Written in the Stars Author: Diana Dawn

Interview with Diana Dawn:

Tell us what prompted you to start the series? Be as detailed as you want.

My Whispering Willows series actually started back in the late 1990s. I was part of a small online writing club. We all would write a chapter a week or so. I wrote there for several years on this same series. The writing club finally shut down in 2009. I didn’t do anything with my work for the next 10 years. Then, recently in 2019, I decided to not let all of that time and dedication go to waste, so I made the leap to self-publish my chapters into a book series.

How did you feel as you were writing the first book? Has that feeling changed between then and now? If so, how?

When I first started writing the chapters for this story, I had no idea how far it would go. I love all things Snow White, so I decided to write my story around what would happen to Snow White if she “fell” into another world. It ended up well over 200 chapters before the writing group shut down. I am proud of how far the story has gone. It’s so much more than I thought it would be in the beginning. There are more characters, emotion, and drama than I ever thought I would write!

How many times have you had a specific idea for the story but it has been derailed because the characters decide to go a different way?

Many times, but all for the best! Since the story/series grew into something much bigger than I first expected, I was able to expand my characters, and also bring in new ones… including some darker characters and deeper story themes. The series evolved from a sweet and naïve fairy-tale type story into something much deeper and exciting and dramatic!

What was the most difficult part in writing the series?

Originally, in the writing group, we were using a “shared world”. The moderator was a little…odd. She made things difficult for us. Folks started filtering out until there were only a few of us left. Then she just shut the whole thing down. The few of us left just took the group to another location and continued to write. It was much more peaceful at that point. LOL! So in putting my chapters of the “shared world” into a series, I only used my writing, of course, but I did change some character names and other things from the original version. My husband has been an important part in my converting the story into a series, believe it or not. He has a lot of feedback and gives me ideas. I record all of the books for him so he can listen on his way to work. I’ll get into his car and hear my voice, which is a weird feeling! LOL!

If you could give advice to anybody else considering writing a series, what advice would you give?

Each book in my series builds on the previous book, like a soap opera. This has made it difficult to market. Fans of my series love the cliffhangers that I have at the end of each book. They tell me it really gets them excited for the next release. But the downside of that is that readers need to start at the beginning of the series to know what all is happening. I think I would advise anyone thinking of writing a series to think more modularly. Try to have the books more standalone. They can still relate to each other in some way, but then a reader can pick up, say, book three, and not be totally lost. The relation can be something subtle that would make them curious enough to then purchase the first and second books, etc. This would be impossible for my current series. So it would take some planning on the author’s part to plan out this type of writing strategy.

About the Author:

Diana Dawn is a writer and author of the new book series, Whispering Willows. As a lover of fairy tales and romance, Diana has focused her writing on romantic fiction, with a hint of classic fables. She has been a lifelong writer and first began creating stories in grade school. When she isn’t glued to her computer or lost in her next fantasy story, Diana enjoys taking vacations with her husband and three children. She would love to hear your thoughts or feedback at http://www.DianaDawnBooks.com. Or drop her a line at Diana@DianaDawnBooks.com for a special free promotional offer related to her Whispering Willows book series!

Message from Diana:

Please visit my website for details and synopsis of my series, and a free download of some of the books! Plus, in addition to my series, I have more books coming out and a monthly newsletter with giveaways and other fun things!
https://dianadawnbooks.com/

Also, I just started a new reader’s group on Facebook, along with my Facebook author page. I would love for you to join us!
Dawning Books Reader’s Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/3109388419321551)
Diana Dawn Books (https://www.facebook.com/DianaDawnBooks)

On sale until January 31st! Get your copy before it’s too late!

Written in the Stars Author: Lexi Ostrow

Interview With Lexi Ostrow:

Tell us what prompted you to start the series? Be as detailed as you want. 

I honestly can’t remember what triggered this series. I LOVE writing light-hearted Christmas romances and it seemed like retelling the fairy tales was not done before. The choice really came when I had to decide what heat level to make the series. Since fairy tales are traditionally a younger audience, I decided this would become my first full YA/NA series.

How did you feel as you were writing the first book? Has that feeling changed between then and now? If so, how? 

I just remember the words flying off the tips of my fingers. I’m not sure if it’s because the source material is so ingrained in my head – despite my many changes – or if it’s just because I always seem to flow so well with my Christmas romances. I’m currently writing book four, and I have learned that my joy is still there, but it’s considerably stronger when I’m twisting a favorite fairy tale – like the Princess and the Frog or Hercules (yes, I know, it’s technically a myth but it’s my series :D)

How many times have you had a specific idea for the story but it has been derailed because the characters decide to go a different way? 

