Republishing this piece in honor of the 20th Anniversary of the western drama, Open Range. (I was reminded of this by a fellow blogger! How time flies!)
First of all, I want to say I adored Uncle Lauran. I just had no idea…
Recently, someone asked on social media about using different pen names for different genres. My first reaction was that a name is the most important aspect of a writer and should sell the author, regardless of the genre. It’s hard to imagine using multiple pen names and struggling to brand each one for different genres. I already have a hard enough time branding my single pen name. Of course, I’m self-published in today’s world. Back in my uncle’s day… sigh… oh, to be a writer when people actually visited libraries.
But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it’s not a new question. Writers have used multiple pen names to differentiate their stories and guide readers toward specific genres for ages.
Then, I had a ‘slap my forehead’ moment when I realized that one of the most amazing and prolific writers of the twentieth century, who had mastered this concept, was my very own uncle, Lauran Paine, a man who, like so many of us, struggled to get published, found his niche, and launched a career that resulted in over 1000 books! Yes, that’s three zeros, folks!
Here’s what People Magazine said about Uncle Lauran:
Ernest Hemingway—Lauran Paine can outwrite you! Franz Kafka—Lauran Paine can outwrite you! Count Leo Tolstoy—you too! Lauran Paine can outwrite all you pretty-boy novelists put together!
Uncle Lauran was listed in the ‘Guinness Book of World Records’ as the world’s most prolific living author for many years. The first thing I asked to see during my visit was a copy of that publication. I already loved the fun facts in the Guinness Book, and having an uncle’s accomplishments listed alongside records like the tallest man ever recorded, the shortest woman, and the largest living cat… well, that was the best.
At the time, I didn’t think to link that to what it meant to have so many of your own books on a shelf. They covered an entire wall! And that’s the crux of my musings today: he used over 70 pseudonyms, both male and female, depending on the market.
I’m not sure why I haven’t given Uncle Lauran’s writing more thought since I became a writer. My Dad shares a story about him every time I talk about my writing (which results in a lot of stories… hmmm…), and I love hearing them. But it wasn’t until today that I realized how amazing he was in his chosen profession, and I started remembering how he shared his experiences.
I loved listening to them back then. Today, as a writer, those conversations mean even more.
Memories are funny things. I’m sure you’ve had that moment when a single thought opens the floodgates. Uncle Lauran married my Aunt Mona in 1982. She was his favorite research librarian at the Siskiyou County Library (actually, more like the only research librarian). It was a late romance made in heaven. All the memories started playing like a film reel—the holidays at the cozy A-Frame in the mountains. Uncle Lauran, scaring off a huge bear that came to visit at the back porch one Thanksgiving, and his office full of his own books in the stone-lined basement built into the hill under the house.
So, I had to share. Because now that I am a writer and have taken another look at his body of work, I am floored. I would love the opportunity to go back in time and learn more about how he achieved it. He was a rock star! I appreciate much more now what he accomplished by sitting down and writing every day with a set schedule.
Books were his bread and butter. He wrote full-time from 1948 (though he started writing in 1934) until just before he died in 2001. He always talked about having a formula. If you master the formula, you can write anything consistently. Mr. Friedman of People Magazine captured the formula best in Uncle Lauran’s interview.
Keep in mind, he was a genuine cowboy from a much earlier era…
Paine churns out more than oaters. “After a while,” he says, “I get bow-legged with all these Westerns.” He’s done history, science fiction, mystery and romance. “Romances are the easiest thing in the world to write,” says Paine, “if you can stomach them.” In conquering his digestion, Paine must also come to grips with a problem all fiction writers wrestle with: empathy. “I don’t know much about women,” he admits. “But what man does? They’re emotional creatures.” So Paine has devised a formula to probe the depths of female psychology. “They want him, they don’t, they don’t know. By that time, you’re on page 251.”
Uncle Lauran really said that about the formula! He said it to me numerous times to convince me I could write. I guess I did have aspirations back then. Hmmm.
U.K. Writer Ben Bridges does a beautiful job of highlighting Uncle Lauran’s career. You can find his article here. I love what he has to say about the pen names:
When the paperback market began to dry up in the 1960s, however, Paine adopted several new pseudonyms and began turning out westerns primarily for Robert Hale, its subsidiary John Gresham and the then-buoyant library market. Now, in addition to Mark Carrel, he could also be found masquerading as Clay Allen, A A Andrews, Dennis Archer, John Armour, Carter Ashby, Harry Beck, Will Benton, Frank Bosworth, Concho Bradley, Claude Cassady, Clint Custer, James Glenn, Will Houston, Troy Howard, Cliff Ketchum, Clint O’Conner and Buck Standish, among many others. Additionally, he published scores of crime, science fiction and romance novels (virtually all issued by Hale or Gresham), but later admitted that thrillers and SF required more thought, time and planning to make them work.
Mr. Bridges, also published by Robert Hale, has an impressive body of work himself under his own variety of pen names. I discovered another author I need to study and read!
My favorite part of Uncle Lauran’s story was how long it took him to find his niche, which didn’t happen until he got advice from his publisher to write what he knows. He was a cowboy, a stuntman, he owned cattle. He said he had the scars to prove it. He wrote what he knew and he gave his readers tons of it. He used to tell us some of his Hollywood stories about the times he hung out on the lot of the Lone Ranger. He was friends with Jay Silverheels, who was the legendary Tonto. That’s just a sample.
Two movies were made from Uncle Lauran’s stories: 1957’s ‘The Quiet Gun,’ inspired by Lawman, and 2003’s ‘Open Range,’ based on The ‘Open Range Men,’ produced by Kevin Costner and starring Kevin Costner, Robert Duvall, Annette Bening, Michael Gambon, and Michael Jeter. It’s an amazing movie and does justice to the original story. My aunt managed Uncle Lauran’s works after his passing, working closely with Lauran Paine, Jr., and put in a lot of effort with Mr. Costner to bring her husband’s story to the big screen. She attended the premiere.
This story became…This story.I adore the old coversUncle Lauran picked this one for me because it is a beautiful western romance. I’d have to argue that he understood women despite his glib formula litany. I loved it.
Uncle Lauran didn’t just crank out serial fiction, but he also created an impressive, wide-ranging body of nonfiction. He brought this book to my Dad’s house during one of my visits, and I stayed up all night reading it. It’s enjoyable to discover these out-of-print books for sale from interesting booksellers. This particular one is listed by Common Crow Used & Rare Books.
Though I didn’t get a chance to thank Uncle Lauran for planting those seeds to tell a story when I was in my twenties, I hope he appreciated my fascination with all that he was and achieved, nonetheless.
Wow! Today I get to be a fangirl! And even better, I get to share that experience right here. Follow along as I chat with Grace Draven, USA Today Bestselling Author, and creator of the most gorgeous sweeping, romantic epic fantasy stories I truly believe should be on everyone’s reading list.
With Mr. Draven
I prepared for our chat by poring over reviews of the first story I read, Radiance. To me, this was the perfect book by Ms. Draven to start with because it renewed my love of epic romance and set me on the path to romance writing in fantasy settings.
Though I searched and searched, my 2020 Radiance review has been buried by the masses. So, I went to BookBub and found my much briefer review. I admit I updated it on the spot. Since I’ve become a writer, my reviews now come with that extra perspective, so why not take the opportunity to stamp an old reader review with a new reader/writer appreciation?
Friends to lovers is the most powerful kind of romance in my book, and Ms. Draven is a master. Here, the author takes two beings from opposing worlds who would not have chosen each other but for an arranged marriage, and then crafts a riveting story of a powerful bond that is utterly unique, inspiring, and heart-pounding all the way through. Each character was compelling. Their respect for each other sets in from the beginning, which is a great place for a budding romance if done right, and Ms. Draven does it right. And this is all on top of crafting a masterful fantasy world. It’s the hallmark of Ms. Draven’s writing and why I keep reading her stories.
Let’s meet the author
Grace Draven is a Louisiana native living in Texas with her husband, kids and a big, doofus dog. She has loved storytelling since forever and is a fan of the fictional bad boy. She is the winner of the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice for Best Fantasy Romance of 2014 and 2016, and a USA Today Bestselling author.
I found a few other nuggets about Ms. Draven on Goodreads where she tells us she has “lived in Spain, hiked the Teton Mountains, honeymooned in Scotland, ridden in competition rodeo and [is] the great great granddaughter of a Nicaraguan president.”
Let’s get Started
Thank you for joining me on my Spotlight, Grace! I can’t tell you what a thrill it was for me the day you responded to my request for a Q&A. This is without question the highlight of my 2023 year in writing, blogging, and interviewing, and I’m so excited for this opportunity to ask questions of a favorite bestselling author.
After all that (and I am sorry about the gushing, but I can’t help myself)… I sit here with my fingers hovering over the keyboard. Where do I start? Hmmm. Well, here goes.
My most burning questions are where do you get your ideas for such unique and compelling settings and characters? And how do you go about creating such richly layered fantasy worlds? Yikes! That’s a big request, I know, and thanks for giving it a shot.
GD. Aww, thank you so much for reaching out and including me in the list of those authors you’ve interviewed so far. There are lots of us swimming in this pond, so I appreciate the invitation to chat.
I suspect I get my ideas for stories from the same varied sources every other author uses to build worlds and characters. Memories of favorite poetry quotes, something I’ve watched on TV, a song lyric, a beautiful painting, etc. All of these things can trigger an idea that gets embedded in my brain and starts to sprout. I’ve only had one story – MASTER OF CROWS – in which I dreamed of the protagonist/hero and woke up with his character fully formed in my head and ready to be written. That was a real gift from God there.
I love world building and learned how to do it from my brother who was and still is a brilliant dungeon master. I played D&D during my college years and watched him create these incredible, heavily layered worlds that combined both the fantastic and the mundane to create these immersive places for his players to sink their imaginations and run their characters. He was amazing at this, and I completely credit him for teaching me the same approach when writing books.
DLL. I love that about MASTER OF CROWS! It is one of my earliest and most favorite reads, though I’m currently reading ENTREAT ME and thinking that’s my favorite. Except I just finished Dragon Unleashed and wondering about that being a favorite. Hmmm. That’s what’s so great about your stories. Each one feels like a favorite.
I recently finished DRAGON UNLEASHED, Book 2 in The Fallen Empire series, and am poised to start the third, RAVEN UNVEILED. The audiobooks in this series are sweeping me away. My husband even gets caught up in these stories if he’s in the room while I have the volume up. (Incidental listening is the best he can do when it comes to romance, so this is big!)
Your secondary characters are as compelling as the main characters. In this instance, I’m thinking of Halani’s mother, Asil. I adore falling in love with book boyfriends which is my main motivation for reading romance, but it’s always a great surprise when I fall in love with a character like Asil. The sweetest mother a girl could have. Sweet, innocent, simple, yet surprising and fascinating with hidden depths. Threading throughout this world is the need to track what happens to Asil (starting from Book 1 in Phoenix Unbound). In my opinion, she is responsible for illuminating an entire dimension of Malachus’ character.
Can you talk about Asil and the inspiration behind her creation?
GD. The character of Asil is a tribute to my son who is on the lower end of the autism spectrum. Like Asil, he is often challenging to deal with, stubborn, and enigmatic (especially since he’s mostly nonverbal). However, he teaches the rest of his family how to be better, kinder, more sympathetic human beings. Being a caregivers requires patience, empathy, and resilience – three things that can only build character in anyone, be they real or fictional. I wanted to show that in this story with Asil as the catalyst who shines a light on all of those traits in my main characters, especially Malachus who, for the most part, grew up a rather sheltered individual despite tragedy and his orphaned childhood.
DLL. Thank you so much for sharing the special story behind this amazing character.
Here is my opportunity to share examples of the kind of writing that has inspired me as a romance fan and writer. [For our readers. The excerpts are intended to be out of context enough to prevent spoilers but beware.]
“Wife of my soul,” he said, and this time his voice didn’t shake but held all the command of a Savatar ataman who had led an army against the Empire and won. “Look at me.”
His words sent an arrow of euphoria straight through her chest.
“And will you love me for a day? A year? A lifetime?” She knew the answer but wanted to hear him say it in that beautiful, shattered voice.
“Beyond that,” he whispered, eyes shining with the tempest of emotion he’d held in check until now. “Beyond the reign of false gods and meddlesome priests. Beyond al Zafira when her bright stars fade.”
He kissed her then, breathed his life into her mouth, her heart, her spirit—the same way she’d breathed her Gift into him while they stood in the empty soul of a dying god.
Martise kissed him fiercely in return, holding him so tightly her arms ached, and the necklace she clutched dug into his back. When they parted, she leaned her forehead against his. “That’s a long time to love someone.”
Nimble fingers worked the ties of her cyrtel, unlacing them with ease. “Not long enough.”
