Author Interview: Camilla Monk

I had the fabulous honor of (virtually) sitting down with Camilla Monk, author of the Spotless series, for an interview.

This author is as interesting as her characters. The following bio on the"Self-glorification" page of her website features the same humor that's found in her novels:
"Camilla Monk is a virtually unknown author who somehow tricked a bunch of people into publishing books about ostriches and killer platypuses.
A French native who grew up in a Franco-American family, she taught English and French in Tokyo before returning to France to work in advertising. Today, she builds rickety websites for financial companies and lives in Montreal, where she keeps a close watch on the squirrels and complains on a daily basis about the egregious number of Tim Hortons.
Her writing credits include the English resumes and cover letters of a great many French friends, and some essays as well. She’s also the critically acclaimed author of a few passive-aggressive notes pasted in her building’s elevator."

I've read all of the books and am a big fan of Island and March, the two main characters in the series. If you've perused my blog, you might have already seen my reviews for the books: Spotless, Beating Ruby, Crystal Whisperer, and, finally, Butterfly in Amber. If you haven't, you can go ahead and check out my reviews by clicking on the book titles. I highly recommend this series for readers who love action, quirky characters, romance, and lots of humor.

Now, let's get to the good stuff!

What inspired you to write the Spotless series?

My love of spy movies (James Bond!) and trashy novels. Island is probably inspired by Bridget Jones, but also by the stereotypical "Anime girl", a gentle and innocent character. She became a prism through which I could explore your typical spy thriller in a completely different way. I can really say that she came to life, and it was her who gave the other characters their humanity. They can only shine because she shows them to us with an open-mind and a naive kindness.


What is your favorite scene that you've written in the Spotless series so far?

My favorite line is Island squeaking in Spotless #1 that "Antonio will change!". My favorite scene, I'm not sure. I like writing Dries, as a general rule, I love his scenes. I'm also fond of March and Island's last moments together in Spotless #1, and of a scene that you'll discover in Butterfly in Amber, where they reflect on their love story so far, in typical Spotless fashion...

If you could make one character from your books exist in real life, who would you choose and why?

Dries or Stiles? I'd love to sit down with them for a chat.

The fourth book, Butterfly in Amber, recently released this month; will this be the end of the Spotless series or will there be more books to follow?

The big arc ends here, that's for sure, but seeing how readers wanted more, and because it's a bit difficult to part with March and Island after having spent 3 years writing them, I decided to do a fifth book that would be a lighter adventure, something to give closure to the many characters we encountered throughout the series and summon the wacky spirit of the first Spotless. It will also serve as a bridge to my next series, Acies, which is set in Ancient Rome. 

Do you have any other writing projects in the works?

As mentioned above, my next series will be a spin-off of sorts: Acies takes place in Spotless's universe, two thousand years earlier, during Emperor Hadrian's reign...

What is your writing process like?

Thinking, thinking, thinking, writing bits here and there, thinking, listening to music, researching various places, weapons, scientific topics, thinking. OMFG the deadline is near. Writing. 
More seriously, I do write isolated scenes at first, generally over a 3 months period during which the story comes together as an outline with key scenes. Then I order everything with chapters--the number of which I systematically underestimate--and start writing. Often, as I write, I'll get taken in a different direction than the one I had intended, but starting and ending points usually remain the same, what will change is the way I reach that ending (add a new scene, change the order in which some events take place).
I think it's important to have a general idea of where you're going, and I can't stress enough the importance of research: it gives me inspiration, provides a level of detail that makes scenes feel more visceral, and sometimes it can influence the story altogether.

What do you do when you get writer's block? 

I take a bath, and I think while I'm soaking, or I go out and take a long walk, listening to music. As a result, I'm never cleaner than when I'm on a deadline: 3 baths a day! :) Joke aside (but it's true), I think the trick is to take your mind off of the manuscript, breathe some fresh air. Another approach is to write something different: another scene of the book, one that inspires you, or another book altogether.

Do you have any advice for writers and aspiring authors?