Thankfully, never in this series. Due to needing to follow an iconic arc, the characters seem to play nicely. Now, other series… let’s just say single books have frequently turned into series to tie things up or been completely rewritten.

What was the most difficult part in writing the series? 

Picking which comes next! Thankfully, my street teamers are happy to vote. Only once have I gone against their choice – and I apologized to them. 2020 was rough. Pandemic aside, a mystery illness took over my life (that is undiagnosed but I’ve stopped letting it win), we had to move from New Orleans, we had to sell our first home, and ya know…COVID. I needed Hercules in my life so I made some adjustments and swapped Beauty and the Beast to this year.

If you could give advice to anybody else considering writing a series, what advice would you give? 

Keep a journal if the series books connect together. Don’t leave any detail out because your readers will spot even the smallest change like the name of a shop.

About the Author:

USA Today Bestselling Author Lexi Ostrow has been in love with the written word since second grade when her librarian started a writing club. Born in sunny southern California she’s spent time in various places across the country and is not-so-patiently waiting for the USCG to return her to New

 Orleans. Mom to a toddler and an array of pets, her house is never lacking stories to tell.

Lexi has been a writer ever since the second grade in some form or another. Getting her degree in creative writing and her master’s in journalism she couldn’t wait to get a chance to put her fantasies down on paper. From paranormal romance to thriller there isn’t a genre she doesn’t love to spend her time reading or writing. With her BA in creative writing from UCR and her MA in multi-media Journalism from Emerson College, she’s ready to take on the literary world one novel at a time.

Reading and writing are her first loves, but her passion for shopping, love for yummy food and her love for all her many pets are not far behind. Lexi is an enthusiast Whovian and DC Comic Show lover who isn’t afraid to talk someone’s ear off about them. She hopes to one day help other readers fall in love with writing as she did.

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On sale until January 31st! Get your copy before it’s too late!

Written in the Stars Author: Scarlett Kol

Interview with Scarlett Kol:

Tell us what prompted you to start the series? Be as detailed as you want. 

This series started in a bit of an unconventional way. I signed up for an anthology of books that were retellings of The Little Mermaid, and since it was one of my favorite fairy tales as a kid I knew I needed to be a part of it even though I didn’t have anything written. As I started writing the story and building the world, I knew it needed to be expanded and there could be so many other stories happening at Faraway High. Fortunately, I had also signed up to do a Sleeping Beauty anthology later that year with the same group, so I had the idea to link those two stories and then continue on with the series after the anthology publication term was up. It’s great because they are standalone stories so people can start where ever they want and if my readers ever lose passion for these stories I don’t have a huge connected plot that needs to be wrapped up, yet at the same time, it’s a common world with some common characters which makes it fun for those readers who choose to read all the books.

How did you feel as you were writing the first book? Has that feeling changed between then and now? If so, how?

I loved, loved, LOVED The Little Mermaid, so to get to write in that world was a huge kick for me. Plus, I think the twists I put on the original made it even more fun. However, this was the first book I’d ever written that wasn’t going to a publisher and the group of authors in the set had done a lot of work in the fairy tale space, so I was a bit intimidated. However, readers have really loved this story and I’ve had great feedback on it so now I’m a lot more comfortable. I’m super proud of how the story has been received by readers and I will love Arianna and Griffin forever. 

How many times have you had a specific idea for the story but it has been derailed because the characters decide to go a different way?

Ha! All. The. Time. My characters just run their mouths and, all of a sudden, a light bulb goes off and I have to pivot and go with it. Sometimes things need to get reined back in, but sometimes it makes me realize things about the characters and the stories that I never truly understood until that moment. 

What was the most difficult part in writing the series?

The most difficult part is trying to write stories that people want to continue reading. When working with fairy tales it can be tricky because some people will specifically stay away from stories that they didn’t like the original, even if the author has done an amazing job on the retelling. Since this series is based on fairy tales, there is the added pressure of making people want to read stories they initially aren’t interested in based on prior experiences with that story.

If you could give advice to anybody else considering writing a series, what advice would you give?

Hmmm … everyone is different so honestly, you do you. However, if I had to pinpoint something I wish I’d known, I’d say to plan out the entire series from the start. Even if you don’t know all the details and things may and will likely change, knowing where you plan to go with the series will help you lay down the Easter Eggs and little details that interconnect your books and your world better. Readers totally notice that stuff and it makes it easier to build each book on the last.