In RADIANCE, the strength and majesty of this story lie in the sheer beauty of a bond that grows between an alien man and a human woman, who are each repelled by their physical differences. Yet, the first time they meet they recognize in each other kindred spirits and start their journey on a foundation of respect. They must marry and join houses and they take on this task with strength and wisdom though they have no illusions that they will ever become attracted to each other.
“You make a very handsome dead eel, my husband,” she said and winked. Sinhue and Kirgipa both gasped.
“For a boiled mollusk, you wear black quite well, my wife.” Brishen shot back, and his smile stretched a little wider.
Radiance
~~~
The crust was perfectly golden and buttery with a braided edge and fanciful dough cut-outs that revealed the cook was as much artist as baker. Her mouth watered in anticipation of cutting into it.
And then the pie breathed.
Ildiko gasped and half rose from her seat, her sanap tumbling to the floor. “My gods, did you see that?”
Brishen’s stoic expression didn’t change, and he motioned for her to sit down. “You can’t run from this one, Ildiko. It’s served at every high feast and celebration. A delicacy among the Kai. It’s a surety we’ll be served one later. Newly married couples share it as a symbol of fortune and prosperity in the marriage.”
Ildiko did as he bid and sat but scooted her chair a little further away from the table. “What is in that pie?” Whatever it was, it was still alive. Fortune and prosperity be damned. Her throat closed up in protest at the thought of having to swallow something alive and still wriggling.
Brishen picked up his dagger. “Watch closely because at some point, you’ll have to do this yourself.” He stared at the pie, as focused as a hawk on a branch watching a mouse in the field below it. The pie’s crust rippled, creating cracks across its smooth surface. A black spine poked through the crust, and Brishen pounced.
He slammed the knifepoint into the pie hard enough to make the plates bounce on the table and splash wine from the goblets. An insectile screech pierced the quiet.
Brishen twisted the knife. It made a cracking noise, and the pie abruptly ruptured, sending pieces of crust splattered in a black slime across the table.
This time Ildiko leapt over her chair to crouch behind it, wide-eyed and horrified as Brishen pried his knife out of the destroyed pie. It came free with a sucking sound…
Radiance
~~~
He leaned against the door frame and crossed his arms. “Woman of day, you waited for me.”
Ildiko closed her book and offered him a drowsy smile. Relief and happiness coursed through her. “Prince of night, you’ve come back to me—your head intact.”
Radiance
~~~
She was solace enrobed in smooth flesh and scented hair.
Radiance
~~~
A sudden realization made him smile a little. One of his wife’s greatest strengths, and a thing he most admired about her, was her ability to adapt to a situation and still remain steadfast in her own sense of worth and place. Brishen no longer viewed her with the eyes of a Kai and couldn’t view her with the eyes of a human male, but that held no consequence now. He saw her as she’d always seen herself—as simply Ildiko. For her, it was enough; for him, a gift beyond price.
Radiance
~~~
The silence yawned between them as she continued to stare at him. “What is it, Ildiko?” he asked. “What do you see?” His question acted as a catalyst, breaking a spell that held him beguiled and her enthralled. She opened beneath him; not just her body. All of her. He sensed it in every part of him. She twined her arms around his neck and tilted her head until her lips brushed the corner of his mouth. “My beautiful husband,” she said. “I see radiance.”
Radiance
My question here is at what point in your career did you find this talent for writing such moving prose, strong emotions, witty meaningful banter, and imaginative scenes that bring the reader straight into these worlds? Or did your writing start out this awesome? I want to know because it means there might be hope for the rest of us. 😊
GD. LOL. I wish I could say it was something I was born with or was one day struck by the lightning bolt of wordsmithing. However, I’d be lying. I think the love of storytelling is God-given but the skill of writing is learned and practiced – constantly. It’s a mental workout of the imagination and riding the learning curve of technique. You have to go at it every day to improve and learn more, and there is no ceiling. I’ve been steadily at this for twenty years and eager to discover new ways to write better over the course of the next twenty.
DLL. Great advice! I’ve explored many creative avenues. Since I started writing, I realize now that those were all experiments. Writing is different and I have been writing every day for three years. You’ve given me hope that I’ll still be at it and maybe even successful seventeen years down the line. 😊
Which of the characters in your published works is your favorite? Do you have a favorite character coming up in a work-in-progress that you can preview for us? Along with that can you give us a glimpse into your current projects? What’s coming next?
GD. My favorite character is Louvaen Duenda from ENTREAT ME. She was a joy to write, and after doing some quick proofreading work on that book, I enjoyed reading her as well. Silhara from MASTER OF CROWS runs a close second. Louvaen; however, still takes first place for me as she’s someone I’d like to hang out with in real life.
I don’t have a favorite character in upcoming works at the moment. With the exception of one character, I tend to learn about my characters as I write their story, so it isn’t until the book is complete that I have an idea as to whether or not one will be a favorite. I can tell you that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed writing both Emerence and Gaeres from THE NOMAS KING (Wraith Kings #4) so far, mostly because of their couple dynamic. Emerence is very independent and analytical, and Gaeres comes from a matriarchal society, so I think they work well together.
I always have at least two things going at one time, sometimes three. I’m currently wrapping up the Wraith Kings novella BLACK HELLEBORE which revisits Brishen and Ildiko. Once that’s done, I’ll switch back to THE NOMAS KING. I’ve also just submitted a proposal and sample chapters for a story about the fae to my agent for possibly going on submission to traditional publishing houses. So very busy at the moment and feeling fortunate to have such a full plate.
DLL. This is great stuff! I’m learning so much from how you see your characters and the way their separate characteristics and resulting dynamics impact their growth and bond. And how exciting to hear about what’s coming next in this stunning series. I can’t wait!
What or who is your biggest inspiration that set you on the path to becoming a writer? Was writing fiction something you always dreamed of doing?
GD. Inspiration to write came from multiple sources: my brother, the brilliant DM, the incredible fantasy authors Andre Norton and Michael Moorcock, and just a fierce love of reading.
Writing fiction wasn’t something I always dreamed of doing. I didn’t start writing until 2003 as a hobby and stress reliever from long hours at my job and raising three little kids. It developed into something more over time, and now I get to do it full-time, which is amazing. I’m grateful for it every day.
DLL. After having interviewed so many wonderful fantasy writers, I’m finding D&D to be a common influence, which is a fascinating aspect of world building I wish I could tap into.
I really enjoy the books by Ilona Andrews, a writing couple responsible for the popular Kate Daniels series, and one of my favorites the Innkeeper Chronicles. It’s a fun fact for me that you and Mr. Draven are friends with Ilona and Gordon Andrews. This is a stellar example in the writing world of the power of writing communities. Can you tell us a little about how your friendship came about and the perks gleaned from being devoted writing buddies?
GD. Like you, I’m a fan of IA’s body of work, even before I met them, and Innkeeper is my favorite series of theirs. I can still vividly picture the fight scene at Costco.
Ilona, Gordon, and I first connected when Ilona put out a request for recommendations on something to read. Her readers sent suggestions, as did some book review bloggers. Has from The Bookpushers recommended MASTER OF CROWS. Ilona read it, liked it, and wrote favorably about it. Thanks to her, Gordon, and their significant platform, other people learned about the book and my other books as well, expanding my audience exponentially. It was one of those serendipitous moments. To thank them for their kindness, Mr. Draven and I treated them to dinner one evening and really hit it off. We’ve been friends ever since. I consider that friendship the most precious thing to come out of that connection – far beyond book sales and exposure, far beyond professional collaboration, etc. They are lovely, lovely people, and I’m beyond blessed to have them as friends. That is the perk above all perks.
As for other perks, I’d say guidance. Ilona and Gordon are masters of their craft. There have been more than a few instances where I’ve wrapped too hard around my own axle regarding a character motivation, a scene, a plot point, etc. and gone to Ilona for guidance and help. She always comes through with the perfect solution.
DLL. What a great story and such a fantastic thing to happen along a writer’s journey.
For a fun chat between these two dynamic couples. Here is an episode from Ashland Public Library MA‘s YouTube channel.
What is your favorite way to engage with your readers? Can you let us know where we can find you, say for a book signing over the next few months?
GD. While my ability to do so is very restricted due to scheduling, budget, and family demands, my favorite way to engage is in person, face-to-face. The next best thing is through social media, though I don’t have the time to regularly hit several platforms to engage.
I just recently attended an Author Meet and Greet at my local library but don’t have anything planned until June of 2024 where I’ll be attending Book Bonanza in Grapevine, TX, and October of 2024 where I’ll be at the Romantasy Book Convention in Orlando, Florida.
DLL. Those sound like a blast. Enjoy and much success!
Tell us about the Arcane Society, which presented beautifully illustrated special editions of Master of Crows and Entreat Me in its October box. Can you share a little about the perks of membership and its benefits to you as a writer?
GD. I’m not a member myself, but I hear from some subscribers that AS puts out some beautiful editions with incredible artwork on both the books and the separate art cards. The enamel pins are also lovely. I can attest to all of this based on what they’ve done for me as well as The Four Horsemen series (by Laura Thalassa) that I received from AS. Breathtaking books anyone would be proud to put on their shelves. High quality product and definitely money well spent if you get a subscription.
Arcane Society Member Edition
I think the greatest benefit in collaborating with AS was getting paid of course (bills to pay and mouths to feed) and expanding my audience.
I can sing the praises of AS all day long but would be remiss if I didn’t do the same with Fae Crate who put together gorgeous special editions of RADIANCE and EIDOLON.
DLL. I think it’s great to have these opportunities for readers and writers to own their favorite works in such beautifully illustrated volumes. I also enjoyed the Four Horsemen series by Laura Thalassa and what fantastic artwork for those as well. It would be a dream for me to write a book that inspires artists to create images for it. I did a Google search and found so much fantastic fan art for Brishen and Ildiko! It’s easy to understand what about those two inspire so many artists.
Where else can we find signed copies or special editions of your books?
GD. I also have a hardback omnibus edition available on Amazon (and can be ordered through Barnes and Noble or your favorite independent bookstore) titled Wraith Kings, Volume I which contains both RADIANCE and EIDOLON.
On the technical side, can you share your journey into publishing your stories? Is there anything you would do differently now that you can look back on it?
GD. I started out writing fan fiction as a hobby and learned some basic techniques from other more experienced writers. In 2005, I submitted a short story to a now-defunct digital-only publishing house (I would NEVER do that now. Way too risky). I won a contract with them and published that story, along with a few novellas and my first novel (MASTER OF CROWS). When Amazon rolled out KDP, that was a game changer for everyone, including me. I got rights back on most of my work and started self-publishing on KDP. Best decision I ever made to go the self-publishing route. I’m now a hybrid author, involved in both self-publishing and traditional publishing.
As far as doing something differently, I’d definitely practice better risk management by learning more about the many publishing outfits out there. Some are honest, hard-working companies invested in their authors’ success. Others, however, are predatory scam outfits that make money off a hopeful’s dreams. I was very, very lucky that the first publisher I worked with was both professional and honest.
DLL. Thank you. It is so helpful to get a writers’ experiences on navigating the crazy path to publishing. It’s also a lot of fun getting a take on the early days of KDP. These new self-publishing platforms give us so many options and a lot of competition, which is why I like hearing about the hybrid options.
What are your favorite techniques and tools for drafting a manuscript? Have your methods changed a lot over the years?
GD. I go very old school in that I typically handwrite my drafts in spiral notebooks, then transcribe them later. It’s terribly inefficient, especially when I’m actually a fast typist. However, ideas flow better for me when I’m handwriting. This is also why I’m a slow writer.
I suppose they’ve changed a lot in the aggregate but are more what I consider refinements over the years. I learn as I go. I used to write scenes and dialogue together in a very linear fashion. Now, I go with more a script method in that I write all the dialogue first with brief notes about the scene and background and then go back and fill all that in. I “hear” dialogue better than I “see” scenery, so I tackle that first.
DLL. I love finding writers who write by hand. I’ve interviewed a few, and on the other side of the spectrum, a few who love using dictation. So many ways to feel the story.
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?
GD. I don’t have a favorite place to write as I typically only have one place to write – my desk in one corner of our game room.
To stay creative, I tend to relax and put myself to sleep at night by going over scenes and plot points in my head for a story I’m working on. It works to both settle my mind and build ideas I’ll incorporate into the manuscript. GD.
DLL. I came across a Medium post recently that highlighted famous authors and their daily writing routines. E. B. White’s was my favorite and your game room desk reminds me of his living room.
I never listen to music when I’m working. I haven’t that kind of attentiveness, and I wouldn’t like it at all. On the other hand, I’m able to work fairly well among ordinary distractions. My house has a living room that is at the core of everything that goes on: it is a passageway to the cellar, to the kitchen, to the closet where the phone lives. There’s a lot of traffic. But it’s a bright, cheerful room, and I often use it as a room to write in, despite the carnival that is going on all around me.
