Today’s second interview is with the wonderful Adrianne Brennan. Welcome, Adrianne, to XtraOrdinary Romance.
At what age did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
I was ten, and it began with a school writing assignment and turned into me writing a sci-fi comedy about sentient vegetables in outer space. From that point on, I was hooked--no turning back! :D
What has been your biggest influence on becoming a writer?
I'm a big reader--always have been! I grew up reading books and always loved to read. Between that and the right encouragement once I started writing from a certain English teacher in high school, writing became my destiny.
How did you feel when you got your first publishing contract?
Ecstatic! I couldn't believe it. I was in a state of non-stop bliss and squee! Seven more books have been published since, and that feeling hasn't gone away. I don't think it ever will!
How many novellas/novels have you published to date? When did you have your first sale?
1 novel, 1 novella, 1 short story and 5 chapter length books. My first sale was on Oct 31, 2007 when my first book was released.
Tell me about your latest release.
Dawn of the Seraphs is a m/m short story. It's a paranormal/scifi/erotic romance about two men struggling to get along in a complex world. Intrigue, psychic abilities, and conspiracies make a nice backdrop for the sexual tension between them. :)
It's part of the Immortal Fire series, and currently out in ebook. Around the holidays the series will be sold as a single print volume.
And yes, it WILL have a sequel. :D
What was your inspiration for this book?
To be honest, there's a particular favorite guilty pairing of mine on a science fiction show which inspired the relationship between these two men! I was also highly inspired by various other tv shows such as Babylon 5 and Torchwood.
How do you categorize yourself: pantser or plotter?
Um...yes? :D I plan a little, plot a little...but I really dive in once I'm able to daydream everything out and see where it goes!
How do you handle the editing/revision process?
With great humility and a good sense of humor. :D It's a learning process, and I gain absolutely nothing if there's not a ton of red ink on my manuscripts!
You’re received some fantastic reviews...how do you feel about them and why?
Over the moon. I never imagined people would enjoy my works this much! Thank you. Without readers, I'd have nowhere to go for my books.
Did anything odd happen while you were researching this story?
I can't really say I did any research for this one, but it's the one I finished the most amount of words in within the shortest amount of time. My muse chained me to my computer and had me produce 12.5k in three days! :D
If you could time travel, where would you go?
Ancient Greece, definitely!
Why are your stories unique?
A lot of them tend to feature real pagan religions and actual references to existing occult and magical groups, traditions, and organizations. I don't think many authors do that; for starters, it's most certainly not mainstream and for another, it's a tad gusty. But they always say to write about what you know, and I've been a pagan for more than half my life. :)
Share a little bit of the ‘real’ you with our readers. What do you do besides writing? Any hobbies? Dark secrets?
I like to knit, watch anime, play RPGs, and travel. I'm also a huge scifi and fantasy geek. :D
What is the biggest piece of your advice you can give a beginning writer?
Keep writing and never, ever give up. I can't tell you how many excellent writers whom I know scrap perfectly good works because they don't believe in themselves and think what they're writing isn't good enough. It makes me want to cry to see it, especially when I know better!
And don't worry about being perfect. You will never be perfect. Always be open to learning how to write better, and look upon edits as a good thing, an opportunity to grow and polish your skills. They are invaluable.
Do you have another career besides writing? What is it?
I work as a software engineer. I may never see a royalty statement which would cover even one month's mortgage, so it'll have to do for now. ;)
Where can readers find out more about you and your work?
Adrianne's Website: http://www.adriannebrennan.com/
Find her books at: http://www.freyasbower.com/ - Freya's Bower
http://www.loveyoudivine.com/ - Love You Divine
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url?_encoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Adrianne%20Brennan - Amazon.com
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Adrianne+Brennan - ARe
http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/a47008/Adrianne-Brennan/? - FictionWise
http://www.ebookwise.com/ebooks/a47008/Adrianne-Brennan/?si=43 - eBookwise
http://www.bookstrand.com/authors/adriannebrennan/ - Bookstrand
Adrianne’s Bio: Adrianne Brennan stumbled into her love of writing by accident at the tender age of ten when she was given a creative writing assignment for her science class. The end result was her writing a brief science fiction comedy featuring numerous puns regarding vegetables. Once the writing bug bit, it bit pretty hard, and from the age of fourteen onwards she worked on a lengthy fantasy novel.
