In Conversation With: D.L. Lewellyn Today I have the pleasure of sitting down with author D.L. Lewellyn. Can I offer you anything to drink? Thanks so…
Free Book Friday June 14: In Conversation With – Paranormal Fantasy Romance Author D.L. Lewellyn
You never know when you might strike up a conversation on Instagram during those designated periods each day spent checking out all the creative content in the bookish community. Every so often, a post or a comment will lead me to an awesome resource, exchange of ideas, or a new favorite book or author, which is how I ended up enjoying a fantastic adult urban fantasy series by A. B. Herron, and that prompted an invite to the author to visit my Sunday Spotlight.
A. B. Herron is a dyslexic Indy author who resides in the Pacific Northwest where her Elemental Wolf novels take place. Mingling her studies in anatomy and Zoology, she entwines science and magic to creative effect while plundering the forests for inspiration.
She says 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. When she conquered reading for herself, Herron could be found curled up in her closet, tucked away from reality riding on horseback, preforming magic, and later running with werewolves.
Herron works full time, writing in the cracks between responsibilities… and playing with her dogs because she just can’t help herself.
Thank you so much for stopping by, Amanda! I’ve really looked forward to our chat. In the time since we first talked about doing this interview, you’ve planned some exciting events, and I’ve had a chance to read both Watching Water and Hearing Wind.
Your stories tick a lot of boxes for me. The setting covers my favorite neighboring regions. The characters are rich, diverse, and captivating and each time a new one is introduced, they’re more surprising than the last, magical and otherwise.
Besides the individual characters, I adore all the supernatural races who come to life in such fantastical detail, leaping off the pages and fluttering into my world like fairy lights. The delectably spicy interactions are imaginative, fresh, and above all, sensual, which is perfect for the elemental theme and Nora who, as a kindred, is a child of nature.
Let’s start with updates on your book signing events and then we’ll dive into your works and writer’s life. I imagine Portland and the Pacific Northwest in general is a great place to engage in the wild with your readers (no pun intended 😄). I would love to hear about your experiences. How are the venues? What is it like preparing? How do you plan for how many books to bring? Does one event lead to doing another, or how do you find events? (And note to our readers. As I’m writing this, A. B. Herron is gearing up for a big event at Barnes and Noble in Eugene, Oregon tomorrow, and I can’t wait to hear about it!)
ABH. Hi Darci, let me start by saying thank you so much for spotlighting me and inviting me onto your blog. I’ve really been looking forward to chatting with you about all things books. 2024 has been a very exciting year for me so far. I dedicated this year to outreach with readers, which means finding different in-person opportunities, blog spots, and podcasts. Bumping into you was a happy accident (and I enjoyed exploring your romance world as well!).
As you mentioned above, Barnes and Noble was my first book signing last Saturday, and for a first-time event, it went really well. I had some amazing local support from friends who came by to add to their book collections, as well as a handful of curious new readers. My favorite moment was watching someone literally cradle my book after they read the back blurb, then announce “This has to come home with me!” My author’s heart soared, followed closely by the fear of “Oh my gosh, I hope she enjoys it!’ 😆
Because I’m so new to this part of the book world, I’m learning as I go. My biggest recommendation for anyone getting started is to ask questions of experienced authors. The book community is an invaluable resource and I’m so grateful to everyone who has fielded my questions. I should have asked how many books to order. Whoops! In my enthusiasm, I estimated fifty of each copy, and have been told since that I have perhaps overreached. However, I did have twenty books find new homes last weekend, so that was hopeful. The prep work has been multifaceted, everything from designing an aesthetic for the tables to learning how to use a card reader.
These experiences are forcing me to finally set up that mailing list for readers, as well as be more vocal about what I write. I’ve been shy about talking about my book on Instagram, which is funny because that is the reason I got onto Instagram! I’ve been so impressed by your page, by the way, your book content is wonderful to wander through. So to answer your last question I’m not sure if doing one event will lead to others.
The “Hot and Steamy Portland” romance book fair that is happening at the end of the month (May 30th-June 1st) was an opportunity my friend shared with me and I applied and got accepted. Art and Vineyard, which is taking place in Eugene in July (4th-7th), I got accepted into because I made contact with a local author who spearheads a lot of local author opportunities. My best advice, scour the internet, go to local events and talk to people about how they got in, and ask the writing community at large. When people know you are looking, they tend to help you out.
DLL. This is all so fantastic! Thank you for sharing your experiences and awesome tips. And what a special treat to have someone cherish your book even before reading it. You must still be walking on clouds.
One of the things I love most about your stories is how you bring so many layers of the natural world onto the pages. It’s clear that you love the outdoors and you’ve said you enjoy plundering the forests for inspiration, but to be able to tell a story and convey that love through the sensory details is a real talent. I’m imagining that you soak up so much nature that you either journal about it or somehow catalog the things you experience. Can you talk about that aspect of your writing? What’s your process?
ABH. Thank you, Darci. That’s high praise coming from someone who has spent so much time in the Pacific Northwest, I’m happy to hear I did it justice. Honestly, I don’t journal as much as I’d like. My husband is an avid photographer and when he finds a really good spot I will sometimes pull out a notebook to ramble in while he shoots. But that’s rare.
When I am outdoors I pause and really take in my surroundings, from the smells, to how the light filters through trees, and I even stop to watch bugs. Being present, really present, and curious, I think cements these experiences for me so that when I sit down to write, there is a forest already in my head, in graphic detail.
I would imagine that my dyslexia is an asset here because I experience my inner world as a movie with more pictures than words, and it enhances my memory recall to vivid effect. It also means I’m a notorious daydreamer, but I try to stay in the moment as much as possible. 😂
DLL. Well, I have to say your process benefits your readers! And it’s inspiring for writers… and us daydreamers!
One of my favorite sections that demonstrates how you paint your scenes and put me right inside Nora’s head is her first encounter with the griffons. There’s a rich sensuality threaded through all the elements, not just in the spicy interaction between the smart, sassy, and fun characters, but through Nora’s experiences with her wolf, nature, and magic. I’ve been better in recent weeks at highlighting my favorite snippets while I read, and I want to share a few here from Hearing Wind to illustrate.
Benji’s voice was low and calm from the other room, tumbling like cotton balls into my ears over the din of the city seeping through the open windows.
I could feel the weight of the sky pushing down on me, as if it were trying to keep the scenery in two dimensions and my presence was disrupting the symmetry.
[H]is body was precise and controlled, yet fluid, as if he danced in the space he occupied.
A huge moon floated low in the star-cluttered sky. She pulled at me, begging me to slip my skin and come play in her light.
I could smell his fear for me hiding against his skin.
The air had started to take on the flavor of darkness–cool, pulling loam and moisture forward, sun drenched pine needles fading into the background.
…the emotion glided across her face like a shadow of a fish underwater, then dispersed.
And there are so many more prosy spots I captured.
My next question is how long did it take you to write Books One and Two? Did you live with these stories and characters a long time before starting them?
ABH. Oh, what a great question. Nora, my main character, and Zayden showed up in a short story that I wrote for a friend. Yet I couldn’t set them aside and their bigger story just unfolded around me as I began to play with it. Book One is the first book I’ve ever written, and the characters didn’t live with me long before I put them on the page. It took about a year to write Watching Water, and if it wasn’t for a good friend, I’m not sure it would have happened that fast. Getting the book edited and published was another two-year endeavor. Hearing Wind took a little longer to write. I had my writing group by then, which helped me constantly turn out chapters, but my work life got busier, and then the pandemic hit. My characters don’t live in my head for extended periods, they tend to pop up when they are needed, and I have to spend time getting to know who they are after they walk across my pages.
DLL. We share so many parallel experiences. 🙂 For my three-book series, Book One was published rather (too) fast within the first six months, and it was my very first novel. Book Two was published by the end of that first year. But it took me two more years to finish Book Three. And I’m glad because it was important to wrap everything up in the best way possible. So, to our audience today… don’t put that pressure on yourself. Enjoy the writing and listen to your characters. That’s what comes through most to our readers.
Can you share what we can expect to see next? What’s in the works?
ABH. Happy too. With a bit of luck, I will have the next book in the Elemental Wolf series coming out this year. The date keeps getting pushed back, because, well, life. This book is a slight deviation in the storyline because it is taking place right after Book One and during the events in Book Two. The reader will be following Tobin, a morally grey character from Watching Water, who has a lot of redemption ahead of him if he is going to survive. I apologize to everyone waiting for Nora’s next adventure, but Tobin needed a full book (much to my surprise), and it is putting events into motion for Nora. This book challenges a lot of traditional tropes and I’m excited to see how it will be received.
DLL. I totally get how the characters dictate whose story gets told next. As an author, you’ve got to go with your gut. I can’t write unless I’m feeling the character and they’re demanding their story be told.
For my two cents, I’m looking forward to more from Tobin, and you’ve left delicious breadcrumbs to inspire interest in his story. Challenging traditional tropes? Yes! I also can’t wait for more of Nora’s journey, and more from Zayden.
I admit, I’ve got quite a few novels in the works, and different characters call out to me at different times, which is fun because I get to switch between stories and all the novels are progressing bit by bit. Variety is the spice of life, eh?
Who are your top three favorite authors? Or in the alternative, your top three favorite books? What or who has been your biggest inspiration?
ABH. Oh, I never know how to respond to this question because the answer is fluid. Mercedes Lackey shaped me in my teens/twenties. In my thirties, Robin Hobb stole my breath and added to my wonder. And currently, Rebecca Yarros has completely rocked me with Fourth Wing. But I need to add Maria Vale, author of the Legend of All Wolves series. She wrote the romance books I wish I had written.
DLL. Oooh. Thank you for this great list to add to my TBR. Believe it or not, I haven’t read The Fourth Wing. I’m letting all the hype die down. 🙂 I’m definitely getting right on Legend of All Wolves! Those covers rock!
Your website is beautiful. Do you do your own web design? Would you say you’re an indie writer, publisher, and marketer? If so, is that by choice? Do you have plans to publish traditionally?
ABH. 😆 Don’t all Indy Authors have to “do it all”? I did create my website (on Wix), as in those are all my pictures from Oregon and Washington in the background. I am constantly learning how to market and I suspect I could pick your brain for some valuable gems. Going traditional? I mean if I could hand over all the marketing to a traditional publisher that would be amazing. But my understanding is that’s no longer how it works, and traditional authors still have to put themselves out there. So no, I have no plans to go traditional, I don’t have the time to find an agent, and I don’t write stories that fit tightly enough in any one genre to make a traditional publisher happy. So really, I’m Indy by necessity, but we could call it a choice. >laughs again<
DLL. Wow. Nice job! And you hit on exactly the reasons I’m staying Indie. I like the control over all the creativity, and that is such a good point… that we still have to work hard at marketing if we go traditional, so what’s the point? Other than an actual income book deal, but Yikes! The pressure.
What has been your experience getting your books out into the world? Can you share what you’ve found works best and what doesn’t work for you? What are your favorite tools and techniques for creating a manuscript ready to hand off to an editor? Or do you edit your own work?
ABH. Oh wow, how many paragraphs am I limited to? My best advice would be if you want to write, and publish a book series, write the first two books before you publish anything. Send that first book through an editor and take what you learn there and apply it to the second book before it goes to editing so you can change things to make them work better. Once that first book goes to print, affecting storylines becomes a whole lot harder. Pay for a good editor. Get into a writing community somewhere, local, social media, doesn’t matter, you just need people around you who know more than you do. I know there are amazing writers that can edit their own work, but I am not one of them, my dyslexia prevents that, so editors are my superheroes. I also use an independent press for publishing because I didn’t have the time to put toward learning formatting, ISBN numbers, and the rest and it was a good fit for me.
