Tips for Successful Spec Fiction

by Jess Evander, @authorkeller

When most people think spec fiction they picture four-hundred page tomes that have made-up languages, names the reader can’t pronounce, and are heavy on world building. But spec fiction doesn’t have to get bogged down in the details, even when you’re writing complex layers, intersecting plot lines, and many locations.

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From Hobby to Novel - Guest Post by Joshua Johnston

Joshua Johnston was raised on science fiction television and film before being introduced, in his teenage years, to the wider universe of science fiction literature. In addition to his daily work teaching American history and American government, he is an occasional writer on a variety of topics, including video games and parenting. His debut novel, the science fiction epic Edge of Oblivion, released with Enclave Publishing in April 2016. You can find him online at www.joshuaajohnston.com

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Anyone who writes fiction for a hobby inevitably reaches a crossroads: do I want to take the next step and try to become a published author? The answer will be different for each person, and there are tradeoffs for each. Ahead are five questions that a prospective novelist should try to think about:

1. Do I want this to be a “hobby” or a “business?” In general, the IRS views a “hobby” as something that ultimately loses money, while a “business” is something that ultimately makes money (even by a small amount). Some fiction writers are content to pay someone to print their work just as a fun or valuable project, knowing they will never recoup their costs, while others write with the hope that their work sells enough to clear and exceed the investment they put into it. If your answer is a “hobby,” the next questions are useful. If you answer is a “business,” the next questions are crucial. 
2. Am I willing to surround myself with talent? While Google and how-to books are fantastic resources for answering questions, inevitably every aspiring author is going to need people around them. Depending on one’s skillset, an author may need help building a website, for example, or securing a quality professional photograph. And every author benefits from people who can give them feedback on their writing. 
3. Am I willing to respond to feedback and criticism? No author likes being told to make changes to a novel they’ve worked so hard to craft. It’s our baby, we have a vision for it, and change is both disappointing and time-consuming. And what if, you worry, they give bad advice? Ask any published author of even modest success and they’ll tell you two things: 1) that criticism is hard and 2) that most of the feedback they received made their writing better. My science fiction novel, Edge of Oblivion, went through beta readers (some authors, some just fans of sci-fi) as well as the publisher’s professional macro and line edits; I would estimate that about 90-95% of the advice I got across the board was not only spot-on in hindsight, but was corroborated by other people giving me feedback. That’s a lot more good than bad. 
4. Should I query an agent, pitch directly to publishers, or self-publish? There are plenty of articles espousing the virtues of one single approach, but the honest truth is that each has their own pros and cons. Securing an agent can help access bigger publishers but can make the process longer; self-publishing can shorten the process dramatically but places all the logistics – and their costs – on the writer. What is best for you depends on many things, including your writing credits and your preferences. Whatever course you take, you need to research it carefully: if you submit an unsolicited manuscript to a small publisher, for example, make sure you’ve got a proposal that tells them exactly what they want to know along with a complete, polished manuscript ready to go. 
5. Do I have the time and will to build a platform? For aspiring authors, it can feel a little awkward to establish a platform before you have a product. It’s worth the trouble; whether you’re self-published or under contract with a massive publishing conglomerate, the more ways readers can find and interact with you (including before you have a product!), the more credible and ultimately the more successful you’ll be. If you don’t believe me, try finding a reasonably successful author who doesn’t have some sort of online presence. As with many things, everyone has an opinion on what is “best,” whether it be blogging, specific social media sites, or some special sauce to put into a website. Every author needs to evaluate what they have the resources and will to do, but it’s a given that having something resembling a hub to interact with readers is a given. 

About Edge of Oblivion: 
Earth has emerged from a cataclysmic dark age with little knowledge of its past. Aided by the discovery of advanced alien technology, humanity ventures into the stars, joining other sentient races in a sprawling, prosperous interstellar Confederacy. That peace is soon shattered. Without warning, the Confederacy comes under attack by an unstoppable alien force from the unknown regions. With hopes for civilization’s survival dwindling, Commander Jared Carter is sent to pursue an unlikely lead: a collection of ancient alien religious fragments which may – or may not – hold the key to their salvation … Book one of The Chronicles of Sarco series.