At this time, this fantasy novel is still a work in progress as she continues to focus on her other stories. Currently in addition to other works available are the Dark Moon series, including her award-winning novel, Blood of the Dark Moon featuring vampires, magick, secret societies, and romance as well as her novella in the same series, Blood and Mint Chocolates as well as The Oath, a BDSM.
Adrianne's works were previously published through Aphrodite's Apples Press and are now available from Freya's Bower and Love You Divine. In addition, she is a member of EPIC, Infinite Worlds of Fantasy Authors, the Midnight Seductions Authors group, and is an alumnus member of Kappa Gamma Psi, a co-ed national professional performing arts fraternity.
An avid reader, Adrianne has been most influenced by various science fiction and fantasy authors including Madeleine L'Engle, Roger Zelazny, Laurell K. Hamilton, LA Banks, Yasmine Galenorn, Michael Ende, Neil Gaiman, and Alan Moore. Like her main character from Blood of the Dark Moon, she professes a love for Iamblichus and Greek philosophy.
Thanks for taking part in my 2 for Thursday promotion. I really enjoyed it!
Lynn
Thursday, December 10, 2009
An Interview with Kerri Nelson
We’re here today with the lovely Kerri Nelson. Help me welcome her to the wonderful world of XtraOrdinary Romance. Hi, Kerri and welcome!
At what age did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
Well, I still have a copy of the first poem that I ever wrote in the second grade. It is entitled “Black Cat, Dark as Night”. So, that must have been my first masterpiece!
What has been your biggest influence on becoming a writer?
My love of reading has always driven me to write. There is nothing more satisfying that getting lost in a truly great book and losing yourself in another world. It is the ultimate escape from reality. I just always wanted to provide that same experience for others.
How did you feel when you got your first publishing contract?
I was so excited that I felt like running laps around the neighborhood. Instead I tried to call my husband and then my mother and no one was answering the phone. I kept getting everyone’s voice mail. LOL!
How many novellas/novels have you published to date? When did you have your first sale?
I sold my first book in January of this year (2009) and since that time I’ve sold a total of 9 books! This has been an amazing year, to say the least!
Tell me about your latest release. Please include if it is part of a series or a standalone book.
My latest release is a Christmas short story entitled When Ginger Snapped. Right now it is a stand alone book but I’m thinking of making it into a series. I have tons of ideas for these characters and I enjoyed this project so much. This book was made possible by my win of the Browler Books Holiday Short Story Contest! The story is all about Holiday Madness and a sensual Massage!
What was your inspiration for this book?
Well, the holiday season was fast approaching and I thought about how insane it gets for some people. My husband always rushes out on Black Friday to get the best deals but you would never catch me out there fighting the crowds. So, I thought about how I could write a book set at that time frame and When Ginger Snapped was created.
How do you categorize yourself: pantser or plotter?
Oh, I am totally a pantser. I get the initial idea for a book and then I just run with it. I never really know where the characters are going to end up until I get going. I’ve tried to do the plotting route and it just never works out for me. I spend more time revising the plot outline that I never get anything actually written.
How do you handle the editing/revision process?
I don’t do any editing or revisions until I’ve completed the entire book. I just sit down and write until it is done. Then, and only then, do I go back to do any editing or necessary rewrites. It is the only way that works for me.
You’re received some fantastic reviews...how do you feel about them and why?
I love each and every one of my reviews. I was a reviewer for a while and it is actually a tough job. It’s not the reading of free books but the summarizing of your thoughts on someone else’s work that provides a real challenge. You want to be totally fair and impartial and yet you need to let reader’s know your opinion of the piece. I appreciate all the reviewers who have taken the time to read my work.
Did anything odd happen while you were researching this story?
I don’t have anything odd on this latest story as it didn’t require much research. However, I would say the toughest research and most challenging book that I’ve written so far is my Scottish time travel book entitled The Mystical Kilt. It releases later this month and it was so tough for me. I love reading historical and I’ve always wanted to write one. I never dreamed that it would be so tough. You need to have enough factual information about your time period to make it realistic. Yet you don’t want to bog down the readers with too much detail. It was exhausting but I’m really proud of it.
