrasing = 2
Unclear sentences = 2
Misplaced words or phrases = 1
Word choice = 1 (backasswards)
Intricate text = 1 (what does this mean?)
More… = 2
You might be interested to know two of the problem spots were in the blurb from Grammarly. 😁
Happy writing! Let me know what you think about Grammarly or generative AI tools like it.
What an exciting debut novel from this urban fantasy author, giving readers a quest, romance, and magic, and bringing together great characters to fight a sinister darkness.
Solum is the first in this series for G. M. Chmilar’s The Faith of The Three and it is just that. Gabrielle tells us it is a place where magic lives and exists, hiding in plain sight.
Inspiration for Gabrielle’s writing comes from various television shows, movies, video games, Dungeons and Dragons, and music. All of this is amalgamated into characters and places that are relatable and close to home.
When Gabrielle isn’t writing, she works as a Training Facilitator in Edmonton, Alberta. She plays video games and bakes and believes that you should always strive to be the person you needed when you were younger. Gabrielle says she wanted everyone to find something to love in her books.
Thank you so much for visiting with me on my blog today, Gabrielle! Lately, I feel like I’m in an exciting club with many of my guests who have launched their first book as part of a series. Can you give us a description of The Faith of the Three world and tell us about what’s coming next?
GMC. Well okay. The Faith of the Three world is our present world. What would it look like with magic? Of course, the government would be hiding it, having secret operations to keep it under wraps with their own soldiers as well as the soldiers who wield magic. Mystical creatures live among us, working their 9-5s, night shifts, and whatever works for their natural strengths. Vampires work in the morgue or the hospital. They can smell death before it happens. I have an orc who runs a butcher’s shop with his half-human half-orc son. There’s magic in places you don’t think and they hide in plain sight. I want to expand the world and show you what magic looks like in the 20s.
I would love it if you could talk a bit about the magic system so integral to this story. I enjoyed this Instagram post where you make a point about not needing to resort to magic to fix everything. Can you talk about that?
Magic cannot solve everything. If it did, we wouldn’t need Sentinels. Science sometimes prevails since magic is dependent on the strength and constitution of the wielder. It is sometimes better to go the long route than it is to fix a problem quickly. ~ Solum
GMC. Okay, so magic sometimes is unreliable. It takes a lot of control, concentration, precision, and talent. I have a few reels that show elemental incantations, how magic needs to be wielded, and the dangers of losing control. Fire is a good one. Fireballs are cool but no one talks about how hot it is–like if you lose control of it you can burn yourself. I really want the magic system to be consequential. It’s like handling heavy machinery. You need practice, training and a manual would be nice. So sometimes magic can be helpful, but it’s not a one spell fixes all.
DLL. Fantastic. I’m getting a sense of what it’s like to be in this world.
Can we expect more novels to come from The Faith of the Three? What other series or books are in the works?
GMC. Yes. I just finished the draft of the sequel in this series. It expands the world and focuses on the larger problems that the main characters have and answers questions that weren’t answered in the first book. There is intrigue and romance. You watch the characters grow and change, learning what love is, what family is, and what sacrifices were made to keep secrets safe.
DLL. All fabulous elements! Congratulations on a finish!
I find it fascinating that so many fantasy writers I know are inspired by dungeons and dragons. I can definitely see where it comes from, though I have never participated in role-playing games. Can you tell us more about how gaming shapes the worlds you enjoy creating? Were there characters or settings you developed over time in this medium that you brought to the pages of your writing?
GMC. Gaming shaped mostly my magic items, character weapons, and character strengths and weaknesses. I wanted each person to be special in their own way and it benefits the group. There’s a healer, a fighter, a thief, things like that. The characters all have DND character sheets that you keep track of to help make them more fantastical. The scenarios come from games, movies, and anime. I love action movies and adventure movies. When I am in a funk I’ll re-watch The Mummy or Zorro. They have my heart with pure romance, an unlikely hero, and a story that’s swoon-worthy.
In addition to games and shows, I’d love to hear how music has influenced your writing.