In consequence, the members of my household never pay the slightest attention to my being a writing man — they make all the noise and fuss they want to. If I get sick of it, I have places I can go. A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word on paper.
E. B. White
I can just imagine the author writing Charlotte’s Web among the family “carnival,” sort of like a barn with a spider and her chatty friends.
What advice can you share on balancing your creativity with other aspects of life?
GD. Learn how to tune out.
I can write just about anywhere because I can tune out. Learning how to do that was a necessity for me as I live and work in a loud, very active household with constant noise and interruptions.
Also, get advice from other authors on what they do to stay productive. Some are haphazard like me, while others are more regimented. One of those or a combination of both will work for you. Basically, customize according to your needs and the demands of your life. There’s no one true way.
Do you have any parting advice for those who want to pursue a writing career?
GD. Write, write, write. Learn good technique and practice it. Accept the idea that your first, second, third, thirty-seventh attempt at something may not be good or publishable. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Don’t be afraid to delete words and rewrite them. I wrote DRAGON UNLEASHED twice. Of the original 132k words I wrote, I kept only 9k and rewrote 120k. It’s not unusual for me to write the beginning of a book multiple times before I’ve settled in with a start I like (I wrote the beginning of ENTREAT ME six times). I have no problem killing my darlings. You shouldn’t either.
Also remember that while marketing and ads are very important aspects of publishing, writing a solid book is equal in importance. All the ad money in the world won’t move a bad product over the long term, and in this business, your brand is as important as exposure and platform.
Most of all, stay humble, stay grounded, and don’t give up.
DLL. Absolutely staggering but oh so encouraging statistics when it comes to being ruthless about what isn’t working… and never giving up. I imagine we are benefiting from your cutting room floor with all your wonderful novellas. Also a sobering thought about putting your best work out there as the first step in marketing yourself as a writer. I think my horse left the barn when I published too soon. Wished I would have talked to you three years ago.😊
Thanks again for visiting, Grace! This has been such a treat, and I wish you the best in life and writing.
Thank you so much, and all the best to you and yours!
My guest and I have been sharing our writing journey for the past couple of years. We chatted on my Spotlight last May with the release of her second book, Hearing Wind.
It’s not often you get an opportunity to meet an online friend and fellow author, and when one comes around, it can be magical, especially when it takes place at Lake Tahoe, where A. B. Herron and her husband recently vacationed.
I am a huge fan of her Elemental Wolf Series and picked up her latest release, Wooden Wolves, to take with me for a signing.
We had a great time exchanging signed books and chatting over lunch in a café with the lake glistening across the highway. As these encounters often go, we barely scratched the surface of everything we wanted to discuss about writing, so I felt a Q&A session was in order, especially since this marks a year since we last chatted on my blog.
Let’s Meet The Author
A.B. Herron grew up pretending to be a wild creature running through the hills of California. Her love of reading is her dad’s fault, introducing her to White Fang, Treasure Island, and Call of the Wild before she could hold a book. Her favorite directive was “read”. Later, when she conquered reading for herself, Herron could be found curled up in her closet, tucked away from reality, riding on horseback, performing magic, and later running with werewolves.
The secret itch to write bloomed in grade school, along with the diagnosis of dyslexia. Professionals told her parents she would struggle with reading, but that information came too late for her to put into practice. However, depositing letters in the right order continues to be a mystery for Herron.
In college, while studying for her BS in Zoology, she started putting pencil to paper and allowed her imagination to bleed out into the real world (so to speak). None of her early attempts found an audience due to her complete refusal to admit to their existence.
Nowadays, Herron splits her time between her dog (well, and husband), her writing, and a full-time job that keeps her firmly rooted in the now, even when her brain whispers “the Mountains are calling…”. Her real-life adventures can be found on Instagram, and her daydreams can be discovered in the Elemental Wolf series on Amazon.
About Wooden Wolves
Becoming a werewolf was supposed to solve his problems.
As it turns out, one needs more than a fur coat to do that.
Tobin barely has time to adjust to his new life before something begins hunting him, and he’s forced to flee Portland for the unclaimed magical territories of Washington. But in those northern wilds, Fey lurk in the forests, and a newly turned werewolf is easy prey.
To survive, Tobin needs to learn fast: what hunts him, how to fight back, and where he belongs in a world where power rules.
The last thing he needs is a distraction, but there is one woman whose scent keeps drawing him closer, making him question his decisions.
Neoma never planned on coming back to her hometown.
Running a bookstore wasn’t part of the dream, and neither was her cranky autoimmune disease. Fighting her overwhelming desire to retreat from the world, she gives connection one more shot. So, when a dangerously handsome stranger invites her into his gaming group, she figures—why not? What’s the worst that could happen? She might actually have some fun?
What she doesn’t know is that some games can change your perception.
Others contain monsters that might change you.
Let’s Get Started
It was fabulous meeting you, Amanda, and what a blast. I started your book when I got home and immediately got hooked. Tell us about your Elemental Wolf series and where it’s at in the scheme of things. What was the inspiration behind it?
ABH: Hello again Darci, and it was so much fun meeting with you in person. I’m still marveling over your own beautiful book that you gifted me; I can’t wait to finish my current read so I can get started on yours. I’m happy to hear you got hooked into Wolves. I have to admit, it is my favorite book in my series currently. Am I allowed to have a favorite when it comes to my book babies?
You ask what inspired the Elemental Wolf series. Honestly, it was during a pretty stressful time in my life, and I was writing short stories for friends as escapism. One friend shared with me a fantasy that they wanted me to put on the page, so I took it, placed it in the Pacific Northwest, rubbed some magic on it, and when I was finished, I looked at it and thought, “There’s a whole book here.”
Jumping ahead, there are now three books in Elemental Wolves, and this new one, Wooden Wolves, is a bit outside the normal timeline for a series. At the end of Watching Water, the first book, I leave a couple of cliff hangers. Hearing Wind, the second book, follows the main character, Nora, on her timeline, but Wolves follows a secondary character, Tobin, on his journey. His story is one that needs to be told, and was supposed to be a short novella to connect his events into Nora’s journey for the upcoming 3rd, now 4th book. As a result, I have Wooden Wolves as book 1.5, and I worry that it will be confusing to readers. However, it gives them the option to read either book, in either order, and they are both happening at the same time. Different storytelling, and I’m hoping it will be well-received.
I will say that I couldn’t be happier with how Wolves turned out, and the secondary main character, Neoma, has a firm place in my heart. She’s strong, feisty, and determined despite the odds against her. I can’t wait to hear what you think of her and Tobin
DLL: Congratulations on your release, Amanda, and way to go. I want to say you fleshed this out and published it in like a year? Tobin is a great character, and I’m excited to be delving into his story. This is your passion story, and it’s coming through in the reading.So yes, there is nothing wrong with authors having a favorite book baby!
I love this cover, the formatting, and your publication mark, all things you’ve been exploring in your publication journey. Can you share some tips and highlights about the process and your resources?
ABH: Awe, I love that you commented on the publication mark. I had to invent this press since this time around I was the full publisher. I had a support team, editor, formatter, cover artist, and an author friend that I kept bugging with questions of “how do I do this?” For the first two books, I used an amazing independent publisher for Indie Authors called Luminare Press. I had no clue how to bring a book to fruition, and they took that stress off my plate and made it happen. They were a gift because I didn’t even know where to start. I had a manuscript and was clueless about what to do next. This was before I got on social media and found the author community. Luminare has a fantastic staff and will make the process easy on you, but that comes at a price point I couldn’t shoulder for this latest book.
Because of the author community and friends like you, Darci, that I have made, I’ve learned a lot more about how to navigate the publishing process and do more of it on my own. An IG friend put me in touch with Becky at Platform house when I was asking how to format. Becky’s an Indie author who does book formatting for other indie authors. She was amazing and budget-friendly. I know I can learn to format, but I was extremely short on time for getting this book to print. I might try to format for the next book, but Becky was worth every cent, and she really made the interior look good.
Now, the cover artist, Ravven (you can look her up just by her name), has been an absolute joy to work with, and her skill speaks for itself. The werewolf howling in the background on Wolves, she made for me when the stock photos she’d found didn’t fit the look I was hoping for. I love what she does, and I keep begging her not to retire before this series is done.
I’m always surprised by how many people a book needs to go through before it ever makes it to print. From the alpha and beta readers to the editors and formatters, this manuscript had more eyes on it than the first two, and it showed. For those who are working on their own stories, my humble advice is to get as many different eyeballs on your manuscript as you can; it will make it better. And find a good editor; they are worth it.
DLL: This is great advice. Thank you! I didn’t even know there were people who offered formatting services. Here is Becky’s website. I also found Ravven’s website, and her work is phenomenal as your gorgeous covers attest. The more eyes, the better, is so true. I’m really happy all this came together so well for you… And that I get to benefit by enjoying a great story.
Where can readers find you and your awesome books in the upcoming months?
ABH: The easy way to find me is to hop on my website www.abherron.com, and there are links to the two places to buy my books online. I’m now in a bookstore in Eugene, Daffodil Books, and will be at four different in-person events throughout Washington and Oregon over the summer. If you sign up for my newsletter, those dates and locations will show up in your inbox, but can also be found on my website.
Thank you so much for having me, Darci. Lunch was a special treat. Somehow, we need to do this again and keep talking about all things writing and books.
DLL: Yes! Meeting you was awesome, Amanda, and it was way too short. I will definitely be looking for a way to get together again.
Thank you for answering just some of the questions that I wanted to ask you at lunch. Do you have any last words of advice for independent authors just getting started?
ABH: My last pieces of advice for new authors are three-fold: 1 – Don’t start your publishing journey with a series, do a stand-alone book first, because you will learn everything you don’t know about the process and how to make it better. 2 – Get connected with other indie authors, it really helps to have people you can ask questions from when you’re feeling lost. 3 – Find a good editor. Seriously, they are worth it, and I can’t stress this enough. I’ll stop there, or I’ll keep sharing all the mistakes I’ve made (and the new ones I’m making) and the hard-won advice I’ve been given. Enjoy the journey, everyone, it’s a wild one.
DLL: Awesome! Thank you! I will leave our readers with a gallery of your fantastic Lake Tahoe photos.
Follow A. B. Herron on Instagram for more amazing photos and the latest on her books.
Born and raised in Massachusetts’ Merrimack Valley, Michael C. Carroll has always loved storytelling. After graduating from Boston College, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia where he teaches and lectures on the epic poetry that inspires his writing. It was not until his master’s program through the Bread Loaf School of English brought him to Oxford University, that Michael knew he had found the story he would spend the rest of his life telling.
In Professor Francis Leneghan’s tea-scented office, Michael began studying the Old English manuscript of Beowulf. That literary exploration led to his thesis that addresses the allegorical significance of the dragon fight that concludes the Anglo-Saxon epic poem. Not long after earning his Master’s degree, Michael began writing Beyond the Fall of Kings, the incredible true story of the war behind the poem of Beowulf.
Currently, Michael lives in Atlanta, Georgia where—when he is not giving lectures on Beowulf—he can be found making dinner for his wife and daughter, coaching his school’s football and swimming teams, and working through his own translation of the Old English Beowulf Manuscript.
Thank you so much for joining me this month, Michael. I’ve really been looking forward to our visit. You’re involved in a lot of things that I want to get into. But first, I’ve been dying to ask you about what it’s like to immerse yourself in the world of Beowulf. I admit I haven’t read it, but I enjoy the cinematic interpretations. I’ve never met anyone who’s made it a life study, especially to the point of mastering Old English. You’re like a modern day bard. We’ll be sharing a couple Instagram video clips of your readings below.
A.I. Art by D. L. LewellynA.I. Art by D. L. LewellynA.I. Art by D. L. Lewellyn
I’ve been studying up on the poem for our discussion. Aside from the significant themes like the warrior code and the cost of adhering to its principles, and what Grendel and his mother might represent in contrast, it fascinates me that this very old tale is steeped in fantasy with witches and dragons, and a good reminder how far back our modern fantasy stories reach for inspiration.
Q: What drew you to the ancient poem? Was it the period of writing, the style, the characters, or the story? Can you elaborate on the elements that interest you the most?
MCC. First off, thank you for all of the kind words! I have been looking forward to this interview ever since you contacted me after reading one of the short stories I wrote a little while back, which I’m sure we’ll talk about in just a bit. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this opportunity to talk about my writing and the things that inspire me.
Alright, let’s get into it.
I think what first drew me into Beowulf and why I love the story are actually a little different. When I was in high school, I had a phenomenal AP Literature teacher—isn’t that always how these stories start. His name was Jay Pawlyk. As part of our curriculum, Mr. Pawlyk taught the anglo-saxon epic. Oddly enough, I don’t remember much about the story from that first initial read. I remember that the translation that we read was in verse; I believe it was Seamus Heaney’s translation though it’s hard to be sure. I also remember writing an anglo-saxon poem bragging about my abilities playing the guitar hero, and while my attempts at reliving those glory days during the pandemic with that video game were unsuccessful, I do still have my students write a similar assignment.