What is the most interesting part of writing for you? The least?
The most interesting part of writing for me is the fact that when a reader purchases my book…they are really just reading my thoughts, dreams, and imagination. It is almost like they are reading my mind. My tagline on my website represents just that same idea… “sharing my imagination with the world…one page at a time”.
If you could time travel, where would you go?
I might like to visit the Regency era England. I’ve been researching it for a new book that I’m working on. It was a very wealthy time period and I simply love the attire and the attitude of the time. I don’t know that I’d like to stay in that time period but a visit would be grand.
Who is your biggest fan?
This would be a toss-up between my husband and my mother. They are both incredibly supportive. My husband edits most of my work and offers invaluable advice and suggestions. My mother is always the first person to buy a copy of my book on release day. She brags to everyone she knows and even told a stranger on an airplane to buy my book for their Kindle that they were using during the flight!
Do comments or letters you receive from fans and other writers influence you in any way?
I adore comments from readers and fans. They are what keeps me going and motivated to write more and to write better! You can never practice and improve your craft too much.
Why do you write romance novels?
I write romance because I truly believe in the happily ever after. Who doesn’t want a happy ending? I love to make my characters believable and it is important that they experience real life scenarios. That makes them relatable to the readers. I don’t think there is anything in life that people can relate more to than the ups and downs of romance. Everyone has loved and lost and many have found out the hard way that love doesn’t come easy. Romance is a way for readers to know for sure that they are not alone out there.
Where can readers find out more about you and your work?
http://www.kerrinelson.com/
http://www.kerribookwriter.blogspot.com/
Kerri’s bio:
Kerri Nelson has always been passionate about reading books but when she wrote her first poem in the second grade, she discovered her love of writing. At the age of sixteen, she became a columnist for her local newspaper as the high school correspondent for the weekly "Panther Tales" column. She won the Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year Award for her efforts.
After an education and career in the legal field, Kerri began to pen romantic suspense novels with a legal or law enforcement theme. She is a true southern belle and comes complete with her dashing southern gentleman husband and two little belles-in-training. When she’s not reading or writing, you’ll find her baking homemade goodies for her family, feeding her addiction to blogging online or designing custom made book trailers. Kerri is an active member of Romance Writers of America as well as numerous Chapters including Southern Magic, Futuristic Fantasy & Paranormal, Hearts Through History, and Celtic Hearts Romance Writers.
Thanks for taking part in my 2 for Thursday promotion. I wish wonderful things for you in the future! Good luck in the Dorchester contest!
Lynn
At what age did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
Well, I still have a copy of the first poem that I ever wrote in the second grade. It is entitled “Black Cat, Dark as Night”. So, that must have been my first masterpiece!
What has been your biggest influence on becoming a writer?
My love of reading has always driven me to write. There is nothing more satisfying that getting lost in a truly great book and losing yourself in another world. It is the ultimate escape from reality. I just always wanted to provide that same experience for others.
How did you feel when you got your first publishing contract?
I was so excited that I felt like running laps around the neighborhood. Instead I tried to call my husband and then my mother and no one was answering the phone. I kept getting everyone’s voice mail. LOL!
How many novellas/novels have you published to date? When did you have your first sale?
I sold my first book in January of this year (2009) and since that time I’ve sold a total of 9 books! This has been an amazing year, to say the least!
Tell me about your latest release. Please include if it is part of a series or a standalone book.
My latest release is a Christmas short story entitled When Ginger Snapped. Right now it is a stand alone book but I’m thinking of making it into a series. I have tons of ideas for these characters and I enjoyed this project so much. This book was made possible by my win of the Browler Books Holiday Short Story Contest! The story is all about Holiday Madness and a sensual Massage!
What was your inspiration for this book?
Well, the holiday season was fast approaching and I thought about how insane it gets for some people. My husband always rushes out on Black Friday to get the best deals but you would never catch me out there fighting the crowds. So, I thought about how I could write a book set at that time frame and When Ginger Snapped was created.
How do you categorize yourself: pantser or plotter?
Oh, I am totally a pantser. I get the initial idea for a book and then I just run with it. I never really know where the characters are going to end up until I get going. I’ve tried to do the plotting route and it just never works out for me. I spend more time revising the plot outline that I never get anything actually written.
