I’ve been an indie author for three years now, and I’m here to say that publishing my own books has been the best way to go… for me. There are many pros and cons for going indie or trad. I encourage anyone to research both options as well as the various hybrid options as thoroughly as possible.
I’m a creator at heart and the control I have over every aspect of my product is necessary as a creative outlet as well as extremely satisfying and fun. That is not to say it isn’t a ton of work, but what better way to spend my time!
Check out these astonishing statistics at Wordsrated.com like the 300 million a year number in the title of this blog, or that the number of self-published books has increased by 264% in the last five years, and up to 34% of all books sold are self-published.
I started in a time when more amazing tools than ever are available to help authors publish on their own, and I’m extremely thankful for services like Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Draft2Digital, Reedsy, and BookBaby that offer so many resources for indie authors–many of them completely free.
The other fantastic resource for indie authors is us–our community and all the amazing collaboration opportunities. I’m taking part in one starting Friday, April 12, and running through April 15. The Indie Authors Spring Spectacular Event. Indie authors are amazing when it comes to supporting each other and you can be part of it. In addition to the volume of affordable reads for .99 or less, there will be fun giveaways and other events.
With all this said, nothing beats a reader’s review for spreading the word. That goes for all authors no matter how you publish. It always comes down to what our readers like and want. I’m an avid reader, so I can attest to that from a reader’s perspective as well. I’ve got my shopping list going. Happy reading!
One thing I’ve discovered during this writing journey is you never know how or where you’ll come across your next great resource. So long as you keep your finger on the online pulse, surprises will come along. I happened to come across a Twitter post by Fantasy/Horror Writer E. B. Hunter sharing Richie Billing’s Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed.
I followed the link and was blown away by the wealth of help I found there for indie writers and ended up with two amazing new connections and getting involved with a great Discord community. E. B. Hunter will be visiting my Spotlight again in April.
Let’s meet the author
Richie Billing writes all kinds of stories, but mostly fantasy fiction. His tales often explore real-world issues, zooming in on the characters and their troubles. Richie worked as a lawyer for a number of years before giving it all up to pursue writing.
His short fiction has been widely published, with one story adapted for BBC radio. And in March 2021 his debut novel, Pariah’s Lament, was published by indie press Of Metal and Magic Publishing.
Richie also hosts the podcast The Fantasy Writers’ readers of his acclaimed craft book, A Fantasy Writers’ Handbook. When not writing, Richie works as an editor and digital marketer and teaches creative writing both online and in his home city of Liverpool. You can also find his writing in more formal publications like the Solicitors Journal.
Most nights you can find him up into the early hours scribbling away or watching the NBA.
Let’s Get Started
Thanks so much for visiting my blog, Richie! I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to ask you about your writer’s life and works. I just took a dive into the rich world of Tervia and got lost in your wonderful tales, and I thought we could start by having you give us a glimpse into your current projects like The Hills of Moragon. What else can we look forward to and when?
RB. Thank you so much for inviting me! It’s a pleasure to share this space with you.
The Hills of Moragon was a project that began as a novella and ended up a novel. I wanted to keep it as a novella but after chatting with a publisher they said they’d be interested in it but only as a novel. So I decided to give it a go and by the time I’d finished the publisher had gone under.
The story is now called Elanta and it’s about the great risks and sacrifices people make for love, familial love in particular. It’s my take on the classic fantasy trope of good v evil, with more monsters and magic than previous stories I’ve written.
I’m also editing a novella set just before the novel. That one’s about a revolution in a city within the same world and serves as a critique of capitalism and its negative impacts on humanity, society and the environment. It’s been something I’ve wanted to do for a while. A way to express my inner frustrations.
DLL. These sound amazing, and what a story about how your novella took on the life of a novel. Thanks for sharing that.
I had a hard time choosing a favorite story in Tales of Tervia, though I did have a preference for the fishing adventures. But if I had to choose a favorite character, I’d pick the elderly nana in Forgotten. What a moving tale of what it might be like to be reminded by our past that we aren’t forgotten. It was a beautiful thing when she reached back to her love and found the will to carry out her last act of bravery. Which of these tales is your favorite, and which character? …If I can be so bold as to make you choose.