DLL. That is super good advice! I love the bit about writing the first two books before publishing them and wish I had that advice before I published Book One 😁 but then I wish I’d done a lot of things differently. What independent press do you use?
ABH. My publishing service is provided by Luminare Press
DLL. Awesome. Thanks for sharing that. I’ve also had to learn the ropes the hard way when it came to Kindle Direct Publishing (“KDP”) and Draft2Digital (“D2D”) for free publishing and FREE ISBNs (I emphasize free because I’m reconsidering buying a bundle of ISBNs going forward that are mine to use as needed for more control) I’ve been learning how to balance switching between being exclusive on KDP or going wide in other stores through D2D depending on collaborative promos I want to participate in.
So, I will add here for those who are deciding about being an independent publisher as well as an author… Use the excellent tutorials and Google articles! Reedsy and BookBaby offer services and fantastic free articles for independent authors.
You say in your bio that you were diagnosed with dyslexia as a child. I love hearing from writers how they learn to adjust to that challenge. Can you talk a little about how you worked or are working through it for those who might have the same challenge?
ABH. Dyslexia is an interesting neurodivergent condition. It affects everyone a little differently and usually shows up with other neuro disorders. My fun addition is a bit of OCD, but it’s seen a lot with ADHD. At this point, I have a deep relationship with dyslexia and I know how to work with it, where my strengths lie, and where I need the most help. I can’t spell, and that’s the biggest challenge. Spellcheck is amazing, but not a solution.
Now that spellcheck gives definitions with word suggestions, that has been a game changer for me. When the computer would present five different words that all start with the same couple letters, and out of context, I’d be a goner. As a result, people will find “bowel” instead of “bowl”, both words are spelled right, but vastly different and I can’t see that when I’m editing. However, the more I do, the better I get. The thesaurus has been the most help. For instance, I can’t spell “influential” but I can put in “important” and find what I’m looking for. It’s a great workaround.
DLL. Thank you for sharing this. I didn’t know about dyslexia’s relationship to neurodivergent conditions. I have to say, I’m super grateful for all the tools available to us now. I too am constantly using the thesaurus and translation features of Word, and Read Aloud has been invaluable. Hearing my writing has been my game changer for punctuation, word use, and even pacing and story beats.
Now for your writer’s life. You have a full-time job and say that you write in the cracks between responsibilities. I love that. What does that look like for you? Do you grab any writing time you can get? Or do you have a schedule?
ABH. I have tried a bunch of different approaches. Writing at work when I have a free thirty minutes, or fifteen, but those small windows are better for rewriting or editing, not full-on creating. I’ve found the most successful strategy for me is writing on a schedule. Or putting down designated hours during the week to only write. Not market, not answer emails, and no social media. I have my door closed, dog contained in my little home office, with the phone off, writing. Unfortunately, that has been hard to come by recently.
DLL. Ooh yes! I can totally relate. If I want to get fresh writing done for any amount of words–no distractions!
Do you have any tips or techniques to share about balancing your daily life while staying productive as a writer?
ABH. 😂 Yep, don’t have hobbies, friends, or a job. 😆 Seriously though, evaluate how important writing is to you. Do you like the idea of doing it? Or do you need to do it, want to do it, can’t think of anything else? And if it is the latter, then look at your schedule and figure out what you are willing to give up to pursue this, because as much as we want to believe we can “do it all”, we can’t. Something has to be sacrificed, whether it is sleep, movies, social activities, etc. Weekly I’m reevaluating what I’m able to trade for my writing time. For instance, I look for what will make me the most successful in the next hour and put my energy there.
We all simply need to define what success looks like to us. Is it a clean house? A job well done? Time with kids/family? Another chapter written? Another paragraph written? Food shopping? Dinner prepared? The list goes on. To make it even simpler, what do I need to do in the next hour that will make me the happiest later? Because “later me” will only be happy if “current me” puts in the effort. Sometimes it is addressing work challenges, sometimes it is writing a short story. And sometimes it is just sitting and reading a book. My humble advice would be don’t worry about balance, tend to your needs, your heart, and your future self. And somehow it all gets done.
DLL. Ooh! “…later me” will only be happy if “current me” puts in the effort.” This is going in my notes for inspiration. Great advice! Thank you!
Thanks again for chatting with me, Amanda! I look forward to what’s coming next. Any last words of advice for those who want to pursue writing fiction?
ABH. Thanks for having me. I really enjoyed your questions, they made me think more about my own process. To end, I would simply say, if you have a story inside you that you want to tell, start working on it, read a ton, get involved in the writing community, and be curious in your pursuits. Thanks again everyone, let your reading, and your writing, be wild.
Thanks for visiting everyone! You can follow all the latest happenings with A. B. Herron on her Website and Instagram.
It is such a pleasure meeting new authors on my Spotlight and a special treat when they come back for another chat to catch up on the latest happenings and explore new topics.
E.B. Hunter lives in a remote town in Northern Alberta, Canada with his wife and daughter. He spends his days working, and his nights crafting stories to entertain himself through the long, harsh winters. He hopes these stories portray people as they are, flawed humans capable of great and terrible things, and you can see yourself within his body of works. He strives for representation in his storytelling, and believes that everyone’s story is worth being told. If he ever stops writing, there are strict instructions for him to be put out of his misery. You can find his short stories in anthologies with Dragon Soul Press, and Starlite Pulp, as well as on Vocal Media.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Eric! I’ve been eager to check in this year and talk to you about some of your latest works. I just finished the rest of your stories in Tales From Beyond the Veil and had so much fun being surprised by that last story! I want to gush about it, but I don’t want to let slip any spoilers. Also, I just ordered my copy of Starlight Pulp Review #2. Those covers are the bomb! And I can’t wait to read the stories, especially yours.
I was super impressed with Starlite Pulp’s website and its vibe. Let’s start by asking you about the story you submitted for Review #2 and your submission experience with the publisher and then we’ll delve into Tales From Beyond the Veil and talk about horror.
E.B. Danny Galieote’s artwork is superb! I am a big fan of his femme fatale series. Fun fact: the title of the review #2 piece is Damn, I Broke a Nail.
You can meet the artist at https://www.instagram.com/dannygalieote
I have submitted a few times with Starlite Pulp, and it has always been a good experience. They are responsive and get back to you when they say they are going to. They work hard to cultivate not just good stories, but ones that carry a unique voice. I had a story sent in for #3 that didn’t make the cut, and I don’t even feel bad about it because I know they have a very specific vision for all their collections. They do charge to submit, but like they say on the site, there is a LOT of work that goes into putting these out, and the people doing the work deserve to get paid for it.
The story I have in Review #2 is an urban fantasy called Luck that sees Peter Halliday caught in between two vengeful Irish deities and an ancient game. I think it is one of my best short stories, and I can’t wait to hear what you think of it.
D.L. Ooh. Thanks for sharing the name of the cover art piece! Fabulous! And for sharing the artist’s Instagram. And yes, I agree that the nominal submission fee is very well spent. I had a blast reading Luck. Loved the ending because my mind went all over the place thinking of what I might do in Peter Halliday’s place.
My favorite partial line…
… I said, heading for the maroon Porsche that screamed ‘my owner wears turtlenecks.’
That totally landed on so many levels. Congratulations on being part of this great collection.
Here’s a shot of my book mail. I must say it was a very pleasant shopping experience.
I like how your Instagram vibe is noir, including the classic movie graphics you’ve been sharing on your posts. Can you talk a bit about that noir influence on your creativity?
E. B. When I first started writing, a friend of mine described my writing as ‘punchy’. I didn’t know exactly what that meant, but soon found out she was right! I like to keep things tight. Short, concise sentences like a shotgun slug that packs a wallop. I ended up reading the entire works of Raymond Chandler, then moved on to Dashiell Hammet. Starlite Pulp definitely got me more interested, and I really liked the vibe of the old gumshoe stories. I think the biggest influence on my writing style was seeing these masters of similes deliver such impactful dialogue with such punchy timing. I try to do that with my work, and hopefully succeed. My favorite line from Chandler has a woman tell Phillip Marlowe, ‘geez, you’re awfully tall.’ to which Marlowe replies, ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be.’ I just love stuff like that, and the old crime books are chock full of it.
D. L. I think you’ve found your voice, and that punchy style resonates with me for sure. I so appreciate getting the story behind the influence.
You recently published your first book under your own publishing banner, Heorot Press. It’s a collection of horror stories where each protagonist has an encounter of the supernatural kind.
Here are a few of my favorite lines as examples of the mood and setting your stories evoke.
Moth at the Window
“It’s stupid. To look into something like an attic and feel like death is staring back at you.” ~ Tiff
“A broken record is the worst noise in the world, other than maybe nails on a chalkboard.” ~ Tiff
As You Wish
“The reverberation of his neck breaking rumbled up my arms and across my back, making my stomach flip-flop.” ~ Amir
What Lies Beneath
“I’m glad that I was unable to sleep, or didn’t seem to be anyway (for all I know, it was all sleep though my eyes felt open). I was thankful for the stillness and the calm that came with knowing that nothing would happen in that place. I don’t know how I knew that, but it seemed true while I was there. But now I’m no longer there, and calm is a memory.” ~ Lawrence
Wow! I’m thinking our readers know what I’m talking about here. I enjoyed how each story had its own voice. Each protagonist was completely unique and anchored the reader immediately to what was happening. Thus anchored, each story moved along at a satisfyingly brisk pace, either with pure horror driving it, a gritty noir setting immersing the character (which I adore), or the soul-searching dread of fate moving inexorably towards them like a freight train.
If I had to pick, I think What Lies Beneath is my favorite. Lawrence was a compelling character, relatable in many ways, perfectly illustrating our human weaknesses and the consequences of giving in to them. Also, following him on his journey was probably the most terrifying read for me. And in Moth at the Window, my second favorite, I’m glad about Larry the Terrier, though I won’t say more. 🙂
I’ve read about half of these stories in earlier formats, so I know many of them have been around for a while. I’m enamored with how they all came together in this volume and curious about your process.
So, my questions… Did you plan early on to link them through a supernatural theme and publish them together? When did you construct that last story in the scheme of things? And tell us about Heorot Press and how that came about.
E.B. Ahh! So many good quotes! I love how things like that creep up on you after you haven’t read them in a while.
It all started when I felt like I needed a break from my third person narrative I was doing for my novel. I wrote a horror story called Graveyard Shift, and people seemed to like it, so I wrote three more. Once I had three stories together, it gave me the idea for the eighth and final story. All I had to do was keep writing! I did Moth at the Window and What Lies Beneath, then finished with the eighth story. I really wanted each of them to have a unique feel to the character and capture who they were.
For Heorot Press, I decided to create a banner for the book to be released under. I felt like I wanted something a bit eldritch, and a bit fantasy as well. I chose the name Heorot, which is the name of King Hrothgar’s lodge in Beowulf. It is an old English word that translates to stag, so the logo came easily enough for it as well!
D.L. This is great stuff! So fun to dip into your process a bit and to learn the story behind your publishing mark, which I really like btw. It’s a great idea to have one, and I’m thrilled to see an example.
What is it about the horror genre that appeals to you most? What elements are typically involved in a good horror story, and which of those do you focus on most as a writer? Can you give us an idea about the tools a writer needs to tackle the genre and tap into terror and fear?
