I would like to introduce Author Rachel Wade, the winner of the BRAG Medallion for her book, "Amaranth."
Thank
you Rachel for your time, I would like to begin by asking you a few questions
about your reading interests. What was the last truly great book you have read?
Thanks for having me,
Stephanie. It’s an honor to be here. Oh, talking books is always so hard for
me. It’s the same with movies. I can never pick just one. I’d say the most
recent book I read that left a huge impression on me was Bel Ami by Guy de
Maupassant. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it, and I imagine I’ll read it again
and again. The writing is witty and sharp, and Duroy’s character is so
interesting.
When
and where do you like to read?
On the couch next to the
window, so I can gaze out in between pages. Preferably during the day, and
especially when it’s raining.
What
is your favorite literary genre and why?
Romance is definitely my favorite,
followed closely by fantasy/science fiction. I love romance first and foremost
because I’m a hopeless romantic, but I really just love exploring relationships
and how/why we interact with one another the way we do. I love reading and
writing about flawed people, or Young Adult romance, where that first love is
always so exciting, intimidating, and fresh. I also love fantasy and science
fiction because I’m a big geek. It’s so magical, the metaphors are powerful,
and everything is so epic and beautiful.
What
book is on your night stand now?
Jane Eyre and Cursed by
Jennifer L. Armentrout.
What
do you plan on reading next?
Tempting the Player (The
Gamble Brothers, #2) by J. Lynn and Our Lady of the Flowers by Jean Genet.
Please
tell me about your book, "Amaranth."
Sure. Amaranth is the first book in The Resistance Trilogy,
a paranormal romance series. It’s about a young college student, Camille Hart,
who struggles with an abusive past. She visits Paris for her birthday and runs
into Gavin, a mysterious stranger, who she runs into again a few years later to
find he’s not quite human. Before she knows it, she’s thrown into another realm
and is in the middle of a war between witches and vampires. There is a
resistance movement building on earth and in Amaranth involving
vampires-turned-human held captive in exile, and vampires on earth who are out
to end their curse. So the first book is basically about Camille’s introduction
into that world and the decisions she needs to make if she wants to keep Gavin
in her life.
How
long did it take you to write your story?
To be honest, I don’t really
remember. I know that from the time I developed the concept, put the outline
together, wrote the story, revised, and went through the editing process, it
was around two years total.
Who
designed your book cover?
Robin Ludwig Design. She
designs all of my covers and swag. You can find her at
http://gobookcoverdesign.com.
Why
did you self-publish?
I liked the idea of having
full control over my art, and I believed that if people want to read your work,
it will sell, and if it sells and you build a readership, then that is what
defines success in the publishing industry—not which agents or publishers
“approve” of your work. The readers are what matter. I believed that was the
final goal: to build a readership, make a living off your art, and enjoy what
you do, so I knew whichever route I took to achieve those things made no
difference. Traditional publishing can offer great benefits as well. I
published my poetry traditionally before I published my debut novel
independently, so I’ve had a taste of both worlds. The indie path offered me
the chance to pursue my publishing journey in a really fulfilling way, and that
was very appealing to me as a new author.
How
did you discover indieBRAG?
They approached me shortly
after Amaranth released to inform me it had been selected to receive an honoree
medallion. From there I discovered the community they work hard to build and
have appreciated their passion and support for readers and indie writers ever
since.
What
is your next book project?
I’m currently finishing up
Love and Relativity, my second contemporary/new adult romance (releasing
12/12/12), and then I’ll be focusing on my new science fiction series, The
Keepers Trilogy, which will launch in 2013.
Will
you submit it to indieBRAG?
Sure!
What
is your favorite quote?
This question is like the
“what is your favorite book” question—impossible to answer! Haha. But I’ll go
with, “Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality. It's a way of understanding
it.” ― Lloyd
Alexander
Connect here:
Twitter @RachaelWade
Facebook Fan Page
GoodReads Author Page
LightsONoutreach.com
www.bragmedallion.com
Thank you so much for having me! This was a great interview and I'm honored to have the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteMuch love and happy reading,
Rachael
xo