What I remember most was how much Jay Pawlyk loved the anglo-saxon world that the poem calls home. I remember him explaining how when he was in grad school, he dove head-long into a language he didn’t understand and came out on the other side practically dripping with alliteration and verse and meter. I remember his passion for bringing that world to life in our modern day.
I think in retrospect, now that I teach the poem and have submerged myself in the old English manuscript, those are the aspects that I love the most now as well: the world, the poetry, and the way the poem is still applicable today.
DLL.That is so fantastic-That aspect where you can take a deep dive into history, find literature that is both informative and entertaining and bring it to life in the present. I’ve always envied those who found a way to dedicate their lives to academia, and it is a real treat to get these details from someone who has done it and is happily immersed. This also makes me want to take a class on poetry to expand my skills as a writer.
Q: I’d be thrilled if you could provide a synopsis of your Beowulf-themed thesis on the allegorical significance of dragon flight. Sounds fascinating. What prompted you to pick that subject?
MCC. Of course! The final draft of the thesis was well over a hundred pages, so I promise to keep this as brief as possible. Here’s a synopsis of the poem for those that need a refresher, followed by my hundred-page thesis in a nutshell.
At the start of the epic poem, the title hero travels to the land of the Danes where he kills a monster along with the beast’s mother before traveling home. Then, fifty years pass, and voila, Beowulf somehow finds himself king in the land of the Geats. Finally, after a thief steals a treasure from a fire-breathing dragon, elderly Beowulf fights the poem’s final monster, dies in the process, and dooms the nation he loves to destruction from impending warfare.
Ok, that’s the poem.
My thesis deals with the “voila.” During that fifty year gap, Beowulf and the Geats (the Hretheling dynasty) go to war with the Swedes (the Scylfing dynasty). That historical feud has become known as The Swedish Wars, a five-phased bloodbath that leads to Beowulf ascending the Geat throne.
I argue in my thesis that the dragon fight that claims the life of the title hero allegorically represents that feud, the true, historical cause of the Hretheling demise.
And here’s a little plug…that Swedish War is the exact tale that Beyond the Fall of Kings, the first book in the Sons of Hrethel Trilogy, brings to life.
DLL. Thank you for sharing that! And giving us a peek into your works in progress. An exciting project for sure. It must be a thrill to weave your own epic tale out of a passion for language and history.
Q: Your bio shares how you became interested in studying Old English. But can you talk more about the link between your fascination with Beowulf and its archaic language?
MCC. While I fell in love with the poem when I started teaching it, I only became interested in the Old English manuscript when my master’s program brought me to Oxford University and I had the opportunity to learn from Professor Francis Leneghan, author of The Dynastic Drama of Beowulf. I earned my master’s degree through the Middlebury’s Bread Loaf School of English, which brought me to Oxford in 2019. The class I took with Francis dove into the manuscript, and that was my first introduction into Old English studies.
Now, for some background, I am a huge grammar nerd. In addition to writing, I am also a teacher at a private school that runs from 7th grade through 12th grade. My time in the 8th grade classroom has led to a great love of grammar, right down to the lost art of diagramming sentences. I could talk with you for hours about the difference between gerund and participial phrases and consider it an afternoon well spent. At the same, however, while I know that being passionate about grammar makes me more of an exception rather than the rule as an author, I do think that it makes me a better writer.
For those reasons, I think finding my way into Francis’ office was the perfect storm for me. An epic poem that I knew and loved? Check. A professor equally passionate about an anglo-saxon epic poem? Check. Alliterative structure and epic meter ripe for analysis? Check and Check.
That was when I dove into the murky waters of translating, and I have found that those waters are as tumultuous as they are deep.
DLL.It is so refreshing to hear from a writer who appreciates all things grammar and vocabulary! Editing is often the labor we all want to put off. You’re making me want to take your classes and get back to the basics. But even more than editing is having such an arsenal at your disposal to craft your best story. Like a sculptor with all the best tools to hew out a masterpiece. My background is in office and legal assistance… decades of writing and editing. I was very happy to utilize those tools when I started writing fiction a few years ago. It felt like I had a small leg up. I say small because I had no idea about the amount of growth that lay ahead. You never stop learning!
Enjoy clips of Michael reading Beowulf in Old English borrowed from his Instagram page at the end of our discussion, and follow him for more.
Q: I would also love to hear about what it was like to study at Oxford, to be immersed in a world of academia and a university that encapsulates an entire historic city. What an opportunity and avenue to find your life’s passionate pursuit!
MCC. To say that studying at Oxford was like living out a dream would be an understatement. While I was overseas, I lived in a dorm room on the Lincoln College campus, which is right off of Turl Street. What was even better was the fact that my wife came with me for the summer as well! The memories we made that summer are among those I cherish the most in my life.
Oxford, England is like a writer’s paradise. You turn the corner and see J.R.R Tolkien’s house. You walk the doors of The Eagle and Child pub, and you are greeted by a massive portrait of C.S. Lewis. You take a walk along the river and find yourself staring at the quad where they filmed scenes from the Harry Potter movies. The marks those writers have left are everywhere. The impact they’ve had on literature is everywhere. The air is practically steeped in it.
DLL. That’s exactly how I imagined it! Thank you for sharing your experiences from the inside of such a phenomenal literary mecca!
A.I. Art by D. L. LewellynA.I. Art by D. L. LewellynA.I. Art by D. L. Lewellyn
Q: Do you imagine yourself as an English bard in a past life? Would it have been only in the time of Beowulf? Or are there other periods you see yourself wandering through?
MCC. While I love poetry, I think there’s something unique about Beowulf, and perhaps more specifically, the history behind Beowulf, that I find super fascinating—indeed, more fascinating than any other story I’ve ever encountered.
I talk about this a bit on the Required Reading podcast episode where we discuss Beowulf—another shameless plug—but Francis Leneghan once compared Beowulf to an Anglo-Saxon Forest Gump. I have come to use this comparison every time I begin teaching the poem and any time I’m charged with explaining why I love the poem so much. Really, I bring this comparison up whenever anyone will listen…
Like Forrest Gump, the poem of Beowulf does more than describe a renegade warrior tearing limbs off of monsters in 7th century Scandinavia. The poem of Beowulf is the history of the Anglo-Saxon people. It’s one of the most thorough and complete historical accounts of a group of people in all of literature. For that reason, just as the story of Forrest Gump follows a hero through the Vietnam War, and the Watergate Scandal, and draft riots, the Anglo-Saxon epic follows its hero through the rise and fall of three historical dynasties, countless blood feuds, and a handful of wars that shaped three centuries of human history. The characters and references and mead-hall songs are all entrenched in that captivating history.
For that reason, I don’t think that it’s the time of Beowulf, but rather the history of Beowulf that resides at the heart of my passion for the story.
DLL. Great analogy and glimpse into your classroom! Definitely helps me grasp the impact of how literature can be a window into a period of civilization.
It would be amazing to listen one to of your lectures on Beowulf. What are your key topics? Who gets to avail themselves of your expertise? Only students? Or do you have a broader circuit?
MCC. For the last eight years or so, I have taught Beowulf at the school where I teach. I teach the Seamus Heaney translation because it’s beautiful, approachable, and tells the tale in verse, which I think is an important distinction. Admittedly, there are many scholars who deem the translation “Heaney-Wulf” due to the fact that Heaney was a poet first and a translator a far-and-distant second, but part of what that means for my students is that nearly an entire term of study is dedicated to a single poem, which allows for me to read the poem out loud to them in its entirety. Without a doubt, it is the term I enjoy teaching the most.
To answer your question though, yes, my students are the only ones who must endure my lectures; with that being said, however, I do bring up the poem whenever I can on the Required Reading podcast.
But I will say, for those who are interested, I have begun posting on my Instagram page a series of reflections entitled, “Beowulf Was First” in which I take a look at modern movies, books, and television shows—from How the Grinch Stole Christmas to Disney’s Tangled—that draw inspiration from Beowulf, so feel free to take a look at some of my musings there!
What theme or element from the poem does your audience want to hear about most?
MCC. Every year we have a set of themes that we address with the students that are prevalent: hospitality, identity, legacy, heroism, etc. Sometimes those themes change from year to year, most often they remain essentially the same. But the theme that we always address that seems to gain the most traction is when we discuss the human code.
In class, before we read the first line of the poem, I always have the students write down three codes by which they must abide. At our competitive, private high school, most often those codes end up being their academic honor code, their dress code, and their athletic code of conduct. After giving them some time to muse, write, and share with one another, I introduce the theme of the Human Code, a code by which all Anglo-Saxon people—kings, princes, and warriors alike—abide. It’s a code that dictates everything, how they live, breathe, and ultimately pass on into the Lord’s keeping as the characters so eloquently state in the poem.
I think addressing the human code that way helps to show them that while they might use a different language and wear different clothes and live in a different, albeit much colder, part of the world, the challenges that they face and the morals they use to approach those challenges are not too dissimilar from their own.
DLL. Well. Since I can’t be young again and a student in your class, this was the next best thing. Thanks! And I’m glad you touched on the code. When I delved into the poem for this interview, that was an intriguing element I wanted to explore.
Let’s talk about your work on Beyond the Fall of Kings. It sounds epic. I would love to know about the story itself and your progress and plans for it.
MCC. I know I mentioned this above, but Beyond the Fall of Kings is the untold story of the history behind Beowulf. It’s the first book in The Sons of Hrethel Trilogy that essentially tells the story of the Swedish Wars. The book itself follows three different characters: King Heathcyn of the Hrethelings, King Ongentheow of the Scylfings, and a young warrior named Eofer for the Geat nation.
What I love about the story, and I hope readers love as well, is that it’s historical fiction. These battles really took place. These kings really rose to power. These characters really lived and breathed and in some cases died for their kingdom. I love being able to bring those stories to life.
I did have a manuscript request from an editor for Beyond the Fall of Kings, so the novel is being considered for representation; for more about the texts journey through publication readers can feel free to follow my Instagram page where I release chapter excerpts and publication updates.
DLL. That is amazing news about representation, Michael! Thank you for sharing right here your exciting prospects for this body of work! Your labor of love. Congratulations! I’ll just keep sprinkling your Instagram page around, so our readers can be sure to find you.
I reached out to you for this chat after reading and thoroughly enjoying one of your short stories. I also read it out loud to my husband because I knew he would love it and we got into a great discussion about it. It’s called A Wrong Cruelly Done. It won a place in our Fantasy Sci Fi Writers Alliance anthology in Part I, God vs. Man, and I can’t wait for it to come out in print. After reading it, I really got a sense of your flexibility as a writer. What other projects do you have in the works? And where can we find them?
MCC.A Wrong Cruelly Done was a short story I wrote that, like a great deal of my writing, finds its inspiration in Beowulf. For readers who might be unfamiliar with the story, A Wrong Cruelly Done reimagines Prince Herebeald’s death from the Anglo-Saxon epic in 1970s Northern Ireland. I loved writing that story. It gave me a chance, with Beyond the Fall of Kings in publication limbo, for lack of a better phrase, to keep me writing.
When I submitted the piece for the competition, I sent a message to Eric thanking him for the prompt because it launched me into what has become my current project.
I’m really excited to announce that I’m nearing the completion of a book of short stories! It’s entitled Retold: Eight Short Stories with Roots in Epic Poetry. Like A Wrong Cruelly Done, these short stories reimagine tales from epic poetry in a variety of settings, everywhere from a spy-infiltrated Istanbul to a starship in outer space. I’m hoping to take some time to seek publication opportunities for some of the stories in a few literary magazines before queerying the collection.
DLL. Those stories sound not only awesome but a ton of fun to write. And I can’t wait to read more. Please keep me posted, so I can share your future publications!Visit the Fantasy Sci Fi Writers Alliance and find out more about the short story challenge, which is still in progress.
Besides Beowulf, what other literature or authors have influenced you? Is there a person(s) who has inspired you most?
MCC. Yes, and his name was Brian Jacques.
At a scholastic book fair in second grade, I discovered Brian Jacques’ Redwallseries. For readers who are not familiar with the Redwall books, they are essentially stories about knights in shining armor set in a world of rodents. When I was younger, I read every Redwall book that I could find. I have memories of being in the back seat of the car during long vacation drives devouring those stories of adventure. The first origin story I ever read was Martin, the Warrior, the prequel to the Jacques’ flagship Redwall; I can remember sitting in the public library with tears streaming down my cheeks as I fought through the ending of that book.
When I think about the stories that inspired me, I always come back to Redwall, and for that reason, I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Brian Jacques.
