APRIL 7, 2013
SOUL MEANING BOOK TOUR: INTERVIEW + EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY WITH THE LUV’NV
Today, I’m with the lovely Raina from The LUV’NV for a fabulous interview, excerpt, and giveaway! Raina is the brains and heart behind The Lovelorn. Unrequited. Vampires. Non-Paranormal. Vexed Wolves. Her blog started life as a showcase of good Twilight fan-fiction and evolved into a book review and promotion site. I absolutely adore the look and feel of Raina’s website, and you will be pleased to know that she’ll be offering book tour services later this year!
So, without further ado, join me at Raina’s website!
http://www.theluvnv.com/
Author Interview
♥ Summarize your book in tweet size. 140 characters or less.
A half breed immortal must evade an international manhunt while attempting to stop a terrifying plot that threatens to kill millions.
♥ Where did you get the idea for Soul Meaning?
Soul Meaning initially saw life as a short story that made the shortlist of the British Fantasy Society Short Story Competition a few years ago. The idea for that short story came from a vivid image of the number 17 painted in red on a black rock on a sandbank in the middle of a shallow lagoon in Mauritius. That’s where I’m from. I mean Mauritius, not the sandbank. And yes, to this day, I still kick myself for not taking a picture of that rock. The red paint looked like dripping blood.
After discarding various story ideas around the number 17, I thought, ‘Death. What if I write about a man who can die up to seventeen times?’ That day, Lucas Soul walked into my head, a living, breathing character with a voice. His first words to me were, ‘My name is Lucas Soul. Today, I died again. This is my fifteenth death in the last four hundred and fifty years.’ I felt I kind of had to tell his story after that introduction.
♥ What was the most fun part of writing it?
Oh God, I can think of so many things! My personal favorite was seeing the story come to life before my eyes, and hearing my characters dictate where they wanted the plot to go. They did and said things that surprised me, the author. It’s an amazing feeling when that happens.
♥ What was the most challenging?
The research. There was a lot of it. Trying to limit the time I spent on that was tough. As was trying not to spew it all out on the screen. I tried to limit the info dump. Fortunately, the research material didn’t go to waste. I put interesting bits of it in the Bonus section of my website.
♥ You earned your MD prior to writing your novel. Did your experience as a Pediatrician influence or help you in any way? Will possible readers find medicinal or scientific elements mixed with the supernatural?
When people first hear that I’m a doctor and an author, they ask whether I write non-fiction medicine books, or even fiction books based in the world of medicine. And people in the writing-publishing industry are always saying, ‘Write what you know.’ Fortunately, the story ideas that come to me are never about that world! Otherwise they would mostly be along the lines of, ‘Baby was born. Baby pooped/peed/puked on me. Baby went home.’ Before considering medicine as a career however, I also pondered a degree in biotechnology and genetic engineering. Now THAT I find intensely fascinating, as well as scary. Fascinating because it’s a field that will bring answers to many questions in the medical world. Scary because of the potential ethical, philosophical, and religious implications for human society if the use of this technology is not carefully applied and monitored.
There are some science elements to the story, mixed with a careful cocktail of history, religion, and the supernatural.
♥ Is there anything from the book you hope the readers will pick up but might not?
The clues to the next book in the series. Although I have written the second novel with the intention of it being readable as a stand alone book, I think people will get more out of it if they read Soul Meaning first.
♥ Are you currently working on another book? Will you share some info about it with us?
King’s Crusade, the second book in the series, is currently being polished before its release in the next three months. The cover has been finalized (I hope readers love it as much as I do!), the manuscript has been worked on by two editors, and I’m waiting to submit to my proofreader and formatters.
Now, what to tell you without letting the cat out of the bag? The second book is probably not what people will expect it to be. Readers will get more glimpses into the convoluted history of the Crovirs and the Bastians, the two immortal races behind the series Seventeen. The fight scenes are intense. The story mostly takes place in North Africa and Europe.