E.B. I think the biggest thing to be aware of is your own fears. I don’t try to make a scary story when I’m writing horror. I write about human nature and lean on primal instincts to evoke that fear. In any horror movie, as soon as you see the creature, the jig is up and it isn’t scary anymore. I think showing your hand too soon is never good, so like with most storytelling, timing is key. So far as the tools you need in your toolbox, I think reading Stephen King’s ‘On Writing’ is step number one. After that, just make sure to write about what makes your skin crawl.
You write fantasy as well. I enjoyed beta reading your fantasy novel in progress, which I might classify as dark fantasy. To me, your author’s voice in horror and fantasy is distinct. In your horror stories, there is often a gritty (think shadows and rain trickling down windows and splashing on pavement) noir atmosphere, though I did detect some of that in certain scenes in your novel. Are dark fantasy and horror interchangeable for you? What are your aims for each? Feel free to take the opportunity to talk more about your novel here. We would love the scoop!
E. B. I think genre is really subjective, so it is hard for me to pin anything down to one category. I really love urban fantasy. The thing with that is, when you introduce any fantasy creature into a modern urban setting, it doesn’t take long to become Horror. Just look at the TV series Supernatural. There are ghosts and demons, but the episodes with Gods pulling out fingernails and people sacrificing their granddaughters for bumper apple crops are the ones that are really good. I can’t get enough of the supernatural, and I will take it in most any form I can get it! So far as my aims, I just want to write what I love. I’m currently working on what I am calling an Occult Western that sees Brant Garret working with an astral plane being to avenge his lost family. I do plan to continue with my urban dark fantasy series once I find representation though!
D. L. Thank you for sharing what inspires you (including fingernail torture 😄) and what you’re working on! I’m with you on the supernatural subject matter. There is so much in the way of mythology, legends (including the modern urban variety), history, and ancient texts to draw from for the speculative fiction writer.
I believe you’ve written a romance as well. And I love the diversity of your protagonists and how their individuality comes through. Do you enjoy and are you exploring other genres besides the ones mentioned? And out of so many amazing characters, do you have a favorite that resonates the most?
E. B. I did write and get published a sci-fi romance short story! It is called Pink Lights and is about the last surviving human refugee on a starship far away. He fights with feelings of his lost planet and wife while coming to terms with the new love he has found in the heavens. It is definitely a NSFW kind of read, and it was a lot of fun writing it!
I really do enjoy genre-hopping, and it is all dependent on what I am in the mood for. I think to really get a good view of the human experience, no viewpoint should be left unexplored.
I don’t really have any one character that resonates with me the most. I think if I needed to choose, I would say Alex from my story Graveyard Shift has a lot of me in him.
D. L. Pink Lights… awesome! (Click on the cover to find Eric’s sci-fi romance in Dragon Soul Press’ Union anthology) For links to this volume and Eric’s other publications, check out his website.
Thanks for addressing the favorite character question again, Eric. I know I’ve asked before, and it’s fun to see that Alex is still your favorite!
Can you share more about your works in progress and what we can expect to see next?
E. B. I am in a bit of a lull at the moment as I await the birth of my second daughter. I have described this experience as waiting at an airport, but I don’t know when the flight is leaving. It is exciting, but the waiting makes it hard to want to jump into anything with fervor.
I am currently focusing on my Occult Western called Revenge, as mentioned above. Once the first draft for this is completed I plan to throw my shoulder into finding an agent for Into the Grey, my dark urban fantasy about a secret organization that keeps parallel earth demons from taking over our world. I also have the short stories from the FSF Alliance to keep me busy as well as the occasional poem when the mood strikes. I like to work on a lot of things at once!
D. L. Well, I can’t wait to see both in print, Eric. And I’m up for another beta read! All the best on the projects!
We’re both members of the Fantasy Sci-Fi Writers Alliance, you being one of the founders and me being an early member. So, I’ve watched it grow and am blown away these days by all the new members and support. There are lots of fun events, including Instagram follow trains. But I wanted to highlight how well thought out the short story competitions are and how they’ve inspired some fantastic stories.
The group published its first anthology Versus. The whole process was impressive, from the competition to the editing and compiling–to the cover art and marketing. Congratulations to the volunteers and writers and kudos for all their hard work!
Can you tell us more about the Alliance?
E. B. Absolutely! It was started because it can be a really lonely place, being a writer. A lot of people have a hard time finding feedback or support for their work in the early stages, and I think it can be really demoralizing when you don’t have that community. We wanted to create a community that could be that support, and it took off from there! The anthology was really born from that. We wanted to have a contest for the people who are looking to get some recognition for their work, and I think the anthology is a great way to support the members.
D. L. Well, the prompts are fantastic. The current one I believe is a mashup of Punk meets Fae. I love it! And the graphic is really inspiring. I hope there are lots of fabulous submissions.
Check out the submission page and reach out to Eric or sign up here to become a member.
Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy working, family, and writing life to chat, Eric. Congratulations on your growing family, and I look forward to your upcoming works. Do you have any parting words of advice for those who dream about embarking on their writing journey?
E. B. I will leave you with wise words from Colum McCann in his book Letters to a Young Writer, “if you want to be a writer, get your butt in the chair.” At the end of the day, we only have to conquer the blank page and keep honing our skills. To do that, you need to sit down and do it!
You can follow Eric on Instagram, Facebook, his Newsletter and his Website!
“Write one. Read ten. Win thousands… The peer-powered short story competition where everyone receives oodles of feedback.”
Writing Battle
As a participant, I can attest to the oodles of feedback, which is one half of the backbone of this engaging community. The other half is Max and Teona. Last summer, I visited with the dynamic duo as they prepared to launch their revamped platform—and soon after—what was fun got funner! We’re checking in this month to see how it’s going.
Here’s what one member had to say about Writing Battle.
“This is a growing community with a mix of experienced and curious writers. Sharing your work and feedback in the forums is invaluable.”
Matt Gamarra
We learned during their visit in 2023 that software engineer Max Bjork wanted a chance to use his creativity in his working life. Like many of us back in 2020, the disruptions to our lives and routines wrought by the pandemic inspired big changes. As an amateur screenwriter, Max turned his creative aspirations to writing contest platforms, recognizing a need to offer more to participants like a robust and engaging community, easier navigation, and more ways to have fun during the contest. Max gave up his job, took over daytime parenting so Teona could get back to work after maternity leave as an EEG Technologist, and started creating. See our previous chat for the couple’s in-depth discussion on how Writing Battle (“WB”) got started.
The unique structure, engaging graphics, and shining personalities behind Writing Battle were an instant hit, and WB captured my attention from the first Instagram post.
Thanks both of you for coming back for a chat in 2024! I’ve been dying to check in to see how things are going–in general–but especially since you launched the new design. What is your biggest highlight since July? And if you each have a take on that, we’d love to hear both perspectives!
Max: Thanks for having us back, Darci! I think it was the last interview we did with you that we announced a redesign of the site. Cool to do this again a year later and everything is in full swing with the new site. The biggest highlight I think is that this “product” (if you want to call it that) is feeling more and more complete. We’re really just refining at this point and that feels weird in a way since we spent years trying very different battle structures.
Teona: Things are great! We have come leaps and bounds when it comes to restoring some stability to our life when the battle gear comes off. There have been a lot of things that we have been able to put a happy little book-end on so that we can spend more focused time and energy on the business. A highlight for me would be the merch store–it is a part of Writing Battle that I helm and gives me more sense of connection to the community since I’m not a programmer and don’t have much to offer in terms of site features.
Darci: In other words, you both are totally in the groove. Awesome!
We talked about your phenomenal success last summer. There have been two Battles since then. Two of my peeps (a Canadian writing friend and my niece) signed up for the Fall Short Story Battle, which I participated in, and my niece participated in the Winter Flash Fiction event that just ended. So, if every member pulls in just one or two… yikes! This might be a good place to insert that WB’s slogan rocks! Write one. Read ten. Win thousands. Are we talking about exponential growth? What are the overall stats since last summer?
Max: Thank you for spreading the word about Writing Battle! You know, the slogan actually came from the community. If I recall correctly, Cristi Lynn, a previous winner from an early Screenwriting Battle suggested that slogan. She said it on the Forum and I immediately asked if I could use it. When we started these Battles we really thought that the reading part of the contest was going to be a chore. As it turns out, it’s everyone’s favourite part about the contest, so why not highlight the reading aspect.
Teona: Definitely seeing something along an exponential growth curve. It’s still amazing to us! It looks like we might 3X the Spring 2023 Battle. And, like you say, if one person pulls in one or two friends to join in the fun, it really just takes off from there.
Our New Year’s resolution with WB was to make long-term realistic and holistic goals for the year. So instead of saying we need to accomplish X,Y,Z… we set a single goal of 3000 participants for the Autumn Battle. We’re then able to reverse-engineer a path to that goal and then it has been more figuring out what that goal looks like in the shorter term in regards to the Spring and Summer battles. What has been so incredible and exciting has been seeing the numbers for the upcoming Spring Battle SMASHING the shorter goal in place for the Spring. It really looks like there is some snow-balling happening and we are just grateful the site broke when it did last year because there is no way this growth would have been stable or sustainable on the old platform. Our new website handles traffic with ease because it is built on Google’s infrastructure.
Darci: So exciting to hear the numbers! And I love that about the slogan being a community contribution.
A little side story on the fall Battle. I hadn’t been in touch with my niece, Arianna, for a few weeks, and I had no idea she’d participated until a few weeks after it was over. We could easily have ended up critiquing each other’s stories… but we didn’t. Still, the idea that we could have added another fun element to the contest.
Her story was excellent, too. She does audio narration and has a one-minute audio excerpt of The Emperor’s Noose on her website’s project page. I was super happy with my story, Little Shop of Honeybees, as it was my first whodunnit and I enjoyed researching how to write a locked room mystery. Every time I participate, I’m glad I took on the challenge of a new genre I might never have tried otherwise and happier each time with the results.
How is the feedback stacking up since launching the revamped platform? Has the revised structure made a difference in participation aside from the momentum WB had going already?
Max: Absolutely. There were over 3.5 million words of feedback written in the Winter Battle. 1 million of those words were written after the Battle was complete in Debrief. There’s still a lot of improvements to the site coming, but the revamped platform has helped with that.
Darci: Mindboggling!
To get an idea of how far you’ve progressed in the short time since starting up WB, I’m throwing out multiple questions. 😊 Have you reached a place where the business is starting to run itself, or does it still require a lot of hands-on attention? How much of that is the fun stuff, and how much is business? What constitutes both? Is this turning into a full-time business for you both?
Teona: It is definitely turning into a full-time business for the both of us. Our youngest starts school in the fall which means that I will have time in the day to dedicate to WB and to work on things we would like to see evolve in the future. I would say the vast majority of what I do is fun. I think Max will likely say the same. There is a lot of hands-on. There is a LOT of reading–and not just stories. We are constantly on the forums trying to keep an eye on the community to ensure that needs are being met and that members maintain the constructive space we believe WB to be.
Max: I don’t think Writing Battle will ever run itself, but my job as the sole software dev is to build systems that make things easier on Teona and I during a Battle. It is ALL fun. Honestly, I still love every second of every Battle. It’s been a full time business for a while now. We will be building the tools for Forum mods soon, so that will help some of the stress. With so many passionate creatives, you want to put out fires as quickly as possible, so the Forums require a lot of attention. Having a few mods might ease the workload a bit.
Darci: I’m sure I speak for the community when I say your joy comes through and we appreciate all the hard work.
WB opened an online merchandise shop. My Two Crows sweatshirt just arrived! I’m excited about the designs and to have something to show for my battles. Also, being a sticker and planner fanatic, I adored getting your stickers in my happy mail! What a great idea to offer merchandise. How is that going? Will we see more offerings–more designs?
