What
genre do you write and why?
I
write in the Urban Fantasy genre, although a more accurate category would
probably be Urban Fantasy Mystery. I love the genre and all the variety of
story lines that are possible within it. It’s been a good match for me.
Tell
us about your latest book.
Savage Magic is
book three in a five-book series and continues the story of Addison Kittner
kicking butt and taking names as she uncovers her secret heritage. It’s also
the midpoint in Addison and Cooper’s romance arch.
In this adventure, Addison uses
her PI skills to uncover the cause of a mysterious pandemic that’s decimating
Cooper’s werewolf clan and inadvertently calls forth an immortal monster bred
to destroy the paranormal races protecting humanity.
What
marketing methods are you using to promote your book?
When I release a
new book, I usually do a blog tour but other than that, not too much promoting.
I really prefer building relationships with people
rather than selling to them. Taste in entertainment fiction is so personal, I
don't feel comfortable nagging people to buy my books when what I write might
not be what they enjoy.
What
formats is the book available in?
All my books can be
read on most platforms—Kindle, Nook, Kobo, iTunes, Android and so on. They’re
also in paperback.
Who
are your favourite authors?
I always look forward
to new releases by Jim Butcher and Ilona Andrews. Also Ava Stone’s Regency
romances and anything by Kimberly Frost. All of them very fun reads.
What
advice do you have for other writers?
- Finish the book
you’re working on.
- Take a break to
take a class, workshop or read a book on the craft of writing (continuous
learning and improvement is key).
- Then start and
finish another book. Rinse and repeat.
What's
your favourite quote about writing/for writers?
“There is nothing to
writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” Ernest Hemingway
What's the best thing about being a writer?
The magic of storytelling. Out of one person’s mind come people and
places, feelings and thoughts. All that becomes words on a page and from there
goes into someone else’s imagination where it’s lived out as if it were
happening.
See? Magical.
Where can people find out more about you and your
writing?
Readers can always go to my author’s page on Amazon, or the Shifty Magic
lineup on my webpage. Another great way is to look up some of the other stops
on this tour. For everyone who’s been following along each week, you probably
know more about me than my husband by now.
Who is you favorite character in your book and why?
I’d have to pick Addison (shh, don’t tell the others). I love her snarky
mouth and sharp wit, her courage, and her moxie. Addison keeps fighting no
matter what life throws at her. I can’t help but admire that.
Why do you think readers are going to enjoy your book?
I don’t think anyone can really say why a reader likes a
book. Entertainment fiction is such a uniquely individual experience for
everyone, as reader reviews will tell you!
I can offer you a quote from a reader though:
“There's
plenty of action and suspense to keep you hooked. I love the characters and the
writing flows perfectly off the page I felt like I was watching a movie in my
head, I could picture everything and everyone.
OMG when I got to the end
I wanted to throw something at the wall I was so upset. I can't wait for the
next book I need to see what's next.”
I rest my case. :)
How long did it take you to write your book?
Savage Magic took a long time to get out because of a serious family illness
last year that had to take priority. Once that was resolved, I worked a lot of
hours and got the book done in about two months. Happily, readers won’t have to
wait that long for Dark Magic, which is Book 4. Meanwhile, they can enjoy
Secret Magic, a novella which is
already out.
Who designed the cover?
My fabulous graphic artist, Niina, at For the
Love of Reading Cover Design. I think it’s one of the best in the
series so far.
Did you learn anything from writing your book that was unexpected?
If you really engage with digging down into those harder feelings that we
all like to avoid, writing a book can be a lot like going to therapy. Savage
Magic had an element of that for me. But by going to that scary internal place,
I was able to bring a depth to this book that I hadn’t achieved before as a
writer. As controversial as Savage Magic is in the series, I’m still very proud
of it.
Where can a reader purchase your book?
All the major eBook vendors are carrying it — Amazon, Nook, iTunes, and
Kobo. As well as some of the smaller stores like Page Foundry, Scribd, Oyster and Tolino.
What are you doing to market the book?