GMC. Yes. Each character has their own preferred genre. One of the characters I want her to sound like a Taylor Swift album. If I have to write her chapter Taylor Swift is on repeat. On top of that, I listen to certain types of songs depending on the scene. If it’s a club scene I’m playing club and rave music. If it’s a fight scene it’s heavy cinematic Marvel-type songs so I can see the battle in my head.
DLL. I love this! There are so many ways I’ve heard of where music inspires writing or gets the writer in the mood, but having a genre you listen to for each character or scene sounds so fun, and obviously it’s effective.
Who are the top three authors you’ve been inspired by the most? Or in the alternative, what top three books inspired you?
GMC. I love Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo, The Diviners by Libba Bray, and a lot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I grew up on Buffy and I based my dialogue on it. Lots of witty banter, teasing, and relationships that feel authentic.
DLL. Thank you for the recommendations! I was a bit old for Buffy… I thought. Then I discovered Angel when it went streaming. That lovely bit of broody vampire fun is a regular binge session these days.
Have you always wanted to write a novel? What set you off on your writing journey?
GMC. Yes. Always. It has been a dream since I was a child and I’ve been writing since then. I wrote a ton of fanfiction. Telling stories has always been my favorite and making up scenarios of love and adventure drives me.
DLL. I love hearing how writers have followed a passion from such a young age and are making it a reality. Way to go!
You have had several opportunities to take your book to signing events. What’s it like? How do you prepare and know how many books to bring? What are your favorite things about getting out there and meeting your readers? What are the challenges?
GMC. It’s long and tiring and fun. I love getting out there. I don’t usually do much to prepare. I bring 10-30 books depending on the location and a Sharpie. Since I don’t have any merch I don’t bring anything else. I really like saying hi. Even if I don’t know if people are going to buy my book that day or at all, it’s just nice to say hi. It’s not about selling, it’s about getting your name out there and making connections. Just like Instagram or socials. Make connections. I think meeting my readers is the coolest thing in the world. I met a young person who told me they loved my Instagram and I nearly died. It was so humbling and wonderful I wish everyone could meet their readers.
DLL. I love it! That is a great endorsement for doing book signings! Thank you.
What resources have you assembled for your team or processes to finalize and publish your books? Do you have an editor, cover designer, ARC readers? Are you traditionally, hybrid or independent published? And what are your thoughts about the pros and cons of the different routes to publishing?
GMC. I wish I knew more about publishing before I did it because I probably would have had a team of betas and editors, but it is what it is. I’m a hybrid, I knew I wanted to be in a big box store and I don’t have time to keep track of my own sales since I still work a full-time job. I know some people do both but it just wasn’t for me. I think being traditionally published is really cool and difficult. It’s hard to get out there. Being an indie author has its hardships but it comes with freedom. A freedom of creativity and control. I think it’s best to find the route that suits you.
DLL. I’m finding every author’s experience is unique yet the pros and cons come out fairly evenly. Thank you for sharing your journey through publishing.
Let’s talk about your writer’s life. Do you set goals and plan your novels, or is it purely a spontaneous enjoyment?
GMC. I have goals and timelines. Because of my full-time job, it takes me a year to finish a draft and another year to edit and publish. It gives me time to sit with the novel and ensure it is exactly what I want.
DLL. I like that schedule. There is time to do it right and make it shine, but it’s also a reasonable length of time for the readers to get the next book. I’m happy for you that you’ve found a schedule that works!
Do you have a favorite place to write? A preferred time of day, techniques, or methods to help with productivity?
GMC. I sit at my desk. I love it. I have a great chair, lights, and dual screens. Usually, nighttime after work is best, but if I can, I’ll spend a whole day writing. I think about my books all day during work hours and at night. I dream of it. I don’t have many techniques but I can just have fun. If you have fun and you love it, it comes off the page. It doesn’t matter if it’s not for everyone, what matters is that you love it.
DLL. Very nice! I’m going to save that and pin it to my project board! Thank you!
What are your favorite tips for balancing work, home, and your creative life?
GMC. Go with the flow. Listen to your body. If you’re tired the creative juices don’t flow well and you can’t force it. Find inspiration in places you love and explore different places in your life and city. Sometimes the best things come from the most unexpected places and people.