Let’s get into the amazing Podcast world of Required Reading. Did you really tell me it’s hitting a million downloads! Wow! I’ve been dipping into quite a few of the episodes because they cover so many books and authors I love. How did it get started and when? Can you tell us about your co-hosts and what your objectives are, who your target audience is? What do you have planned for future episodes?
MCC. Of course! So Required Reading is a podcast that I co-host with a couple of other teachers that I consider both coworkers and friends. We are blessed to have a fully equipped podcasting studio right on our campus, which makes arranging our episodes a little easier. We typically release episodes on the first and the 15th of every month, and the books that we read span everything from graphic novels to Shakespearean classics.
While our conversations bring us in a myriad of different directions, we center our discussions around what it means to read and teach great literature.
Dr. Nic Hoffman and Mr. Mike Burns are the other co-hosts, and oftentimes, we will feature a guest who is somehow affiliated with the text—they are a fan or scholar of the author, they recommended the text for an episode, they wrote their master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation on the material, etc.
And yes, the last I heard from Nic, Required Reading was on pace for a million episode downloads, which is both crazy and exciting.
You can find us on Spotify, the apple podcast app, or wherever else you listen!
DLL. Awesome. Thanks, Michael, and congratulations to all of you on your growing platform.
Now I’d like to touch on your life as a creator. With so many pursuits, how do you balance it all with family? What are your tips on staying organized and getting things done, while finding time to relax?
MCC. I wish I had a good answer for you on this one. I think that this really is the hardest part: balance. I teach full time for a living, and on top of those courses, I’m also the head 7th grade football coach, the head middle school swimming coach, and an assistant coach on the varsity diving team. Before all that, though, I’m a husband to my amazing wife, Katherine and a father to our beautiful daughter. Finding time for writing, seeking representation for publishing, and keeping up with things like continued features and posts online is hard. Really hard.
I can’t say that this works for everyone, but I will say what has worked for me. Every Sunday afternoon, my wife and I talk through the upcoming week. I use that time to create the “To Do List” of papers that need grading, cars that need oil changes, meals that need cooking, and everything in between. It might seem exhausting, and sometimes it is, but at the bottom of every “To Do List” I write “Continue Writing Retold” or “Keep Writing BTFOK” or “Continue WIP.” Amidst all the craziness of life, I have found that keeping that on my to do list always keeps my writing on the table. It feels like a treat when I finish a stack of papers, and I can carve out a few hours here and there to do some writing. For me, it also keeps writing as a passion that I look forward to rather than work that simply needs completing.
Lastly, though, I love to cook, and I have found that to be an excellent outlet when things pile up.
DLL. Ah… the power of making lists. This is a great tip!And so is having a dedicated hobby. Highly recommended!
Do you have a favorite creative space? How do you prepare your environment, so you can be your most productive? Any routines or tips you’d like to share?
MCC. I write a lot at work. Sometimes that means in my classroom. Sometimes that means in the library surrounded by students and books. Sometimes that means at my desk in the English Department.
I tend to be quite social when it comes to my work. Not with sharing it, mind you—I still have a great deal of work to do on that front—but I like being around people when I work. Nothing beats a rustic coffee shop with a bold dark roast, packed tables providing a little white noise, and a nice scone.
Of course, that’s the dream, but that’s not always the reality. These days, when I finally sit down to write, the coffee has gone cold and there’s a monitor next to my keyboard that could break me from my trance any second. I think it’s beautiful in its own way, though.
DLL. I love it!
What do your kids think about Old English and history? Any like-minded scholars following in your footsteps?
MCC. Well, I don’t know how many students really love Anglo-Saxon epic poetry, but I do think that there are some who are interested in the history. In class, we talk a great deal about the code by which the characters in the poem abide. I think some of the lessons that the students gravitate towards the most tend to be the lessons that bring the poem to the students where they are.
For that reason, I have kept Jay Pawlyk’s Anglo-Saxon boast assignment alive. I think they really start to understand the verse and meter when they write to imitate the poem themselves, bragging about everything from brushing their teeth to tying their shoes. Whenever the lecture veers toward something they encounter in their teenage lives, the poem takes on a new light.
I will say that in addition to lecturing on Beowulf, I also teach a Creative Writing elective at the school where I work, so while there might not be many budding Old English scholars, maybe there will be a new author who hits the writing scene in a few years who I taught in class; if they start talking about their crazy high school teacher who would wear an Anglo-Saxon war helmet when reading about the title hero’s clash with Grendel, you’ll know who they’re talking about!
DLL.Oh yeah! I’ll be looking out for those writers for sure. LOL
Thank you again for spending time with me this week and sharing a day in the life of a writer, podcaster, and Beowulf and Old English scholar. It was epic, just as expected! Do you have any parting words of advice for our readers who want to follow similar passions?
MCC. If I had one word of advice, I think it would be to focus on the story. After all, as a writer that’s our most valuable currency. I know it can be difficult, especially when entering the scary world of agents, publishers, editors, social media, and challenges that await around the corner that I can barely pronounce or understand, but I think by focusing on the story that you want to tell, that story that keeps you up at night when you’re lying in bed, that story that gives you chills when you’re stopped at a red light because you can feel deep down in your bones that it needs to be told, if you focus on that story, and telling that story the best that you can, as passionately as you can, not somebody else’s way, but your way, I think the rest will take care of itself.
I have been looking forward all summer to my conversation with this amazing romance author. GiGi Meier not only has three sizzling hot standalone novels in her Cañon Series that I’m enjoying, but she is a tireless supporter of indie authors. Let’s Go Live! with GiGi Meier is an exciting prospect for any writer. I got to join her there Thursday and it was a blast!
To get us started, I’m sharing GiGi’s own words about her writing process, which we will delve into in our discussion.
I dream and write. I daydream and write. I have nightmares and write. See a general theme? I find inspiration everywhere in overheard conversations, magazine articles, social media posts, stunning photographs, and occasionally my own life interactions. Ideas, dialogue, characters, and voices swirl about my mind. It’s magical, unique, and indescribable. Sometimes it’s even lightning in a bottle. The words flow faster than I can type. Then one day, the magic stops, and my mind becomes cluttered with real life. Worry, doubt, anxiety, and insecurity move in. I call them the troublesome foursome…
That is so spot on, GiGi! Before we get more into the day in the life of a dark romance author hinted at above, I’d like to talk about your books.
I’m finishing up Tomlin and can’t wait to read the next installment in Takahashi, but I’m really looking forward to Hamilton’s story in Hamilton because I was ready to know him better as soon as he appeared in Tomlin.
First, you can enjoy getting more acquainted in Hamilton.
Here’s what one reader says about Tomlin:
Really compelling story that I couldn’t put down! Sometimes I wasn’t sure if I even liked Dani, but I love her unapologetic way of being who she wants to be.
Robert Weaver
I selected this because it’s what I’m feeling about Dani. She is a spitfire with a huge chip on her shoulder and a bit much for me, but I keep reading because I want to see what Tomlin sees and you’ve given us enough nuggets to know she has much more to offer under all that bluster… and because their interaction is superbly crafted right from the beginning… and because I want to see what she does with her amazing auto restoration skills. Having spent a day with friends and her stock red 72 Chevy C-10 and his restored red 55 T-Bird convertible at Hot August Nights made that particularly relevant for me. But I digress…
Give us your take on your novels and the dark romance genre they dwell in. What inspired you to write romance? Also, how did you go about giving Dani her expertise in auto restoration?
GM. I love LOVE. As cheesy as it sounds, I love people falling in love, fighting to stay in love, and sometimes losing love. The journey to find love can be dark and moody in my books, as people deal with their past experiences or life trauma that prevents them from feeling worthy of love. I like exploring that theory in my characters, as it’s similar to real life.
I have a very good friend that does car restoration. In fact, he tore down a tennis court to build a warehouse to store all his restorations. After seeing his projects and driving past a restoration place in a small town in Texas, Dani was born. Although my friend and Dani couldn’t be more different, he is very mellow and never cusses.
DLL. Love is never cheesy in my book, so long as it comes in nice dark settings, fantasy or otherwise. I get a sugar overload if I try to watch anything on the Hallmark channel. 😉
I knew there was a great story behind Dani’s creation. Thank you so much for sharing that.
One of my favorite questions is how did your life morph into that of a writer? Everyone has their unique story and I love putting as many out there as possible to inspire our audience, which might include those who want to get started on their own writing journeys.
GM. I LOVE this question! I was celebrating my thirtieth year in corporate America, having reached the top of my profession. I looked at my colleagues, equal in position but mostly twenty to twenty-five years older than me, and thought this will be my life if I continue on this path. Tragically, one of my colleagues passed away on the job, having never enjoyed the retirement his hard work over decades afforded him. Between these two realizations, I peered into two possible futures I could have and thought, I’m not going to die with my music inside. I’m going to pursue my dream of becoming a romance author and left the industry at the end of 2021.
DLL. That is truly inspiring. How long have you harbored that music?
GM. Oh jeez, I was thinking about that the other day and I wrote a children’s series over twenty years ago that has never seen the light of day. I had forgotten about that until my sister reminded me. Instead of following my dream then, I put in another twenty years in corporate America.
Who or what is your biggest influence/inspiration?
GM. Inspiration comes to me in all forms. Interactions with friends and family, my dreams, strangers I encounter when running errands, musical lyrics, and other books. I find people fascinating because everyone has a story to tell. They are a culmination of their past, hopes, dreams, lifestyle, experiences, choices, and beliefs. It provides more ideas than I can write.
Who are your top three favorite authors?
GM. Oh my, there are so many good authors. It’s hard to pick just three. I mainly read in romance, fantasy, and self-help genres, but I will occasionally cross over into suspense, thriller, and biographies. When reading fiction, I’m a sucker for witty banter, clever descriptions, and thought-provoking stories. When reading non-fiction, I want to learn something new or discover a gem I can implement in my life. I want to be a lifelong learner.
I’m sensing you have a few books stacking up in your WIP pile. What’s next for your fans?
GM. Jeez, if I could download my brain, that would be amazing because I have so many ideas. I have ten novels in various states, but none are scheduled for the next two years. I love the cast of characters in The Cañon Series, and once Hamilton releases on 9.1.23, Isla’s novel is up next with an early 2024 release.
I planned six books in the series. Isla will be the 4th, followed by Rico and then Lars. I’ll be sad when the series ends next year, as I feel like they are my family. I’m considering doing a monthly mini-story for readers as they want more of Dani and Tomlin’s story. It would be cute to see them at Christmas or read how he did at his final Olympics from Dani’s POV.
DLL. Absolutely fantastic. And I know what you mean about saying goodbye to your book family. I also really enjoyed that part of our interview on “Let’s Go Live” about waking up in the middle of the night with ideas or scenes playing out in our heads that we have to capture somehow before we lose them. That’s been a constant feature in my life since I started writing. I’m not complaining. It’s been amazing!
Can’t wait for all these to get out in the world, Gigi!
Do you also write short stories?
GM. I don’t write short stories. My romance novels are well over 120K words. However, as a palette cleanser, I’m starting a novella series about older women and younger men that will be exclusive to Amazon. It will be a fun, lighthearted change from the darker, longer books in The Cañon Series. More to come on that!
DLL. Okay. First off, that’s an amazing amount of writing. Second. Now I’m going to have to be looking out for those delightful romance nuggets!
Are there other writing projects you dream about, or other genres you’d like to try? Where do you see yourself as a writer in ten years?
GM. I’m such a planner that I have three, five, and ten-year goals. I’m super nerdy like that. If I could wave a wand, and all would be true, it would look like this. Writing stories that resonate with people, where they change their life somehow, and I get to meet them at book conferences and signings to hear how my characters helped them. I’d continue interviewing authors, book bloggers, editors, and anyone in the indie world to help support, promote, and educate new and upcoming writers interested in pursuing their dreams. It would be magical if my books were made into movies so the stories and characters could reach non-readers and positively impact their lives. At the end of the day, I want to help and serve others through the written word, and however else I can use my gifts to make a better literary world.
DLL. Sounds to me like you not only wake up with scenes in your head but plans! Nice… I’ll be checking back to see how your fabulous goals are coming along.Dani would def make a great movie character.Have you thought about who you would want playing her?
GM. Interestingly enough, I have not. However, my readers have ! Boy, oh boy they have strong opinions about who should play her and DM on my social media to share. It’s hilarious. I’ve gotten everything from Margot Robbie to Britney Spears.
Can you share a little about how you got your books published, found a cover designer, beta readers, editors? That sort of thing. I feel like you might have a team put together. Is that the case? And what advice can you share about assembling one or assembling your resources?