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Ronie Kendig is an award-winning, bestselling author who grew up an Army brat. After twenty-five years of marriage, she and her hunky hero husband have a full life with their children, a Maltese Menace, and a retired military working dog in Northern Virginia. She can be found at:
     www.roniekendig.com
     Facebook (www.facebook.com/rapidfirefiction)
     Twitter (@roniekendig)
     Goodreads (www.goodreads.com/RonieK)
     Instagram (@kendigronie)
     Pinterest (http://www.pinterest.com/roniek/)!

Reviewers call Ronie's newest release, EMBERS, "Simply amazing!" 

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Tips for Writing Speculative Fiction

Ronie Kendig is an award-winning, bestselling author who grew up an Army brat. After twenty-five years of marriage, she and her hunky hero husband have a full life with their children, a Maltese Menace, and a retired military working dog in Northern Virginia. She can be found at:
     www.roniekendig.com
     Facebook (www.facebook.com/rapidfirefiction)
     Twitter (@roniekendig)
     Goodreads (www.goodreads.com/RonieK)
     Instagram (@kendigronie)
     Pinterest (http://www.pinterest.com/roniek/)!

Reviewers call Ronie's newest release, EMBERS, "Simply amazing!" 

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For some, the term "speculative" fiction may be new. For others, it's an all-inclusive term indicating stories that are fantasy, science fiction, supernatural/paranormal, etc. I've written twelve novels and nearly a half-dozen novellas in the last five years since my first title debuted, but now I'm also delighted for my speculative novels see the ink of publication. In doing so, I've become more aware than ever that there is always something new to learn. 

So, I invited several friends, who are writing or have written speculative fiction, to share a tip for writing in this unique genre. It's kind of interesting, seeing their answers. None of them knew what the other would write, and it might appear that some contradict each other  But I say--Not so!! For each writer, there is a "perfect" way to write. Hopefully some of these tips will resonate with your style and give you a boost. They sure helped me! 

Speculative Writing Tips

Tosca Lee - New York Times Best-Selling author

Here’s the thing about this genre. It’s so easy to get lost in world-building and research (and don’t let anyone tell you there isn’t research in speculative fiction!). But at some point, it has to stop. Give yourself a time limit and stick to it. Go absolutely crazy crafting your world’s culture, technology, history and language—but stop at the end of the allotted time. Setting the stage is vitally important—but it’s what happens on that stage that counts.

R.J. Anderson - YA Fiction
Author of Rebel

My tip for spec fic writers would be that in all the big sweeping, epic events of your story, don't forget the small, everyday details -- the food your characters eat, the clothes they wear, the way they squabble with other family members or banter with friends, and so on. Because it's those little things that convince readers to suspend their disbelief, and make your characters' lives and experiences feel real. Even in books as tightly written as C.S. Lewis's series, for instance, which are a lot shorter than most modern fantasy, we have descriptions of the miserable tedious hotness of crossing a desert on foot, the squelchy way packets of freshly cut up bear meat feel in one's pockets (Prince Caspian), and a lesson in the importance of cleaning your sword after a battle (The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe). Those moments may not seem to advance the story, but they anchor it and ground it for the reader. An ounce of reality is worth a pound of made-up technobabble.

Joseph Bentz - Fantasy 
Author of Dreams of Caladria

Each type of speculative fiction has its own challenges, but when it comes to fantasy, which is the category in which my novel, Dreams of Caladria (Enclave, 2015) fits, the first tip I would give is to not let the world you create get out of control. Rather than telling a story set within a world that already exists, most fantasy writers are creating a new world from the ground up, and the temptation is to want to tell everything about that world and to let the story sprawl. The first draft of my novel was more than 1,200 pages long, not because the story itself needed to be that long, but because I loved this world and wanted to immerse myself and the reader in it in every way possible. I took those 1,200 pages and rewrote the story from scratch, focusing the plot much more carefully. The shorter version made a much better book. The leftover material is not wasted. It’s still there for use—or at least inspiration—for future books.  

