Interviews!

I am so excited to be a featured author on the Indie-Licious blog today! They are highlighting my newest release, Heart of Kylassame, as well as interviewing me so that all of my readers, and the Indie-licious readers, get a glimpse into the mind of Kristi Strong.

Here is just a bit of the interview :) To read the entire interview, including how I came up with the name for Heart of Kylassame, be sure to go visit my interview on Indie-Licious!

It's a pleasure to have Author Kristi Strong stop by Indie-Licious to celebrate her new fantasy novel. Now lets delve, shall we?

About Kristi Strong:
1. Can you tell us a bit about when you first discovered you wanted to be a writer?

"It sounds cliche, but I have loved writing ever since I was a little girl. My mom was a big journal writer and I always wanted to write pages of beautiful cursive like she did. Once I learned to write, I had fun writing stories about gardens with magical fruit, and found that the school assignments I loved the most were ones were I could write creatively.

I didn't imagine I could become an author until 2011 however, when I discovered the world of self-publishing. It allowed me to write my books the way I did best, without hard deadlines or having to manipulate the characters into something they were never intended to become."

2. Is there a book that most influenced your life? 

"Oh wow, good question. I think a big one for me was The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (over a decade before it became a movie). I read it when I was a preteen and it helped me realize that life wasn't always going to be fair, or logical, or what I thought it would be. It allowed me to view the world around me in a much different manner."

3. Favorite food?

"Macaroni and cheese, but the home-made kind, not Kraft. I just love when it's all ooey-gooey cheesy with the crispy breadcrumbs on top."

4. Favorite thing to do when you aren't writing? 

"Crochet. It's my other creative outlet. I am forever working on crocheting purses, blankets, hats, or other projects."

FHS Book Club Meeting

I had a wonderful opportunity to meet with the faculty at a local high school who had chosen the Lady of Steinbrekka as their May fiction novel! It is certainly daunting to have a group of teachers reading your work, and part of me was terrified that they were going to hate it.
Quite the opposite, it seems :) We had a wonderful question/answer session and everyone was also very excited about the bookmarks I handed out, as well as the sneak peak for the cover of Heart of Kylassame, coming June 26th.
Here are some of the wonderful questions they sent my way (paraphrased because I have a horrible memory, even of my own answers)

Do you have a favorite character?
My favorite is definitely Rowan. He's like my fantasy husband, you know, if I were ever kidnapped and taken to another realm. Savin is my second, and he's like my fantasy boyfriend. Obviously I have a hand in giving them qualities I like, but they also developed a bit on their own, and I like how Rowan "grew up" over the course of the book(s).

Are you Rhea?
I wish! Parts of me make up Rhea, like my archaeology background, horse experience (the story she tells KataOlya is a true story of my past), as well as my fondness for cats. But, I think it's safer to say that Rhea is who I wish I could be. When writing, I am able to think of how I would react to a situation and then have time to formulate the results. This allows Rhea to be stronger and wittier than me. I'm the type of person who thinks of the perfect response...5 minutes later.

How do you write? Do you use an outline?
(I will do a post on this later, but here's the short answer). I typically have a loose plot outline for each book. Normally I have a beginning and an end, but the details in the middle get kind of fuzzy. Mostly I just write down things I want to have happen on paper, and then they all begin to magically connect, sometimes with much frustration on my end. The Lady of Steinbrekka was much more outlined than Heart of Kylassame (due out June 26th), and I gave up within 2 pages of Soul of Asimina (due out Christmas 2013) because the characters weren't listening to me anyway.

What inspired The Lady of Steinbrekka?
It sounds cliche, but I had a dream about some of the scenes and the rest just kind of happened. I dreamt (from the pov of Rhea) about getting kidnapped and waking up to see this evil High Prince who wore my friend's face. I knew I had to save him, but couldn't figure out how. I also dreamed the scene with the Gormellyn. Then I just had to figure out how to connect them.

What is it like to be a famous author?
I wouldn't say I'm famous (yet?)! It's still processing for me. Some days, like when I get awesome reviews or make a profit, it's really incredible. Mostly, I just feel like a person who likes to write books, and who is lucky enough to be able to share them with the people around her and have readers who enjoy the work.

When do you write?
Whenever I can, which is not nearly as often as I like. I have paper near me so I am scribbling plot lines and ideas all day, but really can only sit down and write when my child is asleep. Of course, that's also when I have to clean/cook/pay bills, so that's why it takes so long in between books! One day I'll be able to just sit and write for 8 hours a day, but that is not today.

