Q/A with Author Stephanie Nelson
Where are you from?
Born and raised in Illinois, where you
can't turn a corner without seeing a cornfield.
What inspired you to write your
first book?
My addiction to books. I had read so
many great stories that it made me curious to write my own. It was a
lot harder than i had imagined but i enjoyed it so i continued to try
and eventually i finished my first book.
How did you come up with the
title Craved?
LOL, well i went through a lot of
different titles before i settled on Craved. Originally i was going
to title it "Magically Delicious" but i worried that it may
infringe on the tagline of Lucky Charms. Then, i was going to call it
"Life's a Witch" and have cartoony type covers, but i
decided to change them and the title to Craved. I thought Craved
pretty much summed up the plot of the book. The vampires crave the
witches blood.
Do you relate to any of the
characters in the book?
I'd say i relate the most to Gwen. I'm
sarcastic and stand up for myself, yet i try to help others when i
can.
Is there a message in your
novel that you want readers to grasp?
I appreciate strong women. It's taken
us a long time to get to where we are. So if there is any message
within my book it's that i think all women should be strong and stand
up for themselves.
What book are you reading now?
I'm not currently reading anything but
i did just finish Isle of Night by Veronica Wolff
Can you
share a little of your current work with us?
Sure. Gwen and Fiona are summoned to
Moon, another supernatural town, home to only witches and the NAWC
(North American Witches Council) It's there that they learn the
witches are planning to strike back and go to war with the vampires.
Gwen is thrown into the middle as their secret weapon and ordered to
stay away from Aiden. To strengthen her power, the NAWC, pairs her up
with Death. But this reaper is the robe wearing, scythe carrying
kind, he's a ruggedly handsome handful. Ian Despereaux is up to his
old tricks and has big plans for Gwen. Whether they'll fall into
place and change her life forever....well....you'll have to read the
book!
Is there anything you find
particularly challenging in your writing?
I'd say making myself sit down every
single day and write something, even if it's only 100 words. It's so
easy to put it off, until your deadline nears closer.
Who
designed the covers?
I designed the Craved cover but had
no clue how to use photoshop so i paid Robin Ludwig to make it look
decent and Elizabeth Sharp designed the back part of the book. The
Hunted cover was all me, i'm slowly learning the ropes of Photoshop
and think the Hunted cover turned out great!
What was the hardest part of
writing your book?
With my first book it was all about
confidence. I liked what i was writing but would others? That was the
big question. I worried about whether i should change things to suit
certain people or be true to myself and write what i want. In the
end, i ended up writing what i wanted. = )
Do you have any advice for
other writers?
Practice makes perfect! I started
writing 4 years ago and just now published my book in July 2011. I've
went back and read the very first drafts of books i started back then
and i can see a tremendous improvement in my writing today. Pay
attention to how professional author's write. If you want to write in
1st person POV, then read those kinds of books, same goes for if you
wanna write in 3rd person POV. It helps you learn how you should word
things. And the most important thing about being an author is having
a great support system. I'm lucky enough that my husband has
supported me since day one and i was invited into the H.p. Mallory
writers group where i met a bunch of wonderful people who were
willing to lend me their advice. Writing a book alone can be
terrifying so make sure you find someone who'll be your shoulder
should you need to lean every once in awhile.
Do you have
anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Thank You!!! The feedback and support
I've gotten from my readers is what makes all of this worth it!!!
They've turned my hobby into a dream and i'll always be thankful for
that!
Now for the review!
Rating:
Synopsis: Gwen Sparks just wants
to live a peaceful life in the supernatural town of Flora, but from
the moment she read about the first murdered witch, all hope of peace
was abandoned. Possessing the rare ability to read the memories of
dead, she volunteers to help catch the culprit behind the string of
drained witches. Gwen has to team up with the one man who broke her
heart, deal with a ghost who pulls her into the deathly realm at
will, and a fight off the advances of sexy but frustrating vampire
who not only craves what runs through her veins—he wants her
heart.
This is a full length novel and
contains adult content, not recommended for readers under 18 years
old.
Review: I want more! Craved by
Stephanie Nelson is wonderful urban fantasy! This is Nelson's first
book in the Gwen Sparks series. I found this book entertaining and
rich with detail. I loved Gwen's tough witch attitude. I adored the
chemistry between Aiden and Gwen, even if she tried so hard to play
it off in the beginning. This really is a must read for all you
supernatural lovers! Gwen doesn't have your ordinary natural witch
powers, she has a connection with the dead. She's able to see their
last few moments before death. I was immediately drawn into the
story, I love Nelson's writing style. Aiden is the perfect love
interest, he's hot, mysterious and stubborn as hell. Overall,
Nelson's book was an enjoyable and surprisingly quick read. Her
writing style is somewhat similar to H.P. Mallory's, so if you
enjoyed Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble, than you'll love this!
Available on: B&N.com & Amazon.com
Format: eBook
Source: submitted for review by author.
Status: READ For more information about the author click below:
Great book, great review!
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