Ah, it's the world-building, most definitely. Given my genres of interest, I have to go in depth with so much when it comes to locations. Cultures, governments...circadian rhythms even -- I get to make it all! It's like creating the most epic sandbox ever, and then you get to place a couple of people smack dab in the middle, and watch them interact in it. Ugh. So cool! :P

"Ahem." Mah bad. Just had a sudden author geek-out moment.

I got a project called "Operation: Pirate Bee" in the works. It's a sci-fi novel about revolting against tradition. I feel such a subject matter speaks to every generation, but I think it's also been getting a lot more volume on the global level lately.

Mind you, I write all of these processes out:

I first start with what the story will be about in either one or two sentences.

Then I'll decide on what the underlying message or theme will be.

After that, I do one paragraph each for the opening, climax, and resolution.

Then I'll write out character bios for my for my main, supporting, and core personnel in the story. I love knowing what makes a person tick, and since my stories tend to be character-driven, I go into a lot of detail on this part.

Then comes the outline, where I'll figure out how I'm going to get the reader from here-to-there. At certain spots, I'll put a note at the bottom of a scene in bold, indicating a reader should be feeling a certain emotion by the given part of the story, or how certain characters should be handling situations.

Once the outline it done, on to the first draft of the manuscript. I work via split-screen, because I love having the outline on the side; it helps me know where I'm supposed to be going, and keeps me from going off track...though I do enjoy the sudden driving into the woods every once in a while.

Once I've done that, I'll try to clean up the draft as best as possible, so my alpha/beta readers won't hunt me down.

After I get their feedback on how to strengthen the story, I'll clean up the manuscript, hand it off to what I like to call my content editor before sending the manuscript to my actual editor. I'll do the tango with them a few times until we're all satisfied with the finished product.

LOL! Yeah. It was called Cosmo Man. Hey, I was six, all right? LOL! This guy got super powers from, you guessed it, space...or something along the lines of that, I'm sure. It was a long time ago, so a lot of what happened was fuzzy.

It was roughly ten pages long and a "graphic novel." I remember presenting it to my class during show and tell and my classmates thought my artwork was really awesome. I got positive feedback for my artwork at a very young age, and it followed me all the way up to my college years, where I wanted to major in something that would allow me to do art for a living.

As a graphic designer, I was always taught to know my targeted demographic, so I like to research classic/iconic and new covers that are popular. They apparently have something special about them to whoever was/is reading them!

I then do the good ole' fashioned thumbnails and comps before getting into the real nitty gritty. When I'm nearing the final stretch, I like to get some feedback from fellow authors and book designers. It's always great having some extra sets of eyes look at your work. My cover designs have always improved because of it. :)

LOL! Easy. Marketing, marketing, and learning better ways to market! That will involve me designing ads, contacting bloggers and other promoters, planning out my ads for social networks, and setting up what the strategy to getting the word out on my book will be.

Most authors already know this, but writing is the fun part, which is a very small aspect to making this a profession, believe it or not. If one wants anything in their life to be successful, then they have to convince their target with this: How have they managed to get by without "this?" In my case, it's my job to convince readers that they do not only want to read this book. They NEED to read it.. ;)

Well, when I have the time, I'm all about some sci-fi, space opera preferred. Thing is, I don't get a lot of time to read that much, as much as I'd like. :(

Easy. My phone. It's always on me, unlike a tablet. I can read while I'm waiting in the parking lot, restaurant, you name it! It's a matter of convenience, I guess.

The book giveaways have always done me good, especially when done on a site that has a swarm of my target audience. It's also a great way to see exactly how many people are actually interested in a story I wrote.

Yeah, giveaways are awesome. Some people sign up just so they can have something to review on their blog. Others might be fellow authors and are trying to see how someone else is doing it. And then, and these might be my favorite, are the die-hard peeps that just love the genre. :P

Fans can make or break you in any and every aspect of business, which is why I feel it's vital that, if I need anyone to understand the messages I'm trying to convey in my stories, it is them. Why? Because they're the one's who are offering me their most precious commodities, and that is their time and trust.

When someone grabs my book, they are entrusting that I will offer them an adventure worth taking on, and they will have to spend the next several days or so to complete it. If that doesn't make me feel a personal obligation not to disappoint them, then I don't know what else can.

.... O.O

Oooooooooh. (Shivers)

(whispers softly) Nooooooooooooooooooo....