DLL. Another great piece of advice.
Thank you so much for chatting with me, Gabrielle! Do you have any parting words of advice for those who want to pursue a writer’s life?
GMC. Don’t be so hard on yourself. There are days that are hard, and there are days that are worse, but all that matters is that you keep going. Write that memoir, that poem, that story, write what you feel and what you need. It’s for you to share first before your readers to read.
You can find books by G. M. Chmilar and stay up to date on Gabrielle’s website and Instagram. Feel free to leave us questions and comments.
I was just chatting with my writing buddy in Scotland about pushing on despite the relentless Imposter Syndrome and this popped up in my inbox. I love synchronicity. Enjoy a little boost to quell that inner editor. And remember writing is all about the joy.
Not only is their book a gripping fantasy read with so many of my favorite elements, but MJ James is amazing when it comes to supporting the writing community, working tirelessly to share, and they truly enjoy it. Today, we will talk about that, a writer’s life, their debut novel In-Between, and more.
Here is an excerpt of what one reviewer had to say about In-Between…
I really enjoyed this story! Part real-life & part fantasy, this book highlights the struggles Alicia had in life due to misunderstandings about her autism and being a single parent to a child with extraordinary abilities. I loved the idea of the In-Between world where magic & elves exist. There were quite a few characters that I grew to love and I can’t wait to read more about them if another book is written about this world!
Laura
Let’s meet the author.
MJ James fell in love with books at a very young age. Books were the one thing in the world that made sense and providedconstant companionship. MJ was diagnosed on the autism spectrum at the age of 24. After their diagnosis, they went on to earn a BA in Psychology and an MS in Developmental Psychology. They are the parent of three incredible humans.
MJ is a fellow member of the FSF Writers Alliance, a great writing community, offering support, writing contests, a book club, and other resources.
I’m so happy to have you visit today, MJ! I’ve been wanting to dig into In-Between with you and find out what sparked the idea for the story besides the relatability of your awesome main character. Is fantasy your preferred genre? How did you come up with the In-Between world? It was the freshest take on a fantasy realm I’ve delved into in a long time. And seeing it through Alicia’s eyes as someone who needed to maintain control over her environment made it all the more fascinating.
MJJ. Hi! I am so excited to be talking to you! My preferred genre is science fiction, but I do love fantasy as well. I started writing when I was young and knew I wanted to be a writer. But when I had my kids my focus went towards raising them. When they got older I started writing purposefully again and I had the chance to redefine who I wanted to be as a writer. I knew I wanted to write science fiction and fantasy but I wanted to write books with autistic main characters where autism wasn’t the focus of the story.
Being autistic and having raised two autistic kids I knew autism was a huge part of our identity – but it wasn’t our whole story. I also wanted to write about a single mother – because autistic mothers are not talked about. I wanted to show how autism made Alicia a great mother, not that she was a great mother “despite” being autistic.
I added elves because I hadn’t read a good elvish story in a while and I thought it was a good time for them to come back.
The plot contains some darker elements, but that is because I wanted to show the autism experience. For example, 90% of autistic women are sexually assaulted. It is a horrific statistic – but a reality. It was very important to me to be as authentic as possible, but it is only one voice. It is still important to read from a variety of autistic authors from different backgrounds.
DLL. I’ve always thought of autism as an alternative way to look at the world but haven’t had the opportunity to speak to anyone firsthand about what it’s like. Alicia’s character definitely gives us that lens and her perspective adds so many layers to the story. I was inspired by her strength and how she allowed herself to go in directions she wasn’t comfortable with so she could support her son.
I’m also a huge romance buff, and I was concerned about whether I would relate to an aromantic/asexual main character. That didn’t hinder my enjoyment at all. It was a good lesson for me in how to incorporate rich characters and dynamic relationships the main character can still be immersed in for a compelling read. Also, there were other characters who provided the romantic elements I enjoyed.
Though Alicia gave us a compelling point of view for the story, Kenny was definitely the character that propelled me through it. What inspired you to create Kenny and this mother-son journey?
