Where were you born?
I was born in Phoenix, AZ and grew up in Chandler and Tempe, eventually graduating high school in Sedona, AZ
What dreams did you have as a kid and did you pursue that dreams going into adulthood?
I had many dreams and aspirations as a child ranging from becoming a lawyer to working with wildlife rehabilitation to drug counseling. I attended college for the latter two, but life took me elsewhere. For a moment in my early teens, I flirted with the idea of becoming a writer. My first attempt was quickly squashed and I gave up on the dream. I find it funny that my shortest-lived dream ended up becoming reality.
How did you accomplish your childhood dreams?
I wouldn't say that I "accomplished" my childhood dreams, as I had so many and hardly any of them got close to reality. Becoming a writer/author just kind of... happened. This story evolved in my mind and took over my daily thoughts. It couldn't be ignored and eventually I just had to write it out.
How did you come to know that writing was your passion?
Writing was an escape for me during tumultuous years in my youth. I saw it as a means of therapy - a way to express myself without fear of judgement or ridicule. My earliest writing was in the form of poetry, though now I couldn't write a poem to save my life. Story writing was only a brief interest for me at first, but now it's all I can think about.
What would you say has improved most about your writing since you published your first novel, More Than Human?
I would like to think that I have gained a lot of experience since first publishing More Than Human by writing a second book, networking with incredible people who are willing to teach the craft, and studying other resources. I'll admit, I jumped into the world of writing books without much preparation - I had not taken any classes to teach me the mechanics, structure, or layout of a good story. Reading back through my first book, honestly, makes me cringe. I do believe my second book shows my growth as a writer, but I feel that there is still so much more room for improvement. Over the last few years, I have learned so much, and I am taking that experience and knowledge and applying it to my works-in-progress.
Which of the books in the More Than Human series has given you the most extended writer's block you ever had?
This is a complicated question haha. It has taken me the longest to write book 3 but only partly due to writer's block. (Books 4 and 5 are not even started yet) Since book 3 takes a step away from the current time in the series and brings the reader back into the 1640s, seeing the world through my main character's ancestor, Captain Foster, this project has proven to be the most difficult. I have researched all kinds of things involving pirates, geography, charting courses, and country relations. The research has been fascinating, but incredibly time-consuming and will drain my energy from actually writing the story.
Is it worth getting a coach to help with writing novels? Did you have any?
Getting a coach to help write your novels can be beneficial, but only if you find a coach that fits. I, personally, do not use a coach. Instead, I have a tight-knit support group of writers, editors, and others to help me get through the difficulties of writing.
As a writer, once you have finished a song, poem, essay, short story, or book, do you hold on to any of the earlier drafts of the piece you finished?
I start all of my projects by hand-writing in a notebook. I keep track of characters, events, dialogue and important details, using this notebook as my reference when writing the story out. I keep these notebooks stashed on my shelf above where I work. These are the only originals that I keep of my projects.
Do you think a novel has to begin with a hook?
In this day and age with the average person's declining attention span, I believe that a story will succeed better if it has a hook right from the start. An instant hook will grab the reader, keep them engaged and reading, and maintain an interest throughout. I can't say that my books have an instant hook, but I'm working on that.
What one tip changed your writing forever?
The one tip that changed my writing forever came from a high school English teacher. It is a very common tip, but I think it is the most helpful when it comes to story-telling: Show, don't tell. This tip helps with the reader visualizing the story and, honestly, it helps with your word count!
Is it valid to critique writing if you don't write?
You can critique writing as a reader, but only from a reader's perspective. As a writer, you typically have more knowledge about the craft itself, how to execute certain ideas, and how to develop characters and story. Writers have the ability to provide more in-depth critique, but keep in mind that all writers have their way of doing things, so the advice doesn't always fit. It's important for the writer to know what they want out of their story and take all advice into consideration, but not necessarily making every suggested change.
Assuming a new author's dark fantasy novel series is well written, what is the best thing he or she can do to promote and market it in order to optimize the chance for financial success?
Don't ask me about marketing or financial success - I'm still trying to figure that out haha
Is writing like cooking? A cooked meal tastes better if it's been rested. Likewise, isn't our writing better if we let the first draft rest before we revise?
I guess you could compare writing to cooking. You do need all of the ingredients and some flavor to create a successful dish, and allowing your work to rest before editing does help the final product.
What are you working on now?
I was working on writing book 3, More Than Legend, but I have taken a step back and am re-visiting my first book, More Than Human. As I mentioned in a previous answer, my first book makes me cringe when I read it. I have gained so much more knowledge about the craft that I can now recognize areas that desperately need improvement. Essentially, I am re-writing my first book. The story will remain the same, but the way it is written will change quite a bit. Following the re-editing of book 1, I will also be re-visiting book 2, though I do not think that it needs as much work as book 1. This is all because hiring a professional editor is extremely expensive, which I cannot afford. That's one of the biggest struggles for independent authors and why having a support group of others in the field can be so valuable. Being an independent author is an uphill battle, and only those who keep at it and don't give up have a chance to succeed.
How did you come across the AllAuthor website and how would you rate or review it?
I came across the AllAuthor website when I first published and was looking for other ways to get my book out there without it costing an arm and a leg. I do appreciate this site, it has many wonderful tools and the contests are great. If I were to rate it, I'd give it a 4 out of 5.