I sometimes get asked for advice from writers who are working on their first manuscript. I have to admit that there's not much I can say to help them, except maybe this: find a critic partner early on, to motivate you into writing regularly and actually wrap that book. 
Once you do have a draft, my best advice is to hire a developmental editor. It won't come cheap, and the first editorial letter you'll get will shatter your self-esteem, but you need to that professional eye to gauge your story and make the most of it. Supposing that you have a decent draft, try to query: the process itself is a learning experience, regardless of the outcome. You'll need to be able to pitch your story: if you can't sum up in 3 lines what makes it good or different, then the manuscript isn't ready. It means that it lacks a "spine", a strong concept or narrative choice that you can use to introduce the agent or publisher to your world. For example, if I remember, well, Spotless's early pitch was: "An OCD-ridden hit man, a romance books obsessed nerd, a 2 billion dollars diamond: it cannot end well." There's a lot more to Spotless, and as you see, I didn't even mention Island's virginity, in order not to clutter the pitch with adjectives. But it was enough for several agents to think "okay, this is intriguing."
Lastly, if you go for self-publishing: stay away from vanity publishers offering to edit and produce your books. All you'll get is a crappy, hasty job done by people who are here to make a profit. Find your own editor, cover artist, formatting expert and hire them yourself. Join a community of fellow self-pubbed authors (you have many on Facebook, and forums too, all over the internet). You'll learn more by working directly with professionals, and your money will be better spent.

A big thank you to Camilla Monk for taking the time to answer my questions! And for all of you reading this interview, I hope you've already picked up your own copies of the books to enjoy. But if not, all of the books are available in ebook and paperback format, and the first three are also available as audiobooks, so you can start reading (or listening) to the books in whichever format you prefer today!

Author Interview: Katherine Davis

Yay! It's time for another author interview! I always feel so honored when I reach out to an author and they agree to do an interview for my blog. This time I'm interviewing the wonderfully creative Katherine Davis.

Katherine Davis is the author of the Child of Fate series, which currently has two books out and available now: Serendipity's Daughter and Karmic Justice. You can read my review of the second book HERE. She is a self-published author currently living in Missouri, US. The proud mother (a.k.a. “survivor”) of three boys, she’s an admitted, unrepentant addict of books, laughter, games, learning, and the glorious World Wide Web.

Now let's get this interview started! 

What inspired you to write the Child of Fate series?  

I have always had this odd thing about Karma and Fate.  It's fascinating for me and I often mused about "what if" Fate was real, not just as a concept or ideal, but a real person and thing.  When I finally summoned the courage and oomph to write my own story, this was the easiest place to begin.

What is your favorite scene from the books so far?  

That's a good question.  I'm not sure I can put one above all the others, although there are a couple that do stand out for me.  I really like the scene in Serendipity's Daughter that first introduces the guys, when they're all in their room picking at each other before Kismet so rudely interrupts.  There's another one in Karmic Justice towards the beginning when Kismet gets mad at her Guardians and has had enough that I always found empowering.

How many books will be in the series?  

Four.  That's the plan anyway!  I was originally only going to write three in this series but the story needed more room than that.

Do you have any other writing projects in the works or plans for another story once the Child of Fate series is finished?  

Definitely!  I have so many stories inside my head and notebooks filled with ideas, characters, and concepts.  I'm not sure which one will snag me and my Muse once this series is over but I'm forcing myself to concentrate fully on the Child of Fate series for now.

What is it like being a self-published author?  

Whew.  Heavy question.  It isn't easy, and yet it is.  I love working from home, dictating my own hours, essentially playing pretend with imaginary friends.  This is my dream job and has been since I was in grade school.  It's great that my kids get to see me following and living my dream, it teaches them they can do the same if they really put their mind to it.  Now for the but...  I grew up in a heavily blue collar family and small town where a "proper" job meant working 9-5, Monday - Friday, at a place that offered health insurance, retirement benefits, and the occasional company picnic.  That means being self-employed in a career without guaranteed stable income is...hmm...not exactly frowned on but thought of as odd.  There are these moments now and then when someone asks me what I do that usually end with an awkward moment of silence and an eventually muttered, "Oh."  Once in a while though I come across someone who is genuinely fascinated by what I do and it sparks a fun, energetic conversation.  The most important part is that I'm doing what makes me happy, my fiance is very supportive, and my kids think Mom is "cool."

Do you have any advice for writers, especially writers considering self-publishing?  

Do it!  I'm not just stealing that from Nike, either.  If you can imagine a story in your head, you can write it.  I think what holds a lot of people back is being too intimidated by the process, but you can get used to that.  The first and most important step is sitting down and doing the work.  Do some research, ask authors personally, find a writing community online like NaNoWriMo for example, and learn how to write a book.  The information is out there if you go look for it, then just...do it.  Everyday.  Write.  Write long handed or type it out, whatever you have to do to get words on a page.  It takes a lot of self-motivation and determination, but if you really want to and you're willing to do the research and work, then go for it.

Thanks again Katherine for allowing me to interview you! I wish you luck as you continue writing.

