In honor of the new year, I wanted to start a new author interview series on my blog. So, I’ve created my own book tag for indie authors to answer and submit. I’ll feature at least two posts on my blog each month.

You can find the standalone list on my “contact me” page. Submit your answers to as few or as many of the questions you’d like, as long as the questions and answers total at least 1,000 words. Also, include an author bio and a quick blurb about the book that you’re promoting.

Include the questions and answers along with your links and at least one photo that you own. Send everything to laura@laurasbooksandblogs.com with the subject “Author Book Tag,” and I’ll get back to you with a date that the interview will post.

In the meantime, below are my answers to the 25 questions in my author book tag!

 

  1. Why do you write in the genre(s) that you do?

I grew up telling everyone that I was going to become a children’s author. When I grew up, I was guided into the direction of writing for adults, but it just wasn’t fulfilling to me. It wasn’t until I finally went back to writing middle grade stories that writing once again felt right to me.

  1. Do you keep a notebook of ideas?

I always have a notebook that I’m in the process of filling. It’s usually used to outline blog posts, articles, or stories. But if I have one of those eureka moments without the benefit of time, I will jot down story ideas to refer back to later. A lot of them never get used, but it feels better to reject an idea than forget it altogether.

  1. Do you have a muse?

My muse is other stories, mostly movies. I think of my favorite stories and try to create my own version of them while making something completely new and original.

  1. Are you a fan of the Oxford comma?

Yes. The clearer you can be in your writing, the better, and the Oxford comma is all about clarity.

  1. Fill in the blank: People will like your book if they like stories about…”

Real kids doing real things, adventures that take place in your own backyard, and stories about the complicated relationships between friends and family members.

  1. What are your thoughts on typewriters?

Typewriters are cool to look at and display, but I have no desire to type on one. I need to know that my work is being saved and that I don’t have to retype it in order to submit or share it. At the end of the day, it’s an obsolete piece of technology.

  1. Would you rather own a bookstore or run a library?

I have dreams of owning a bookstore. But the rational part in me tells me I need to learn about the business side of things and really do a lot of planning to ensure that the business has the best chance of success. The pandemic also made the risk of running a small business a major concern, and my rational side continues to hold me back from pursuing this dream further.

  1. How do you name your characters? Or, if you write non-fiction and had to change names, how did you change the names?

For first names, I like to come up with lists of names that I like and names that fit my characters. A boy named Jack is almost always written the same way. A girl named Brittany also conveys a certain image. For last names, I like to pick a theme. In one book, I based my characters’ last names on the names of the streets in my childhood neighborhood because the story was based on that neighborhood. In my latest, I used the last names of famous comic book artists and writers to go with the superhero theme of the story.

  1. What is your favorite social media platform?

I get the most engagement on my blog on Facebook, and I have the most followers on Twitter, but my favorite social media platform to scroll through and come up with posts for is Instagram. Even for writers, pictures will overrule text almost every time.

  1. If Hollywood bought the rights to your book, would you want it to be turned into a movie or series?

I picture all of my books as movies, and they’re often standalone stories that can be told in two hours or less.

  1. Who is your dream audiobook narrator?

I’d like a narrator who sounds energetic and enthusiastic without sounding like they are talking down to the kid readers or trying to sound too much like a kid.

  1. How many words or pages do you typically write in one writing session?

It varies. I don’t sit down with a specific word count in mind. That holds me back. I just beg myself to write anything, whether it’s a paragraph or 10 pages, and like exercise, once I get going, I can usually do more than I intended.

  1. Do you have any writing rituals?

I don’t because my writing time is so limited that I can’t take time to create the perfect writing space. I have to write when I can and where I can.

  1. What do you like to read? How often do you read?

I try to read at least a few pages every day. I like to read memoirs, paranormal, middle grade, and YA. I’ll often have a book that I read when I’m out, one by my bed, and an audiobook that I read in my car. I also find that I can only read in increments of only 30 minutes or less at a time. Then, I have to put down the book for at least a few hours before coming back to it. A good audiobook, though, I can listen to all day.

  1. Have you made any public appearances to promote your book?

When I released my self-published books, I did rent table space at some local sales, but I’m a terrible salesperson who didn’t know how to engage with the customers. I also was the only person selling books instead of crafts or antiques. One time, I signed up for an event at an indie author bookstore which was a total failure and cost me money. Another time, I went to my old elementary school to sell books, and it did well, but I wasn’t treated well by the school librarian who acted like I was taking business away from the book sale that the school was holding at the same time.

watercolor books

  1. Who would you most want to read your book?

My audience. Kids in particular who like to read.

  1. Who is an author who you love to follow on social media or read about in interviews?

It’s a boring answer, but Stephen King can be very entertaining on social media, and he gives great answers to interviews.

  1. Is there a book that somebody gave to you that helped you pave the way to becoming a writer, or is there a book on writing that you recommend all writers read?

Stephen King’s On Writing is a widely suggested book for a reason, but I think it motivates you more so than teaches you how to write. But some books on writing that I bought for school that I still own are The Scene Book, The Writer’s Block, and Points of View.

  1. Is there a piece of writing advice that you learned in school or in a class that stuck?

When I told my professor that I learned never to write a story based on a dream you had, she asked me where I heard that from and told me that wasn’t true. I think about that when I need a reminder that there are no rules, and you can write about whatever you want.

  1. Is there an idea that a non-writer pitched to you that you have considered writing?

My old boss used to tell me that the things that occurred in our office could be a book. I didn’t really believe her, but after seeing the success of office-based stories, I could see how if I just spun things a bit and made them broader, they could appeal to the masses and not just those of us who are dealing with day-to-day office issues.

 

  1. Do you like to physically write on paper?

I do. Sometimes it’s easier to handwrite a draft and then type it up later. That’s especially true after staring at a computer screen at work all day.

  1. What is your ideal writing space?

A wide desk with lots of room to work, a good view, a comfortable chair, and a place to lounge is the ideal writing space. I’ve also wanted to create bulletin boards with ideas, inspiration, notecards, and photos related to what I’m working on.

  1. Have you ever gone away to work on a piece of writing? If not, where would you go if you could?

No, but I do hope to do a writing retreat one day. Maybe I’d stay at a bed and breakfast or a cabin and write in a different space all weekend. One time, I spent a week at the beach working on a book, and I got a big chunk done on the days that it rained or at night. So, I know it could benefit me to get away and write.

  1. What is an annoying thing that a non-writer has assumed about writers or the act of writing?

I’ve heard a lot of condescending things about writers and writing from non-writers. They like to think that just having an idea is good enough, that it’s not meaningful work, or that they could do a better job but they just don’t have the time. Writers tend to be passive people who put up with a lot, but their hard work shows in their finished product because they actually took the time to write their idea down and develop it into something readable.

  1. How do you measure the success of your book?

Sales are obviously a measure of success, but a lot of successful books are not good books. And I would rather write a good book than one that’s successful in terms of sales. That sounds a bit hollow, but it’s true. Just writing with the trends or having a fluky success with something that I’m not personally proud of would feel dishonest and undeserved.

Buy it!

Buy a copy of The Scene Book here, and help support local bookstores! This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.


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