RB. I’m glad you like Nana because she’s my favourite too. That was the first story I ever had published and it’s also one that means a lot to me. I was moved to write something because of things that were going on in my life at the time and it all came out on the page.
I’m also a fan of Mal, and she features in my novella too. I really do like The Pigeon Catchers story and it’s the kind of thing I’m definitely gearing more toward.
DLL. How awesome is it that I picked your favorite! I loved The Pigeon Catchers too and wanted more. It’s nice to know we will see some of these characters again.
Richie offers this wonderful collection for free! Click on the cover to find your copy.
I’m dying to know if you love to fish because I was right there casting my line. These tales gripped me in part because of my memories of traveling through Great Britain and the narrowboats on the canals, and I confess I’ve spent a great many lazy afternoons watching CountryHouseGent chug along the English countryside in Aslan. Can you talk about the inspiration behind your immersive settings–the fantasy and the real?
RB. A lot of my fantasy stories do have the landscape you’d expect—leafy forests, hills, lakes, rivers. Some readers say they’re bored of this kind of setting, but it’s what I’m surrounded by and what I love to immerse myself in.
One of my favourite places to go for inspiration is a little village called Hough Green, not far from Preston in England. JRR Tolkien stayed in a college in the village while writing his stories and there’s a great walking trail you can do called the Tolkien Trail. He supposedly did it each day. It’s an ideal source of inspiration. You have rolling hills and meadows, thick forests with streams meandering through them, carrying the water downhill to a big river that you follow.
And I did enjoy fishing for a good spell! If you’ve ever watched River Monsters with Jeremy Wade, there’s an easter egg in the story Noodlin’ in homage to that.
DLL. Thank you, Richie, for sending me on a little adventure. Such beautiful, inspiring country.
You’ve amassed a substantial body of short stories. Another book on my TBR is Flying on the Ground. Love the cover! How many have you published to date? Can we look forward to more collections? And how exciting was that moment to learn one was selected for the BBC?
RB. I really enjoy writing short stories, but they’re not something I do often anymore. Much of the past 4 or 5 years has been devoted to novel writing. But I like a short project.
My biggest problem with short stories is knowing the most effective way to utilise them. I just want people to read what I write, but sometimes sending them to magazines won’t get you any readers. So I do enjoy putting them into collections or even publishing them individually as small books and promoting them myself.
The BBC adaptation news was very exciting. It wasn’t something I expected, but it was a lot of fun and a little bit strange to hear it go live.
DLL. It’s interesting to get your take on finding homes for short stories. I’ve found that same problem. I used to think readers would enjoy short stories as quick reads over breakfast like the ones in subscription magazines back in the day, but I’m realizing fiction fans want the novels—and with fantasy—the bigger the better.
Now for your fantasy novel. How long did it take you to write Pariah’s Lament, and what was it like to finish it and let it go? Can you give us a glimpse of what we’ll find when we dive in? And how does it fit with Of Metal and Magic?
RB.Pariah’s Lament took me about a year to draft and about 18 months to edit (part-time). The editing was a little tricky because it’s part of a shared universe, so it has to tie in with things beyond my creation.
By the end, I was very much fed up with the editing but I was satisfied with what I’d done. But that was the extent of my elation. I actually felt a bit down and I think it was because I was saying goodbye to something that had been a part of my daily life for nearly three years. A part of you asks, “what now?”. And I missed the characters too, which hopefully is a testament to how well-formed they became.
As for the story itself, it’s an underdog’s tale about two young adults who get swept up in a conflict between two warring kings. These two characters, Isy and Edvar, are very different and have very different stories, but their fates are intertwined. It all comes to a head in classic fantasy fashion—epic battles, lots of heroic moments and a touch of humour and romance.