GM. This has been the biggest challenge in my author journey. It’s daunting to publish a book. It seems like a thousand steps, and the process completely overwhelmed me. The journey is so varied that no two authors tackled it the same way. That’s where I got overwhelmed, bought a lot of different courses, and sadly, paid vendors that didn’t perform. It’s part of the learning process and one of the reasons I started my weekly Let’s Go Live! with GiGi Meier series on Instagram to bring interviews with other authors to share their journey to publishing. They are over an hour and packed with gems so listeners can garner new ideas that resonate with them or discover things they want to try.
The book community on Instagram is very supportive, and I found my cover designer, editor, beta readers, and street team on the app. In my experience, if I call for help, I get a good response, with many people from the book community willing to share and connect me with the right people. I’ve been fortunate to have made wonderful new friends who love and support my books and characters like I do. It’s a blessing.
DLL. This is exactly why I love asking this question. Like you said, everyone has their unique journey and the more journeys we share, the more someone will find something that will help them on their own path. I’ve been waiting to hear from someone who utilizes the amazing services for cover designers, arc readers, and editors I see on Instagram or social media because I’ve been hesitant about reaching out myself. And I totally get what you’re saying about wasting money on promised help from vendors who fall short. It’s a morass of pitfalls mixed with the real gems out there. Having a community to vet things through is key.
Your story is encouraging. Thank you!
On the marketing side of things (your website is phenomenal, by the way), do you participate in book signings, or otherwise get out and meet your readers? For instance, conventions or other events.
GM. Awww, thank you! It’s been a learning experience, and I think I have a degree from YouTube in how to build and update a website. I’d love to do conventions and have attended them in the past before COVID. This sounds terrible, but I haven’t been since. I must add that to my to-do list as many are booking for next year.
DLL. I often wonder how differently my book introduction might have gone if I’d had the opportunity to do the old-fashioned book store, library signing circuit. It’s something I keep in the back of my mind for someday. I wrote a blog about my uncle Lauran Paine who became a published author in the 40s. I wanted to compare the industry during his time through his eyes as a prolific author with now, and it was a super fun piece to capture in a blog.
I think COVID changed the industry in good and bad ways. The supernatural fantasy genre really took off for one thing as readers needed exciting ways to escape, and so many authors made their debut. I may not have been able to go out and peddle my books when I launched them, but I would never have started writing without the restrictions placed on us by the pandemic giving me the impetus to read tons of supernatural fantasy fiction and develop a burning desire to follow in those writers’ footsteps.
I’ll take the opportunity here to provide the tip of my 2020 reading list: Two of my favorites who inspired the more recent surge, Stephenie Meyer (Twilight) and Charlaine Harris (True Blood). And the surge… Cassandra Clare, Laura Thalassa, Kresley Cole, Stephanie Hudson, Jeaniene Frost, Ilona Andrews (husband/wife team), Grace Draven, and for paranormal romance with humor and spice, Carrie Pulkinen.
You have such a fun, energetic vibe on Instagram. What got you started on your Let’s Go Live feature? What advice can you share about social media engagement? And what are your key benefits/ takeaways in chatting with authors and sharing your videos on YouTube?
GM. You’re so sweet, and I’m very relieved to hear that. Social media is challenging as you want to connect with your target audience, but it’s subject to the algorithm. I genuinely enjoy connecting with people and hope that shows. Connecting is what got me started going live on Instagram and the desire to create friendships with beautiful people all around the world. How neat is that!
Whether discussing my books in comments or DMs or supporting other authors as they market their books, I love it all. I try to have a good variety of posts about my books, author interviews, and recent live writing sprints. It’s important to meet people where they are, and social media is it for me. My biggest advice is to do what is natural for you when creating and posting content and enjoy the process, as it’s a long game.
DLL. Good advice. You were brave going live to the world, but I’m glad you’re out there for us. 😊
I decided to love what I’m sharing in my posts first, algorithms or not, because it’s a creative outlet for me, and I started my Instagram journey as a crafter and planner sharing those creativities. Writing was just one more outlet I tacked on to a list of them. I find it fascinating to see such a huge variety of aesthetics on users’ accounts either by design and careful content selection or because their tastes and personalities come through organically.
Now, let’s get into your writer’s life. When the “troublesome foursome” are not plaguing you, how and where do you like to spend your time creating? What is your process? Do you have favorite tips or techniques for getting your creativity flowing?
GM. I write every day, some days are brutal, and others are creative, flowing magic. It bothered me that everything wasn’t creative genius out of the gate, but that’s unrealistic. You can always rewrite and edit a brutal writing session. Sometimes, a better idea presents itself during those rewrites. I think about my story all the time, what the next scene would be, did the characters respond how I thought they would, or do I need to change something in the last scenes. Some days I write. On other days I dictate.
I find my best creative flow dictating when I’m outside, staring up at the trees, and the story flows through me. Now dictating means a lot of editing as I don’t always speak clearly, and then I’m like, what the heck??? But at least the story is coming out, and I can fix it from there.
DLL. You are the first person I’ve talked to who uses dictation! That is so awesome. Makes me want to try it. And when you say brutal, are you talking about writer’s block or other challenges when things aren’t otherwise magical?
GM. Brutal as in writing blocks or the words don’t flow as artistically as I want, then doubt and worry creep in that I’m losing the story or it’s not intriguing enough. Sometimes brutal can mean, being at the bottom of the daunting mountain of writing another book. It’s a labor of love, that us writers pour our hearts into and when it’s completed, I’m at the top of the mountain, enjoying a breathtaking view of where my blood, sweat and tears has gotten me. Once the book is released to the world, it’s no longer mine. It belongs to the readers, and it’s back to the bottom of the mountain to make the journey once again.
DLL. That is a great analogy. Thank you for digging into that tough aspect of a writer’s life.
Time management is such a challenge for us all. What tips do you have for balancing the foursome with pursuing your creative passion?
GM. I use Timular. (not a paid promotion, haha). It’s an app that keeps me accountable for my time. I created over fifteen categories to monitor how much time I’m spending per activity to measure my productivity. Leaving the confines of corporate America, I had to implement some structures for myself not to be an amoeba all day and actually get some books written.
I also set weekly goals, some repetitive, others one-time, to keep me on track to meet my goals we discussed in the earlier question. They are tracked in a paper planner with stickers and different color pens because I need the validation to add my check marks or notes of what changed on the goals or if I decided not to do them and why.
DLL. Fantastic. I love talking to super organized people and so wish I could stick to a system with my planners. But like my stories and writing schedule, they’re stuffed with everything but organization. 😉
I’m wondering if you follow YA Fantasy author Sarra Cannon’s YouTube channel, Heartbreathings?
For our readers: Sarra is up to 472 videos with a wealth of content on productivity and a writer’s life, covering a variety of planner systems and providing tips and challenges on what to do with those stacks of pretty notebooks. (These are a few of my Hobonichis.)
GM. I’m an avid subscriber to her channel and even joined her Publish and Thrive course, but haven’t made it through all the modules yet.
DLL. I knew it! Awesome!
This has been a blast, Gigi, and I wish you the best. Any parting words of advice for those who would like to pursue their creative passions?
GM. Believe in yourself when no one else does. If you are lucky to have a strong support system, you’re already ahead of the game! If you don’t, and many people fall into this category with negative home lives, non-supportive spouses and family, or naysayers whispering into their fears and doubts, join Bookstagram. You will find like-minded individuals who will not only root you on but care for you simultaneously. Everyone is worthy of pursuing their dreams, and everyone is worthy of the happiness that achieving their dreams brings. Be brave, step out with careless abandonment, and pursue yours. Don’t die with your music still inside you!
Thank you!
Follow Gigi at gigimeier.com, YouTube, Instagram, and on Goodreads to keep posted on her new releases. So much is coming your way from this dark romance writer! Leave us your questions in the comments, and thanks for joining us.
Meet Richie Billing on my February 2024 Sunday Spotlight. Sign up for his newsletter and be amazed and inspired by all the writing resources and gems like this. Thanks, Richie!
My guest this month is Halli Starling, an author who participated with me and a couple hundred others in the Indie Author Spring Spectacular hosted by writer Hayley Anderton. It was a super fun event where I was surprised more by how many indie writers I enjoyed meeting than even the results of the group promo.
Halli’s book, ASK ME FOR FIRE (a fantastic title for a romance story and one reason I was captured right off), got added to my cart and proceeded to sweep me away. We’ll talk more about the book but I’ll just start with… Wow! It was a super compelling and satisfying romance.
I bought the second book in the series, A BRIGHTER, DARKER ART (another lovely title), which is getting checked off my Goodreads list this month. And this folks is all before I focused on the author’s first book about a vampire and other supernaturals! (I can never pass up a vampire story). I can’t wait to check WILDERWOOD off my list as well. This means we will be chatting about writing contemporary romance and fantasy romance, two separate animals, at least to me, in this month’s spotlight. Wait. Who am I kidding? Romance is romance, and love is love, and this author brings out the best of it all in her stories.
Let’s Meet the Author
Halli Starling is a queer librarian fascinated by the occult and strange history. She lives in Michigan with her spouse, feline supervisors, and is always surrounded by books.
When not writing, she co-hosts The Human Exception podcast, plays D&D, and spends time in the beautiful outdoors of Michigan.
Let’s Get Started
I love it! Feline supervisors. So, how many cat bosses do you have, Halli? And do they allow you any autonomy at all? Or, are they the secret to your prolific writing?
HS. I have four cat bosses! They all have different opinions about how much autonomy I should have, especially since 3 of them are quite elderly (19 years old, 16 years old, and 15 years old!) and sometimes their opinions supersede all else. And they’re all so so opinionated!
But seriously, I adore my cats, and maybe one of these days my dream of running a big farm where elderly and injured animals can live their days in peace and safety could be a reality.
DLL. Awe. What ages they’ve reached! So precious, and yes, the older the bossier. I can see that. I wish you the best on your dream farm. How lovely!
So, now that we have your household organization sorted out, Let’s dive into your books. You write all levels of spice, dip into different genres, and explore mental health and healing issues… And I love the diverse, layered variations in the settings, characters, and relationships.
As an example, you rate the spice in ASK ME FOR FIRE (AMFF) as a four and then Raf’s story in A BRIGHTER DARKER ART (ABDA) as a three. Raf, a main character in ABDA, is Ambrose’s best friend in AMFF. This means it’s a two-book series and the stories connect. While book two might have less on-the-page sex, that doesn’t mean the delicious page-turning sexual tension or any of the hot, sweet engagement is any less. The romance and spice levels were spot on and perfect for each story. I found that interesting and refreshing because so many romance authors write to a specific spice level.
Does the spice decide itself as the stories and characters develop? How do you build your diverse worlds, i.e. a lakeside community and wilderness in AMFF and a coastal art gallery business scene in California in ABDA? Where do you get your character inspiration? And my big question is, where does your insight and inspiration on the human condition come from? I’ve found the phenomenal struggles, growth, and ultimate revelations of your characters to be fleshed out so well and so powerful.
HS. Well, first of all, that’s a huge compliment and I’m totally floored by it!
The spice definitely decides itself (mostly) as I write. As the dynamic between love interests develops, it becomes quite natural for me to figure out the spiciness as I go. It’s hard to describe but I think a lot of authors will understand!
As far as how I build my towns and settings, it’s all about the vibe. I am, to both my benefit and detriment, an intuitive person and certain places I’ve visited over my life have installed themselves in my mind as potential settings for books. I grew up in the Midwest in the United States, but have always been in love with the cooler, darker, more forested places. The inherent mystery and allure of pine trees and mountains, crystalline lakes, and rocky coastlines, is pretty romantic!
Character inspiration is probably the hardest part for me as I write. Sometimes it flows really easily, and other times I have to metaphorically wrestle it to the ground and figure out what to do with a certain character, from how they talk to how they move their body, how expressive their face is, etc. I’ve certainly had characters fight me and over the years I’ve learned to put aside those projects until the character(s) come to life. The books I’ve published are the success stories for me!
The insight and inspiration question is also kind of tough to pin down, so I’ll do my best! A very long story short, I grew up in a household with very mentally ill parents who expected me, as the oldest child, to manage their emotions for them. When you do that starting at a young age, you become pretty hypersensitive to people’s emotions, the tone of their voice, little movements in their faces. Now, this is something that anyone who grew up in an abusive household will recognize as a trauma response. It’s one that I’ve taken to therapy and have been working on, but I also somehow learned to utilize it in my writing. I don’t want to use terminology like I’ve turned my trauma into some kind of “superpower”; that denigrates my experience and trivializes what trauma does, but I would never say that it’s not been a useful tool, even subconsciously, in my writing. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you saying that the realness of the characters is so powerful, that means a lot!!
DLL. Thank you so much for sharing this, Halli. There are so many insights here, and it’s utterly inspiring how you’ve tapped into the experiences of such a challenging childhood to bring amazing depth to your writing. This helps me listen to my own voice when I’m struggling not to cater to tropes and trends and stick with what my characters are telling me.