Not much else now that the tour is almost over. When I decided to become
an indie author, I did it because I wanted to take my product directly to
consumers and let them decide if I could tell a story well or not. I still have
that philosophy. If readers love the books, they’ll tell their friends and talk
about it on Social Media. If they don’t care for the series, then they have the
right to talk about that too. Either way, I believe that readers and fans are
much more qualified to spread the word than I am.
Who inspires you?
One of my very best friends from college—Diana’s always been encouraging
of my crazy dream called being an author. Also my sister-in-law, Joyce. She’s
one of the most amazing women I know, and I think my brother showed remarkable
wisdom in snagging her before someone else did.
How do you research your books?
Using the greatest gift to authors since the printing press—the internet.
I love that I can pause from writing a scene, look up what happens to a dead
body hour by hour, and then move right back into writing. True story, by the
way.
What is your work in progress? Tell us about it.
Book 4,
Dark Magic, is currently in the
works. In Dark Magic, Addison tackles practitioner training and in the process
uncovers a plot to kill key paranormal leaders, including Cooper and Lord
Bellmonte. With only days before the expected assassinations, she finds herself
forced to play bodyguard to both of them while she and the team try to find the
source of the threat and stop the murders before it’s too late.
What are your thoughts on self-publishing verses
traditional publishing?
Both platforms have a lot to offer an author. In fact,
I’m always going back and forth about the advantages and disadvantages of both.
Indie-pubbing gives a writer a tremendous amount of autonomy. You have full
control over your covers, your titles, the stories you write and just as
importantly, how you market your books. For example, as an indie-pub author, I
can keep Book 1, Shifty Magic, free
indefinitely. I couldn’t do that for readers if I were traditionally published.
On the other hand, traditional publishing takes the burden of all the
moving parts of publishing off the writer. They provide in editing team, they
have a cover team, they have a marketing department (although these days most
writers have to do the bulk of their own promotion). My solution is to
eventually do both. In fact, I have a new series in a different genre that I
plan to take to a traditional publisher next year.
Who or what inspired you to become a writer?
It started by being wired this way, I think. Then as I was exposed to
wonderful books, movies and plays, the need to write my own stories grabbed
hold and off I went.
Does your family support you in your writing career? How?
Absolutely. My family, both immediate and extended, is very proud of how
I’ve refused to give up and stuck through all the disappointments, mistakes,
and slow downs that are part of any journey to being published. My wonderful
husband was the one who sat down with me when I was miserable in my corporate
job and told me I needed to quit and write books.
What are you currently reading?
Well…looks like the time has come to confess to being a book hoarder and
multi-reader.
While I waited in line at Costco yesterday morning, I was reading Cinder
by Marissa Meyer. But tonight before I fall asleep, I might read a section from
Writing Habits Mastery by S. J. Scott, or maybe check out Kimberly Frost’s
newest book. Although with hundreds of novels on my iPod, that could change.
What books or authors have most influenced your life?
Mark Twain, especially his humorous essays. Also C.S. Lewis’ The
Chronicles of Narnia. And then my favorite modern writers, Jim Butcher and
Ilona Andrews. Love how they both do action.
When you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?
There always seems to be errands to run no matter how many times I go to
Target or the grocery store. I also spend about half of my workday taking care
of the business side of my job like posting quotes on Social Media, answering
emails, and things like that. In the evenings, I like to read or watch
something on TV with my husband or our daughters, and in some cases if the show
is right, all of us will watch one
together.
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Judy Teel
Savage Magic
12 Comments
Thank you for hosting
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of phone was your first cell phone?
ReplyDeleteLOL, you caught me out, Mai! I still have a basic slider phone, just like I started with. I'm redeemed by my beloved iPod, though. ;)
DeleteGreat interview, thank you for sharing! Love the cover-amazing!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Betty. And thank you for the compliment on the cover!
DeleteThanks for hosting me today, Jo. I'm glad to be here!
ReplyDeleteReally great interview, I enjoyed reading it and I'm looking forward to checking out the book. Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Victoria! My pleasure. :)
DeleteOoh now this I want to read!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad, Danie. Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteThank you for hosting me, Jo! It was a lot of fun. :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your interview. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI love to hear from you. So feel free to comment, but keep in mind the basics of blog etiquette — no spam, no profanity, no slander, etc.
Thanks for being an active part of the Writers and Authors community.