MJJ. Kenny was an interesting character for me to develop because he is a neurotypical (not autistic/ADHD, etc.) character being raised by an autistic mother. I used a lot of inspiration from my three children – but they are all neurodiverse. I have a MS in Developmental Psychology so I used what I knew to try and make him as relevant to his age as possible. He is also a “chosen one” even though the story is not about him. I think it adds a different perspective to the troupe. My great aunt (who the story was dedicated to) read this book with her book club, and I was able to talk a lot about it with her. It made me think a lot about who Kenny is going to grow up to be. Eventually, I would like to revisit him as an adult.
DLL. An adult Kenny would be awesome! I would definitely be interested in more of his story. How special to have had an aunt with a book club and that sort of avenue for feedback! I love it!
Is writing fiction something you always wanted to do? Is it something you will continue doing?
MJJ. Yes! It is very common for autistic people to have intense special interests, and mine have always been books. I knew I wanted to be a writer in third grade. I was the kid who always had a notebook and a book. In middle school, I had my first story published and won a few national awards. I went back to school when my children were young and wrote a lot academically. I also ran a few blogs to keep my writing flowing. When I finally started writing my first book I was a bit daunted–but it was also one of the happiest days of my life.
DLL. That is a fantastic writer’s journey, MJ! I love full-circle stories.
What motivated or inspired you to get your story out into the world?
MJJ. When my children were growing up I hung out with a lot of parents of autistic children. Most of them were neurotypical and I often found myself translating their kids to them. I think that autism is its own language, the one we naturally know how to speak, and I would find myself translating this language to others. I wanted to do the same thing with my writing. I want people to see autistic joy, and autistic characters just being. While this is still true, I found my focus shifting. Now I really want to write for autistic readers. Everyone deserves to see themselves in books.
DLL. This is the very thing I appreciated about your story–seeing the many different aspects of a unique language. For Kenny, there were no issues with understanding his mother. He just learned her language. Language continued to be a theme when they both learned Elven, and even how to see the In-Between.
Once you published, you didn’t hesitate to share through social media, and I was inspired by your TikTok videos. Your methods have demonstrated what I hear about a lot and that’s building an audience with consistent content. Was that part of your self-publishing plan? Have you considered going the traditional publishing route with future stories?
MJJ. My original intent was to try traditional publishing. However, I am not very good with people. I was very concerned about the high levels of anxiety trying to navigate the traditional publishing space. That and it is not common for traditional publishers to accept autistic books. There are only a handful. Ultimately, I decided to self-publish. I’m not opposed to traditional publishing, but I am glad that I made the decision to self-publish and plan to continue to do so. I wish I had a great social media plan, but I don’t. It is easier for me to connect with people via social media. However, a lot of the time I feel very out of place. Here I am trying to present neurodiverse, queer, and non-romantic books. It seems exactly the opposite of what the online book community wants. But I love my books and I love connecting with those who saw themselves in my stories. It is the best feeling and keeps me motivated to keep going.
DLL. There is always the excitement of being on the trail-blazing end of an emerging market. I will be eager to catch up with you in a year or so and see where our readers are then.
What else can you share about being an indie author? For instance, how did you create your cover art, find your editor, tackle the technical aspects of publishing?
MJJ. I have the best cover artist! My youngest kid is an artist. When I was writing In-Between they asked to create the cover. They were only 16 at the time. It was completely hand-drawn, and I love it so much. They created the cover for The Immortal Part of Myself at 17. They are working on cover art for my next story also. They are now 18 and are trying to build up their presence as a social media animator. You can find them on social media as PurpawArt. Ironically, they don’t like reading but they keep agreeing to work on my next cover. It makes my books that much more special.
For my editor, I started by working with Reedsy. I found a great editor that helped me a lot, but editing can be expensive. I’ve had to find ways of bringing down the cost of publishing each book so that I can keep writing. Thankfully the more I write, the more I have been able to connect with other authors and can help each other. The rest of the publishing aspects I do myself. I learn something new with every book.
DLL. It’s so amazing you were able to share your publishing journey with another talented family member and what fabulous results!
I’ve also found Reedsy to be an awesome resource–for services and learning.
