1. First, introduce yourself a bit. What is your name (or pen name) and where are you from?
I’m Evie Brooks (pen name). I’m a teenager that’s had a love of reading and writing ever since I could hold a pen.
2. Next, tell us a bit about your most recent work. Is this your first published book? What is it about and what genre would you classify it as?
I normally write Young Adult/New Adult Fantasy but decided to stray away and work on a new Adult Thriller romance. It isn’t my first published book but it is my best published book so far. It surrounds a girl who got amnesia in a search of love and has to face the consequences. With the help of Officer Connor Pen, in a small town, they want to uncover the mysteries that brought her there and the danger she’s in while battling with the burning town.
3. Tell us a bit about your main character; what are they like, how did they come about, and what are some of their strengths and weaknesses?
Lena is a very feisty and stubborn gal. She is a redhead, she has hazel eyes, and is moderately beautiful. Lena’s parents died in an airplane crash and ever since that, she believes she is cursed. She hates being controlled even if it’s for her own benefit. She loves dogs ever since she could overcome her fear of them. Lena’s weakness and strength are her family. She can’t bear to see them in pain and will do anything for them…especially Connor.
4. What was your hardest scene to write in this (or any) book?
The hardest scene I wrote in Amnesia was when Lena had to face the woman-beast, Carissa, in a pre-Christmas festival competition.
5. Did you go the traditional route when publishing your book or did you choose to self-publish?
Even after self-publishing my book, I wasn’t sure if self-publishing was the best but now I know I did the right thing.
6. What would you say is the most difficult part of your writing journey and what advice would you give to other writers?
Writing is easy if you do it with your heart and not your mind. Editing can be stressful but…Marketing is the main problem that every indie author faces, including me. My advice to other writers is to practice writing. Writing can’t be learnt overnight and you also don’t need a degree to write a wonderful book but you have to continuously practice it before deciding to publish a book, practice makes perfect.
7. Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
I love a series because after reading the first book in a series, you’ll be familiar with the characters and style of the book. It’s like reliving the beautiful moments you once had with them when reading the other series in the book. It’s hard for someone like me to write a stand-alone, even if I planned to. So it’ll be mixed. Sometimes I can write standalones and other times I’ll go with series. Flexibility builds the mind.
8. What are some of your favourite authors and books and what inspired you to become a writer in the first place?
Nora Roberts was my ‘idol’. When I got deeper into the writing world, I met so many other astonishing writers and authors. I can’t mention them all but they inspired me to become the best and here I am.
9. What would you say has been the best way to market your books?
It’s great you published your book but the work is just getting started. There are three stages in marketing a book: Getting reviews, promoting and continuously making sales.
I didn’t realize it sooner but the best thing to do is to focus on a particular promotion strategy at a time. Don’t do everything at once. If you do, you’ll never gain from any because it’s impossible to put full concentration on any to get result.
10. Are there any tropes, clichés, or writing styles that you dislike and, if so, what are they and why?
I like new. So I avoid clichés and I try to do everything in a new and special way. I don’t follow the rules. If it’s overused and common, I won’t like it.
11. Do you read reviews of your book and, if so, how do you handle negative feedback?
I read the reviews of my books because I want to know what readers think of my book. As for negative reviews, it’s normal. Not everyone can enjoy what others enjoy. Humans are different in characters. I swallow the review. If it’s a general bad review, I fix the problem.
12. What are some of your quirks as a writer? Do you like to plot everything out or do you prefer to just “wing it” and see where the story takes you? Do you listen to music when writing and, if so, what do you listen to?
As I said before, I’m flexible so I wing It. It lets the writer’s mind open to more possibilities. Writing according to a plot seems like writing an essay to me. I listen to soft instrumental music that fits with the mood of the character or the tension of the scene.
13. What is the best advice you’ve ever had when it comes to writing and what advice would you give to new writers?
Never give up. It’s common and not specific to writers but this advice brought me to where I am and it will take me to where I’m going.
14. What’s next for you? Are you currently working on any new books or stories?
I’m mainly focusing on marketing my new book but I’ve also got my mind set on another book to write.
15. Finally, feel free to plug your social media, website, and links to Amazon, GoodReads, and other relevant sites below, and detail any current offers available for your book/s:
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