About the Author:

Scarlett Kol is the USA Today Bestselling Author of dystopian, paranormal and fantasy novels for young adults. Born and raised in Northern Manitoba, she grew up reading books and writing stories about creatures that make you want to sleep with the lights on. As an adult, she’s still a little afraid of the dark. Scarlett lives just outside Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

On sale until January 31st! Get your copy before it’s too late!

Written in the Stars Author: Breezy Jones

Interview with Breezy Jones:

Tell us what prompted you to start the series? Be as detailed as you want. 

I saw a cover for a different genre but it made me think of Disney descendants. So I decided to do a set of fairytale descendants academy. Malefic mixology specifically was inspired by maleficent.

How did you feel as you were writing the first book? Has that feeling changed between then and now? If so, how? 

I felt excited to be starting a new world and a girly twist on the dark fairytale. I feel a lot the same continuing it.

How many times have you had a specific idea for the story but it has been derailed because the characters decide to go a different way? 

That doesn’t often happen to me because I’m a huge plotter. But sometimes I’ll rework my plot if the writing isn’t working.

What was the most difficult part in writing the series? 

Not writing myself into a whole. Lol, I’ve done that with my winters series. Where the details must all connect and fit while staying within the realm I’ve created.

If you could give advice to anybody else considering writing a series, what advice would you give? 

Keep track of all the details. Even if you think it’s unimportant I promise it is.

About the Author:

Breezy lives in a small town in Florida with her husband, daughter, son and three furbabies, as a SAHM. If you ask what first got her into writing, she’ll tell you it was over the ending of Divergent. She remembers laughing at the first person to suggest that she could write a book, but chose to give it a shot.

When she’s not writing Breezy splits her time among her many hobbies; reading, repainting dolls, makeup and graphic design, just to name a few. These things don’t come without a cost; coffee and wine. While writing hasn’t always been her goal, she has fallen in love with building a world from nothing and watching it flourish.

On sale until January 31st! Get your copy before it’s too late!

Written in the Stars Author: Megan Grooms

Interview With Megan Grooms:

Tell us what prompted you to start the series? Be as detailed as you want.

I love this series. The first inspiration came from A Knights Tale movie. There is a female blacksmith and no one thinks she does well, of course she kicks ass at it, and I have always loved that idea. The second came from watching too much Forged in Fire. I decided that Lena would be a bladesmith, not a blacksmith. I also knew I wanted Zander in there as an understand loving male lead, but he decided who he was and how they met. Lena and Zander took the reins after that.

How did you feel as you were writing the first book? Has that feeling changed between then and now? If so, how?

The first book was fun because I was making up the world as I was going along. I could add as many characters as I wanted and describe them any way I wanted. The second book was a bit harder because I had to make sure things matched to the previous story. I needed to add as many details as I could, without just repeating myself from the first book. The last book (that I’m currently working on) is the hardest. This one is the last book in the series and I’m having to direct them more toward and ending. My characters don’t like it when I direct and sometimes, I get a little stuck.

How many times have you had a specific idea for the story but it has been derailed because the characters decide to go a different way?

That happens all the time! I’m a pantser when it comes to writing. I have a general idea of where I want the story to go, and particular scenes that I feel need to be in it, but other than that I don’t plan because they always take me off track. I love it though. I can’t write well if they are not talking to me.

What was the most difficult part in writing the series?

I’ve had to kill a few people that I didn’t want to, and might have to kill more before it’s over. Killing them, and giving the death enough page time, and emotions is a little hard for me, especially when I need to keep the story going. The ending I’m finding difficult to get right as well, which is why it’s taking a little while to get the book done. It has to be done before my conference in July though so I have a deadline, those are good for me lol

If you could give advice to anybody else considering writing a series, what advice would you give?

Have a general outline of where the story is going to end overall. Make sure that you slowly work towards that goal. I would also wait until all books are written before publishing the first one, unless you are very good at keeping on time. I will be sure to do that before I do another series. I feel guilty making people wait, and sometimes if the wait is too long, they’ve forgotten about your book. I love series though, either a continuation of the same people, or in the world with each book focusing on different MC. What ever you do, just write it, first for yourself, then for others. If you love it, chances are, someone else will too.

About the Author:

Megan Grooms is mother of one and author of Young Adult, Fantasy, Supernatural, and Contemporary Romance. She loves writing strong female characters, and their struggles with life and love, as well as the strong men who love them for who they are, and support them, even if that means letting them go. She loves to learn about legends, and myths, and working old, not often heard of, lore into her supernatural, and fantasy stories. Hearing from those that have read her books is the highlight of her day and she encourages readers to reach out to her.

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Written in the Stars Author: Maria Vermisoglou

Interview With Maria Vermisoglou:

Tell us what prompted you to start the series? Be as detailed as you want. 