I should also note that this depth doesn’t only apply to the main characters, but the richness comes out in your secondary characters. You bring to life the layered and varied backstories of the people most important to the MCs. They are entirely believable as individuals and add color and all the right touches to bring out the flaws and strengths of the MCs while not taking over the spotlight.
Here’s what one reviewer had to say about ASK ME FOR FIRE.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Mature communication is everything! While the two love interests spend a good amount of time in their own heads thinking about how the other feels, once they actually start vocalizing their interest in each other, their communication is fantastic. They’re transparent and honest about their needs, open to compromise and willing to lay out their expectations. We love to see it!!
This book doesn’t follow the typical romance pattern of them getting together super quick, having some misunderstanding and breaking up, and then getting back together by the end. Because of that, this may feel like a slow burn to some. And it kind of is with the way they agree to take their time with each other, but to me it fees like a realistic simmer of getting to know someone rather than the more common insta-lust/love. I love the way you can see what they see in each other by their first kiss. That kiss happens just over 40% of the way in, by the way.
An entertaining mystery plot line occurs while our MCs fall for each other. It’s important and is ultimately what sets the romance into motion, but it isn’t the main draw of the book so manage your expectations on that front.
Overall, Ask Me for Fire is a soft and sexy romance read featuring mature, communicative men in their mid-30s. Their romance feels good, makes them feel good, and is just plain satisfying. Nice job, Starling.
I’m looking forward to Raf’s romance in the follow-up A Brighter, Darker Art! ~ Phobos
Note to our readers, I adore Halli’s Book Guide on her website. It’s a handy and attractive way to showcase not only the books but also the themes and spice levels before her fans pick their next read.
Now, let’s break it down a little further and talk about contemporary romance vs. paranormal or fantasy romance. First, are all your stories in the romance category, and are romantic relationships (HEAs) your focus? Second, what might drive your story into a fantasy setting as opposed to what drives it into a contemporary backdrop? What is your overall process for developing a story?
HS. Ooof, you’re asking the hard ones, I love it!
Most of my stories are in the romance category. As far as if romance is the focus of the books, it very much depends! When I started writing, yes, romance was the big focus. As I’ve gone on to different projects, different genres, romance sometimes takes a backseat to something else. My upcoming release, VENOR, is first a paranormal thriller featuring queer characters. Romance is only hinted at in the mutual attraction between the main characters, but only a bit of flirting and a few kisses happen toward the end of that, and the reader is left wondering if Renzo and Cedrick will or won’t get together.
As far as driving motivations in fantasy vs contemporary settings…there’s this idea I see pop up every now and then that books without a giant plot and ALL THE THINGS HAPPENING aren’t worth it. That the quieter, cozier stories aren’t actually books, and because “nothing happens”, they suck. I think a lot of us, as readers and consumers of media, are starting to realize that those quieter, softer stories are sometimes what we really need in a world that is constantly on fire. Contemporary settings allow me, as a writer, to weave those quieter stories. That’s not to say that cozy fantasy/cottagecore fantasy isn’t possible; it’s a great subgenre with some wonderful titles! I aspire to write something like that in future and admire the authors who have created those cozy little worlds. But in a contemporary story, I can really focus on the characters.
With fantasy…I grew up reading so much fantasy and loving all the sword and shield books, all the ones with magic and mystery and tales to unravel. I’m also a huge D&D/TTRPG player, so fantasy is kind of my jam. So in my fantasy books, my brain immediately wants to create these big worlds, but with a twist. We don’t always need to explain the “magic systems” (I low-key hate that phrase, why is it a “system” all the time?? Why does it have to have laws? What happens if magic simply is?), we don’t always need the big hero stories. Fantasy settings give me so much room to run around as a writer, so I try to take advantage of that.
My overall process for developing a story is different book to book! A lot of it has to do with where I am mentally and emotionally in the moment. My novellas were written at a time when I was wrestling with some personal demons, and I just needed some soft, sometimes sexy, stories. I mostly wrote the novellas to entertain myself, and they’ve all thankfully found an audience who appreciate them for what they are: low or no-stakes books about people falling in love.
With novels, I’ve slowly become a fan of scattershot plotting. My latest book, COUP DE COEUR, is an example of that. I wrote an outline! I kept it nearby as I started to write the first draft! And then…everything went sideways and the book veered in a direction I was not expecting but was so excited about. Basically, my imagination doesn’t shut up and I’ve learned to let it take the wheel now and again.
DLL. I’m trying to figure out where to start. There are so many great points resonating with me right now. I guess I’ll just say that you’ve put into words the things that are important to me and it’s wonderful to know other writers feel the same. I totally dig what you’re saying about a place for slice-of-life, calm stories without the need for intricate worlds or magic systems because character-driven stories and complex relationships in everyday settings can have the power to engage and entertain in a way so different from full-on action pact adventures.
I’ve used my short stories to hone that idea since there isn’t time to build rules and societies. The backdrop has to be woven in with choice words, letting the reader’s mind conjure the details while they enjoy the characters’ journey, which they do! Readers are great conjurers.
HS. Yes, exactly! Short stories are so much fun, but it is a whole other art form than long prose. I love dumping readers into a world all set up and ready for them in short stories.
I did that with “Neon Needle” in A Chronicle of Monsters, which came out earlier this year. Who doesn’t want to read about an outcast gorgon who now works as a tattoo artist in a shop run by an automaton and a poppet, where the shop computer is also trying to be a cult leader? Short stories are amazing.
DLL. OMG. I’m going to have to read that one just to see how you put those things together!
Can you talk about your latest release, COUP DE COEUR, your presale VENOR (ooh yeah… a werewolf story!) coming in September, and your works in progress? What can we expect next and when?
HS. Oooo yes! COUP DE COEUR started as a novella titled THE PERMISSIVE LIBERTINE, which is a phrase I read in one of my favorite books (THE CITY OF STAIRS by Robert Jackson Bennett), and it stuck in my brain. I really wanted to write a book about the toxic friendship between two people. I had no idea who they were or how they presented, but the idea was like a hook in my brain. I sat on it for a bit, worked on other books, and after about a year, I went back to the idea. At the same time, I had just learned about Dr. John Dee, who was (and this is true) Queen Elizabeth I’s court mage/advisor. He would do all the predictions for her of the future, and advise her on all matters of the court, but he was both deeply religious and fascinated by the occult. A lot of people were at that time, in the 16th and 17th centuries, which is very different from what we see today. People like Dee saw magic as religious, as a gift from God, and once I learned about him, I was fascinated. Suffice it to say that he and his partner, Edward Kell(e)y/Talbot, and their work with attempting to talk to angels, plays a huge role in COUP and the rest of the trilogy. So if you like super weird occult stuff, magical books that talk, and a bit of multiverse shenanigans, COUP might be for you! It’s also a “why choose” romance between three men who are thrown together by accident and quickly fall for each other, but then have to reexamine their relationship as the story goes on.
VENOR is a werewolf story! And a thriller! And a story about a city on the brink, and addiction, and enmeshment. It’s part 1 of 2, with Book 2 (VERTO), coming out in mid/late 2025. Honestly, this book really wasn’t planned at all, and I started it as an experiment on writing werewolves and writing about addiction. I have personal experience with addiction and serious mental health issues via family and here I am again, writing to help exorcize my personal demons. But I quickly realized that Renzo and Cedrick’s story has a third character, the city of Bennek. It’s the story we keep seeing played out – a city where the gap between the wealthy and the poor grows each day and systematic oppression – a main tenet of capitalism – forces poverty to not simply happen, but become lodged into the workings of daily life, including the systems supposedly meant to help those who need it.
And as far as what’s upcoming…
DEMIMONDE, the sequel to COUP DE COEUR, should be out in early 2025. The cover artist is starting work this autumn, and the editing begins soon as well! I’ll want a few months to promote the book before it goes on sale. With any luck, I’ll have the first draft of Book 3 written by the time DEMIMONDE is out in the world. I’ll also be working on VERTO this autumn.
And I’m currently poking at a fantasy story about an 800-year-old sorcerer who gets pulled back into adventure by a mysterious visitor who seems to know quite a bit about her past. I love “one last job” fantasy books, and while that plotline is a lot of fun, I think it also works really well with themes about grief and loss and regret. I also have about four other ideas I want to work on, but I need to be patient with myself!
DLL. Wow! These all sound absolutely fantastic and are going into my Kindle as soon as they come out. Not to mention how inspiring your volume of ideas is to a writer who dreams about getting out more stories! Your imagination is boundless!
You started writing in 2020, which is the same time I got started. My ambition came after reading tons of fantasy romances my niece introduced me to during the first summer of the pandemic. Can you talk about what inspired you to start your writing journey?
HS. Oh, this is an easy one! I ran a D&D campaign for friends I met online (hey friends!) for almost 3 years. Before that, I had tried to write a book but nothing stuck. Running the campaign was like writing four or five novels…just PAGES of notes, whole notebooks of plotlines and locations, and NPCs and schemes, and it gave my creativity a serious jump-start.
DLL. I’ve had other guests with D&D backgrounds and am so impressed, as well as envious, of the skills role-playing fantasy games instill in writers, those layers upon layers of detail.
HS. I truly recommend folks give role-playing a shot! It seems super intimidating, and admittedly it’s not everyone’s jam, but the doors it can open in your mind! When you start to strip away preconceived notions we all carry with us and truly embody another character, the experience can actually be life-changing. I’m lucky to have people I’ve role-played with for years who also like to lean in and really dig into characters and stories.
DLL. Totally making me want to delve in! I’ve often felt that I missed out by not getting into gaming with real players, especially a group of friends.
What else has helped you hone your skills? How did you explore and make decisions about publishing your books? What are your favorite tools and resources you’ve assembled along the way? Are there any favorite discoveries or things to avoid you’d like to share? (Sorry for the multi-questions 🙂 but I could squeeze in even more!)
HS. I’m a reader first. So my writing has been heavily influenced by the books and authors who have stuck with me. From the way Robert Jackson Bennett structures his stories and overall narratives, to the romances from authors like K.J. Charles and Cat Sebastian, to the nonfiction writers who dive deep into the weird occult stuff that I love, everything always ties back to the books cemented in my brain.
As far as publishing goes, I am lucky in that regard. I’m a librarian and worked in public libraries for over a decade, so I understand a lot of the technical side of things (how to get ISBNs, which platforms to use to sell my books, etc). The other part of it – formatting, cover art, writing blurbs – is because, even after leaving public libraries, I still work with books. So a lot of it is job experience, but also because I am such a big reader. I know what books I love, so I try to write what I’d want to read. I know that’s cheesy, overused “advice”, but in my case, it’s pretty true. It also means that my books aren’t written to market, which means that my reader pool is probably pretty small.
The biggest piece of advice I’d give any author is to make sure you own all the stuff and develop skills where you can. That will save you some serious cash and make you more self-sufficient. This means that, if possible, you have your own ISBNs (how to get them varies from country to country, and in the US, they’re ridiculously expensive). If you commission cover art, you own the commercial license for it. And if you can, learn some editing/text placement in Canva or another program so that you develop your own method for formatting your books (whether it’s in Docs, Word, Atticus, Vellum, etc.). You might even be able to help out other authors in the long run or market your skills into a nice little side hustle.
And if you don’t know how to get started or how to do something, ask another indie author! Heck, come ask me! I would be more than happy to help someone avoid the mistakes I made and save them some time, frustration, and money.
And whatever you do, remember that reviews are for readers. I only read reviews I’ve solicited through ARCs and beta reads. Once my book is out there in the big world, how it is interpreted is out of my hands. I know I did my best to represent the story and characters fully, and how the book is read is none of my business.
DLL. Fantastic! So much great advice from your extensive background. We’ll dive more into being a librarian later. Thanks for the author shoutouts. I’m checking them out and added links.
I’m pretty much bound to Amazon and their free ISBNs. I’ve done separate ISBNs through Draft2Digital for sales in other stores, but have decided for now to be exclusive to Amazon’s KDP Select and delisted in those stores. Your advice helps me in this whole decision process going forward. Thanks!
HS. It’s so hard to get started publishing your own stuff! There’s a number of factors most people wouldn’t be aware of, and why would they? ISBNs aren’t things people think about a lot, if ever. It looks like a barcode like any other product, what does it really do?
And that’s the thing about Amazon vs. Ingram vs. D2D, etc…they all have advantages and disadvantages. You can absolutely publish your stuff on your own website but when you use another service’s platform, you’re tapping into their market. I started with Amazon-exclusive and gradually expanded my platform reach as I published more books. There’s no one way to do any of this, and thankfully it’s a ton easier to self-publish now.
DLL. Thank you for that encouragement and the reminder to get informed on all the options. There is a lot of free information out there on how to self-publish, and authors like you sharing experiences is what this Spotlight is all about. So all you struggling indie authors, reach out to other authors. Don’t be shy.