Teona: The merch store has been a lot of fun and I get a little giddy knowing that there are people out in the wild sporting the WB logo! I handle the majority of the merch dealings because it isn’t too time consuming now that it is up and running.
Once our littlest little starts school, I will have a lot more time to dedicate to expanding options and designs. I have been looking to source pottery mugs and had a prototype made but we are putting a lot of that on hold while we set up our new Tarot Card Decks that will hopefully be ready for purchase on the site late summer. I will let Max get into detail on this…
Max: Actually, I don’t want to go into too much detail because we’re still working on it. But I will say that there will be a card-collecting aspect to the site. You will get digital cards for participating in Battles and then if you order the physical cards, you’ll automatically get all of them digitally.
Darci: OMG! We get the scoop right here folks. I love the card collecting idea! It shouts “huge hit!” I’m super impressed with my merch, and I must say the customer service was excellent. I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Was it a tremendous undertaking adding a shop?
Teona: Long story short: Max said “I think we need a merch shop. Go.” And after panicking ever so slightly, I learned how to set up a Shopify store and a Printify print-on-demand service. It was very much out of my comfort zone at first (and perhaps a few tears of frustration spilled) but I feel I have a handle on it now and it works quite well!
Darci: You are so totally inspiring, Teona! I see the merch shop exploding in the near future. I’m trying to get up the gumption to add a shop on my website for signed paperbacks. Supposedly it’s as easy to offer a small line as it is for a larger one.
I asked this question last time, and I’ll ask again because I’m sure everyone wants to know. Who’s behind the artwork? How do you come up with so many wonderful ideas and illustrations for the slew of genre cards needed four times a year and for social media marketing?
Max: The Italian tattoo artist, Vincenzo Ingenito, does most of our artwork and he illustrated an entire 78 card tarot deck for us. We are also using Valerie P (@valerie_pl on Fiverr) for a lot of cards. We commissioned a few pieces of art from some folks from our community too. Oh! Someone is getting a Writing Battle inspired tattoo and used Vincenzo as the illustrator. The person that had the art commissioned gave us permission to use the illustration. I can’t wait for people to see it. It’s going to be a cool tattoo!
Darci: This is so fabulous! Thanks for sharing, Max. Check out Writing Battle’s Instagram page to see all the wonderful art and stay posted on everything Max just shared.
Let’s talk about the community. The WB forum is super active, and I love to see that. Do the conversations continue between the Battles?
Max: Things definitely die down in-between Battles in the Forums. I think that will change when we have more of a reason to come back to the site when a Battle is not underway. But you know – in the end, that’s probably healthy. Battles are pretty intense (haha it’s not just the name). People get fairly invested in each one and it’s a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. It’s probably a good thing to take a break and recoup before the next Battle. That being said, we are working on features that might keep more Ravens** engaged in-between Battles. **Our community members now refer to themselves as Ravens which is fairly bad ass.
Darci: That’s about what I expected. I think WB has settled into a very nice ebb and flow with the four yearly Battles.
Teona has been awesome about reading and sharing works by WB’s members and the newsletter is generous with its shoutouts. You’ve truly made it feel like family and it’s clear from your adorable Instagram reels that WB is a family affair in your household. What are some of the other activities going on in the community and what are a few of the recent highlights?
Teona: For a hot second we were going to plan an in-person meet up because we basically wanted an excuse to hang out with WB’s incredible community in person. It fell through because it turned out to be a bit more of an endeavor than we anticipated and I won’t be able to put in the hours for something like that until at least this time next year. We’re now looking at an in-person meet up for 2025!
Darci: Okay, now my heart is really pounding. Another sneak peek at what’s coming! A WB Retreat would be phenomenal!!
What routines have you found to be helpful to keep the productivity and creativity flowing for Writing Battle? Any tips or tricks you can share about staying organized and balanced with other aspects of daily and family life?
Teona: One thing we are looking to set boundaries on this year involves not trying to implement new features during a Battle. The intensity of programming AND running a Battle can take its toll and Max gets completely burnt out and needs time to decompress. So we have “official meetings” at least twice a week. It sounds kinda funny to me since we’re husband and wife and these conversations can happen at any time of day (and they do) but actually setting time aside with the purpose to brainstorm and discuss what’s working and what’s not is so valuable to how we maintain boundaries between work and home lives.
Max: Yeah, no new features while a Battle is underway is going to be huge. The plan is to get a lot done in-between Battles so during a Battle, I can just focus on the community and not coding new features.
Darci: I really appreciate getting a glimpse into what you’ve learned as you grow with Writing Battle.
What advice can you offer to those who would love to leave their mundane jobs to pursue their dreams?
Max: Oh, if you’re reading this and you are thinking about starting your own business or side hustle, go for it! Even if Writing Battle was deemed a failure and shut down for whatever reason, this entire journey would still have been worth it. I’ve met the coolest people and have learned so much from them – and learned a lot about myself. It’s hard work and expect to work long hours, but there is a price to pay for not pursuing your dreams too. I promise that you won’t regret it.
Teona: Have a “yes-buddy” in your corner. There are going to be people who give unsolicited advice and who are going to help you find reasons not to follow a dream. There has to be at least one person in your life who will listen and encourage you without question. And I know for Max and for Writing Battle, this person wasn’t always me… I became a bit more certain about WB when it transitioned from an amorphous and iterative early idea to an actual thing with rules and a schedule. Max’s brother has ALWAYS understood what WB could be way before it was WB.
Great insights, and what a blast it has been catching up. Any parting words of advice?
Max: Thank you, Darci! My parting words of advice would be to reach out to Teona at teona@writingbattle.com if you are someone that is thinking of participating in Writing Battle but are a bit short on cash at the moment. Our amazing community organized a “Spartan Fund” to help fund entry fees. Please reach out to her if this is you or if you know someone that may appreciate a Battle ticket.
Teona: Thanks so much for having us again! We love the questions and are grateful for the opportunity to connect with you and your followers!
Darci: Thank you both so much!
You can follow Writing Battle on Instagram and Facebook.
One thing I’ve discovered during this writing journey is you never know how or where you’ll come across your next great resource. So long as you keep your finger on the online pulse, surprises will come along. I happened to come across a Twitter post by Fantasy/Horror Writer E. B. Hunter sharing Richie Billing’s Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed.
I followed the link and was blown away by the wealth of help I found there for indie writers and ended up with two amazing new connections and getting involved with a great Discord community. E. B. Hunter will be visiting my Spotlight again in April.
Richie Billing writes all kinds of stories, but mostly fantasy fiction. His tales often explore real-world issues, zooming in on the characters and their troubles. Richie worked as a lawyer for a number of years before giving it all up to pursue writing.
His short fiction has been widely published, with one story adapted for BBC radio. And in March 2021 his debut novel, Pariah’s Lament, was published by indie press Of Metal and Magic Publishing.
Richie also hosts the podcast The Fantasy Writers’ readers of his acclaimed craft book, A Fantasy Writers’ Handbook. When not writing, Richie works as an editor and digital marketer and teaches creative writing both online and in his home city of Liverpool. You can also find his writing in more formal publications like the Solicitors Journal.
Most nights you can find him up into the early hours scribbling away or watching the NBA.
Thanks so much for visiting my blog, Richie! I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to ask you about your writer’s life and works. I just took a dive into the rich world of Tervia and got lost in your wonderful tales, and I thought we could start by having you give us a glimpse into your current projects like The Hills of Moragon. What else can we look forward to and when?
RB. Thank you so much for inviting me! It’s a pleasure to share this space with you.
The Hills of Moragon was a project that began as a novella and ended up a novel. I wanted to keep it as a novella but after chatting with a publisher they said they’d be interested in it but only as a novel. So I decided to give it a go and by the time I’d finished the publisher had gone under.
The story is now called Elanta and it’s about the great risks and sacrifices people make for love, familial love in particular. It’s my take on the classic fantasy trope of good v evil, with more monsters and magic than previous stories I’ve written.
I’m also editing a novella set just before the novel. That one’s about a revolution in a city within the same world and serves as a critique of capitalism and its negative impacts on humanity, society and the environment. It’s been something I’ve wanted to do for a while. A way to express my inner frustrations.
DLL. These sound amazing, and what a story about how your novella took on the life of a novel. Thanks for sharing that.
I had a hard time choosing a favorite story in Tales of Tervia, though I did have a preference for the fishing adventures. But if I had to choose a favorite character, I’d pick the elderly nana in Forgotten. What a moving tale of what it might be like to be reminded by our past that we aren’t forgotten. It was a beautiful thing when she reached back to her love and found the will to carry out her last act of bravery. Which of these tales is your favorite, and which character? …If I can be so bold as to make you choose.
RB. I’m glad you like Nana because she’s my favourite too. That was the first story I ever had published and it’s also one that means a lot to me. I was moved to write something because of things that were going on in my life at the time and it all came out on the page.
I’m also a fan of Mal, and she features in my novella too. I really do like The Pigeon Catchers story and it’s the kind of thing I’m definitely gearing more toward.
DLL. How awesome is it that I picked your favorite! I loved The Pigeon Catchers too and wanted more. It’s nice to know we will see some of these characters again.
Richie offers this wonderful collection for free! Click on the cover to find your copy.
I’m dying to know if you love to fish because I was right there casting my line. These tales gripped me in part because of my memories of traveling through Great Britain and the narrowboats on the canals, and I confess I’ve spent a great many lazy afternoons watching CountryHouseGent chug along the English countryside in Aslan. Can you talk about the inspiration behind your immersive settings–the fantasy and the real?
RB. A lot of my fantasy stories do have the landscape you’d expect—leafy forests, hills, lakes, rivers. Some readers say they’re bored of this kind of setting, but it’s what I’m surrounded by and what I love to immerse myself in.
One of my favourite places to go for inspiration is a little village called Hough Green, not far from Preston in England. JRR Tolkien stayed in a college in the village while writing his stories and there’s a great walking trail you can do called the Tolkien Trail. He supposedly did it each day. It’s an ideal source of inspiration. You have rolling hills and meadows, thick forests with streams meandering through them, carrying the water downhill to a big river that you follow.
And I did enjoy fishing for a good spell! If you’ve ever watched River Monsters with Jeremy Wade, there’s an easter egg in the story Noodlin’ in homage to that.
DLL. Thank you, Richie, for sending me on a little adventure. Such beautiful, inspiring country.
You’ve amassed a substantial body of short stories. Another book on my TBR is Flying on the Ground. Love the cover! How many have you published to date? Can we look forward to more collections? And how exciting was that moment to learn one was selected for the BBC?
RB. I really enjoy writing short stories, but they’re not something I do often anymore. Much of the past 4 or 5 years has been devoted to novel writing. But I like a short project.
My biggest problem with short stories is knowing the most effective way to utilise them. I just want people to read what I write, but sometimes sending them to magazines won’t get you any readers. So I do enjoy putting them into collections or even publishing them individually as small books and promoting them myself.
The BBC adaptation news was very exciting. It wasn’t something I expected, but it was a lot of fun and a little bit strange to hear it go live.
DLL. It’s interesting to get your take on finding homes for short stories. I’ve found that same problem. I used to think readers would enjoy short stories as quick reads over breakfast like the ones in subscription magazines back in the day, but I’m realizing fiction fans want the novels—and with fantasy—the bigger the better.
Now for your fantasy novel. How long did it take you to write Pariah’s Lament, and what was it like to finish it and let it go? Can you give us a glimpse of what we’ll find when we dive in? And how does it fit with Of Metal and Magic?
RB. Pariah’s Lament took me about a year to draft and about 18 months to edit (part-time). The editing was a little tricky because it’s part of a shared universe, so it has to tie in with things beyond my creation.
