Interview with Linda Nelson
Published 2014-03-21.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
When I first began writing in 2008 I wasn't really sure what I wanted from a writing career. At the time it was my way of dealing with the fustrations I felt when my then teen children began having social issues as in drug addiction and such. Writing was my therapy, that's all it was.
The first book I wrote, Friends of Choice, was originally written as a short story. I had an editor read this and she told me I should finish the story. That is how it became a novel that I self-published. I never really intended on this book being read by many.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
Oh yes, that would be the Black Stallion series. Back then, when I was in seventh grade, I wasn't much of a reader. I guess it was because I hadn't truly found books that grabbed me right into the story as this one did. I had to go out and read every book in that series.
After that, I looked for book series. Then I was introduced to the Lord of the Ring series which sparked my true love for fantasy literature. That series made me hungry for more and more fantasy, a good way to find escapism.
How do you approach cover design?
I like to make my own covers. Only the writer of a story truly knows what needs to be pictured on the cover. Most times I write half or three quarters of the first draft before I go in search of that perfect cover. It can take me weeks of searching different photo imaging sites before I can find that perfect one.
Then it can take me another week to get that design just right.
For one of my covers, Aaron & Keja, I used two photos to make one cover design. I'm still not that skilled with the imaging software that I use, so I do stumble around a lot of the time. The end result is always satisfying. I can say that I truly made that book myself.
What's the story behind your book, Road Salt?
I was watching the news a few years ago, when I saw my son's counselor speaking about the dangers of a designer drug that was hitting our streets. The Counselor wanted everyone to know how dangerous Bath Salts was.
This gave me the idea to write Road Salt.
While this book is completely fictional, the main idea of the teens taking the road trip south was sparked by an incident that happened in my daughter's life several years ago. Giving the reason why my daughter said, "Good book, but bad memories."
What are you working on next?
Now that I have finished up writing my Teen/YA Contemporary series, Wings From Ashes, I need to get back to work on my Fantasy series, Orgarlan Saga. So that is my main focus. I do have a couple of other works hanging around that I may nip at along the way when I get into one of those dreaded blocks. Now that I have had a taste of writing romances, I sort of like that kind of flavoring in my story line. I'm not sure if I will be able to work it into it, but the happy ending will probably be a must for now on.
I try to keep my fans updated on my works in progress via my website blog posts.
Who are your favorite authors?
Like many readers, I have many favorite authors. Some of these authors are from the past and others are from this current time period. I loved Ann McCaffrey's Dragon Riders of Pern, and then there was the anthology series put together by Robert Lynn Asprin, Sanctuary - Thieve's World. Roger Zelanzy was another favorite with his Chronicles of Amber series. It was a very fast moving action packed fantasy series. I can't forget the author of the Magic of Xanth series, Piers Anthony. I loved how he wrote that series with puns.
Some of my favorite writers of this time period are, Christyne Butler, she writes Harlequin Special Editions, Stephanie Bond had a wonderful funny story I read, Stop the Wedding. I can't forget the Hunger Games trilogy. That series just blew me away. I noted how Suzanne Collins killed off characters with ease.
What I'm reading now is a suspense thriller by Nora LeDuc. I am reallying enjoying this story too.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
I am one of those people with a Kindle. I have to admit it. I do most of my reading at work and I have found the device fits nicely inside my lunch bag. I never run out of anything to read, even when I finish reading that current book while at work.
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