Oh, and I’ve started the third book in the series, which will be out in 2014. Clue: that story begins in the 16th century and is based, in part, on true historical events.
♥ Describe your writing routine. Is there anything you like to do or must have before letting your fingers fly across the keyboard?
The Routine.
I’m a late riser because I’m very much a night owl. My brain seems unable to switch off before the witching hour. So, here’s what I usually do after I get up. Shower, 10 minutes on JTX Fitness vibration plate, breakfast while watching BBC News, a two mile walk weather permitting, 60-80 minutes of social media and dealing with emails, edit prior day’s writing for about 1 hour, lunch, write new material for 3 hours, 10 mins on JTX Fitness vibration plate, dinner, 30 mins social media catch up, 2 hours writing new material, read in bed, sleep.
The Must Haves.
1. I have to listen to music while I’m writing. I usually compile a playlist for every book that I write just before I begin or during the early part of the writing process. I will listen to that playlist on repeat while I’m working on that book, inclusive of all rewrites, edits, and proofreads. I’ll even have it in the car on long drives, while I’m subconsciously thinking about where to take the plot next. There are two reasons for listening to music. One: it will inspire many of the action scenes in the book. For example, there are two epic fight and chase scenes in the second book that are each based on a particular song. Two: it’s classic Pavlov conditioning. After my brain is used to that playlist, hearing it will immediately throw me back into the story, and allow the writing to flow.
2. I must also have a hot drink by my side, usually tea. My current favorite at home is Twining Everyday. If I’m writing outside in a coffee shop (I occasionally do this at the rewrite stage if I’m waiting for an appointment), I love a Chai tea or latte. I’m also trying out the Nescafe Coffee Collection at home.
♥ What’s the scariest part about publishing a novel?
Worrying if readers are going to like it! Although I ask friends and colleagues to be objective if they wish to review the book, and not be afraid to give me constructive criticism, they will be biased to a certain extent. That’s just human nature. Still, I truly appreciate their feedback. I’ve never asked my relatives to review my books as I feel that is far too close for comfort and will lack objectivity. The opinions of readers that have no connection with me count a lot more. They are the true judge and jury of my writing.
♥ What’s the one best piece of advice you would give to an aspiring author?
Okay, this will have to be a three-part answer!
If you want to make your living as a writer, you need to treat it like a business. Forget any notion you may have about landing a 6-7 figure publishing deal with your first novel, quitting the day job, and moving into your mansion. For the vast majority of authors, it’s a long hard road (we’re talking years here), and many never manage to make their living entirely from their writing.
Research the publishing industry at length before you dip your toes in it. It has undergone significant changes in the last ten years, with the pace increasing dramatically in the last half decade. It’s still changing. There are a lot of amazing people out there giving great advice and talking about their experiences on their blogs and websites. You will find some of the messages conflicting but you will soon learn to see the wood for the trees. I now know so much more than I did in 2006, when I initially made the decision to return to writing. My learning curve grew exponentially when I decided to self-publish in early 2012, and has increased even further after the book came out last year. If you are offered a contract by an agent or a publisher, have it looked at by a contract attorney. Do not sign anything unless you are absolutely certain you understand every single word in that document.
I honestly don’t mean to put anyone off by saying the above. I love writing. It’s my dream job. But every occupation has its pros and cons, be it medicine or writing. Take the rose-tinted glasses off and see it for what it really is, in today’s fast changing publishing industry. If you are passionate about writing and are willing to make the necessary sacrifices, then do it. Life’s too short for ‘what ifs’. My career in medicine teaches me that on a regular basis.
♥ If there was one book everyone should read, what book would that be?
This is such a tough one. I thought long and hard about this, dithering between two authors who have written books that will stay with me forever, namely Clive Barker and Dean Koontz. Barker won because of his terrifying, bonkers-weird, and most wonderful imagination. Two of his best works in my eyes are Imagica and The Great and Secret Show.