Here’s what one reviewer had to say about Pariah’s Lament:
Great Debut Fantasy Novel! – I’ve been waiting for the release of Pariah’s Lament since listening to the audiobook version of the first chapter Richie Billing released some time ago. In his debut novel, Billings takes his readers on a journey of misfits–Isy, mistreated by her family and rejected by her community, and Edvar, a young man struggling to step beyond his father’s broad shadow. In their own ways, they champion the plight of the Amast, a persecuted race facing extermination by an invading army. Their fates intertwined, they join forces to stand for the things they believe in. Along the way, they confront deprivation, the intrigues of government officials, and the prospect of sacrificing their lives.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Pariah’s Lament is that it’s part of a larger universe of tales focusing on the same world but written from a variety of perspectives in the Of Metal and Magic–like crowd-sourced fantasy. I look forward to seeing further developments in this realm!
J. Christopher
DLL. This might be a good spot to share the link to your online classes. I took the one on how to write fantasy characters a while back. Lots of great stuff! I loved the help on creating character arcs especially.
What can you share with us about your best experiences in getting your stories out in the world? What have you found to be pitfalls?
RB. Getting my stories out there to enough people is still a hill I’m yet to conquer. It’s a current focus of mine however and I’m determined to get my head around it.
The best thing to do is to make the process of someone accessing your stories as easy as possible. That unfortunately means listing them on Amazon, which is the biggest marketplace for books. There are lots of different strategies people use, like giving away the first book for free and advertising other books within it.
Some people pay for ads, but these can be expensive if you don’t know what you’re up to with them, so be careful.
Book tour companies and PR agents should also be used with caution. Some are very good, but others are useless and will use AI to create re-hashed reviews of your book. This happened to me last year. So always check independent reviews before pushing ahead.
The best method I use for promoting books is my mailing list. I have campaigns that run automatically and every now and then I see spikes in sales and downloads when those emails go out, so this is the most effective method. But it takes time to build a list, engage with people and create that positive relationship.
Social media is also a good option but not one I’ve invested much time in so can’t really comment. I just know that there are millions of new posts each day and getting noticed can be tricky, but if you collaborate with others and support each other, you can get better results.
DLL. Millions of new posts, new authors, and new stories. Sometimes I feel like a castaway bobbing around in a vast sea trying to send up a flare. That’s why I love chatting with authors like you who are willing to share your experiences. Thank you, Richie!
RB. This book I decided to put together to help people with their writing. It’s made up of lots of expanded blog posts and articles from my website that discuss different aspects of writing that I’ve found the most helpful over the years.
I find a lot of craft books a bit stuffy and overly complicated so I try to simplify a lot of things here, breaking them down into more understandable chunks.
You can find a lot of advice on the key aspects of storytelling and advice from bestselling authors and award-winning editors. I also have some advice and guidance on getting published and building your author platform.
DLL. You can get a copy of Thoughts on Writing when you join Richie’s community.
You say you get grumpy when you can’t write. I know the feeling. But you give us so much of your time producing your resource-packed podcasts, newsletters, blogs, live panel discussions, and appearances as a guest speaker… and the list goes on. I get the sense you have an equal passion for helping others reach their potential. Can you tell us how sharing your craft came about and your plans going forward? What are some of the highlights in this exchange?
RB. I do have a passion for helping other people. That’s something I’ve always had and something I get the most satisfaction out of in life. When I began to study creative writing properly I produced a lot of notes. When I mustered the courage to make a website I decided to type up those notes for blog posts. People seemed to find them helpful so I kept on doing it and that led to a couple of books and a podcast on writing, which at the beginning I would have sworn I’d never do, so I’m proud that I’ve challenged and pushed myself to do those not-so-introverty things.
As for future plans, series 3 of The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed podcast comes out on 14th March, or on 1st March if you subscribe on Patreon. I’m aiming to create more video-based content this year, but hold me to nothing because time has a habit of slipping away from me.
DLL. Exciting! And thank you for sharing your experience with putting yourself out there.
Which Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed episode should we start with and what is your favorite topic you’ve explored with your guests?
RB. My favourite episode is the one on body language with Joe Navarro. I’d decided I wanted to cover the topic so set out to find an expert in the field. Joe popped up on Google and he was everything I was looking for and more—a former FBI special agent, author and lecturer. He agreed to do it and we had an awesome chat. It was only after did I realise how big of a deal he is. He does Ted Talks all around the world and is one of if not the leading expert on body language, so I’m still really honoured that I got a chance to speak with him and learn from him. And you all can too if you listen to the episode. It’s a good one to start with but you can pretty much listen to whatever one you want in any order. I design it so you can listen by topic but there are some continuity elements so if you like to listen chronologically you’ll get that side too.