Author Interview: Autumn Reed and Julia Clarke

Autumn and Julia are the authors of the Stardust Series (see my reviews of the books here) as well as contributing authors to the Falling for Them Reverse Harem anthology. I contacted them to see if they'd be willing to do an interview for this blog. Luckily, they agreed!

Here is more information about the authors, taken from their website:

Autumn and Julia became fast friends, bonding over their mutual love of historic homes, photography, and good books. While they didn’t plan on co-authoring a novel, what started as daydreaming transformed into brainstorming and then actual writing.

A lifelong bookworm, Autumn loves nothing more than immersing herself in a fictional tale. When she isn’t dreaming up stories about insanely attractive guys, she spends her free time browsing antique stores and fixing up her house.

Julia is a philomath who loves trying new things from tap dance to calligraphy. If she won the lottery, Julia would travel the world with her husband; in the meantime, she enjoys cooking, hiking, and sailing.

Together, Autumn and Julia make the perfect pair, balancing impulsive with indecisive and attention to detail with an eye for the big picture. Despite their different personalities, Autumn and Julia share a common vision in their writing and love bouncing ideas off each other. They see the creative process as a challenge, a game, and delight in living in a world of their own creation.

Check out their website to learn more about their books and sign up for their newsletter!

Now let's get this interview started!

How did you two become co-authors? What inspired you to write the Stardust Series?

We are both avid readers (Autumn especially) and daydreamed about writing a novel. At first, it started as a fun mental exercise, creating the characters and settings. But then, we decided to go for it and actually write a book. We had no idea if anyone would ever read our books, and we're thrilled every time we hear from a fan!

What is your writing process like?

Our writing process has evolved over time, but typically, we meet in person to brainstorm. We’ll spend hours discussing the characters, their motivations, and the timeline. Then we go through chapter by chapter and split up writing assignments. Sometimes we each write an entire chapter and other times we break it down into smaller sections depending on the content. 

What is your favorite scene from the series so far?

Autumn - 
I don't know that I can pick a favorite, but one of the most memorable scenes to write was the "camp out" in front of the Christmas tree in Pyxis. The scene itself was very simple, but knowing how much it meant to Haley that the guys would do that for her might have caused a few tears when I was writing it.

Julia -

That’s a tough question! One of my favorite scenes is in Pyxis when Haley is hanging out with Liam after she goes sailing with him and Jackson. Their interaction shows how much both Haley and Liam have grown. Haley is more comfortable around him, flirtatious even. Liam reveals a depth of character that goes beyond the playboy facade. And, of course, there's the steamy pool scene that follows.

What else have you written and are there any projects in the works that readers can look forward to?

Currently, we're writing Vega (Book 4 of The Stardust Series), which will be released later this year. And, Autumn is writing the follow-up to Raising the Stakes (Risking It, book 1) from the reverse harem anthology, Falling For Them, released last month.

What is your favorite part of being a writer/author? The most challenging part?

Autumn - 
I have always, always been an insatiable reader (of novels), but I never thought that I was creative enough to be a writer. So, I really have two favorite things, if I can claim both: 1) the sense of accomplishment from doing something I never thought I could, and 2) knowing that other bookworms are staying up way too late reading books I helped write.

Most of the time, my biggest challenge is getting words down on the page. I'm a perfectionist by nature, and I tend to write my first draft like it's the final one. I can't move on from a paragraph until I'm happy with it, which means that I tend to write painfully slow.

Julia - 

Nerdy as it sounds, I always enjoyed logic puzzles in school. Writing a series is like solving an enormously intricate logic puzzle with no one correct answer. There are so many moving parts, from individual character choices, to group dynamics, to mystery and intrigue. I love the challenge of determining how all of those pieces fit together to create the story.

One of my biggest challenges is ensuring that the scene comes to life on the page just as vibrantly as I've imagined it. 

What advice do you have for aspiring authors? 

Autumn - 
If you are considering writing a series, make sure that you're prepared to put in the time and effort to keep going after the first book... and deal with the possibility of the series taking off. As Julia and I have discovered, what started as a hobby has transformed into a business. In addition to writing, editing, and self-publishing our books, we also juggle a website, social media, newsletters, giveaways, bonus material, fan interactions... the list goes on and on. I find it all very rewarding, but it's a LOT of work.

Julia - 

You may start out with one idea of your character or plot and end up with a completely different one. Don’t be afraid to change the story as you go, letting the characters evolve naturally. 

Thank you so much Autumn and Julia for taking the time to answer my questions!