J. Wesley Bush - Science Fiction 

Author of Knox's Irregulars

I think one key to writing speculative fiction, particularly fantasy, urban fantasy, or superheroic fiction, is to strike a balance between the classic and the new. If a novel relies too much on standard tropes, it feels stale, but if nothing is familiar, the reader can easily grow disoriented and frustrated. In my latest fantasy novel, I've included a fair number of classic fantasy creatures, and elements of ancient and medieval cultures, but with a strict rule: any genre tropes have to be given a fresh, creative twist. My dwarves are 'dweorgs,' a cursed race devoid of music or joy and covered in rocky exoskeletons. My hero belongs to a nation of horse lords, but they roam a savanna rather than the steppe. It's great to build your world with classic parts, but be sure to give them a fresh polishing first.

Morgan Busse - Fantasy
Author of the Follower of the Word series

Enjoy “imagining” when writing your speculative novel. That is one of things I love best about writing fantasy or steampunk or even science fiction: asking "what if?" and then placing it in my story. What if there was a race of people who could feel the moods of the ocean and their eyes changed color? What if you could visit other people’s dreams? What if you were the last unicorn? It doesn’t have to be the main part of the plot, it can just be a small aspect of your novel. Maybe dogs can talk in your otherwise contemporary romance novella. Whatever the case, don’t be afraid to open yourself to your imagination and dream!

Serena Chase - Fantasy 
Author of The Sunken Realm

No matter how far “out-there” we go with our settings, characters, and plots, our wild and wily weirdness has to be countered by something relatable to the reader’s concrete reality. This is most easily done relationally, but for a story to satisfy in an emotive and reader-inclusive way, a reader’s known reality also needs to be revisited in moments—in beats and pauses—in which the establishing of daily habits and rituals within the characters’ (or the world’s) reality identify a slightly displaced or mirrored “normal” the reader already knows. Even hardcore high-spec readers who easily adapt to strange spellings and all manner of otherworldliness will abandon a series if they can’t find a familiar door by which they can enter the heart of the world and its main characters. Balancing the far-reaches of imagination with the at-home reality of habit and ritual invites readers into your world.

Shannon Dittemore - YA Fiction
Author of Dark Halo  

When you feel like the least creative soul on the planet, when sitting and writing feel like a waste, give your fingers a chance to prove you wrong. 
We absorb so many moments in our day-to-day living and when filtered through the unique sieve we each carry between our ears, it's often the simple commitment of time that proves we do, in fact, have a little magic stored up inside.

Sharon Hinck - Contemporary Fantasy
Author of The Deliverer

Writers of historical fiction are familiar with the hazards of gathering piles of fascinating research -- so fascinating that they want to include it all in the novel. The best writers are careful to ration the details to those that directly enrich the story without bogging down the pace or showing off the research. Speculative fiction has a similar hazard. We create complex worlds with their own geography, politics, science, and cultures. We draw maps for ourselves, develop richly woven histories. But if we include too much of that detail in the story we can lose the engagement with characters and the emotional impact of the story. It's wonderful for the author to create reams of detailed information--and then NOT include it all in the book. Include only the details that serve the story and the reader.

Ronie Kendig - Speculative Fiction 
Author of Embers

RULES. It might seem counter-intuitive, but make sure you have rules to the unique world you're building. For example, in Embers, my characters can harness and wield heat/fire, but there are rules that guide their wielding, both how and where. I confess when I first starting writing this story, I simply wanted to enjoy the story, so much of the editing process with my amazing editor (waving to Reagan!!) was pushing me to define the rules of the world my characters live in. So, now, I encourage writers to define those as you go and save yourself heartache (and desperate need for chocolate and Starbucks) later! 

