About Angie Merriam:
I live in the PacNW with my husband, children and two cats. Reading is my most loved hobby however I also enjoy movies, hosting parties, music, traveling and bad, or good karaoke. My first novel, Neveah a Broken Forever is a fantasy romance novel that spans three full length novels and three short stories. Since completing that series I’ve done some genre hopping but always stay in the romance realm. Like murder romance, rock stars or hunky hero’s? I might have a story for you. I adore my readers and love hearing from them, old and new! I can also be found listening to Bon Jovi (I am his #1 fan after all) or spending way to much time on Facebook! I look forward to meeting readers so reach out to me, I promise not to bite.
What inspires you to write?
So much inspires me, the world around me is inspiring. A lot of my imagery comes from what I see on a daily basis living in the PacNW. Some characters just speak to me while others are inspired by real people. Mostly, I write because I have to. I need to. I write to entertain people. Readers are inspiring. I will say this though, after writing Neveah I was in a slump. Tried doing fantasy, wasn’t working. So, while watching Dexter (one of my all time faves) I thought, hmmm, why don’t I get really dark and write a murder romance. You Are My Sunshine was born three months later. It was some of the most fun I’ve had writing a novel.
Tell us about your writing process.
I’m a very seat of my pants writer. I am not organized enough to use an outline. The characters speak and I listen. When a story comes to me I just sit and write until they have told their story. The first draft is always crap, kind of my own outline I guess. It’s during the first edit/read through that I flesh out the story line, round out the characters, and fix any plot holes. I sometime wish I was an outline writer, I might be able to write faster but it’s just not how my brain works.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I don’t talk out loud to them, but they’re always there, talking to me. Telling me what to do, how to write, what to say. Some of them are very pushy and noisy. I like to talk about them to other people as though they’re real.
What advice would you give other writers?
I’ve learned so much it’s amazing but mostly I’ve learned that not everyone is going to like my stories and that it’s okay. I’ve had to grow a thick skin and learn to pull my big girl panties up and move on. Those first few negative reviews sting, but I just let them roll off and move on. That’s the one thing I tell new authors that come to me, upset about reviews and are ready to quit. Don’t quit. Do what you do. Love what you do. Put your your best work. Be happy with it and happy with the people that love it and move past the ones that don’t.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I self published 5 years ago when it was still fresh and new. I briefly had my books with a small company then thought, hey I can do this. So I started my own small publishing company in hopes of helping authors that were like me and need a little help.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
It’s just going to grow. I don’t believe physical books will every go away but e-books will continue to grow and introduce more fantastic authors to readers. I love indie world. It’s awesome to connect with readers and other authors. What other profession can you reach people across the globe with your work then make genuine friends? It’s awesome and is only going to get awesomer..(yes, I say that’s awesomer…just because)
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: Romance, fantasy, adult contemp, suspense romance
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Angie Merriam Home Page Link
Link To Angie Merriam Page On Amazon
Link to Author’s website
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit, to allow you, the reader, to hear the author in their own voice.