You’ve also published a sci-fi novel, and the premise includes intrigue, evading murder, and rising above everyone’s expectations, including your own. That’s my take on it, anyway. Tell us about the Immortal Part of Myself. I love this title by the way.
MJJ. I had such a hard time coming up with a title for this book. Eventually, I found a line from Ophelia that included “the immortal part of myself.” In the play, Ophelia was an early foreshadowing of the story and it seemed like the perfect title. The Immortal Part of Myself is an adult coming-of-age story. I wrote it when two of my three children had moved out of the house and I finally had the freedom to explore who I was.
Riley, one of the main characters is autistic and genderqueer. She was never given a safe space to explore her own identity. Ironically, she is finally able to while running for her life, trying to escape her husband. I was exploring my own identity as I was writing this book, and I put a lot of that in this story. I wrote this book during the pandemic, and it has a lot of my fears and frustrations about the world. But it is also about hope.
The book contains two societies. Earth has become controlled by corporations and greed. They have silenced any voice that could add diversity and shunned Riley’s gifts just because she was not born biologically male. Then there is Mars where they learned that people had to work together. They find a place for everyone to fit and allow people to just be who they are. I see this division happening every day in our society, but I still have hope that we can continue to grow. I know I wrote it…but I love this story so much.
DLL. I’ve chatted with a few authors now who came up with a favorite story during the pandemic, turning all the uncertainty into a positive creative experience, for themselves and their readers. That was the environment that got me started as a writer. I was so grateful to discover a way to lose myself–getting immersed in my writing.
I can definitely relate to loving what you write yourself.That’s the joy of it.
I believe you have a novel in the works that’s close to publication. Can you tell us about it and any other projects you’ve got planned for your readers?
MJJ. I do. I am planning on publishing my third novel, NeurodiVeRse in late 2023 or early 2024. This is a science fiction novel about a non-binary autistic adult, Jupiter, who works as an educational technology consultant. It is about their struggle to find a place to fit, and find their own found family. The story came about while everything was opening back up after the pandemic, and my family and I found the pressure of going back to “normal” to be very overwhelming. There were a lot of benefits to the pandemic for us. While figuring out certain decisions for my family I asked my youngest kid to describe their perfect school. They described a self-paced virtual reality world. I built that school in NeurodiVeRse. However, I wanted to write it from the perspective of an adult so it is Jupiter’s story.
I also have four more books planned out–my first series. I am going back to contemporary fantasy for this series. Each book will be told from a different perspective, but they all live in the same town. I have already written the first draft of the first story. This will be my first story that does not have an autistic or an aromantic/asexual main character. It is about a queer trans man who is redefining his life and in the middle of transitioning gets turned into a vampire. I hope that people will really connect with this series.
DLL. Wow! All of it sounds amazing! Again, I will be catching up with you later to see how it’s all going.
You not only write but are an avid reader and share an amazing wealth of content on recommended indie authors and their books. You created a great YouTube channel for this purpose. Tell us how that came about and what your mission is for your channel.
MJJ. My channel is a hybrid booktube and writertube channel. I talk a lot about books, both indie and traditionally published. I try to do at least one writer’s corner video a month, where I talk about things I have learned while publishing. The topics come from questions from other writers, so I hope that they are useful. I also have a series called Your Next Indie Read where science fiction and fantasy authors tell you about their books. This series is a lot of fun, especially since you get to hear about the books directly from the author. I also try to support autism and trans authors as much as possible on my channel. Mostly I just love talking about books and am happy that people want to watch.
DLL. All great ways to share the wealth of indie books in the world. It is reassuring that indie authors and their readers can find each other through YouTubers like you. I’m happy I got to be on your channel in the episode below.
One of your channel’s features is writing sprints. I like the idea of scheduled sprints and I’ve tried them, but I’m so random with my writing schedule, and I seem to thrive that way. It’s a bit contradictory for a planner geek like me, and sometimes I wish I could be more structured just so I can enjoy all the elements of keeping a more detailed planner. At least there are tons of great planner rock stars on YouTube I can live through vicariously.
Still, I’m stacking up the WIPs and writing so much I neglect other things. I might have to resort to goal planning, including long-term. How far out do you like to plan? Do you have a favorite system?