By the end, I was very much fed up with the editing but I was satisfied with what I’d done. But that was the extent of my elation. I actually felt a bit down and I think it was because I was saying goodbye to something that had been a part of my daily life for nearly three years. A part of you asks, “what now?”. And I missed the characters too, which hopefully is a testament to how well-formed they became.
As for the story itself, it’s an underdog’s tale about two young adults who get swept up in a conflict between two warring kings. These two characters, Isy and Edvar, are very different and have very different stories, but their fates are intertwined. It all comes to a head in classic fantasy fashion—epic battles, lots of heroic moments and a touch of humour and romance.
Here’s what one reviewer had to say about Pariah’s Lament:
Great Debut Fantasy Novel! – I’ve been waiting for the release of Pariah’s Lament since listening to the audiobook version of the first chapter Richie Billing released some time ago. In his debut novel, Billings takes his readers on a journey of misfits–Isy, mistreated by her family and rejected by her community, and Edvar, a young man struggling to step beyond his father’s broad shadow. In their own ways, they champion the plight of the Amast, a persecuted race facing extermination by an invading army. Their fates intertwined, they join forces to stand for the things they believe in. Along the way, they confront deprivation, the intrigues of government officials, and the prospect of sacrificing their lives.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Pariah’s Lament is that it’s part of a larger universe of tales focusing on the same world but written from a variety of perspectives in the Of Metal and Magic–like crowd-sourced fantasy. I look forward to seeing further developments in this realm!
J. Christopher
DLL. This might be a good spot to share the link to your online classes. I took the one on how to write fantasy characters a while back. Lots of great stuff! I loved the help on creating character arcs especially.
What can you share with us about your best experiences in getting your stories out in the world? What have you found to be pitfalls?
RB. Getting my stories out there to enough people is still a hill I’m yet to conquer. It’s a current focus of mine however and I’m determined to get my head around it.
The best thing to do is to make the process of someone accessing your stories as easy as possible. That unfortunately means listing them on Amazon, which is the biggest marketplace for books. There are lots of different strategies people use, like giving away the first book for free and advertising other books within it.
Some people pay for ads, but these can be expensive if you don’t know what you’re up to with them, so be careful.
Book tour companies and PR agents should also be used with caution. Some are very good, but others are useless and will use AI to create re-hashed reviews of your book. This happened to me last year. So always check independent reviews before pushing ahead.
The best method I use for promoting books is my mailing list. I have campaigns that run automatically and every now and then I see spikes in sales and downloads when those emails go out, so this is the most effective method. But it takes time to build a list, engage with people and create that positive relationship.
Social media is also a good option but not one I’ve invested much time in so can’t really comment. I just know that there are millions of new posts each day and getting noticed can be tricky, but if you collaborate with others and support each other, you can get better results.
DLL. Millions of new posts, new authors, and new stories. Sometimes I feel like a castaway bobbing around in a vast sea trying to send up a flare. That’s why I love chatting with authors like you who are willing to share your experiences. Thank you, Richie!
Tell us about your craft book Thoughts on Writing?
RB. This book I decided to put together to help people with their writing. It’s made up of lots of expanded blog posts and articles from my website that discuss different aspects of writing that I’ve found the most helpful over the years.
I find a lot of craft books a bit stuffy and overly complicated so I try to simplify a lot of things here, breaking them down into more understandable chunks.
You can find a lot of advice on the key aspects of storytelling and advice from bestselling authors and award-winning editors. I also have some advice and guidance on getting published and building your author platform.
DLL. You can get a copy of Thoughts on Writing when you join Richie’s community.
You say you get grumpy when you can’t write. I know the feeling. But you give us so much of your time producing your resource-packed podcasts, newsletters, blogs, live panel discussions, and appearances as a guest speaker… and the list goes on. I get the sense you have an equal passion for helping others reach their potential. Can you tell us how sharing your craft came about and your plans going forward? What are some of the highlights in this exchange?
RB. I do have a passion for helping other people. That’s something I’ve always had and something I get the most satisfaction out of in life. When I began to study creative writing properly I produced a lot of notes. When I mustered the courage to make a website I decided to type up those notes for blog posts. People seemed to find them helpful so I kept on doing it and that led to a couple of books and a podcast on writing, which at the beginning I would have sworn I’d never do, so I’m proud that I’ve challenged and pushed myself to do those not-so-introverty things.
As for future plans, series 3 of The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed podcast comes out on 14th March, or on 1st March if you subscribe on Patreon. I’m aiming to create more video-based content this year, but hold me to nothing because time has a habit of slipping away from me.
DLL. Exciting! And thank you for sharing your experience with putting yourself out there.
Which Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed episode should we start with and what is your favorite topic you’ve explored with your guests?
RB. My favourite episode is the one on body language with Joe Navarro. I’d decided I wanted to cover the topic so set out to find an expert in the field. Joe popped up on Google and he was everything I was looking for and more—a former FBI special agent, author and lecturer. He agreed to do it and we had an awesome chat. It was only after did I realise how big of a deal he is. He does Ted Talks all around the world and is one of if not the leading expert on body language, so I’m still really honoured that I got a chance to speak with him and learn from him. And you all can too if you listen to the episode. It’s a good one to start with but you can pretty much listen to whatever one you want in any order. I design it so you can listen by topic but there are some continuity elements so if you like to listen chronologically you’ll get that side too.
DLL. This is a great one! I worked with a retired FBI agent who was our investigator, and the stories he could tell—about crimes that I thought were boring... Makes for great fiction. And understanding body language is so important for a writer. I highly recommend a listen.
My other favorites are A Lawyer’s Perspective on Writing Fantasy and Jobs in Fantasy. And there are so many more! You can find all the episodes on your favorite platforms here.
Let’s turn to your writers’ life. What are your best practices for balancing life with your writing passion? What techniques have you discovered to help you stay creative and productive?
RB. It’s difficult to find balance. We have lots going on in life and we don’t always have enough time to do things like write and read. When you do find the time though I’d say protect it like a bear guarding her cub. Otherwise, you’ll find it filled by something else and you’ll get frustrated that you don’t get to do what you want to do. The main thing is not to beat yourself up if you don’t or can’t write. Just try to make time for it the next day.
Sometimes having smaller windows can lead to greater productivity. There’s less time to waste so you have to make the most of things. Having too much time can see you procrastinate!
So I like to set output targets rather than time limits. I aim for 1,000 words a day when drafting stories. If I have a full day to write I’d increase that to 2,000. But then I’ll forget about it as I write and just keep focused on the next sentence to try and churn out as much as I can.
DLL. I love that image—a bear protecting her cub. Perfect!
Where is your favorite place to write? As a provider of lots of tools for every aspect of the craft, what are your favorites to have at hand? Do you have favorite effects you set up in your writing space to help with your creative mood?
RB. My favourite place to write was my little old shed back in my childhood home. It was outside in the yard, because I like the quiet and the fresh air. It was big enough for a single chair and for years I shared it with our little rabbit Tilly. She used to sit on my knee while I typed away. I had a world map drawn on the inside wall too. But sadly it was dismantled and we’ve moved house. I don’t really have a good space to write in right now. I just try and get some done in any quiet spot possible.
DLL. Okay, this just made me think that someday folks will be talking about Richie Billing’s writing shed like Tolkien’s walking trail. I love it!
It’s astonishing that you gave up a career as a lawyer so you could follow your creative passion. Have you ever looked back?
RB. Not really! I didn’t like the job in practice. It’s a lot of stressful work for little reward, but I’m moved by a strong sense of injustice, and I also hate insurance companies, so I’ve carried that with me into my digital marketing job. That’s mostly focused on marketing for law firms so I’m putting my knowledge to some use.
I do still draw upon my experiences, though. In the novella I’m editing right now, there’s a workplace accident in there and references to factories and different industries so it follows me around.
DLL. Awesome! All the best to you, Richie, in life and your endeavors! Thanks again for stopping by!
You can join Richie’s Discord community, his Patreon, and stay posted on Richie’s offerings and works on his website and Instagram.
Early in my epic fantasy romance journey, I discovered this paranormal romance author and her amazing storytelling that keeps the pages turning, …
Sunday Spotlight with USA Today Bestselling Paranormal Romance Author Carrie Pulkinen
Early in my epic fantasy romance journey, I discovered this paranormal romance author and her amazing storytelling that keeps the pages turning, those surprise laughs coming, and the heat pulsing. Yum!
I’ve always been fascinated with the paranormal. Of course, when you grow up next door to a cemetery, the dead (and the undead) are hard to ignore. Pair that with my love of a good happily-ever-after, and becoming a paranormal author seems like the logical choice!
I love ghosts, psychics, werewolves, vampires, demons, and even the occasional guardian angel. If it’s paranormal, I’ve probably written about it…or at least considered writing about it.
In my past life, I was a high school journalism teacher. But after ten years of teaching other people how to write, I decided to stay home with my kids and write my own stories in my free time. When I’m not writing or reading books about writing, you’ll find me reading paranormal romances, thrillers, romantic suspense, YA, and middle grade fantasy (I have a teen and a tween who love to read. It’s fun to discuss books with them!).
I love red wine and chocolate, and I can make a mean mojito. I like movies, I’m passionate about traveling, and I might have a mild Dave and Buster’s addiction. I’m married to a tall sexy Dutch guy with piercing blue eyes and a swoon-worthy accent. He also shares my enthusiasm for D&B!
In addition to my two human children, I also have two fur babies who swear they’re chihuahuas (but at 12 & 18 pounds respectively, I’m not so sure).
I am thrilled to have you join me today, Carrie! Thank you so much for taking a break from your super-packed schedule to chat with me and share your insights with our audience. First, congratulations on your new cover designs for your earlier series and your recent releases! You are on fire!
You’re also the first paranormal romance author I read before I caught the fever–the best fever anyone can catch. And I attribute it to Luke in Werewolves Only. Shifters… sigh…
You write about shifters, vampires, witches, demons, and so many more, and you like to mix them up in diverse couple dynamics. Which paranormal race is your favorite? Which combination is your favorite?
CP. That’s a tough one! I think for the women, I would have to choose witches. I really enjoy the magic aspect with the ability to control the elements and cast spells. For the men, it’s a toss-up between wolf shifters and demons. I like them being able to growl and claim you as their mate.
DLL. Nuff said! 😁 Especially about the growly part.
When did you start writing and what was your journey like in those early days while you navigated independent publishing? What would be your top tips for authors starting this journey today?
CP. I started writing fiction in 2009 (inspired by Twilight like a lot of us were at the time). I had been writing for newspapers and businesses for ages, and writing novels always seemed impossible. My friends encouraged me to try, so I did. Now I have thirty published books!
I was first published through a small press that has since gone out of business. When I got my rights back from them, I tried another small press but decided I’d rather have complete control over the process. I went indie, and I haven’t looked back!
Tips for brand new authors… Read, read, read. Learn the craft to the best of your ability and read as many books as you can in the genre you want to write. Every niche has certain expectations, and you can’t twist things and make them your own until you learn what readers want.
DLL. This is all encouraging for those of us going the indie route who think about traditional publication. I’ve watched you build your brand for a while now, and have learned a lot, especially about consistency and staying in touch. Thanks, Carrie!
Is romance your first love? How does it fit with your preferred fantasy genre?
CP. I noticed when I would read or watch movies, no matter the genre, I would always be disappointed if there wasn’t at least a little bit of romance in there. I’m a sucker for a happily ever after, even if the romance is a minor plot point, so yeah, I guess romance is my first love…as long as there are some creatures and magic thrown in the mix!