It was actually part of a shared world anthology. An academy of species where each author wrote the story of a species but kept the big events same for each story. I chose the mermen despite the fact (at the time) I thought them limited. I mean, they could only swim, right? Nope. I soon discovered mermen had amazing skills. Magic is a big factor in their lives, but they can have feet and live like humans. If you don’t mind having a hot roommate with blue skin, who’s addicted to water. 

How did you feel as you were writing the first book? Has that feeling changed between then and now? If so, how?

Very insecure and filled with energy. While at times, I feel insecure or “what have I done?” but I mostly feel strong and determined. And irritated at what my characters got themselves mixed up with. Lol. 

How many times have you had a specific idea for the story but it has been derailed because the characters decide to go a different way?

I’m a pantser so that’s a usual occurrence and the reason I never plan. The few times I’ve planned, my characters thought they were guidelines they could ignore. I have specific ideas like Yuri has ocean powers that are uncontrollable, but I never plan step-by-step scenes because it’s pointless. My characters will just ignore them. As irritating as this is, my characters have good ideas and the most interesting twists. 

What was the most difficult part in writing the series?

Keep the information consistent. I have to consult the map and the previous book to make sure this is actually what I said before.

If you could give advice to anybody else considering writing a series, what advice would you give?

Be prepared to deal with lots of papers and notes flying around and an exploding head. Don’t do it unless you really are prepared to dive into chaos. Series are tough.

About the Author:

Maria Vermisoglou is an International Bestselling author of fantasy and paranormal with an obsession for witches. She loves throwing her heroes into impossible situations. Maria draws inspiration from books, travel, and…the ceiling. (So blame the ceiling!)
Maria started writing when the stories she read became too boring and the voices in her mind too loud.
When she’s not writing, she loves a good riding on the fantasy dragon, but a book can also be exciting, along with a cup of tea.
Nowadays, you can find her in Athens, exploring the mysteries of the ancient world.
You can stay up to date with my releases and contact me through my website: https://maraki2311.wixsite.com/creativequill/

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Written in the Stars Author: Shelley Russell Nolan

Interview with Shelley Russell Nolan:

Tell us what prompted you to start the series? Be as detailed as you want.

Angel Fire was prompted by a recurring dream I had as a teenager. I was an adult in my dream, and it felt so real that I would wonder if it was not really a dream but a memory from a past life. From there, I got the idea for another teenager having a recurring dream, one that turned out to be a memory. As I often daydreamed about developing psychic abilities as a kid, the story grew from there. It was written in a notebook, as I didn’t own a computer back then, and stuffed in a drawer in my filing cabinet for years. Then a writing group I was in decided to do an anthology, Sisters of the Shadows, and I pulled out that first draft of Angel Fire and revamped it. It was only meant to be one book, but readers kept asking me what happened next, so I did a fresh rewrite and turned it into a series.

How did you feel as you were writing the first book? Has that feeling changed between then and now? If so, how?

Writing the first draft of Angel Fire was a lot of fun. I loved being able to create characters and situations that matched some of my favourite daydreams, and it was great to be able to develop that first draft into a polished story ready to be published. Back then I had no idea of the amount of work that took place after the first draft was written. Now, I still love to write and am excited to start each and every book. That is the easy part, where anything can and will happen in the story. After that comes the hard work of revising and editing to make sure my words do the story justice. When I’m editing, I sometimes get distracted by new ideas and have to force myself to knuckle down to get the current series finished before I can start a new one.

How many times have you had a specific idea for the story but it has been derailed because the characters decide to go a different way?

That happens all the time. Angel Fire was meant to be a single book. Then it was going to be a series of three. As I was writing the third one I realised the story was not done, and the characters had more challenges ahead of them, and it turned into six books altogether. I have had readers tell me that there are some things they did not expect to happen, and I had too admit that I didn’t either. It was only as I got to that part in the story that the characters revealed their true plans

What was the most difficult part in writing the series?

The hardest part for me was keeping track of timelines and where all my characters were at one time. I would read the previous books before writing the next one in the series and jot down notes to remind me of things like dates, times, and setting, to help me keep it all consistent.

If you could give advice to anybody else considering writing a series, what advice would you give?

Know the main series arc before you start writing. If you know where you are headed, it is easier to write the steps your characters need to take between them. I know how I wanted Arcane Awakenings to end, I just didn’t know it would take six books to get there. Also, it is good to jot down notes about timelines, settings and characters, etc, as you write, so you can easily keep track of anything that needs to remain consistent from one book to the next without having to go hunting through earlier books to find it.