Questions at the signing

For anyone looking to do an author signing, my biggest suggestion is to prepare for questions and have them already thought out. Here are some from my event last Saturday at the Cascades Library in Sterling. (answers have been slightly expanded and I have removed some nervous "ums")

The most asked  - "What is your book about?"
The Lady of Steinbrekka is about a young woman who suddenly finds herself in a different realm that is filled with mysterious strangers who all have dark secrets. While there, she must find the strength to challenge the status quo and fight to change her destiny in order to survive.

"When did you become a writer?"
I began writing at an early age. My first book was typed out in 5th grade and was about a magical garden, so, you could say, fantasy was always my genre. As a teen, I wrote in order to express myself and it became a form of therapy for me. I began seriously writing with the main goal to publish in 2011.

"Why do you write fantasy?"
Fantasy books are my way to express every day problems in a different setting. It is easier to take something that is a common problem and put it into a fantastical world and not have it directly affect the reader, or cause them pain. I think it is also a way for readers to connect with characters that are so different from "normal" when they have the same daily issues.I also just really enjoy making up different worlds and being able to suspend disbelief within a person's mind.

"What is the hardest part about writing?"
Editing. It is so hard to go through the story and not get wrapped up in the plot, which you have to do in order to make the grammatical edits. I'm also just really bad at grammar, so there is that component too. Luckily, I have an awesome editor who will find anything I miss.

"Why do you self-publish? Is it because you kept getting rejection letters?"
I've actually never submitted any of my writings for publication before. I self-publish because it allows me to have control over the finished product. While I do have editors and readers who suggest changes, the ultimate decision is mine. I also have control over the cover as well, which is a big deal to me. I like that, with self-publishing, the book is all mine, for better or worse.

"What is your suggestion to a wanna-be writer?"
Keep doing it, no matter what. I stopped writing for almost a decade because people told me that it was stupid, a waste of time, fantasy would get me nowhere, etc. If you enjoy writing, then do it."

"What is your best suggestion for how to pick a book to write?"
My favorite writer's quote is "Write the book you want to read" and that's what I take to heart. A lot of time characters will pop into my head, or scenarios, or just general emotions that, I feel, need to be expressed a shared. Don't force it, just let it happen naturally.

Why Indie rocks! - Bethany Lopez

Welcome to another post in the Why Indie Rocks! series. Today's guest author extraordinaire is the wonderful 

Bethany Lopez.

1) When did you first begin to write as an Indie-author/self-published author?

 I began writing in Oct 2010. I didn't release Ta Ta for Now!, my Contemporary YA, until June 2011.

2) Why did you decide to go the Indie-author/self-publishing route?

 I didn't even know it was an option when I began to write. I queried Agents and dealt with the rejections that came along with that. When I learned about publishing through Amazon from my Uncle. I decided to give it a try. I had no idea what I was getting in to. I learned so much in the six months after I self- published, and I met some amazing people who helped me along the way.

3) What are some advantages to being an Indie-Author/Self-published author? 

Control is a big one. I'm kind of a control freak, so it works for me. I like being able to choose my covers, how I want to market, and when I want to release my books.

4) What are some of the disadvantages to being an Indie-Author/Self-Published author? 

A dream of mine has always been to see my books in a bookstore. You can still make that happen by consignment, or doing an event in a store, but not to the same extent that you could if you were traditionally published.

5) What is your best advice to someone who wants to break into the Indie world?

 Build your platform prior to your book release. Start a Facebook Page, a Twitter Account, a Pinterest, and any other social media outlet that interests you. Start a blog. Get to know other writers,bloggers, and readers, before you start marketing yourself or your book. Pay it forward, as they say. No one wants to deal with a new writer who hasn't done their research, doesn't know anyone, and introduces themselves by pushing their work down our throats. That may sound harsh, but it's not meant to. We are a wonderful, generous, and friendly group, get to know us! Now I say this because I didn't go this route. As I said, I knew nothing about Self Publishing before I did it. I'm just trying to make it easier for you than it was for me. Laura Howard is a perfect example of doing this wonderfully. Her book isn't out yet, but she is a strong presence in this community.




Nissa: a contemporary fairy tale is a YA Contemporary Fantasy and will release on April 23rd.

P.S. (How cool is that cover! Gorgeous!)

Want to know more about Bethany? You can find her at any of these locations

Why Indie rocks - Andrea Heltsley

Today our special guest in the Why Indie Rocks feature is the marvelous

Andrea Heltsley!

1) When did you first begin to write as an Indie-author/self-published author?

2012, but I am redoing several of my books and giving them fresh editing and some additional bonus material.