How do you handle the editing/revision process?
I don’t do any editing or revisions until I’ve completed the entire book. I just sit down and write until it is done. Then, and only then, do I go back to do any editing or necessary rewrites. It is the only way that works for me.
You’re received some fantastic reviews...how do you feel about them and why?
I love each and every one of my reviews. I was a reviewer for a while and it is actually a tough job. It’s not the reading of free books but the summarizing of your thoughts on someone else’s work that provides a real challenge. You want to be totally fair and impartial and yet you need to let reader’s know your opinion of the piece. I appreciate all the reviewers who have taken the time to read my work.
Did anything odd happen while you were researching this story?
I don’t have anything odd on this latest story as it didn’t require much research. However, I would say the toughest research and most challenging book that I’ve written so far is my Scottish time travel book entitled The Mystical Kilt. It releases later this month and it was so tough for me. I love reading historical and I’ve always wanted to write one. I never dreamed that it would be so tough. You need to have enough factual information about your time period to make it realistic. Yet you don’t want to bog down the readers with too much detail. It was exhausting but I’m really proud of it.
What is the most interesting part of writing for you? The least?
The most interesting part of writing for me is the fact that when a reader purchases my book…they are really just reading my thoughts, dreams, and imagination. It is almost like they are reading my mind. My tagline on my website represents just that same idea… “sharing my imagination with the world…one page at a time”.
If you could time travel, where would you go?
I might like to visit the Regency era England. I’ve been researching it for a new book that I’m working on. It was a very wealthy time period and I simply love the attire and the attitude of the time. I don’t know that I’d like to stay in that time period but a visit would be grand.
Who is your biggest fan?
This would be a toss-up between my husband and my mother. They are both incredibly supportive. My husband edits most of my work and offers invaluable advice and suggestions. My mother is always the first person to buy a copy of my book on release day. She brags to everyone she knows and even told a stranger on an airplane to buy my book for their Kindle that they were using during the flight!
Do comments or letters you receive from fans and other writers influence you in any way?
I adore comments from readers and fans. They are what keeps me going and motivated to write more and to write better! You can never practice and improve your craft too much.
Why do you write romance novels?
I write romance because I truly believe in the happily ever after. Who doesn’t want a happy ending? I love to make my characters believable and it is important that they experience real life scenarios. That makes them relatable to the readers. I don’t think there is anything in life that people can relate more to than the ups and downs of romance. Everyone has loved and lost and many have found out the hard way that love doesn’t come easy. Romance is a way for readers to know for sure that they are not alone out there.
Where can readers find out more about you and your work?
http://www.kerrinelson.com/
http://www.kerribookwriter.blogspot.com/
Kerri’s bio:
Kerri Nelson has always been passionate about reading books but when she wrote her first poem in the second grade, she discovered her love of writing. At the age of sixteen, she became a columnist for her local newspaper as the high school correspondent for the weekly "Panther Tales" column. She won the Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year Award for her efforts.
After an education and career in the legal field, Kerri began to pen romantic suspense novels with a legal or law enforcement theme. She is a true southern belle and comes complete with her dashing southern gentleman husband and two little belles-in-training. When she’s not reading or writing, you’ll find her baking homemade goodies for her family, feeding her addiction to blogging online or designing custom made book trailers. Kerri is an active member of Romance Writers of America as well as numerous Chapters including Southern Magic, Futuristic Fantasy & Paranormal, Hearts Through History, and Celtic Hearts Romance Writers.
Thanks for taking part in my 2 for Thursday promotion. I wish wonderful things for you in the future! Good luck in the Dorchester contest!
Lynn
Announcement of Weekly Winners!
This week winners are as follows:
Sassy Brit wins an ebook from Laura Tolomei
Tina Donahue wins an ebook from JoJo Brown
Congratulations to the winners. Just email me at lynncrain@cox.net and I'll get your prize to you.
Thanks everyone for participating!
Lynn
Sassy Brit wins an ebook from Laura Tolomei
Tina Donahue wins an ebook from JoJo Brown
Congratulations to the winners. Just email me at lynncrain@cox.net and I'll get your prize to you.
Thanks everyone for participating!
Lynn
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