I have the Answers to your Questions!

Okay, here are some of the questions I've gotten over the past few days. I didn't answer all of them, because some of the questions I received were duplicates. Thank you for sending in questions! Sorry for some of the long responses. I'm a little wordy at times. :)

1. My question is with as many books that you have already published at what age did you start writing your first novel? and was it a high school project?

During my Creative Writing class my junior year of high school, I wrote the scene in BlackMoon Beginnings where Ryanne fell into the dream world for the first time for a short story project. It was only supposed to be 3-6 pages, but my story was over 15 pages. The only feedback my teacher left on the story was that it would make an interesting YA novel.

After I graduated, I sat down and wrote my first book in June of 2012. I was eighteen. I couldn't find a job, so I decided to write instead. I turned that short story into a novel. I wrote BlackMoon Beginnings and Scorching Secrets in two months time. I began Descending Darkness in August, but it took a little longer to write that book because of my college classes.

I published my first book on February 16th, 2013 when I was nineteen. Honestly, I published that book because of a project for my college English course. For a month, I had to immerse myself into a new community and do something new. I immersed myself into the self-pubbing/blogging community and published a book for my "something new." My writing and publishing journey both began because of a school assignment. 

2. What inspired you to write and publish books?

As mentioned before, I probably never would have started writing if my teacher didn't suggest it. It didn’t give it much thought before it was suggested to me. It took me a while before I decided to publish. It took me months before I even let my mom read my books. Haha I know it surprised a lot of people when I took the leap and decided to publish. I've never really been one to do anything that would bring attention to myself. It was very out of my comfort zone initially. 

3. Do you have any particular favourite books or authors that inspired you to become a writer yourself? I was also wondering what you have been reading lately- I read all of the books on your Need A Book page and particularly enjoyed fangirl. Do you have any others you would recommend?

The first books I bought on my Kindle were from Shelly Crane, Samantha Young, and Amy Bartol. They introduced me into the world of self-publishing, and they're probably the sweetest people you'll ever meet. I don't think they know it, but they had a large influence of my publishing decision. They were all very helpful whenever I e-mailed them questions early on. 

Fangirl is probably one of my favorite books. If you haven't read any more of Rainbow Rowell's books, I'd suggest those. I'm currently reading Heather Lyon's Fate Series and Barbie Girl by Heidi Acosta. I really like Samantha Young's Tales of Lunamorte series. I've read each book like five times. Haha 

4. Where do you get your inspiration for your books, and what made you decide to pursue this style of writing (which is awesome by the way)?

First off, thank you. Being my age, I didn't think anyone would take my books seriously if I wrote anything but young adult. If you followed me in the beginning, I didn't even mention my age. I didn't think anyone would want to read a book written by a teenager. I've always read Fantasy and Paranormal, so that influenced my writing style a lot.

As for the inspiration for my books...I have absolutely no idea. Sometimes my book ideas come from dreams, sometimes they come from music, sometimes it's just the strange rambling going on in my head. I don't have anything that inspires me specifically. I believe that inspiration strikes when it's meant to. You can't look for it...it comes to you.

I'm trying to branch out of Young Adult and into New Adult. I was so inspired by the song "What Would You Do?" by Bastille. There's a story in there I really want to tell, but it definitely wouldn't be YA. I'm a little afraid that readers won't take it seriously coming from me at the moment, so I'm waiting a little before I start writing it.

5. Do you base your characters off of people you know or do you just come up with characters at the top of your head?

For most of the characters, I just come up with them off the top of my head. I combined some of my friends characteristics for Emma and Natalie. I'll admit, I put a lot of my personality into Ryanne--not the physical characteristics (though I am short and have wavy/curly hair), but I am just as clueless as she is and I did take gymnastics and piano lessons when I was younger. I wrote what I knew for her character. I didn't realize it until after I published it and some of my friends started noticing similarities though. 

For Colton...I just like Colton. Haha When I read books, I always imagine the main guy looking how I described Colton, so I decided to make my own character. For Bryce and Lainey, I just wrote them how they told me to write them. I don't really plan anything before writing, so sometimes their personalities surprise me.

6. How do you come up with the characters and personalities? who is your FAVORITE character in redeeming laney and who is your favorite character in the phrofisized and then between both books, who is your ALL TIME favorite character??

Honestly, I just write what the characters tell me to write. I don't put much planning into my character's personalities beforehand, because I like the element of surprise. Every time I write a new character, it's like meeting a new friend. I get to know them over the course of the novel. 

My favorite character in the Prophesized series? That is such a hard question. All the characters in that series will forever have a special place in my heart because they were my first characters ever. While writing this newest book though, I've really come to love James and Larkin. Liam is probably my favorite character to write though, and I absolutely love Colton because...it's Colton!