Who is your biggest influence as a writer? Can you share your top three authors?
CP. I mentioned Twilight before, so Stephenie Meyer played a big role in my becoming an author. But Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed series were the first adult paranormal romances I ever read. Her books are the ones that made me go ooohhhhh…I want to do this! Another favorite of mine is Heather Graham.
DLL. Awesome. Thanks! Twilight got me going too, only I was quite a late bloomer. The others are on my TBR!
One of the many things I enjoy about your stories is that you combine the right proportion of suspense, horror, humor, and sizzling romance, which makes for a fun, fast, and thrilling read. What is your top advice for learning that formula?
CP. I am a total pantser, so giving advice on a formula is next to impossible for me. Most of the time, I don’t know what’s going to happen until the characters tell me.
DLL. Pantser here too… It’s why I started writing. For the adventure…
I know it’s tough to pick favorites because we fall in love with every one of our characters as we write their story… but out of so many books you’ve given your readers, who is your favorite character and why? And if you have more than one, feel free to give us a list.
CP. Now why would you ask me that? It’s like asking who’s my favorite child! Lol.
I supposed if I had to choose a hero, I would go with Sean from Love and Ghosts. He’s artistic, in touch with his emotions, and just overall a swoon-worthy man. Although Gaston from New Orleans Nocturnes will always have a special place in my heart.
For the heroine, maybe Ash from Fire Witches of Salem. She’s very relatable to me, and I had so much fun writing from her point of view. I also love Odette from A Deal With Death. She is such a strong woman, and the things she has to go through to get her HEA would crumble most people.
DLL. 😁 After Luke in Werewolves Only, I would have picked Sean. The only thing better than reading swoon-worthy is writing it–what a surprise that was.
I just finished the first New Orleans Nocturnes installment, Chaos and Ash. I love Ash! What a fantastic dynamic… Chaos vs an orderly librarian. Sizzling hot! Can’t wait to dive into Commanding Chaos (Love the titles!) Your covers are looking fabulous and I love the fonts.
Besides Amazon, Carrie sells her books from her website. Click Here!
I would call you a prolific writer. One of my burning questions, as a writer who is struggling to finish the third book in a debut series and finally getting there, is do you write faster these days? How many books do you plan for the year, end up writing, and end up publishing? In other words, what are your yearly publishing goals?
CP. Much like how I write, I don’t really plan my publishing. My life has been hectic (that’s putting it lightly) for the past year or so, and I try not to set expectations for myself when there is a good chance I won’t meet them. I published three books last year, but there was a time (a long time) when I didn’t think I’d publish anything.
This year, I am shooting for at least three (the second trilogy in Fire Witches of Salem), but four would be nice!
DLL. Good luck!!
While we’re on the topic of productivity, what are your tips for staying productive, keeping those creative juices flowing, and the stories coming while balancing other aspects of life?
CP. The one tool that has helped me the most is an app called Focus Keeper. It’s a timer that uses the Pomodoro method. So I set it and write for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, write for 25, etc. That goes on for two hours, and then you take a half-hour break. When I can make myself use it, then I’m pretty productive.
DLL. Wow! Great tip. I haven’t heard of that.
Another aspect I’ve enjoyed in following you is being part of your community. I love the way you engage, and your Facebook Group The Pulkinen Pack is a lot of fun. What’s your advice for getting involved with your reading community and being accessible?
CP. I share a lot of memes on my Facebook page, so I made the group so readers could share them too. I’ve realized that my sense of humor has become my brand, and the readers who follow me on Facebook share the same dark, twisted idea of funny as me!
I would also say you live the life you write. By that, I mean your joy in being part of a Mardi Gras krewe and the other ways you experience the paranormal vibes of your settings. I’ve started reading the Fire Witches of Salem, so I can dive into that environment after enjoying many of your settings in New Orleans. Can you talk a bit about the inspiration behind your fantasy worlds?
CP. Setting and world-building are important aspects of my books. So many are set in New Orleans because it is my favorite city to visit and I have been there dozens of times.
For Fire Witches of Salem, I took a trip to Salem to experience the city first-hand so that I could hopefully bring it to life like I do with my New Orleans books.
So I incorporate real aspects of the cities, and then embellish them, making them more magical.
DLL. What a blast. Thanks, Carrie. Exploring your settings—Another fun aspect of writing fiction.
Another burning question I have for a romance writer… Does your husband read your books?
CP. Absolutely! He is my biggest fan! He beta reads them when they are in a rough state, and then he proofreads the finished product to make sure we didn’t miss any typos in the editing process.
DLL. Fantastic!! My husband is great for bouncing ideas off of, especially for weapons and battle questions. He also reads a lot of my material… But a whole romance book? We don’t go there.😉
Thank you so much, Carrie. This has been a blast, and I wish the you the best in 2024! What parting advice do you have for those of us who want to pursue writing fantasy fiction?
CP. I heard a quote once, and I wish I could remember who said it so I could give them credit. “Writing a first draft is like shoveling sand into a sandbox to build castles with later.” Keep on writing, even if you feel like it’s garbage. You can always fix it later.
DLL. Awesome! Thank you for that. And I found that great quote. It’s from author Shannon Hale. You nailed it! Here it is so we can all tack it up on our project board.
You can stay posted on Carrie’s website, sign up for her newsletter, and follow her on Facebook, TikTok, Goodreads, and BookBub.
I am super excited to finish out the year in an interview exchange with the amazing urban fantasy writer, G Clatworthy. Check out Gemma’s blog for more of our conversation.
I love a good dragon story! And a half-dwarf heroine? Awesome! And that’s just one of Gemma’s series. She has multiple books out in the Rise of the Dragons, and the Omensford series. I invite you to get started on them as soon as you meet the author.
And by the way, the latest in the Omensford series, Exes and Enchantments, was released in October!
Here’s what one reviewer said about Awakening, Rise of the Dragons, Book 1.
I LOVED this book, it’s got some wonderful characters, thrilling world building and not a single page is wasted. This was the first book I’ve read in years that kept me eager to keep turning the page from start to finish. Without giving away any spoilers I thoroughly enjoyed the way the story developed and how the characters were weaved into it.
Can’t wait to start on the second book.
PS I live in the city this is based in, I’ll never look at the castle the same way again!
Gino B.
G Clatworthy started writing during the 2020 lockdown (her first book was called The Girl Who Lost Her Listening Ears, which tells you all you need to know about lockdown!). She soon switched to urban fantasy and she loves mixing the magical with the mundane, especially if it involves dragons!
She lives in Wiltshire, UK with her family and two cats. When she’s not writing, she enjoys playing board games, drinking tea and eating chocolate. G Clatworthy also writes children’s books as Gemma Clatworthy.
Thank you for joining me on my Spotlight, Gemma! It has been amazing to find so many new authors visiting my blog who got their start during the pandemic lockdown days. In your bio, you mention that “soon you switched to urban fantasy” after writing a children’s book. What inspired you to focus on that genre?
GC. – I love mixing magic into real life and I enjoy reading in that genre, so I decided to write some books that I’d enjoy reading. Both the Rise of the Dragons and Omensford series are set in the same universe, which is our modern world but with magic; think dwarves and elves wandering around with mobile phones!
It’s a fun genre to write in and, of course, it helps with worldbuilding because everyone is experiencing the modern world right now, so I don’t have to spend lots of time explaining things and can get straight into the story.
DLL. I can relate to that. 😀 I tend to set my fantasy stories in places around the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Cascades in small towns in California, Nevada, and Oregon. It’s fun and effortless to imagine supernatural races living among humans in places that are familiar, which leads into my next question.
I love mixing fantasy elements, races, and cultures with real-world backgrounds and talking to other writers about what they like about that. Can you expand on your favorite aspects of “mixing the magical with the mundane” as you say? And along with that question, do you have any plans to explore other fantasy genres?
GC. I live close to the Cotswolds, which is where my Omensford series is set and I went to university in Cardiff where my first series is set, so I enjoy bringing that level of local knowledge to the books. I think it adds an element of realism which anchors all the magical things that go on.
In terms of other fantasy genres, I’m working on a shared world collaboration called Cozy Vales (check out the authors at www.cozyvales.com) which will be a cosy fantasy world with high fantasy and low stakes. I can’t wait to share that with everyone, it’s the perfect genre for snuggling up under a blanket and reading on a cold winter’s evening.
DLL. What a gorgeous, iconic place to call home. I traveled through the Cotswolds in 1990, and lingered at sites like Warwick Castle and Stratford-upon-Avon. Seeing the River Avon winding below Caesar’s Tower is still sharp in my mind decades later. Before I consumed supernatural romance series, I devoured cozy reads. I will definitely check out Cozy Vales.
Can you give us a peek into your works in progress?
GC. I’m finishing up the next two books in the Omensford series now – those will be out next year and will be the last two in this current arc with Fi and Mort, although I might return to it in the future. One of the things my readers love with this series is the exchange of puns between Fi and her sister, Agatha, so I’m having a lot of fun getting those just right.
As I said, I’m also working on a cosy fantasy collaboration which is a lot of fun to write and read.
Where do you get your inspiration for your characters? Which are your favorite secondary characters from your works and why?
GC. Really, the characters come to me first and this group of witches came fully formed in Book 5 of my Rise of the Dragons series as a sort of Women’s Institute but for witches, and they needed their own series! The main character is Fi, who’s a tech witch with a penchant for blowing things up. In book 1 – Bedsocks and Broomsticks – she loses her job, gets roped into ‘helping’ her mother with the Halloween Fete and becomes suspect number 1 when one of the judges is killed…it’s been described as Jessica Fletcher if she worked in IT, lived in an English village and had magic!
In my first series – Rise of the Dragons – the half-dwarf protagonist is based on a Dungeons & Dragons character a friend of mine had in a campaign we played in many years ago. She played a barbarian who had the attitude of ‘just do it’ and that’s very much my main character’s vibe – her catch phrase is ‘Don’t even worry about it’, when sometimes she very much should worry about whatever it is!
DLL. I love these! I’m currently enjoying Awakening.
What or who is your biggest inspiration that set you on the path to becoming a writer?
GC. I’ve always loved creating stories and worlds so I think in some ways it was inevitable. I took back my commuting time during lockdown after a very hard few months and used that for writing, which helped me protect my mental health and feel a little more normal again. But what pushed me to publish my writing was a deadline for taking part in my first anthology because one of the criteria was that you had to have published a book!
Can you share your top three books? Or in the alternative, top three authors?
GC. Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series – that is my absolute favorite series. Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows is a perfect heist book. And then I struggle to pick a third because I read so widely, so let me share some indie authors with your readers: Heather G Harris, C N Rowan, Kim McDougall, Lynn Morrison are all authors I’ve read this year and are well worth checking out.
DLL. What a fantastic selection to add to my list. I’ve read one of these authors, at least. I really enjoyed Kim McDougall’s Valkyrie Bestiary series.
What can you share with us about your journey from writing to publishing your books? Do you have a team who helps you with editing, marketing, and artwork? What are your favorite tools or software you find most beneficial?
GC. I’m an indie author and I try to keep my costs down, so my favourite software is Pro Writing Aid which is an editing tool that catches typos and passive voice before I send a manuscript anywhere. I also have a great team of beta readers – thanks beta dragons! – and I outsource my covers to design companies because I don’t have the experience in design to do those myself.
DLL. One of these days, I will turn my focus on meeting and working with beta readers. I’ve been shy about reaching out, but I know it is an invaluable part of the journey and process.
Where do you see yourself as a writer in five years?
GC. I would love to either be writing full time or at least have a better balance between the day job and the writing as, at the moment, I’m squeezing it in around my family and my work.