MJJ. I have actually paused the writing sprints while I am editing my book. I was having a hard time being social on the stream and then going to editing. They are two very different processes in my brain. I would love to start them up again if people are interested – after I finish edits of course. I am a planner by nature – I guess it is an ingrained part of my personality type. I keep a bullet journal planner that tracks my day job, my writing, social media, and the rest of my life. I don’t do anything too fancy, but I like that I can customize it exactly for what works for me, and fix it when things no longer are working. I tend to overbook myself which just ends up making me sick in the process – so I definitely do not recommend that. I hate not knowing the future so, writing-wise I have the next two years planned out. I am stopping myself from planning more. For my social media content, I plan out about a month in advance.
DLL. Awesome! Thanks for sharing your take on scheduled writing and goals through sprints and planning!
What other techniques do you use to stay organized and productive? Do you have a favorite writing space or time of day?
MJJ. How and where I write depends on what part of the writing process I am in. I write a lot at my desk as well as on my bed. Occasionally I pack up and leave the house if I really need to focus. I prefer to write late at night, but my schedule does not really allow for that. If I ever am able to write full time then I will absolutely be the writer who stays up all night working. For now, I either set writing times like the writing sprints or set certain goals that I try to fit in when I have time during the day.
DLL. Good for you on the writer retreats. I’ve tried to do the “leave the house” thing, but the results were more like one of my favorite Dick Van Dyke shows (aging myself here) when Rob Petry who is a television writer takes the opportunity to work on his dream novel in a cabin in the woods. Too funny!
Rob spends a few days in a remote cabin in an attempt to finish the novel he’s been working on for years, but he develops an acute case of writer’s block.
After doing so many interviews with indie authors this past year, I’ve been astonished and impressed by how so many of us achieve our dreams and goals while facing a myriad of personal challenges. You’ve crossed a few of your own milestones. What has been your biggest motivation through it all? Do you have any advice you’d like to pass on to our readers who might be facing challenges that seem insurmountable?
MJJ. Every time I see one of my books I still feel a bit of awe that I managed to create them. But the biggest achievement was having my great aunt read my book for her book club. She is in her 90s and her book club has been meeting for 50 years. My aunt was an English teacher, so these days she hangs out with people who work with books in a lot of different capacities. Hearing the comments they had about my book had me tearing up. Anytime I feel unmotivated I just have to think about that.
I do have concerns that I will never find my audience. I am grateful that people are reading my books, but financially I am not even breaking even on publishing. It makes it hard to believe that I will ever be able to write full-time, but then I step back and look how far I have come and I know I have no other option than to keep moving forward. I cannot imagine myself not writing.
I would suggest that you don’t worry so much about how much progress you are making, just that you are making progress. Eventually, you will look back and be in awe of how much you have accomplished.
DLL. Again, I love this journey with your wonderful aunt and her book club at its heart. That’s a story waiting to be written. Thank you so much for joining me on my blog MJ! Do you have any parting advice for those who want to start writing?
MJJ. Thank you for having me. It is always a pleasure to talk to you! My parting advice is to believe in yourself and just sit down and write. That is the hardest part. The next hardest is listening to feedback. Find people you trust–who will be constructive. You do not have to follow their feedback, but hearing what they have to say will help you to grow as a writer. You will never stop growing. Remember no one else can tell your story.
Ideas Pop Up, and I’ve Been Going With Them – For Good or Bad
Here are a couple recent ones.
I would love to hear your photo op ideas or the odd places you leave your books to get them out in the world. Or even those odd places you picked up a book to read.
Random doggy photo op
Now this one was just plain fun! I got to cruise in this 500 hp beauty for Hot August Nights. 55 T-Bird convertible.
Tori’s 72 Chevy C10. She’s the friend with the friend with the T-Bird. Hubby and I had a blast!
Feel free to pick up a copy of Ursus Borealis the normal way at your favorite bookstore!
A particular favorite group of mythologies to delve into for me encompasses the culturally rich islands of the North Sea, where Celtic lore blends with Scandinavian and legends abound about the mer folk and the selkie.