2) Why did you decide to go the Indie-author/self-publishing route?

I like the freedom to make my own choices without all the red tape


3) What are some advantages to being an Indie-Author/Self-published author?

I get to be involved in making my cover art, which is my favorite thing! I don't have to write a certain way. I am free to express myself in any way I feel like.


4) What are some of the disadvantages to being an Indie-Author/Self-Published author?

Publicity. It's hard to build a name for yourself as an indie author. It takes a lot of time and effort to put yourself out there.

5) What is your best advice to someone who wants to break into the Indie world?

Find some already published Indie authors to help show you the ropes and the tricks of the trade. Edit!!! Have an appealing cover to grab readers. Know your platforms and where to publish.

Want to know more about Andrea? Here she is, in her own words :)

I’m a biologist turned writer. I write YA/NA paranormal romance books mainly. I’m the author of Devour and have several more books scheduled to come out later in 2013. I book blog for fun. I also have a strong addiction to caffeine and fruit snacks. You can find me in Tennessee with my husband and two Italian greyhounds.

If you ask anyone, I’m a total fangirl! I love the entertainment industry. I love Revenge and the Vampire Diaries on television. My favorite movies are Elektra and P.S. I Love You. I have a definite weakness for Tim Burton movies too. I’m beyond a huge fangirl for Shakira, both her English and Spanish music; Jack’s Mannequin comes in a close second. I have too many favorite authors to list, but Kelley Armstrong and Rachel Vincent are two of them. I’ve read all their books J

If you would like to contact Andrea, here are several ways. She doesn't bite, I promise.

http://andreaheltsley.blogspot.com
https://www. twitter.com/andreaheltsley
http://www. facebook.com/andreaheltsley
http://pinterest.com/aheltsley/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5766043.Andrea_Heltsley

And her latest release, Devour

He wasn’t supposed to remember.

Callie is a royal vampire. She hunts by taking the blood from her victims and erases their memories afterwards. She goes undetected until a victim named Chase approaches her with all his memories intact. He is intrigued and attracted. She is terrified. What happens when a human mixes with the immortal world? Chaos.

Callie’s 18th birthday has passed and she is coming out at the annual blood ball. Will she find a mate or will she suffer the repercussions of her indiscretion? She is brought to the Vampire council and they must decide what to do with Chase. Do they kill him, or turn him to protect their secret?

My interview by Kristina Circelli

One of my biggest moments happened in August 2012 following the release of my first novel, The Lady of Steinbrekka. This was a chance to be interviewed by my friend, mentor, and inspiration, the amazing Kristina Circelli!

For the full interview, please be sure to visit Kristina over at An Awfully Big Adventure! While you wait the 5 seconds for the page to load, here is a snippit.

Interview with Kristi Strong

1) Thanks for participating in this author interview (and for being my guinea pig and being the first…)! I am so excited The Lady of Steinbrekkais available. Being your first novel, how does it feel to go through the self-publishing process and finally, at the end of it all, have your book in hand?

It is very surreal. When I first saw my book up on www.bn.com I screamed, and grabbed my husband and just kept pointing at the screen going “It’s there! It’s there!” It is a wonderful and incredible feeling. At first I did experience some doubt because I always thought you had to go through a big time publisher to be legit, but this has just blown my mind and that notion straight out the window. The indie novel world is so immense, and has such wonderful creations that it is a awesome source of entertainment and stories.

2) LoS has been many years in the making. What inspired you to go back to your idea, and how did you keep that motivation going throughout the course of writing the book? 

That would be you ;) I have been writing short stories and poems my entire life, but never really thought of other people enjoying them. Your constant excitement kept me writing and made me realize that this is something that should be shared. My mom actually got pretty emotional when I told her that someone was encouraging me to write, and then publish. I had given up on it in college because “I was no Emerson/Tolkien/Rowling” and had forgotten why I write in the first place.

I also hit some spots where the characters or events totally surprised me by taking a different path than originally intended, and that is always exciting. After one fight scene I found myself going “Oh wow, I wonder what will happen next and if everything will be ok!” Then I realized I would have to actually write that and figure it out as the story evolved.

3) LoS is filled with many unique characters and places. Do any of them come from specific inspirations, or people? 

Mateo is actually the only one based on a real person, although more so his nicer side. Also, many of Rhea’s college experiences she refers to late in the book were pulled (and embellished a bit) from our friendship.
Many of the terms, names, and creatures do pull from a variety of languages (mashed together in many cases) or loosely resemble myths and folklore stories told throughout the world.