DLL. All the best to you on that!
What is your favorite way to engage with your readers? Along with that, what’s your advice on joining writing communities?
GC. Getting emails from readers is one of my favorite things to see in my inbox, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to your favourite author, especially if you’re saying nice things to them. Other than that, people can find me on Facebook where I also have a readers’ group for my Book Wyrms – check out our meme Mondays! – or Instagram or I am on TikTok, but I find that less of a place to engage with readers.
In terms of writing communities, I think they are fantastic for getting to know other authors, sharing ideas, helping each other out. One of the things I love about authors is that I haven’t experienced any gatekeeping, only everyone sharing their experiences and helping people succeed. Because the world is a better place with more stories in it.
DLL. Ooh, I like that last part, especially. And yes! Bring on the emails and questions. Thanks, Gemma!
You also interview writers. What is the best part of having those conversations and offering a place to share the voices?
GC. I love interviewing writers. Their stories are so inspiring and it’s so fun to learn a little about people whose books I enjoy and their creative processes. You can find all of my interviews with authors on my website: www.gemmaclatworthy.com
Now for a glimpse into your writer’s life. Do you have a favorite place to write? What are your favorite techniques or methods you use to stay creative and productive?
GC. I tend to write either at my kitchen island where I can look out over the garden or on my standing desk. I have set writing times so I don’t get disturbed and my top tip is to write a few notes for the next scene when you stop a writing session because I find that helps me get straight back into it for the next session.
DLL. I keep hearing about this method for stopping a writing session. I try to do that as well, and it really works!
What advice can you share on how to balance your creativity with other aspects of life?
GC. Being organised is my superpower and my life is hectic, so I have writing time each weekday from 6am-7am that I protect to make sure I have that creative outlet. And I have lists of things I want to get done that day or week so I can use my time effectively and work on things that are important.
DLL. I can easily see how sticking to a plan works for you with all that you get done!
I noticed you have a place carved out on your website for crafting. Can you tell us about your other creative outlets and how they benefit your writing or vice versa?
GC. I love crafting, and I know you do too! My favourite is embroidery at the moment and I’ve been making bayeux tapestry style movie scenes for my brother. I can get into the details of my favourite stitches if you want (it’s French knot if you’re interested!), but this is an author blog, so let’s say that I’ve also dabbled in stained glass making, I can knit, spin and sew. I’m making a book nook at the moment which is fun but requires a degree of precision that is tricky. I share all my makes on Instagram, if anyone’s interested.
DLL. Fantastic! You must be super busy this time of year, especially. My imagination is running wild, and I can’t wait to see your posts on these projects, especially the tapestry movie scenes! Stained glass is really challenging. I dabbled in high school. French knots are also difficult but so worth the effort. I bet you do ribbon embroidery, too. 😀
I could discuss needlework all day, but I’ll at least share a couple things here that you brought up in case our readers are interested. I had to look up the Bayeux Tapestry, and I was riveted! The image below links to the Wikipedia article. The second image is an example of French knots from the Craftsy website. I used to take classes there all the time. It made me realize how much I miss it.
Thanks again for visiting, Gemma! Do you have any parting advice for those who want to pursue writing fiction?
GC. Write the words. Remember that the first draft isn’t meant to be perfect and enjoy it.
You can find Gemma on her website, Patreon, Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok.
This month I’ve got two romance writers from two continents stopping by to give us a dual chat on a day in the life of writing sizzling hot romance, marketing sizzling hot romance, and publishing sizzling hot romance. Abigail Hunter from the U.K. and Meg Stratton from the U.S. are writing buddies and have been collaborating on some exciting projects.
We will dive into their works and projects and find out how amazing they are at supporting and welcoming up-and-coming indie authors into the fold. I met these two through dark romance writer and previous guest, Gigi Meier, thanks to Gigi’s mission to shine the light on indie authors in her Let’s Go Live interviews.
I’m benefitting from this now as I get to know them while working on a new romance novel, which will be part of an anthology of novels with Abigail, Meg, and other great writers in our romance writers group.
Read on and enjoy the sizzle!
Born and raised in Scotland, Abigail has always been surrounded by green hills, forests, and fairy stories. First a gardener, then a carpenter, now an author, she writes steamy stories about passionate and heartfelt characters who fight for what they believe in, especially love.
Here’s what a reviewer says about Tearing You Apart.
I absolutely loved reading Tearing You Apart. This book was so beautifully written I seriously couldn’t stop reading til the very last page. I’m still reeling over this book.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Meg is a new author looking to share her dream that spiraled out of control and has turned into a book or two. She enjoys time with her husband and four children and working on maximizing her way too large urban garden on her tiny plot of land in the Pacific Northwest, spending far too long in her commute thinking of new storylines for her heroines.
Here’s what a reviewer has to say about Oracle: Mia.
Really enjoyed this book so much that I finished this in the same day. If you enjoy: Why choose, spice, aliens, sci-fi/romance, you should read.
Hello Abigail and Meg! Thank you so much for joining me today. I’ve been looking forward to our chat for weeks. You might guess my first question. How did you two get together?
MS: I’m not sure if I found Abigail or if she found me. But at one point about 6 months ago Abigail joined my babyromanceauthor group on IG. There she joined my first anthology book, contributing our spiciest story to the lineup of Fairy Tale stories retold. We have also joined forces to bring a world-building, fate-marked series with many other authors from the IG group and other author friends, coming out in 2024. Abigail has a wealth of book knowledge and is an excellent writer and editor. I’m so happy to have met her this year!!
AH: I feel like Meg has answered this one pretty succinctly!
DLL. I can’t wait to see what comes out of the new fate marked collaboration!
Now we’ll back up a little. How did you each get started on your writing journeys and what moved you onto the spicy path in the romance genre?
MS: I have always been a romance reader, coming and going throughout the years as I had more or less time to read, but I really got into why choose stories during Covid. I was reading so much that I had a very vivid dream that stuck with me when I woke up the next day. I started to write out my dream on my phone, in a week I was parked on the couch with my PC while my partner played games next to me. Within a year, I had written a very rough 300,000 word story. My partner turned to me one day and said why don’t you try and self publish whatever you have been writing over there. ;) He hasn’t read a word of my writing but was willing to back my ambition. The best author support partner.
AH: I was in a pretty bad space in my life last October, and, quite like Meg, I started seeing snippets of scenes and ideas swirling around my head until I decided to write them down. And, when I started writing, I couldn’t stop. Then, in February, I woke up in the morning and said “Right, I’m going to do it.” and by May, Tearing You Apart was published. I don’t feel like I actively chose spicy dark romance. I let my characters guide me, and that’s the direction they take me in. I love writing about intense, emotionally-charged love, and sex and angst are the pinnacles of that in my character’s relationships.
DLL. I love these stories! Thanks so much for sharing. So many inspiring journeys got started during the pandemic. And I can relate. I started writing after reading voraciously all things paranormal romance during the summer of 2020. I had that epiphany and started writing by the end of that year.
How would you each categorize your level of spice and the tone you like to strike with your romance?
MS: I didn’t know what my level would be when I started. I would classify myself as a solid 3 pepper spice level today. As a why choose author, it could be higher as there are multiple players in the relationship though I haven’t explored MM or FF relationships in my books yet. I like how in why choose stories, the characters need to overcome a lot of stigma and standard beliefs around how relationships should be. I love the discovery that the parties go through as they find their partners.
I write post-destruction/apocalyptic stories where the characters are trying to survive and find their way.
AH: Er…that’s kind of a hard one. When I finished Tearing You Apart, I thought it was at least a 4 out of 5 in the spice rating, but some reviewers were rating it 2. I’d say my anthology piece, Blood Princess, is at least a 4. Now that I’ve had time to think and develop my WIP list, I’ve got some very extreme books coming that I’d definitely say were 5s, so much so that I can’t publish them on Amazon! But, at the moment, I’m writing fluffy smutfics and longer books that are heavy on drama and angst.
DLL. This is the kind of insight on spice levels I was looking for. I see so many different ratings and rating systems that it’s easy to get a little lost on how to compare what I write. Thank you!
For each of you, tell me who your favorite character is to date in your respective works.
MS: J (Jaco) from Oracle: Mia, book 1 of my Oracle’s Journey series. Tough, tattooed but obsessed with the FMC and fated to meet her. His looks remind me of Wentworth Miller when he was in Prison Break.
AH: That’s so difficult! I absolutely adore all my female characters. Whether they are strong, meek, powerful, broken, I love exploring their lives and journeys. Out of my published male characters, there is a wolf shifter from my anthology piece called Lucien who I really enjoy reading and writing about. He is incredibly angry and despises his love interest, Ruby, which results in some very intense sex scenes, but, when he opens up and really falls in love with her he basically explodes with softness and will do anything for her.
DLL. Writing book boyfriends in addition to hording them from my favorite books was one of the best surprises in becoming a romance author.
Which character is your favorite in upcoming works?
MS: Wolf in Red is for Roxy. This is my anthology piece that is coming out Nov 15th. He is fun loving, but wants to be called daddy and call the shots with the FMC.
AH: I have a huge list of books I’m planning on publishing over the next few years, but one who really stands out is Sasha. She is a mafia princess, and she falls in love with three men who have been sent to take down her family. Her body is absolutely littered with scars from abuse, she is missing two fingers, and has a huge scar that slices up her face. Her personality is just fantastic. She is so tough, no matter how bad it gets she will fight, she loves her men and her friends so deeply that she will (and does) do anything for them. And her relationships with the three men are so different but so beautiful at the same time. I absolutely love writing her, and I can’t wait to publish her story next year so other people can meet her too.
DLL. Ah… to hear the passion from writers about their stories and characters. One of my favorite questions to ask. These sound fabulous. Thank you!
Can you share more about your respective works in progress?
MS: I will be finishing the second half of Red is for Roxy so that it can be fully published when the anthology is done. Then I will be either working on the fate marked world building story or move onto my gods/goddesses anthology work. So many stories in my head but I actually consider myself a slow writer, I need to maintain a consistent goal plan so that I can manage it all.
AH: Yeeeah, it’s a lot… I have a solid publishing plan until at least 2028. My anthology piece grew to become a fully formed series featuring each of the main fairy tale princesses and that is at least 14 books. I’m writing an omegaverse series which is at least 17 books. I plan on publishing one book of these two series alternating once a month starting next year. The Lovers and Liars series will be five books, (Tearing You Apart is already out, Book 2 is coming in May) but I’ve planned a few spin off series which could be another 8. Then my MM novellas, the first being published December 13th, which is looking to be at least 10 books. And my fated marks book too. So, yeah, you could say it’s a lot…
DLL. Wow! You are both on fire! I will enjoy following your progress. Abigail’s Book 2 in the Lovers to Liars series, Calling You Out, is available for preorder!
Where do you each see your writing careers in five years?
MS: This is so hard to say. I have had a lot of fun with all the projects and writing. The very best part is meeting and helping other new authors find their way. I really enjoy bringing people together to support and rally around each other. Being a baby author is so intimidating. I want to complete my Oracle series in the next 3 years but don’t have a set timeline on that. I think the hardest part is the fact that everyday I think of a new writing idea.
AH: My goal at the moment is for people to love my books. I’m very nervous about publishing so much but I want to put myself out there and tell my stories. Ideally, in 5 years time, I’ll have built up a solid following as well as having a large back list. I want to be earning a steady income, enough that I can call it a job. If I have roughly 40 books out, that feels very achievable!