In Redeeming Lainey, I really really really love Tyler. I want to write a story about him. I want to dive into his back story because his life isn't all sunshine and rainbows. I want to show how his relationship with someone (if you read the book, you'll know) started. Also, I think he's a good friend to both Bryce and Lainey.

My all time favorite character...oh goodness, that's a good question. I don't think I can pick just one. I fell so hard for Bryce and Lainey. I love Tyler's personality and his backstory. On the other side, I love Ryanne and Colton, and Liam's personality and backstory. Emma's a great friend, and James and Larkin are more complex than I expected. I also really like Aurialyn in my upcoming Fantasy series because of her attitude and Owen and Levi from this contemporary novel I'm writing because of their friendship. So, in conclusion, I really love all my characters. :)  

7. How do you stay focused on one book at a time? Or rather, one scene at a time? Also, how do you place scenes in a book? Do you start out with a well written plot or does it just come when it comes?

I don't. 

I write multiple books at once. While writing the last Prophesized book, I finished my Guardians of the Chosen book and am another Fantasy novel (see question #11). I wrote Redeeming Lainey while I was writing Reaching Retribution. I worked on my other stand-alone contemporary novel while writing Descending Darkness. I always finish my books, but I jump between novels all the time.

I don't usually plot. I find plotting a little restrictive. If a novel idea is very strong, but I know that I don't currently have time to write it, I will plot some notes, but I know that when I get time to write that novel, I won't follow those notes exactly. I like the surprise that comes with not knowing where the story is going.

I just write. 

8. What inspired the story of Redeeming Lainey?

I think I got the idea for Redeeming Lainey shortly after publishing Scorching Secrets. I remember writing the prologue while I was at UtopYA Con 2013. As for what inspired it? I'm not really sure. I saw a picture (previously posted on my blog) and everything fell into place after that.

Also, I have experienced losing loved ones to cancer, so I was able to draw on those emotions to write some of those scenes. 

9. Why did you end the prophesized series? And will you make more books like it..?

All good things must come to an end. ;)

As a writer, you come to a moment where you realize that it's time for the end. I don't know how to describe it besides there just being a "feeling." When I started that series, I only expected there to be three books, so I was surprised when I wrote the third book and it turned out that there was more story to tell.

10. I'm a huge fan of the Prophesized Series and Redeeming Lainey. Are you coming out with any new books soon? and is there going to be a book #5 for the Prophesized series?

I'm glad you've enjoyed my books so far! I'm always writing, so I have a lot of material to work with. Currently, I've started four different novels (three of them are series) and I've plotted a fifth stand-alone novel with a lot of puns and Disney messages. 

I am working on a fifth book for the Prophesized Series, however, it is NOT a continuation of the story in the sense that there is one plot line, rising action, resolution, etc. The last book is told through varying point-of-views telling each character's story of what happened after Reaching Retribution. My goal is to have that book out by the end of 2014...but I've had some issues writing it recently, so I'll keep you updated on the progress of that.

11. What's your new fantasy series going to be about?

I'm currently working on two other fantasy series right now. 

The first one is my Guardians of the Chosen series. That's a tentative name. The book is told from Elsie's perspective. After a tragedy back home, Elsie moves from Indiana to live with her Aunt and Uncle in North Carolina. There, she discoveres that her life isn't as black and white as she once thought. Every eighteen years, the gods choose four girls to fight against the Helixawren, which are beings released from Tartarus by Choas and Nemesis. The series will cover the span over three novels as these girls try to come into their powers with the help of their Guardians and finally close the gates of Tartarus once and for all before Choas and Nemesis become too powerful and break free.

My other series is more fantasy-ish than anything I've written before. The story is told from varying points of view: Aurialyn, Zayden, and a few sections from the King. Aurialyn is this short blonde girl from Chicago (may possibly change the City later) who never felt like she fit in anywhere--there was alwas something different about her. Zayden is a Xyraphen, a member of the King's royal guard, who was sent on a mission to bring Aurialyn to the Kingdom after she was nearly attacked by these daemons called razarons. With the help of Calix, Zayden's best friend and a shifter, they journey to find Aurialyn's true identity and place in the magical Kingdom of Deniaton. This book deals with ancient traditions, an impending war, feuding brothers, a magical Ball, and forbidden love.

Both of these series are in the very early stages. I have the first book in the Guardians series written. I'm about 40K words into the Deniaton one. I really like both of those books though.  I hope you will too when I finally get them finished. 

12. Dude, why Karkin?!?

I'm so sorry. It had to be done. :( 

13. What Hogwarts House would you be sorted into?

Team Hufflepuff. No shame. :)

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