DLL. This is a great one! I worked with a retired FBI agent who was our investigator, and the stories he could tell—about crimes that I thought were boring... Makes for great fiction. And understanding body language is so important for a writer. I highly recommend a listen.
My other favorites are A Lawyer’s Perspective on Writing Fantasy and Jobs in Fantasy. And there are so many more! You can find all the episodes on your favorite platforms here.
Let’s turn to your writers’ life. What are your best practices for balancing life with your writing passion? What techniques have you discovered to help you stay creative and productive?
RB. It’s difficult to find balance. We have lots going on in life and we don’t always have enough time to do things like write and read. When you do find the time though I’d say protect it like a bear guarding her cub. Otherwise, you’ll find it filled by something else and you’ll get frustrated that you don’t get to do what you want to do. The main thing is not to beat yourself up if you don’t or can’t write. Just try to make time for it the next day.
Sometimes having smaller windows can lead to greater productivity. There’s less time to waste so you have to make the most of things. Having too much time can see you procrastinate!
So I like to set output targets rather than time limits. I aim for 1,000 words a day when drafting stories. If I have a full day to write I’d increase that to 2,000. But then I’ll forget about it as I write and just keep focused on the next sentence to try and churn out as much as I can.
DLL. I love that image—a bear protecting her cub. Perfect!
Where is your favorite place to write? As a provider of lots of tools for every aspect of the craft, what are your favorites to have at hand? Do you have favorite effects you set up in your writing space to help with your creative mood?
RB. My favourite place to write was my little old shed back in my childhood home. It was outside in the yard, because I like the quiet and the fresh air. It was big enough for a single chair and for years I shared it with our little rabbit Tilly. She used to sit on my knee while I typed away. I had a world map drawn on the inside wall too. But sadly it was dismantled and we’ve moved house. I don’t really have a good space to write in right now. I just try and get some done in any quiet spot possible.
DLL. Okay, this just made me think that someday folks will be talking about Richie Billing’s writing shed like Tolkien’s walking trail. I love it!
It’s astonishing that you gave up a career as a lawyer so you could follow your creative passion. Have you ever looked back?
RB. Not really! I didn’t like the job in practice. It’s a lot of stressful work for little reward, but I’m moved by a strong sense of injustice, and I also hate insurance companies, so I’ve carried that with me into my digital marketing job. That’s mostly focused on marketing for law firms so I’m putting my knowledge to some use.
I do still draw upon my experiences, though. In the novella I’m editing right now, there’s a workplace accident in there and references to factories and different industries so it follows me around.
DLL. Awesome!All the best to you, Richie, in life and your endeavors!Thanks again for stopping by!
You can join Richie’s Discord community, his Patreon, and stay posted on Richie’s offerings and works on his website and Instagram.
I am super excited to finish out the year in an interview exchange with the amazing urban fantasy writer, G Clatworthy. Check out Gemma’s blog for more of our conversation.
I love a good dragon story! And a half-dwarf heroine? Awesome! And that’s just one of Gemma’s series. She has multiple books out in the Rise of the Dragons, and the Omensford series. I invite you to get started on them as soon as you meet the author.
And by the way, the latest in the Omensford series, Exes and Enchantments, was released in October!
I LOVED this book, it’s got some wonderful characters, thrilling world building and not a single page is wasted. This was the first book I’ve read in years that kept me eager to keep turning the page from start to finish. Without giving away any spoilers I thoroughly enjoyed the way the story developed and how the characters were weaved into it.
Can’t wait to start on the second book.
PS I live in the city this is based in, I’ll never look at the castle the same way again!
Gino B.
Let’s meet the author.
G Clatworthy started writing during the 2020 lockdown (her first book was called The Girl Who Lost Her Listening Ears, which tells you all you need to know about lockdown!). She soon switched to urban fantasy and she loves mixing the magical with the mundane, especially if it involves dragons!