I see some authors having instant success and I get jealous at times, but, at the moment, I’m approaching it like a slow burn. If I keep working hard and writing good quality books, I’ll see the returns. I mean, obviously, getting instant success would be amazing too. But I’m thinking long term (hence the publishing plan to 2028)
DLL. I love this! Slow burn is a smart approach and building that solid following. I see you both doing well with this right now and I know you’ll meet your goals and then some.
Having gotten involved with you in the Marked Mate Romance project, I’ve seen how much work is involved with shepherding something of this magnitude, but you both have been so awesome to work with and endlessly patient. You’ve got one of these projects well underway. And I must say, I am in love with the idea and the name of your Fairytale Reloaded anthology series… and its cover art. Fabulous!
Tell us about that project and how you put it together, including artwork, marketing, and publishing efforts.
MS: In January of 2023 we (babyromanceauthors) all began talking about doing an anthology together. We decided on the topic of spicy fairy tale retellings. I had already made a publishing company for myself and my books, so I took on the position of organizer and publisher. We all agreed to work together to beta read each other’s stories, design the cover art work, format our works in 3 volumes and promote it throughout. The authors all supported with the ARC reader groups and building up a following.
I started with a calendar of major steps to hit our release date of November 15th. This helped us all know when we needed to support and complete our beta read, final read, formatting, and publishing steps. I supported each other by reading all of the submitted stories and giving tips and guiding the steady increase of spice that I was going for in the volumes. Artwork was provided by Charlotte Mallory who was part of the anthology but had to step out for personal reasons. She took some time to listen to our feedback and build out the 3 covers that get steadily darker as you go.
For the marketing, I wanted to showcase the fairy tale theme throughout the promotion period. I began with fairy tale dresses, shoes, then jewelry. I also wanted each one to give a piece of the story it was supposed to represent but from the author’s new story, a quote, the tropes, etc. I have blended all three of these themed graphics with an image of the author and called out their other works and how they supported during our anthology work. I made many of these graphics available to the ARC group members and my fellow authors to use for reels and their own posts.
Finally, the publishing efforts were times 3. Due to the 3 volumes and the 14 authors, I feel that I have spent a lot of time managing this process. I have learned a lot about Amazon and how this part could go more smoothly in the future. I will say that the covers have been the most difficult to fit the book sizes.
AH: Meg is 100% the show runner for this series. She has done an incredible amount of work to get the project off the ground and keep the momentum running. It’s truly awe-inspiring!
How would you compare the Fairytale Reloaded short story anthology project to the new novel project? Is it more complex? Do you have bigger or different goals? What would you say are the benefits of this kind of collaboration? And what’s next on the author collaboration horizon?
MS: The Fairy Tale Reloaded project was more of a true anthology design whereas the Fate Marked will be a series. The Fate Marked Series will be published under each author with the author setting up the Amazon pieces and completing their own editing. The covers will be designed to be similar and interconnected. Each author will support the others’ launches by promoting on their sites and building ARC readers groups.
I think this new project will be a bit less complex. I also think the goals change as we will be slowly promoting the series over a few months. This may help relieve the pressure of a mass promotion or draw out the promotion piece for longer. Not sure which way will be better to be honest.
The benefits from collaborations on projects like this are the knowledge and support of many minds, writer support in times of frustration and lack of focus, a network of more followers to gather interest in your stories, learning many marketing tricks from each other, and many other perks.
I will be starting another anthology for a goddess/god collaboration in January 2024, to be published tentatively in June 2024. This will be a spin on an existing god story that will be a spicy read. More needs to be discussed in this project as it hasn’t really been worked on yet. I have had a lot of focus on publishing Reloaded.
AH: I agree with all of Meg’s points. The idea for the Fate Marked series is that it is also a long-term project that ideally works around the participating authors own WIPs. The books themselves will most likely be longer than a standard anthology piece (15-50K) (I’m aiming for at least 100K) and there is also a huge amount of freedom to write. The deadline stretches all the way until the end of 2026, with each book being published a month apart, meaning that we’ll organise publishing schedules based around the needs and readiness of each author, as opposed to handling 12 or so full length novels at once. And participating authors can easily work around their own WIPs at the same time.
DLL. Again. Wow! Ambitious and oh so many benefits in collaborating. Truly remarkable and impressive.
Can you each share what you have learned about growing your indie author communities? What has worked best for you? I believe you both do well with Facebook groups. How are those working out?
Meg, maybe here you can share your goals for your publishing company.
MS: For me I started with Facebook and IG. On IG I grew with select follow trains and engaging the bookstagram community. I think I work best and more consistently with IG as it is easier for me to use and connect with.
For Facebook, I and another baby author, Lark Hersey began a group that I have since taken over. I use this group for parties and sharing other authors’ work and book launches. It is mostly designed to be a Spicy readers group so most posts are romance author posts. I also run 1 sometimes 2 Facebook Parties in the group a month. I will be running my next one on Dec 10th for Rhea Ryan’s book launch.
For Stratton House Publishing, I always intended it to be the place where my books can be showcased and as I learn more about self-publishing, I have added a promotions page and a page for the anthology work. I will continue to work on anthologies and possibly open a shop to sell designed stickers and other bookish content.
AH: I stay mainly on Instagram. I gave a lot of group chats I’m part of and friends there, and I also focus on growing my ARC reader list by contacting people directly. I’d say the beat community I’ve found is through the baby romance author group Meg runs, as well as the Fairy Tale anthology group.
DLL. So many exciting ideas and ways to connect. And more follows in the next Q&A! Wow! Thanks you two. I’m sure our readers will get a lot from this section. I know I have.
I would like to dig into your respective writers’ lives. I’ve been eager to chat with two writing buddies from such different locations and backgrounds to enjoy your side-by-side accounts of your daily schedules, favorite places to write, how you stay productive, and how you balance writing with other aspects of life. This is a tall order, but take all the space you want and give us your best tips and practices.
MS: Finding time to write is the hardest part for me. I have a real job that requires me to commute up to 4 hours a day. So if I’m not at work, I’m in my car. When I wrote my first two books, I was working from home and had no commute. Times for writing are hard to find now.
Recently I have been trying dictation as I drive to see if it will help me at least get ideas out. I am a pantser so this may not work as I need to let the characters speak but I’m loving the ability to be creative in a down time. I really get my best work done when my partner plays video games and I sit and write next to them. I work best with a plan, specifically a calendar of due dates. I also have learned to not push myself too hard as it does cause me to burn out.
Tips and Tricks:
Beta readers- I found some amazing ones on the Facebook groups Beta Readers/Proofing/Editing, Beta Readers find Authors, and Indie, Alpha, and ARC readers for ALL Genres. When you find one that works for you, lots of communication and praise for their efforts is important. Hang onto a good beta reader. They are your super fan and will bring others to your stories.
Find an author who writes works similar to yours. They will help you when times are dark, when you don’t feel motivated, or want to bounce ideas off someone. That is how I started the babyromanceauthors group.
Read other writers’ blogs on their writing journey, Facebook groups for authors and see what questions are asked and the answers given, write a short story or novella as a free magnet reader story to gather subscribers to your newsletter and use Bookfunnel promotions to get that free read into people’s hands. Just like anthology, people will read a bit of your writing, like the story and go buy your other books. And while it feels counter productive to give away a book or story, it really does draw people in. Quick personal Bookfunnel fact, I gave away 800 copies of a prequel to my Oracle’s Journey Series (a total of 11k words) in a year. That is 800 people who checked out my story and could have turned around and bought one or both of my books. It’s hard to capture that much of an audience without a magnet story.
AH: I live a really free life. I persist, so I travel around the UK staying in other peoples houses, and it gives me the space to write for however long I want. Sometimes I’m working 12 hours just because I can. I know I’m very blessed to be in this situation so I hope it will continue. I am pretty much a hermit. Unless it’s walking, I don’t really do much with myself apart from write and manage my social media accounts. I live vicariously through my characters. My schedule tends to vary depending on what I need to do. If I’m writing I will take a lot more breaks. If I’m editing I may work for hours without stopping. I prefer lounging on the sofa with my laptop whatever work I’m doing. Unless I really need to smash something out, then I’ll sit at a table!
Meg mentioned dictation, and that’s one of the fastest ways I work. I will spend hours talking out play-by-plays of scenes to my phone and then past them into a google doc and write out the story. Sometimes I spend an entire day planning out a full book just by dictating. It’s an incredibly useful tool and I highly recommend it.
Tips:
Number 1 – always, /always/ get a sample from any editor you’re thinking if hiring. I essentially lost over £1,000 publishing my first novel because I didn’t properly vet my editors. And make sure you keep checking in with them too. (one actually canceled on me 5 hours before I was due to send her my manuscript)
Number 2 – if you feel like you are blocked or stuck, stop writing. Go for a walk, go do some laundry, watch TV, cook, do something to put your brain into cruise mode and wait for the idea to come to you instead of forcing it. The ideas will feel better and more naturally. You’ll soon be able to tell when you’re in the flow.
Number 3 – your first draft is going to be absolute trash, so own it. Even if you use the same word 5 times in one paragraph, you’ve already written a whole paragraph, and that’s great! Dont edit, dont delete anything more than a paragraph. If you need to change a scene, make a new file and call it “Scrap” or “Scenes for later” so you can reference it. Even if your first draft is the worst thing you have ever read, it lays the foundation for you, because you’ve already made a huge achievement
Number 4 – self edit like mad. Before you send it to betas, get your story tight. After betas, tighten it up even more before a dev edit (though I see debs as optional). Do character edits! If you have more than one POV, copy all of their individual POV chapters into one document and run through the whole thing to develop their internal voice. For a copy/line edit, go through every single line of text yourself and look at character movements and see if there are lots of repeats (eye movements is a huge one for any author). And, use Prowriting Aid!! The subscription fee is 100% worth it and you will save money when you send it off for edits. Also, by the time I get to the publishing stage, I absolutely hate my book because I have read it so many times that I don’t want to see another word of it.
Number 5 – always ask for help if you need it. YouTube is great for learning, and there are tons of authors around who are happy to share their knowledge.
DLL. I am definitely going to have to try dictation. Easier on the eyes too, and my eyes need all the help they can get. And again, thank you for sharing so many wonderful ideas here. This is an excellent example of how you both are so responsive to your community. Thank you!
Thank you both again for visiting! And all the best to you on the great things coming your way. Do you have any last words of advice for those getting started on their writing journeys?
MS: Write for you. You will get criticized, people will be mean and will give poor reviews. Know what you can handle. Have a friend or your beta read the reviews and share the most important takeaways. Don’t take random strangers’ thoughts as a personal attack. One comment sent me on a 2 day spiral of why do I do this, I’m the worst author. It took another author to remind me that I write for myself, I write for my super fan, I write for my future super fans. Hold on to what drove you to write and publish your work.
AH: Agree with Meg. And don’t try and change your story to fit other people’s likes and dislikes. It’s your story, you know what’s right and wrong. Feedback can be amazing, but don’t go overboard. Find a people you can trust to give you honest feedback and criticism to make your story better, not just turn it into what they want. And, make sure you are proud of your work. When it comes to the publishing deadline, make sure you’re sitting back and thinking that you have done your best and you are happy with the end result. Every review is someone’s personal opinion, and, even if it’s a negative review, if you are proud of the story you’ve written, then everyone else can fuck off.
DLL: Fantastic advice! Both of you. Are you sure you’re baby authors?? Thank you so much.
Abigail Hunter: Instagram, Facebook group, TikTok, Goodreads, and sign up for her newsletter. Www.authorabigailhunter.com
Meg Stratton: Instagram, Facebook group, Facebook , TikTok, Goodreads, Amazon, and Threads. And Meg says stalk me at: lnk.bio/megstrattonauthor
By D. L. Lewellyn 