Good morning Every one.
Lots have been going on lately. I have joined a great new website and through them, I’ll be launching my first virtual book tour, on this blog, soon. So keep watching this page for updates. I’m still running the offer of Buy my latest release, The Heart of a Warrior in print and you will get a Meditation CD, composed by me, absolutely free. You can read all about The heart of a Warrior and my inspirational coffee break read, Two faces, One Life at WWW.margaret-west.com You can read about my CD’s at http://magsx.blogspot.com/
Right now I ‘m so happy to introduce, Heather Kuehl, a fellow Eternal Press author. Here is a little bit about her.
Heather Kuehl is the author of Fade to Black and Promises to Keep, as well as numerous short stores. Dawn from Love Romances and More said that "Fade To Black is one kick butt action-adventure ride from start to finish." More about her and her writing can be found at http://heatherkuehl.blogspot.com. You can also follow her on Twitter (@heatherkuehl) and on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heather-Kuehl/172267734681?ref=nf).
Publisher: Eternal Press (www.eternalpress.biz)
Genre: paranormal/fantasy/romance
Buy Link: Promises to Keep http://eternalpress.biz/book.php?isbn=9781770650480
First of all, people love to hear publishing stories. Can you tell us how your sale came about?
My first big sale was when I sold Fade to Black to Eternal Press. I had already accumulated a ton of rejections slips and was sending it out one last time before putting it on the shelf for a while. I thought that perhaps people were tired of reading about werewolves. When Eternal Press responded, I had assumed that it would be another rejection...until I realized that rejection emails don't come with attachments. I opened it, screamed when I confirmed what it was, and started doing my happy dance after I read through the contract.
What is your favourite genre to write in?
I love the paranormal/fantasy world I've developed. I don't see why dragons can't exist in the same world as vampires and Walmart. Add a dash of romance, and everything is just right.
Please tell us a little about your new book.
My latest release, Promises to Keep, tells the story of Starlette DeFore. Starlette knows that her father is alive, even though her family buried him ten years ago. When a faerie confirms this she travels to Charleston, South Carolina to hunt down Sivad Night, the only person to have ever escaped from the hands of a powerful sorceress, the Dark Lady Dreashae. With help from a witch, Starlette travels into Verella, a fantasy realm filled with centaurs, dragons and magic. She is very close to finding her father, but first must defeat Dreashae. Will Starlette, a mere mortal, have the strength needed to finish her quest and save her father?
How do you devise your plots/characters?
Suddenly, everything just comes to me. I'll be sitting down, watching TV or playing with my son, and the entire summary of a book will come to me. Not only the summary, but names and descriptions too. I love when that happens, and I always keep a pen and paper near just in case.
What are you working on now?
I just finished writing Malevolent Dead, the sequel to Fade to Black. Malevolent Dead is the second out of three books in the Sarah Vargas series. I hope to have the final book, Blood Moon, finished by July. I am also working on something very different called The Wrong Man. It's a contemporary romance without a single paranormal creature in it, which is very new to me. New, yet exciting. I have no timeline on that though; I'll finish it when I can. I always keep an up to date works-in-progress list on my website: http://sites.google.com/site/malevolentdead
How can people keep up with your new releases?
I frequently update my website, blog, Twitter, and Facebook Fan Page with all up to date information. People can follow any of those and know what I am working on and what's coming out when.
Can you give any advice to authors who are struggling to be published?
Keep at it and never give up. It's a long, hard road to get your name in print. Grow a thick skin, because some people in the writing world are not very nice.
How would you write a good query letter?
Short, simple, and to the point. I introduce myself and explain why I am contacting them. I make sure to follow the guidelines on the publisher's website, because nothing will get you rejected faster than ignoring their rules.
What is your response to rejection letters?
I don't respond, because many times the publisher thinks that you are trying to pick a fight. If they sent me a personal rejection, I read through their comments and polish up my manuscript. After all, they are editors and they know what they are talking about. I don't take it personally that they did not want my story.
Finally, what are your favourite books and movies? What movie star gets your pulses racing?
I love reading the genre that I write in. Kim Harrison, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Charlaine Harris are among my favorite authors. As for movies, anything with a lot of action and Ryan Reynolds. I especially loved him in Blade 3 and X-men Origins: Wolverine.
Thnak you so much Heather for taking the time to do this interview.
The Writing Continues...
9 hours ago
Hi Heather,
ReplyDeleteSo many stories planned and they all sound like winners. I know the one out now is great.
All I can say is, "write faster" lol, can't wait to read the future stories, escpecially the comtemporary one.
Nice post.
Hi Heather,
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the blog...especially the part when you say that the story comes to you...summary, names, characters, descriptions...because that is exactly what happens to me! I hope all your novels are as successful as Fade To Black, which is still on the best seller's list at Fictionwise!
Thank you Lorrie and Maggie. I'm writing as fast as I can, which is a miracle in itself since I have the little one underfoot. I'm trying to get the rest of the Sarah Vargas series finished first since, as Maggie pointed out, FADE is popular enough to still be on Fictionwise's bestseller list. *happy dance*
ReplyDelete