Sarah E. Morin
Author of Waking Beauty

Draw maps. I resisted the urge for years, even though many fantasy novels I read began with gorgeous, oldey-timey maps. Why? It felt – pretentious? Maybe I was simply intimidated. But building your world includes geography. My two main kingdoms were at war over an enchanted forest. Well, what stopped the mightier one from simply invading? A mountain range? Lack of seaports? A cold climate could affect what plants and animals thrived there, therefore what they wore, ate, their houses. Midway through writing Waking Beauty, I slapped together a map with purple triangles for mountains and green circles for trees, and slid the shapes around until the plot points meshed. Would my map ever appear in a book? No. But the exercise made me rewrite some key details. You don’t have to be a cartographer to benefit from this exercise. And don’t forget to throw in the occasional, “Here there be dragons.”

John Otte - Science Fiction
Author of The Hive

When you’re writing a speculative fiction story, you’re going to create a fantastical world filled with wonder and awesomeness. If you’ve done your world-building right, you’ll want to share your incredible creation with your readers, every single little corner of it. In a word, don’t. Resist the urge to explain every little facet of your magic system, world history, culture and language. Let the readers explore it on their own and figure out how it works. Brandon Sanderson did this in his Mistborn trilogy. He showed us mistborn and metalminds at work before he gave us any sort of explanation. Do the same thing. Let your readers go on a journey with your characters and discover the world you’ve created with them.

Paul Regnier - Science Fiction 
Author of Space Drifters - The Emerald Enigma

Instructional books on speculative fiction writing can be a valuable step in your writing journey. However, sometimes all the “rules” can leave you a little dizzy. If you’ve ever tried to implement the litany of techniques needed for a perfect baseball or golf swing and ended up with a rigid, mechanical effort, you know the feeling. 

Sometimes writers have that same rigid feeling with their stories. The desire to follow all the recommended techniques is daunting and leaves the stories sounding a bit too assembled. 

When that kind of “writer’s stiffness” sets in, I recommend returning to that state of mind you had when you first started writing. The pure joy of diving into a story before you knew all the rules.

I’m not suggesting discarding the guidelines for proper and powerful fiction. Just don’t forget to stick close to the reason you started writing in the first place.

Jill Williamson - Fantasy 
Author of Darkness Reigns (free e-book)

The point of writing fiction is to entertain. Readers won’t care much for your amazing storyworld if you don’t have interesting characters and an engaging plot. So build storyworld elements around plot and characters, and write your story as if your reader already knows your world. This should keep you from info-dumping storyworld elements. You might have to add some details here and there during the rewrite stage, but starting with less should keep you from overdoing it. 

When you rewrite, make a list of elements that still need to be added in, then brainstorm ways that each might tie in with characters, the overall plot, or subplots, then work in those that feel natural. But keep in mind that some elements might not find a place. And that’s okay. Use what fits naturally and doesn’t feel forced. Leave the rest out.

Are you a speculative author and have a tip? Please share in the comments!

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Sometimes Romance Takes Work

This is true in marriage, of course. But it’s also true in writing.

Novel Rocket’s Launch Pad judges recently finished critiquing the entries in the Contemporary Romance category. But, alas, they deemed none of them quite ready for prime time.

Upon receiving their report, I was curious, so I looked over the entries. I didn’t see any obvious problems – spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, all appeared to be well done. So why did the judges say they couldn’t in good conscience put Novel Rocket’s seal of approval on any of them?

A closer look gave me the answer. The stories were good as far as they went. But they didn’t go quite far enough.

Some of the problems: underdeveloped plot; characters’ goals and purposes absent or obscure; no establishment of setting at the beginning of a scene; and no immediate conflict facing the protagonist.

Other entries had trouble with clarity and/or consistency within the story as well as issues with over-explaining and over-describing.