My guest today has written a dark fantasy tale that pulls you into this mystical, watery environment and weaves it in with the lore of the Vikings and the magical aspects of shapeshifting.
This story literally transports you to an entirely other world – one full of magic, possibilities, and lots of jaw dropping moments.
Divia is a fantastic and gritty storyteller with a keen eye for heart wrenching build up. She did an extraordinary job at taking a deep dive into what someone is willing to do for the ones they love – even if it’s at the expense of their own identity.
It’s safe to say I cried and that’s when you know it was done right.
This is a must read for anyone who loves dark fantasy with thematic influence of Norse Mythology and Celtic origins. And I myself am a massive fan of the era!!
C. D. McKenna
I picked this review because it encompasses all of the captivating aspects of this story. Let’s meet the author.
J.k Divia is a Dark Fantasy and Thriller writer from the US. She has spent most of her life traveling. She is a Spoonie and has learned the importance of rest while pursuing her writing dreams. As a child she was often found playing in the woods or reading about world mythology, folklore and ghost stories which have influenced her writing. She has always loved creative writing and once she decided to take it beyond flash fiction writing contests, she found a writing coach and editor to help her achieve her goal of writing a page turning novel. A Sea of Blood and Tears is her debut novel.
Some of her favorite books include Jane Eyre, Little Women, Dracula, The Hobbit, Outlander, Girl on the Train
When not writing, you can find her spending time with her family, chasing after her kids and searching for faeries and dragons in the woods with them.
I’ve been looking forward so much to diving with you into the world of the selkie and all the themes and elements of your novel. Thank you for joining me, Jaymee!
I imagine this project was as immersive for you as a writer as your story is for your readers. My first question is what was it like finishing your epic novel and getting it out into the world?
JKD. It was really an amazing and emotional adventure. This story actually started as a collection of backstories for what will now be the second book. There was definitely a challenge in figuring out how much to put in and where to stop with this particular story knowing that it was ultimately not the original story I intended to tell. There is also the anxiety part of publishing that I think all authors go through you know. The uncertainty of how your story will be received once it’s out in the world.
I love to learn how indie authors build their team. Do you have an editor or readers who helped you finalize your manuscript?Was self-publishing part of your plan, or the best means to share your story? Have you explored traditional publishing?
JKD. I looked for and found an amazing writing coach who helped me immensely on my author journey. From doing my development edit to helping me with crafting, working with a writing coach was a great experience. I also had won an indie author giveaway on Instagram and it included a beta read and publishing help, again these were immensely helpful given that I had no experience in trying to publish a book.
Indie ended up being the best option for me though I did query. I am terrible at querying and didn’t have the patience for it, sending my queries off before the book was even finished. In the end I wanted my story to be my story, for better or worse, and for this story Indie was the best path.
DLL. Awesome! Thanks for sharing, including a key reason to go Indie… Control… over content and time.
I was happy to read at the end of your amazing story that the second novel, Be Careful Where you Wander, is set for mid 2024. Can you give us a glimpse into what we can expect from Naia’s tale?
JKD. Be Careful Where you Wander is actually the main story I had intended to write funny enough. It takes place many years after the events in A Sea of Blood and Tears. It follows Naia’s journey in deciding her place in the uncertain world we last left her in and the aftermath of being chosen to become a Hamingja.
Ionna, Bjorn and Einar also return for this story. There is sure to be more blood and tears in this story before we get to the end.
There is a teaser for book two at the end of A Sea of Blood and Tears and I hope it won’t disappoint!
For our readers who might be unfamiliar with the selkie, can you tell us about the mythology? And what inspired you to bring Vikings into your story?Same question for the shapeshifters.
JKD. I first fell in love with Selkies as a kid watching the movie The Secret of Roan Innish. In celtic mythology, selkies are seal people. Men and women who live as seals but have the ability to shed their seal skin and turn into humans. If you capture their seal skin, or coat, then they could not return to the sea and were trapped.
It’s funny, I’m not really sure where the idea came from to add selkies to my story. The story is based on a short story I wrote called Becoming Hamingja, which is a play on the Norse Hamingja (which is luck). As I began to write the backstories of the key players and catalysts for the events in Be Careful Where You Wander, it all just sort of came together.