About the Author:

Shelley Russell Nolan is an avid reader who began writing her own stories at sixteen. Her first completed manuscript featured brain eating aliens and a butt kicking teenage heroine. Since then she has spent her time creating fantasy worlds where death is only the beginning and even freaks can fall in love, with more fantasy and sci/fi series in the works

The first two books in her debut adult urban fantasy series, Lost Reaper and Winged Reaper, were published by Atlas Productions in 2016, with Silver Reaper published in 2017 to complete the series. 2018 saw the release of her Arcane Awakenings Novella Series, while Odyssey Books published Dark Justice, the first book in a new post-apocalyptic series, in 2019. The sequel, Dark Vengeance, was released in 2021 with the third book coming soon. In 2021 Shelley also released the first three books in her Merry Magic Series, portal fantasy books featuring witches, magic and talking cats.

Born in New Zealand, moving to Australia with her family when she was seven, Shelley currently lives in Central Queensland, Australia, with her husband and two young children. They share their home with two wrecking ball kitties, and two crazy dogs on a mission to chew. She loves to hear from her readers so feel free to contact her on Facebook, Goodreads, or at her website – shelleyrussellnolan.com.

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Written in the Stars Author: K.M. Jenkins

Interview With K.M Jenkins:

Tell us what prompted you to start the series? Be as detailed as you want.

Tales of Ferrês is 10 short stories that were part of my Tales of Ferrês short story series. I bundled them together at the end with a bonus story never seen. The reason I decided to write short stories first was due to my lack of experience writing longer works. I tended to have issues with getting bored as I got deeper into the book. These short stories not only helped me strengthen my writing skills, but also see inside my world of Tarzinëa.

I wanted to get some background stories for characters in novels I was working on and decided to create these fun tales that feature these heroes as they got sucked into the magical realm of Ferrês. I honestly didn’t think anyone would read them but many enjoyed these stories and they have become loyal fans. Makes me excited for my next series of shorts, but this time they will be novella length works.

How did you feel as you were writing the first book? Has that feeling changed between then and now? If so, how?

During the process of writing this short story series I found myself excited at the same time stressed. I struggled with writer’s block several times. I did my best to stay on a month to month release schedule, but it didn’t always work out. I learned a lot from writing this series. My surprise was actually finishing it. Then when I bundled all the stories together I realized that piece by piece I wrote a novel length book. It was on the short side of novels but still was a big accomplishment for myself.

My feelings for this book haven’t changed since I released the bundle book. I love it to no bounds and can’t wait to continue the series with Tales of Tarza. I plan to branch out more and try my hand at novella length books with the second series/bundle book. Hoping to snag some more fans and keep the momentum going to eventually one day write my novels I have planned for this world of mine.

How many times have you had a specific idea for the story but it has been derailed because the characters decide to go a different way?

I’ve had this happen to me several times with stories and books I’m writing. I didn’t have that much of a problem with Tales of Ferrês. I didn’t really write outlines. I let the characters write the story and I followed along.

As for my longer books I have in the process. I’ve had several get to chapter five then the characters change everything. It can be extremely frustrating. But I find that some books work well with outlines while others I just go with the flow of each chapter and visualize what will happen next.

What was the most difficult part in writing the series?

I would say the hardest part was keeping on a publishing schedule. I should have written all the stories in advance, instead I wrote them as I went. This led to missed deadlines and pushing releases back. I probably lost readers over this but it was a learning process I had to learn.

Another hard part is keeping things consistent at the same time. I couldn’t have the stories sound the same but had to keep things interesting. Then the issue kept coming up where I put swear words in the stories. My editor Allison was good about pointing out those couldn’t be in YA books. So I fleshed them out and did better as I got used to writing for the young adult crowd.

If you could give advice to anybody else considering writing a series, what advice would you give?

Not many writers think about doing a short story series first. I found that it helped my writing build structure and depth over the length of the series itself. It also got me in the door with several readers. Now I have them hanging around for my longer books. It is a trying process to write shorter works because you have to release the stories faster. But it does help you build a following with readers. It gives you the ability to share with the world your writing style. I honestly am glad I went this route. Then I didn’t have to stress out about my full-length books selling when know one knew who I was. Hopefully, this will help you figure out your path. Many writers can make a career out of writing short stories.

About the Author:

K.M. Jenkins is a published international bestselling author that writes epic battles, forbidden romance, and tales of fantasy and adventure. She has a big love for the fantasy genre and loves dragons above all creatures.When she is not writing, you will find her chasing her twin boys around the house. Between the three she has epic battles throughout the day and nothing ever gets boring.

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