Today, I’m starting a new feature on my blog where I interview authors. In this day of the ever-changing publishing landscape, it’s appropriate to start with India Drummond. She is successfully entering the world of e-publishing with a traditional e-publisher—but she has a ten-year plan of publishing her own work. It will be fascinating to watch her career progress—and succeed. Full disclosure: India is one of my best “writing” friends. It’s been my privilege and pleasure to be one of the early readers of this book and to watch it develop. It’s a fun and SEXY read. I still think about these characters.
Next, a bit about India from her press materials.
India knew from age nine that writing would be her passion. Since then she’s discovered many more, but none quite so fulfilling as creating a world, a character, or a moment and watching them evolve into something complex and compelling. She has lived in three countries and four American states, is a dual British and American citizen, and currently lives at the base of the Scottish Highlands in a village so small its main attraction is a red phone box. In other words: paradise.
The supernatural and paranormal have always fascinated India. In addition to being an avid sci-fi and fantasy reader, she also enjoys mysteries, thrillers, and romance. This probably explains why her novels have elements of adventure, ghosts (or elves, fairies, angels, aliens, and whatever else she can dream up), and spicy love stories.
Q: How did you get the idea for Ordinary Angels?
It started with a playful argument with a certain highlander (the hubby) in which he declared himself to be “a perfect angel”. It got me wondering what angels would be like if they were real and if we removed the religious context. What if they were people somewhat like us? I started thinking how they would relate to humans, and the ideas sprang from there.
I’ve always enjoyed the paranormal, but never been much into vampires and werewolves. This was an opportunity for me to explore the possibilities and write something fresh and new.
Q: Do you think you will write more about these characters? As in a series?
Yes. Absolutely! The sequel to Ordinary Angels is called Familiar Demons, and it’s scheduled for a 2012 release. I’m excited about the sequel, which is already outlined, and I even hope to write a third in the series. In Familiar Demons, readers will learn more about Zoe’s powers, her parents, and we’ll all get to know Thomas much better as well. Although the main love interest in Ordinary Angels is Alexander, I have to admit Thomas is my secret crush. I couldn’t resist exploring his character some more. But never fear, Alexander will still be by Zoe’s side.
Q: You’ve said that you plan to self-publish from this point on. What qualities that you and/or your work have that will help for you to succeed?
Although I sincerely appreciate the faith my publisher showed in me by giving me that first contract, I realised one day that they weren’t doing anything for me that I couldn’t either do myself or hire done. Plus, by indie publishing, I can get my work out faster, because I don’t have to worry about queuing dozens of books by different authors. So by going indie, I’m cutting out the middle-man.
Indie publishing is hard work, but I love it, so it’s not a burden. It requires a lot of hands-on effort and long hours. But I have the technical expertise, a great circle of professionals around me, and I’ve never felt so energised and excited about my writing career.
Q: I’m not going to ask who your favorite writers are, but I wonder if you could tell me what your favorite genre is and about how many books you read each week?
This is tough, because I enjoy many genre. I love mysteries, which is one reason I was so excited by your new mystery series. I read everything from cozies to thrillers in that arena. I like adventure stories, romance, sci-fi, epic fantasy, urban fantasy… there’s really not a lot I won’t try. As far as how much, I tend to go in bursts. I don’t read a lot when I’m composing stories, because I don’t want anything to influence my own writing. When I’m in editing-mode, I can take in two or three books a week. That number has definitely gone up since getting my Kindle—I’ve turned into an ebook tart!
Q: Okay. So you knew this was coming. If you could be a pie, which kind of pie would you be and why?
Something rich, sweet, and totally decadent: chocolate meringue. (I had to look up how to spell “meringue”—I’m a horrible speller—and it said “a delicate, frothy mixture”. Goodness… that says it all right there!)
Thank you so much for having me here today! I love your pie book and cannot wait for your fiction to appear on my Kindle! It’s a real honour to be here.
Thank you, India!
About India’s book:
ORDINARY ANGELS
Lyrical Press, Inc
Price: $5.50
Publication Date: April 4, 2011
An urban fantasy / paranormal novel in which Zoë Pendergraft falls in love with an angel, frees a soul from necromancers, releases a ghost trapped in the Void, and saves his living grandson from demons.
An angel is about to fall…
Although most of Zoe Pendergraft’s friends are dead, that means nothing to her. After all, they died long before she meet them. What does matter is the angel who took her dancing and turned her world upside down. But grim reality intrudes when she finds a body, and the Higher Angels accuse her friend of the murder.
Knowing she’s the only one who can stand against the Higher Angels, Zoe uses any means necessary to save her friend…all the while, wondering if the tempestuous love she’s feeling is real. The blood on her hands forces Zoe to question herself, and her angel to question her.
Contains strong language and supernatural sizzle.
More about India:
Author website and blog: http://www.indiadrummond.com/
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/india.drummond.author
Twitter: http://twitter.com/IndiaDrummond
edenbaylee says
Ha! Love the pie question. I also love India – she is such a gracious lady and a fantastic writer.
Congratulations on your release day India, and I do look forward to the skyward trajectory of your career. I can say, “I knew her when…”
Eden
Kath says
Great interview, both – and I love the pie question. India’s the second author today who’s admitted to having a crush a characters who’s not the heroine’s main love interest!
India Drummond says
Thanks for the spotlight today, Mollie, and thanks to Eden and Kath for stopping by and reading.
Yes, Kath, I gotta admit it… I’m cheating on my main character! LOL
mollie says
It was my pleasure, India. Best of luck to you with your book!