Mikladalur, Faroe Islands, Kalsoy – July, 2021: Kópakonann – selkies, mythological beings capable of therianthropy, changing from seal to human form by shedding their skin. Kingdom of denmark. Europe – PhotographerNowaczyk
DLL. As you know, I wrote a short story about a selkie and a lighthouse keeper set in a dystopian world where the fated lovers come up with an extraordinary solution to survival. It’s available in Song of the Siren, an anthology by Dragon Soul Press. I acquired this stunning image from Shutterstock (described above) for inspiration while I was writing it.
You mention in your bio that you love fantasy and mythology. Are there other genres, or sub genres of fantasy you plan to explore?
JKD. was that kid that would check out all the world mythology and folklore books available at the library. It was always an interest of mine.
I also love a good mystery and Thriller. I am actually working on a mystery/thriller called We Need to Talk About Grandma that I hope to release in the next two years.
DLL. Great title! All sorts of scary things are going through my mind!
Have you traveled to any of the North Sea islands? What is your favorite travel destination?
JKD. I think Ireland, Scotland and Norway have been my favorite places to travel so far. My trip to Norway is what inspired my short story, Becoming Hamingja. I hope to visit the Orkney Islands and Isle of Skye one day, as well as travel back to Norway.
DLL. All places on my bucket list. I was all geared up before Covid to do a craft knitting cruise around all those fabulous locations… Someday…
Who or what was your biggest influence? Do you have a top three list of favorite authors or books you’d like to share?
JKD. I always say that A Sea of Blood and Tears is The Secret of Roan Innish meets Eaters of the Dead.
Jane Eyre will always be one of my first literary loves, along with The Hobbit. I also thought the first Outlander book was amazing.
DLL. All fantastic reads. I’m including a link above to Michael Chricton’s amazing Eaters of the Dead. Great shelf comparison for your story!
Where is your favorite place to write? Do you have a daily writing schedule? And do you like to set goals or deadlines?
JKD. As a mom of two young kids, I write where and when I can lol. I know that is an excuse and there are plenty of parents who are able to set a schedule. I’m just not very good with schedules to begin with.
I try to set deadlines and goals but I’m not great at sticking to them. I actually set a deadline to publish A Sea of Blood and Tears and stuck to it which I think ended up hurting my story in the long run. The great thing about Indie is you can control your timeline and I’m definitely going to use that to my advantage going forward.
DLL. I am taking this to heart, Jaymee. I’ve been pressuring myself to finish my third book in my series, and I know deep in my gut, which I’ve been ignoring, that it will only hurt the story. I want it to be the best wrap up to the series it can be. If it takes another year to achieve that status, I should allow myself that because like you say, having no deadline is a benefit and a luxury for self-published authors. I need to quiet that publisher voice! Thanks!
What are your favorite tips or techniques to stay organized and productive, or to get in the mindset to write?
JKD. I am so unorganized. I write a lot of scenes in notebooks when developing my stories and then try to organize and link together later. The read aloud function in word has probably been my best writing friend.
DLL. I tell people about read aloud all the time. The new and improved voices are amazing and it’s so helpful for punctuation, word usage, tone, and on and on. Can’t live without it. Google has improved on the computer voice with it’s Audio book program. I’ve been testing running my novels there and hoping to publish Ursus Borealis as an audio book soon!
I’m always inspired when my guests stick with their passion to create despite life’s challenges, including health issues. You mention you’re a Spoonie. Would you like to talk about what that means?
JKD. I first heard of spoon theory from a friend after I had just been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and RA. She also has fibromyalgia and had been diagnosed many years prior to me. She sent me an article that was written by Christine Miserandino using the analogy of having a limited amount of spoons to describe living with a chronic or invisible illness. I highly recommend that everyone read the article if they are or know someone who is dealing with an illness. Being recently diagnosed, it helped me a lot.
DLL. Thank you for dropping by, Jaymee! This has been an awesome journey into your writer’s life!
You can follow J. K. Divia on Instagram and Goodreads.Feel free to leave any questions or comments!