What inspired the creation of the Once Upon a Griffin series, and how did the idea evolve over time?
I first started writing OUAG in 2019. The idea came to me while gardening. I would tell myself stories to pass the time and occupy my mind. After a while, the characters showed up in my dreams, almost demanding to be written. I know that sounds crazy, but it’s true. I would wake up at 2am and jot notes from my dreams. My first draft was over 156,000 words. Editing was a fun nightmare. The idea for a second book came to me when a young, blue-haired girl told me her story in a dream. I decided to include her story in a second book, and it went from there. The third book was me asking, “what if?” I wanted to shock the reader and take them on a bit of a roller coaster ride. Hopefully I did that with all three books in the series.
Can you walk us through the process of transitioning from a traditional publisher to self-publishing? What were some of the challenges you faced?
It appeared that my publisher was having money problems, I won’t go into detail, but it was worrisome. I decided to ask for my rights back and pursue self-publishing since no other publisher would take an already published work. The hardest challenge was dealing with KDP. The first time I uploaded everything, the cover had to be resized. Another challenge was the formatting. I had to make edits of some of the things missed with the publisher’s editors. I used their PDF and changed it to a Word doc, but when I uploaded after the changes, the formatting was off, and I missed a few places where there were spaces I couldn’t see in Word. The transition was easy, and a bit freeing. I really loved developing my own covers without fear of rejection.
How did you feel when you regained the rights to Once Upon a Griffin, and what motivated you to re-release it with a new cover?
I was relieved. I thought there would be more of a fight, but the publisher had made their money back and let me go. I designed the original cover with the publisher’s cover artist’s help. She put it all together and claimed the rights to it. So, I took my idea and made a new cover, which I think is better than the first.
What was the biggest difference you noticed between working with a traditional publisher and handling everything yourself as a self-published author?
Anxiety. I have much less now. Also, the time it takes to publish is diminished. I would love to have a traditional publisher who believes in my work, but it’s good to have full control.
How do you approach character development, especially when writing a series? Did any of your characters change significantly between the first and second books?
The biggest change was to a secondary character, Boden. He has the largest arc of them all. Every woman I’ve talked to fell in love with Boden while reading the books. The Main characters stay true to themselves while everyone around them changes, literally.
A Griffin No More introduces new twists and deepens the world of Once Upon a Griffin. What can readers expect from the sequel that builds on the first book?
The second book brings new characters, twists and turns, and an old enemy who isn’t playing around anymore. It also deepens the relationship between the main characters, Guin and Jaxzon, but has a new romance as well.
You mentioned you are completing the trilogy with A Griffin's Ever After. How does this final book tie up the overarching themes and character arcs?
The third book ties up a few loose ends from the first two. Mysteries of past events become clear, a new terrifying villain challenges the two main characters, and they learn that sometimes, love might not be enough.
What themes or messages do you hope readers take away from the trilogy as a whole?
I never think about a theme or a message when I write. But when I think about it, I guess my message is that love is sometimes something you must fight for, and no matter what life throws at you, stay true to yourself.
How does your personal life or past experiences influence your writing, particularly in a fantasy setting like this one?
I’m not a big romance reader, though I have read my fair share, and I love rom coms, so I wanted to write something I would like to read, and something my granddaughters could read as well. I didn’t want this to be a run of the mill romance, so I threw everyone into space to make it a bit more exciting and newer. My personal past of loves lost and heartbreak helped with the emotional stuff. Reading all types of sci-fi and fantasy helped me realize that there were no boundaries when creating your own universe.
Self-publishing gives authors creative freedom. How did you go about designing the cover for Once Upon a Griffin? What was the vision behind it?
I found the picture of the girl in the red dress and found it perfect for my character. I wanted the cover to reflect a curiousness and awe of the world around the MC. I hoped to catch the eye of the reader and make them curious as well. I hope I have succeeded.
Can you share a bit about your writing process? Do you plan out your stories in detail or let the characters lead the way?
I started out planning the first one, but no sooner had I finished with the outline that the characters took over. I found myself writing for hours on end about things that I had never dreamed of before. I’m definitely a pantser.
The Griffin series blends fantasy and adventure. What other genres or elements do you love to include in your work?
Romance. Sweet romance in particular. There are many authors writing spicy and beyond, so I wanted something my kids and grandkids could read without embarrassment. I love creating exciting twists and turns, leaving everyone hanging at the end of the chapter. Sci-fi, suspense, and mystery are some of my favorite genres, and I love including them all throughout the series.
What advice would you give to other authors who are considering the shift from traditional publishing to self-publishing?
I say go for it. We do all our own publicity and marketing anyway, and that’s what sells books these days.
What’s next for you after A Griffin's Ever After? Are there any new projects or stories you’re excited to share with your readers?
I am jotting notes and planning an anthology based on the books. Short stories about the past of some of the characters. How Guin came to live with her adoptive parents. How Boden and Jaxzon became friends, and what happened with Boden and his love life. I have at least five stories planned with exciting back story, so hopefully fans of the Griffin series will have their questions answered.
What has your AllAuthor experience been like so far? What are some highlights?
Coming in second place to someone with hundreds of followers was awesome, it’s almost like winning in some ways. I like the monthly banners and checking out other books listed. I really wish the AI covers had their own category though. Losing to one is a bit disheartening and after a while, real artists will stop trying. I guess you can cut that part out, but I think it must be said.
