Interview with Camilla Patterson
Published 2014-09-13.
How has Smashwords contributed to your success?
It has given me an opportunity to put my book out there and see what the public thinks about it.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
Creativity and the opportunity to create my own world. God has blessed me with an innate imagination and I love conjuring up new ideas that challenge what people believe to be true.
What do your fans mean to you?
A great deal. Without them, I wouldn't be able to claim to be a published author. They're my support group and I love knowing that I am making people out there happy.
What are you working on next?
Several books, actually. I have more information on that in my blog. I will say, however, one of the books is the first book in a dystopian trilogy - Refractory - and I'm working on it with my cousin. Though, ultimately, it's her book.
Who are your favorite authors?
Suzanne D. Williams, Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker, Maggie Stiefvater, Veronica Rossi, Sir Conan Doyle, Father Brown, John Piper, John MacArthur, Veronica Roth, Emily Evans, Emily Dickons, Edgar Allen Poe, Shakespeare, Chanda Hahn, Elle and Lee Strauss, Colleen Hoover, J. C. Isabella, Erynn Mangum, Kathleen Morgan, Dana Pratola, Jen Turano, Karen Witemeyer, and so, so, so many more! I seriously can't name them all!
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
What makes you think I do?? :)
The knowledge that I can change something by doing something.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
Reading, writing music (I play piano and guitar), hanging out with my family, playing soccer, working, etc.
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
Friends, books that are in the "Similar to what you like" category when I search a certain book or author, searching for books in a certain genre, most popular (they got there somehow), book assignments at school, lots of ways.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Yup. But, we're not going to go into that disaster.
What is your writing process?
Vomit my thoughts all over the page with my pen or pencil and pray it's semi-coherent.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
Not really. I hate short stories because they end too quickly, but I will say I've read many good ones. Jade Alys does a particularly good job with short stories.
How do you approach cover design?
I think about my book and it's theme or topic. I also think about what would capture the reader's eye. Then, I combine the two. It has to be modern, simple, classy, and, honestly, it's all about having the right eye for it. Also, don't pick red or bright colored fonts. Stick with neutral colors and make the fonts simple and not too fancy. Try to find a font theme that matches your cover. For example, on my book, The Playbook, I picked the font "chalk" because my cover was a chalk board. However, try to stay away from handwriting - looking fonts or comic sans and the like. Very unprofessional looking. When in doubt, use a sans serif font.
What are your five favorite books, and why?
Can't answer that. It varies. Blink by Ted Dekker is definitely one of them. Finding Cinderella is another. I really love The Oath by Frank Peretti. Sherlock Holmes is definitely ranked high up there. I could go on and on, but it would take a few years to name them all.
What do you read for pleasure?
Books. Duh. Pretty much everything that has a thought-provoking storyline. I especially love Tolkien.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
Kindle. Or Google Play Books. You can upload any pdf or epub you find onto your google play and read them anywhere. And it's free!
What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?
Not there yet. I'll answer that one when I figure it out.
Describe your desk
Messy. I hate desks. I want somewhere where I can sprawl out and be comfy. So, usually my moon chair or my floor or my pillow pile, or my bed. Take your pick.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
It's not as much as "where" as it is "in what kind of environment". I grew up homeschooled until I reached highschool, so imagination and creativity was always highly encouraged in our household. Plus, I have a big family and outrageous friends, so you can get an idea of where my ideas and inspiration come from.
When did you first start writing?
From the time I could spell words. I don't really remember when, it's just always been a part of who I am.
What's the story behind your latest book?
Ooh, seven words: A book, a bet, and a boy.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
I love "feel-good", innocent romance, and I love real-life situations where you can read and laugh because the entire time you're thinking, "I've totally done that before!"
What is something you believe in?
Salvation. I believe there is hope for every person on this earth to have the opportunity to be saved and washed clean of their sins. I am one of those people. You cannot go to Heaven on your own merit; it's impossible. But, with Christ, all things are possible. (Begin reading in the Bible of Psalm 119).
Smashwords Interviews are created by the profiled author or publisher.
Books by This Author
The Playbook
by Camilla Patterson
A bet. A book. A boy. And a better life.
This is the equivalent to chaos in Skylar Jameson's life.
What do you do when circumstances in your life require you to take a leap of faith? Would you?