She lives in Wiltshire, UK with her family and two cats. When she’s not writing, she enjoys playing board games, drinking tea and eating chocolate. G Clatworthy also writes children’s books as Gemma Clatworthy.
Thank you for joining me on my Spotlight, Gemma! It has been amazing to find so many new authors visiting my blog who got their start during the pandemic lockdown days. In your bio, you mention that “soon you switched to urban fantasy” after writing a children’s book. What inspired you to focus on that genre?
GC. – I love mixing magic into real life and I enjoy reading in that genre, so I decided to write some books that I’d enjoy reading. Both the Rise of the Dragons and Omensford series are set in the same universe, which is our modern world but with magic; think dwarves and elves wandering around with mobile phones!
It’s a fun genre to write in and, of course, it helps with worldbuilding because everyone is experiencing the modern world right now, so I don’t have to spend lots of time explaining things and can get straight into the story.
DLL. I can relate to that. 😀 I tend to set my fantasy stories in places around the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Cascades in small towns in California, Nevada, and Oregon. It’s fun and effortless to imagine supernatural races living among humans in places that are familiar, which leads into my next question.
I love mixing fantasy elements, races, and cultures with real-world backgrounds and talking to other writers about what they like about that. Can you expand on your favorite aspects of “mixing the magical with the mundane” as you say? And along with that question, do you have any plans to explore other fantasy genres?
GC. I live close to the Cotswolds, which is where my Omensford series is set and I went to university in Cardiff where my first series is set, so I enjoy bringing that level of local knowledge to the books. I think it adds an element of realism which anchors all the magical things that go on.
In terms of other fantasy genres, I’m working on a shared world collaboration called Cozy Vales (check out the authors at www.cozyvales.com) which will be a cosy fantasy world with high fantasy and low stakes. I can’t wait to share that with everyone, it’s the perfect genre for snuggling up under a blanket and reading on a cold winter’s evening.
DLL. What a gorgeous, iconic place to call home. I traveled through the Cotswolds in 1990, and lingered at sites like Warwick Castle and Stratford-upon-Avon. Seeing the River Avon winding below Caesar’s Tower is still sharp in my mind decades later.Before I consumed supernatural romance series, I devoured cozy reads. I will definitely check out Cozy Vales.
Can you give us a peek into your works in progress?
GC. I’m finishing up the next two books in the Omensford series now – those will be out next year and will be the last two in this current arc with Fi and Mort, although I might return to it in the future. One of the things my readers love with this series is the exchange of puns between Fi and her sister, Agatha, so I’m having a lot of fun getting those just right.
As I said, I’m also working on a cosy fantasy collaboration which is a lot of fun to write and read.
Where do you get your inspiration for your characters? Which are your favorite secondary characters from your works and why?
GC. Really, the characters come to me first and this group of witches came fully formed in Book 5 of my Rise of the Dragons series as a sort of Women’s Institute but for witches, and they needed their own series! The main character is Fi, who’s a tech witch with a penchant for blowing things up. In book 1 – Bedsocks and Broomsticks – she loses her job, gets roped into ‘helping’ her mother with the Halloween Fete and becomes suspect number 1 when one of the judges is killed…it’s been described as Jessica Fletcher if she worked in IT, lived in an English village and had magic!
In my first series – Rise of the Dragons – the half-dwarf protagonist is based on a Dungeons & Dragons character a friend of mine had in a campaign we played in many years ago. She played a barbarian who had the attitude of ‘just do it’ and that’s very much my main character’s vibe – her catch phrase is ‘Don’t even worry about it’, when sometimes she very much should worry about whatever it is!
DLL. I love these! I’m currently enjoying Awakening.
What or who is your biggest inspiration that set you on the path to becoming a writer?
GC. I’ve always loved creating stories and worlds so I think in some ways it was inevitable. I took back my commuting time during lockdown after a very hard few months and used that for writing, which helped me protect my mental health and feel a little more normal again. But what pushed me to publish my writing was a deadline for taking part in my first anthology because one of the criteria was that you had to have published a book!
Can you share your top three books? Or in the alternative, top three authors?