“Picky, picky!” you might complain. “Didn’t you just say the entries were well written? Those things you mention are no big deal!”

Launch Pad Trophy

Well, I might agree with you except… they are a big deal! For a novel to make it in today’s world, “good enough” is simply not good enough. A successful novel must stand out from the ordinary.

The happy news for this month’s contest entrants is that they’re well on their way; their writing shows mastery of the basic techniques. They simply need to polish their craft. We hope the writers will find the judges’ comments useful toward that end—and we hope they won’t be discouraged, because they’re definitely headed in the right direction.

So where do we go from here? I can’t speak for the writers, but as for us here at the Launch Pad Contest, another panel of judges is immersed in the Speculative Fiction entries. The deadline for that category is this Wednesday (September 10), so if you’d like to take part, please do so soon! Check out the submission requirements on the Launch Pad tab and send your entry to us at NovelRocketContest at gmail dot com. 

The worst that can happen? You’ll get two (2) thorough, professional critiques. At best? You just might end up being our Grand Prize winner. (Wouldn't that glass rocket look stunning on your shelf? Wouldn't you love a personal introduction to an agent or editor who's looking for just the sort of thing you write?)

Questions? Comments? Contact us at the gmail address above. We have a real person standing by (okay, I’m sitting, actually) to respond.

Will we have a winner in the Speculative Fiction category next month? Stop by on October 13 to find out, and to read the winning entry if there is one.

Will you be this year’s Grand Prize winner? I don’t know, but the suspense is killing me!

When she's not overseeing the Launch Pad Contest, Yvonne Anderson writes fiction that takes you out of this world. 

The Last Toqeph, the fourth (and final) title in her Gateway to Gannah sci-fi series, releases next month. If you’ve never visited Gannah, you’re missing an amazing experience. But never fear! You can remedy that sad state of affairs by booking your flight to the first stop on the itinerary with The Story in the Stars.

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Author Yvonne Anderson Takes Us Back to Gannah With Her New Release

A native of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, author Pamela S. Meyers lives in suburban Chicago, an hour's drive away from her hometown which she visits often to dig into its historical legacy. Her novels include Thyme for Love, and Love Will Find a Way,  contemporary romantic mysteries and her 1933 historical romance, Love Finds You in Lake Geneva,Wisconsin, released in April, 2013. She can often be found speaking at events around Lake Geneva or nosing in microfilms and historical records about Wisconsin and other Midwestern spots for new story ideas.

This month I have the pleasure of interviewing Yvonne Anderson, my crit partner and a contributor to Novel Rocket. She also brings us an opportunity to win a free copy of one of her books! Yvonne, who is often called "Y," has just released a new novel and she is here to tell us about it

Ransom in the Rock

PAM:  Your latest book, Ransom in the Rock, is the third in a series. If I recall correctly, you published the first two traditionally with a small press. Why are you self-publishing this one?

Y: I signed a three-book contract with Risen Books in 2011. With the first two titles not selling very well, Risen wasn’t willing to move forward with the third. I asked to be released from my contract so I could publish them at my own risk.

PAM: How has your self-publishing experience gone so far?

Y: It’s been interesting. Considering it’s my first attempt, I’m pleased with the result. Selling them is a challenge, but at least I’m confident about the quality of the product.

PAM:  Having read the first two titles, I can testify that these are not your typical sci-fi. Let's just say that speculative fiction is not my go-to genre for my reading pleasure, but I found your stories to be entertaining, engaging, and exciting. I'm certain I'll find more of the same in your new book. What can you tell our readers about the Gateway to Gannah series? For those that haven't read the first book, Story in the Stars, should they read that and Book 2 first?

Y: The four titles put together a story told in consecutive installments. However, they also can stand alone. If you jump in at the third book, you won’t be lost.