So, as we just emphasized, selling our books is a business, and time management factors in. How do you stay organized? What are your preferred methods or techniques to create and maintain a productive environment?
HS. “Organized” might be a bit too strong of a word! I’m a mood writer first and foremost, so unless I’m seriously dug into a story, sometimes my brain just needs to hop around. I usually have at least one project on the side that gives me a break from my main focus if I’m stuck or need a breather. It’s hard to describe, but my brain is pretty good at filling in holes and figuring out plot points randomly; like “shower thoughts”, where things suddenly clarify while you’re washing your hair. That’s my mind 90% of the time!
Productivity is easy-come, easy-go for me. I try not to stress if I’m not in the mood to write, which is admittedly very hard some days. I’m always reminding myself that no one is dictating my release schedule…it’s all me! So if I need to slow down or take a break, then I need to listen to that. Otherwise, I prefer to write in bed on my iPad while listening to rain sounds or some kind of lo-fi jazz. I’m easily distracted on the best days, so that particular set-up is how I’ve learned to focus on my writing. I also suffer from a chronic pain condition, so my bed is the most comfortable spot in the house.
DLL. Shower thinking! Perfect. A new term for organization and an awesome reminder to give our brains space to do their own thing… and to ease off that self-enforced schedule and enjoy the writing! Our deadlines are our own! (I need to chant that to myself a lot).
Who or what has been your biggest influence in fiction?
HS. Simply put, it has to do with how a book makes me feel. I’m an extremely picky reader, so when a book clicks with me, I immediately start tearing it apart to figure out why it resonates. It’s the same for me with most media, especially television shows.
DLL. I can see you deconstructing your reads. I need to get more analytical about why I love a story.
HS. I have a very particular vibe I latch onto, so several years ago I got curious as to why certain media hit me so hard. For example, I have watched all three seasons of Hannibal maybe 5 times. Certain episodes, more than that. Now, I am not a fan of horror when it comes to visual media (love it in books); I’m a big wimp. But that show has some of the most beautiful cinematic shots I’ve ever seen, and the themes are (and I say this lovingly) perfectly demented. I got curious as to why I love that show, books likeTHE MONSTRUMOLOGIST by Rick Yancey, the first season of Penny Dreadful, both seasons of Interview with the Vampire. The darkness, the monsters, the costumes, all amazing, but the deeper themes about the monsters in people and how extremes (despair, pain, lust, envy) make monsters of us all. I eat them up.
DLL. Sorry to say, I haven’t watched Hannibal, but I can add to your comments about the monsters in people, which I agree is such a compelling theme, by pointing to the books by Thomas Harris. The author created an extraordinary amalgamation of the deviant, resourceful mind. RED DRAGON was my first introduction to profiling, and it floored me like it did so many back in the eighties, especially the idea that to catch a killer, you have to think like a killer… And where do you stop that transition? Monstrumologist! What a great title!
I would like to talk about your cover art for two reasons. AMFF and ABDA had such captivating artsy covers. Can you tell us about the designer and your collaboration? And… You also design covers! Tell us about your graphic design background/passion and how to commission your work.
HS. Oh my gosh yes! So Daze is the artist for both covers. She’s INCREDIBLE. We met via the Witcher fandom a few years ago and she did some fandom art for me on commission, then I got the idea to ask her about doing a cover. Daze is so easy to work with and obviously wickedly talented; she deserves all the praise and flowers for these covers. Once she finished the art, I did the text formatting and layouts, and I realized I wanted to learn to do cover art. So I read some tutorials and taught myself how to put covers together in Canva!
I started doing some graphic design for a library I worked at many years ago. We had a really small staff and very little budget, so we were forced to do pretty much everything by the seat of our pants. I had a colleague at the time who was also passionate about graphic design, so we sort of taught each other different skills. I’m no professional but it’s the same with my writing – I know what resonates with me, and I try to recreate that.
If you want to commission me for a cover, you can DM me on Instagram or email me at hallistarlingbooks.com. I also have examples of covers in my Etsy shop (booksbyhalli.etsy.com) and I post examples of covers I’ve done in the past on my Instagram. I’ve been working really closely with the team at the Twisted Retreat Book Box and making covers for them has really helped me hone my skills.
DLL. This is exciting stuff. Collaborating with artists is a dream for me and a perk of being a writer. Hopefully, I can tap into that resource one day soon. Here is a beautiful piece Daze did for Halli’s awesome characters.
Along with the amazing covers.
What are your tips for engaging in outreach and marketing? You have a lively Instagram and a vibrant website. And you get out to meet your readers in public at signing events. How important is it to carve out that time and engage with readers? Where else can readers find you?
HS. I think a lot of indie authors will tell you that marketing is a slog because we’re usually doing it all ourselves! I was just saying this to the lovely and talented Laura R. Samotin (author of THE SINS ON OUR BONES, a heart-wrenching, atmospheric, freaking gorgeous queer romance inspired by Jewish fantasy and history) about this very topic. Her book is traditionally published and she was doing a lot of the marketing herself! In our increasingly hectic world, trying to gain anyone’s attention for 3 seconds feels impossible. So I’ve stopped thinking about it as “selling” my books and more putting them out into the world to find the right readers. Writing will never supplant my day job. I write for myself and for the readers who are looking for something different, something heartfelt and quietly introspective. Maybe occasionally sexy.
I LOVE meeting readers! I’m a very extroverted introvert, which comes from years of public service (including a five-year stint as a children’s librarian). And with my books featuring queer characters front and center, going to Pride just made the most sense. That’s my audience!
I did my first Pride event last year and got hooked, and did four more this year (with one more to go and a book conference in August). The events are always tiring, doubly so because I have a condition that exacerbates my fatigue, but it’s really important to me to be there.
Readers can find me on Instagram and my website. My website links out to aggregate pages where all my books are listed at online retailers, in physical and ebook form (and two have audiobooks as well!). I have a Threads account that I use sometimes, but Instagram is my go-to.
DLL. I’ve heard this so many times about the work involved with marketing even if traditionally published. I enjoy the control I have over my content and stories so will likely continue along the indie path. Still, pitching to an agent has its romantic appeal. I am definitely noting your method of getting books out into the world as the focus rather than slogging through the selling. It really should be about the joy and connection to our readers.
Yay on the audiobooks! How awesome is that?… And way to go, getting out there to meet your readers despite the challenges, and congratulations on the results.
HS. Thank you so much! I’m the same way, having control over my content is key. That’s not to say if someone offered me a publishing deal that I would automatically reject it. I’d have to think very seriously about it. I’ve queried ASK ME FOR FIRE and COUP DE COEUR, both with some success as far as agent interest goes. But I work in the book industry, and I’ve seen the good and bad aspects. Your agent should be your biggest champion, and the agents I interacted with for both of those books wanted to make changes out of the gate I wasn’t comfortable with. I’m a recovering people pleaser, so there was power in me telling those folks, “No, I won’t do that to my story” when they wanted to make changes. And no one’s feelings were hurt. It was just the reality of the situation.
DLL. Ooh! Thank you so much for sharing your journey! I dream about an agent who’s totally in my corner. For now, we can be that person to ourselves, eh? Way to go on sticking to your guns. I can’t imagine ASK ME FOR FIRE being changed in any way. Yikes!
Aside from writing, being a librarian, and your cats bossing a good portion of your life, you run an Etsy shop. Selling signed books, premade covers, book swag, etc. Awesome! I’m curious about that marketing avenue, particularly for your signed books. Can you give us some insights, pros and cons, and your best practice tips? How is it working out for you?
HS. Well, with the recent news that Etsy is going to allow AI-generated content to be sold on their site, I’m trying to figure out if I’m sticking with them or going back to listing my signed books and other stuff on my website. I started with a small shop on my own site, but I was struggling with the shipping aspect of it, so switching to Etsy, at the time, made sense. I’ll probably stay on Etsy for now; it is cheaper and easier for me, as a single owner small business, and if people are grossed out by the AI aspect, I would just encourage folks to take a few extra minutes to make sure that the person they’re buying from actually owns the product/art/etc. That’s the struggle when you’re doing this all on your own! It takes so much to make even a single dollar of profit, and the platform or tool you were using can suddenly throw a giant monkey wrench in the works.
I would recommend finding a rhythm that works for you. I know we all want to make things easy and appear accessible to everyone all the time, but even little things can help. For example, my Etsy store lists my shipping period as Monday-Friday. It gives me a bit of breathing room as a human being with needs outside of all the book stuff. It also keeps me from panicking and trying to fulfill orders on a weekend, especially given how busy this summer has been with Pride and book events.
DLL. Great advice. Thank you! And again, I enjoy hearing how busy you are getting out there, which equals steady growth!
So wait! There’s more. You also host a podcast. Can you tell us about the Human Exception and where we can listen?
HS. I freaking love the people I do this podcast with. I met Nathan first, he was the DM for our online D&D group, and he was so laid back and loved every chaotic thing we did, and we quickly became friends. I met his partner, Cayla, via that game as well (we played in-game girlfriends, total chaos between a 7ft tall gnoll and a 2 ft tall gnome). And through them, I met Courtney. We’ve been recording for nearly 4 years (on Halloween!), which is hard to believe.
It all started when we were talking about our varied interests and the weird things that fascinate us, and I think it was Nathan who suggested doing a podcast. Mostly to entertain ourselves, but it’s slowly grown a wonderful audience of listeners who like the same weird stuff we do. And that’s what HEX really is, four friends telling each other stories about weird things we’ve researched, or in the case of a long-running series, them listening to me read aloud the infamous fanfiction, “My Immortal”.
HEX is available on our website, where we also list all our resources/references and you can read the scripts for each podcast. It’s also available on Spotify, Google, Redcircle, pretty much any podcatcher out there.
DLL. That sounds like an absolute blast not to mention fascinating. And Wow! I just took a look at the website–totally cool. HEX Files. I love it! And what a great thing to provide the audio content with all the backup resource material. Love the t-shirt, too. I can’t wait to dig in to those topics.
Let’s wrap it up with a peek into your other career–a librarian! One of my biggest regrets is that I didn’t go into library sciences. Can you tell us how you followed that path and the highlights of a library work life?
HS. Library work was the love of my life for so long! And it still is, just in a different regard. Libraries pretty much raised me; I found solace in them at a very young age, and the librarians I met were very encouraging to a young girl who just loved books so much. I got a part-time job at a small public library when I was 19, and this was the kind of place so small that we did everything. Circulation, reference work, computer help, programming. I got a very intensive, very educational experience working there, and when I left that library to go to a larger branch in the same system after graduating with my Bachelor’s in English, my supervisor encouraged me to go after my MLIS (Master’s in Library Science). She was instrumental in helping me understand what I wanted and I’ll always be grateful to her for so much.
After that, I spent some years as a children’s librarian, and as someone who grew up the way I did, that job was the thing I needed. I fell in love with children’s books and working with kids, especially ones who didn’t have access to a lot of books at home and came to the library with their school or daycare groups. I made it my job to make them laugh and find a new book to take with them. This was a long time ago, but those experiences stuck with me. I stayed in libraries for several years after that, and I kind of bounced around between management and programming. My heart was always with the small community libraries, so I mostly stayed in those places and worked hard to advocate for literacy and book access. Libraries are SO important to their communities; they’re one of the few places that don’t ask for a monetary transaction for you to come in, stay, and use their resources. For an international audience, I know your libraries can be quite different but they’re no less important. When people want to take away your access to information, it’s for a reason and we should all be ready to fight back against that.
I left library land about 8 years ago but I still work with books. I was really burning out doing so much public-facing work and was struggling with my health, so the change came when I needed it the most. I started working from home way before COVID hit and was fortunate enough to stay in that kind of role up to now.
DLL. Fantastic! Libraries are the best fantasy worlds in my book. (Eeek. Sorry for the pun.) I was reminiscing the other day with my husband about our respective library experiences from our childhoods. Before computer games stuck us in our rooms, there were libraries encouraging you to venture outside your home and traverse multi-storied, awesome-smelling, real bound paper heavens. And to have worked in them… Sigh…
Thank you so much for visiting with me on my Spotlight, Halli. Any parting words of advice for those who want to explore writing fiction, and queer romance in particular?
HS. The indie scene is where it’s at! We’re the ones writing queer books that don’t just focus on tragedy. There are definitely beautiful traditionally published books with great queer stories, but if you want authenticity unfiltered, indie authors know what’s up. And as far as writing goes, give yourself time. I know it looks like we’re all competing against each other, but it’s true that a rising tide lifts all boats. We should celebrate each other! Don’t let anyone else try to tell you how to write or publish. It’s your story, and it will find readers.
DLL. What a fantastic thought to leave us with and I’m thrilled to be part of the rising tide with you. Thanks again, Halli!
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!
By D. L. Lewellyn 