DLL. What a fantastic selection to add to my list. I’ve read one of these authors, at least. I really enjoyed Kim McDougall’s Valkyrie Bestiary series.
What can you share with us about your journey from writing to publishing your books? Do you have a team who helps you with editing, marketing, and artwork? What are your favorite tools or software you find most beneficial?
GC. I’m an indie author and I try to keep my costs down, so my favourite software is Pro Writing Aid which is an editing tool that catches typos and passive voice before I send a manuscript anywhere. I also have a great team of beta readers – thanks beta dragons! – and I outsource my covers to design companies because I don’t have the experience in design to do those myself.
DLL. One of these days, I will turn my focus on meeting and working with beta readers. I’ve been shy about reaching out, but I know it is an invaluable part of the journey and process.
Where do you see yourself as a writer in five years?
GC. I would love to either be writing full time or at least have a better balance between the day job and the writing as, at the moment, I’m squeezing it in around my family and my work.
DLL. All the best to you on that!
What is your favorite way to engage with your readers? Along with that, what’s your advice on joining writing communities?
GC. Getting emails from readers is one of my favorite things to see in my inbox, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to your favourite author, especially if you’re saying nice things to them. Other than that, people can find me on Facebook where I also have a readers’ group for my Book Wyrms – check out our meme Mondays! – or Instagram or I am on TikTok, but I find that less of a place to engage with readers.
In terms of writing communities, I think they are fantastic for getting to know other authors, sharing ideas, helping each other out. One of the things I love about authors is that I haven’t experienced any gatekeeping, only everyone sharing their experiences and helping people succeed. Because the world is a better place with more stories in it.
DLL. Ooh, I like that last part, especially. And yes! Bring on the emails and questions. Thanks, Gemma!
You also interview writers. What is the best part of having those conversations and offering a place to share the voices?
GC. I love interviewing writers. Their stories are so inspiring and it’s so fun to learn a little about people whose books I enjoy and their creative processes. You can find all of my interviews with authors on my website: www.gemmaclatworthy.com
Now for a glimpse into 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?
GC. I tend to write either at my kitchen island where I can look out over the garden or on my standing desk. I have set writing times so I don’t get disturbed and my top tip is to write a few notes for the next scene when you stop a writing session because I find that helps me get straight back into it for the next session.
DLL. I keep hearing about this method for stopping a writing session. I try to do that as well, and it really works!
What advice can you share on how to balance your creativity with other aspects of life?
GC. Being organised is my superpower and my life is hectic, so I have writing time each weekday from 6am-7am that I protect to make sure I have that creative outlet. And I have lists of things I want to get done that day or week so I can use my time effectively and work on things that are important.
DLL. I can easily see how sticking to a plan works for you with all that you get done!
I noticed you have a place carved out on your website for crafting. Can you tell us about your other creative outlets and how they benefit your writing or vice versa?
GC. I love crafting, and I know you do too! My favourite is embroidery at the moment and I’ve been making bayeux tapestry style movie scenes for my brother. I can get into the details of my favourite stitches if you want (it’s French knot if you’re interested!), but this is an author blog, so let’s say that I’ve also dabbled in stained glass making, I can knit, spin and sew. I’m making a book nook at the moment which is fun but requires a degree of precision that is tricky. I share all my makes on Instagram, if anyone’s interested.
DLL. Fantastic! You must be super busy this time of year, especially. My imagination is running wild, and I can’t wait to see your posts on these projects, especially the tapestry movie scenes! Stained glass is really challenging. I dabbled in high school. French knots are also difficult but so worth the effort. I bet you do ribbon embroidery, too. 😀
I could discuss needlework all day, but I’ll at least share a couple things here that you brought up in case our readers are interested. I had to look up the Bayeux Tapestry, and I was riveted! The image below links to the Wikipedia article. The second image is an example of French knots from the Craftsy website. I used to take classes there all the time. It made me realize how much I miss it.
Thanks again for visiting, Gemma! Do you have any parting advice for those who want to pursue writing fiction?
GC. Write the words. Remember that the first draft isn’t meant to be perfect and enjoy it.
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.
By D. L. Lewellyn 