Brief overview: the planet Gannah suffered a horrible plague in the The Story in the Stars. The medical starship rushing to them with the antidote arrived too late to save anyone but one young woman, Dassa. The man who rescued her, Dr. Pik, was from the planet Karkar, an ancient enemy of Gannah. Despite their deeply rooted animosities, he and Dassa ended up getting together. It’s not a love story, though. It’s mostly an adventure involving such things as space pirates and long-lost treasure.

In Words in the Wind, Dassa and Dr. Pik are back on Gannah with a group of settlers from Earth who have come to repopulate the planet. One of the incidents in the story involves their young daughter, Lileela, who sustains spinal cord injuries in an accident and is sent to Karkar for treatment.

In Ransom in the Rock, Lileela returns to Gannah as a teenager, frothing with bitterness over what she perceives as abandonment by her parents. Why do they want her back now? And why does Karkar demand such a huge payment for delivering her? Neither she nor her family suspects that Karkar’s true motive is revenge. The tiny New Gannahan settlement has no hope of repelling an invasion – no hope, that is, except for One the Karkar can’t see.

Though definitely sci-fi, all three books are light on the science but strong on the characters.

PAM: Wow, that sound exciting. What’s next?

Y: I plan to publish the fourth (and last) book in the series this fall. I already have the cover, and editors are looking over the manuscript even as we speak.

PAM: Speaking of your covers. Did you create them yourself, or hire a designer?

Y: Covers are too important to entrust to an amateur like me. I did some research on designers and chose Ken Raney of Clash Creative, Inc. His prices are mid-range, which means I could have gotten off cheaper. But he knows what he’s doing, is very patient with picky authors, and he’s not satisfied until his client is satisfied. I would recommend him without hesitation.

PAM: I'm familiar with Ken and have seen his work other places. A great choice. Most Novel Rocket readers aren’t sci-fi fans, what does your series have to offer people who usually aren’t interested in that sort of thing? What might they get out of these books?

Y: A change of scenery is always refreshing, and the scenery on Gannah is beautiful. A visit there is a great get-away from the humdrum. The characters are vivid, so you’ll get to make some new friends. Moreover, the scriptural thread offers a little food for thought along with the fun. That’s why the series tag line is “Fly through the Gateway to Gannah for some serious sci-fi adventure.”

PAM: And I might add that your characters are indeed strong in characterization, drawing readers in and endearing themselves to them. I'm looking forward to reading Book 3. Where can I get it?

Y: Ransom in the Rock is available on Amazon in print or e-book. The first two titles are available at either Amazon or Barnes & Noble. 

But you’re in luck: beginning today, and through next weekend, I’m doing a give-away on my blogwhere you can enter to win a FREE copy of any one of the three Gannah titles—winner’s choice. Hop over and check it out.

PAM: Awesome! I'm heading over there right now to enter. Thanks Y. 

Yvonne Anderson

A resident of Western Maryland, Yvonne Anderson writes fiction that takes you out of this world.  She also does freelance editing; contributes to the writing blog The Borrowed Book; oversees Novel Rocket’s Launch Pad Contest; and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, International Thriller Writers, and the Independent Author Network. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, or Goodreads.

Fly through the Gateway to Gannah for some serious sci-fi adventure: The first three titles, The Story in the Stars and Words in the Wind and Ransom in the Rock, are all available in both print and ebook. Watch for the launching of The Last Toqeph, the fourth and final flight in the series, in the autumn of 2014.

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Fantasy Meets Romance

Michelle Griep here to introduce you to a new author buddy of mine, Angie Brashear. Grab a cup o' joe and put your feet up for a few minutes for a fun interview . . .

I see you're a speculative fiction fan, so it makes sense your debut novel would be a young adult fantasy. . . which can be a tough sell. So, why fantasy? What's the attraction?

