Lauren has graciously volunteered to give away one copy - an eBook or audiobook of her first book, The Place of Voices. If you'd like to be entered, please respond to this post with your email. That's it! The contest will run for one week and will end on April 13!
Good luck!
Tell me about
yourself. What got you started in writing?
Like most writers,
I've always loved writing. I love any sort of creative expression. My mother
tells me I would dictate poems before I knew how to write and although I have
no memory of that, the thought of it amuses me. I initially studied fine arts
in school, had a 30-year career in graphic design (where I would often write ad
and brochure copy in addition to the design work), but would play around with
creative writing in my free time for fun. I've always loved to paint, and when
I write I'm pretty much just painting images in the reader's mind with words.
So in some way or another, the creative aspects of writing have always been a
part of me -- I just started taking it more seriously about six years ago.
How do you
schedule your writing time? When do you write?
I've never been
much of a scheduler. I write whenever I'm inspired. Once I get to the editing
stage, I'm more disciplined about it. I'm a morning person and I'll get up
early and focus on writing when there are few distractions (as in, the rest of
the household is asleep). I mull ideas and scribble note throughout the day,
but I'm more of an early morning or late night writer. I guess I find the
daylight hours too distracting.
How and where do
you write? Do you prefer a lap top or some other method of getting your words
down?
Anywhere and
everywhere and with anything available when the creative urge strikes.
Inspiration can often hit me at inconvenient times, and I've been known to
scribble notes on whatever is handy. I do use a laptop and Scrivener for the
bulk of my writing efforts, but there is something free-flowing about putting
pen to paper that can't be duplicated. I love writing outdoors whenever
possible. I also received the best Mother's Day gift ever one year in the form
of a writing cabin. It's my own private hobbit hole in the woods and a luxury I
truly appreciate.
What's your
favorite part about writing? Your least favorite part about writing?
I dearly love writing
the first draft - the uninhibited creative flow of ideas. At that point,
anything is possible and I find that exciting. My least favorite part would be
editing (but I'm not aware of a single writer that does enjoy that process …
it's grueling).
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How did you come
up with your book idea? How long did it take you to write your book?
I initially began
writing when I became frustrated over finding appropriate books for my
then-middle school aged son to read. I'd always enjoyed writing and decided to
play around with creating books that would edify … both entertain and educate.
My readers will absorb a lot of history through my series -- and hopefully
experience unique and mysterious locations as if they were there. I spend
months researching before I begin writing. Once I start dreaming about the
region the book takes place in and the details of the scene come to life in my
mind, I know I'm ready to start writing. My first book, The Place of Voices (set in the ancient Mayan city now known as
Tikal), took about a year to complete and several months of critique groups. My
second book, The Veil of Smoke (set
in ancient Pompeii), took several months of intense research and only a few
months to complete. The third book, The Tower of Refuge, covers a lot of territory
… the Via Egnatia in ancient Macedonia, Greece and Turkey and has taken about a
year to complete. I also have a short story prequel to the series, A Spark in the Wind.
What types of
marketing do you do to promote your writing?
The graphic designer
in me enjoys making memes for my books. I'll post them on Facebook and Twitter
to create awareness for sales, new releases, etc. I advertise with various
book-promotion sites (Ereader News Today is a fav) and hope to use BookBub when
the third book in my series comes out. I'm a member of a few writing groups and
we cross-promote and do group promotions with giveaways (Kindles and our books
to the winner). I send a newsletter to reader subscribers to keep them updated
on sales and new releases. I also do giveaways on goodreads and interact with
fantasy readers as much as possible.
What are you
currently working on? Do you have a new book out?
I am in the final
draft of book three of the TimeDrifter Series. It will go to my editor this
summer and release near the end of 2016.
Do you have a project on the back burner? Tell me about it.
I always have way
more ideas spinning in my head than I'll ever have time for. I'm in the process
of finishing the third book in a series (fourth if you count the short story
"prequel"). The story of my two main characters will pretty much be
complete, but there is so much more I could do with the series if I choose to.
There are a few side characters that are really begging to have books of their
own. I may go that route, but also have a few other ideas I'm mulling that I
may dive into first. I may have to poll my readers to decide which to focus on
next. For now, I need to edit and release book three in the series. The next
time I'm able to sit down and begin a new draft, we'll see where the muse leads
me. Could be anywhere!
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What would you
tell a beginning writer who wants to publish but doesn't believe he/she has
enough talent?
I'm not sure why
someone who didn't believe they had talent would want to publish a book, but
anyone can if they put their mind to it. If you're truly passionate about
writing, skills can be developed along the way. Finish a manuscript (that in
itself is quite a confidence-boosting accomplishment) and put it through a
critique group. Based on the feedback you receive, you'll know what to do next.
If you need additional training, there are many ways to get it: college
courses, writer's workshops and conferences. With enough persistence and proper
editing and proofreading, it can be done. Just don't be tempted to rush the
process. Take the time to create a quality book you'll be proud to put your
name on. Through critique groups you'll also find out where your greatest
skills lie and find encouragement in the process.
A question for me from Lauren:
In the digital
age, with thousands of books being produced daily, is it possible to stand out
in any significant way?
Good question. I think so, but I believe really 'standing out' has more to do with the readers who love reading your books already, in favor of those seeing them for the first time. I read somewhere that it takes at least seven views of your book at different times, to get the title inside a potential reader's head. They usually won't buy it until they've seen the cover plenty of times. That means an author has to get it out there where people will see it; he/she has to market like crazy.
Lauren
Lynch
Book
Trailer: http://laurenlynch.com/writing/trailers.html
Twitter: www.twitter.com/LaurenRLynch
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/readlaurenlynch
The
Place of Voices: www.amazon.com/dp/B00LCN212O
The
Veil of Smoke: www.amazon.com/dp/B00ROB8Y88
another great interview Kathryn. Lauren Lynch's books appears to take us on an adventurous journey. I would like yo enter. I like her comment : "Finish a manuscript (that in itself is quite a confidence-boosting accomplishment" - I totally agree. And it does take much passion and tenacity.
ReplyDeleteWow, this makes things easy. Vernita, you are the winner! Do you want an eBook or an audiobook of The Place of Voices?
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