I am a huge fan of speculative fiction. I write fantasy with a strong thread of romance. My debut novel, previously retitled from Never Let Go to Of the Persecuted, has undergone some unexpected but exciting changes – a new title and cover, as well as a new release date of May 27th. Ultimately, my goal is to reach young adult females much like the lost, lonely girl I once was. As a nonbeliever for the majority of my life, I enjoyed reading speculative fiction and it was the The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis which ultimately opened my eyes to Christ. My prayer is that my stories will do the same for others. I also hope believers will enjoy the Christian undertones of my work. So, while fantasy is…well, fantastical, the genre makes the most sense to me.

Your book comes out May 27th. What are some marketing techniques you're employing to get the word out?

My schedule surrounding the release is hectic, but also fun. In the midst of working full-time outside of my home and raising three great kiddos, I’ve had the opportunity to spend time working with a new cover designer, editor, and formatter to finalize many necessary details to prepare for the release. As to marketing, I’m a new author and have much to learn. Due to the graciousness of fellow authors, I have nearly fifty blog appearances scheduled, which has been my main marketing focus at this point. I’ve also focused efforts on building a platform for my blog, as well as my Facebook page.

Are you a pantser or a plotter? How did you pull together OF THE PERSECUTED?

Panster, definitely. And sometimes I wonder if that is good or bad for my writing endeavors. As I write, I know exactly where I want to start and finish, but I fly by the seat of my pants when writing all of the details in between. In some ways, it’s a fun approach because my own characters surprise me with their decisions. LOL!

What's surprised you most about this writing journey?

While I shouldn’t be at surprised at all, the fact that God is truly in control never ceases to amaze me. The publishing world has a lot of ups and downs. But God’s will is always done. For that, I am forever grateful.

What authors have influenced you and how?

C.S. Lewis. He opened the door to my personal speculation, which eventually led to my salvation.

I’ve also had the opportunity to get to know several authors through ACFW. While I cannot name all of them in one interview, Nadine Brandes, an author with Marcher Lord Press, has been invaluable to my entire writing journey. Whether critiquing my manuscript, sharing marketing strategies, or praying for my endeavors, she’s been a rock since the first day I joined ACFW. I encourage fans of speculative fiction to look for her debut novel, A Time to Die, in fall 2014.

Tell us about your process of writing. What does a "normal" writing day look like in your life? Okay, so who's got normal days? Just tell us about what your most recent writing day looked like.

I write…well, slow. I tend to over analyze every sentence and scene rather than just accepting the flaws of a first draft. While this makes the completion of the first draft a bit tedious, it makes the rewrites a little less stressful (or so I’ve convinced myself). And I long for a normal writing day. As a mother of three active kids and a job outside of my home, I stay quite busy. I basically write whenever I can, often stopping in the middle of tasks to jot notes and ideas in my journal, but the majority of my writing is completed during late night hours while my family sleeps.

What's one word of writerly advice you'd give a newbie writer?

Pray. If Christian writers are to glorify the Lord with our endeavors, we must pray that His will is done with our efforts.

About OF THE PERSECUTED

Laila Pennedy awaits death by hanging. For the Rendow Clan rules the Woodlands Region, aiming to slaughter the Faithful. And she deserves to die. But Lars Landre, the man destined to lead the Faithful out of persecution, has other plans hidden behind his rare and mysterious blue eyes. Rescue.

Following the daring escape, Laila seeks the path of a warrior and vows revenge against the Rendow Clan. She embarks on a dangerous journey with Lars, one in which they endeavor to reach the promised safety of a magical village, to train for battle, and to ultimately assure freedom for those with faith in the Maker.

Clashes of weapons and souls. Brutal loss of lives. Unrequited love. How in all the Woodlands will Laila survive?

About ANGIE BRASHEAR

When Angie Brashear isn’t working or taking care of her family, she writes. Usually at night after her kids fall asleep. She’s a fan of speculative fiction and an avid runner, both of which perplex her nonfiction-reading, football-loving husband. Saved in her early twenties, Angie is grateful for the Lord’s presence in all aspects of her life. She is originally from Rockland, Maine and currently resides in Cameron, Texas with her husband and three children. 

Follow her at her website, Facebook, or Twitter  

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