About Ann Sepino:
Hi there! My name is Ann, and I'm a Filipino indie author who loves all things fantasy romance. I like creating the perfect happily ever after for my knights-in-distress and damsels-in-shining-armor. The stories I write are usually inspired by fairy tales and folklore, as well as my interest in our local culture and mythology. Outside of writing, I dabble in things related to animals, arts and crafts, animation and mental health.
What inspires you to write?
The fact that you and other people can read stories is inspiration enough. It's heartwarming to realize that there is always someone who enjoys getting lost in a whimsical world filled with either love or peril. The act of creating such a place and its accompanying characters is not only challenging but also fun.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
Is it weird to say that I admire the authors behind Classics? Alexandre Dumas, Charles Dickens and Edgar Allan Poe are on the list. Hans Christian Andersen is always at the top spot. In fact, After Eternity and Current Affair were inspired by his stories, specifically The Snow Queen and The Little Mermaid. When it comes to modern stuff, I'd have to choose Karen Witemeyer for historical or inspirational romance and Dick Francis for mystery novels.
Tell us about your writing process.
Outlining is my go-to method, but oftentimes I find myself pantsing half-way through. You'd think I have it all figured out from the start, but usually a bold, fresh idea comes around and everything else flies out the window. The plot points are jotted down on Notepad, though I'll make do with anything if I'm commuting and the laptop isn't on hand. And yes, character sketches (including literal sketches) are a thing for me. You'll find a few of them if you go to the Facebook page.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
The younger they are, the more vocal they seem to be. The characters tend to 'speak' at the same time, often bickering about who should get this or that scene, which makes for a funny internal skit. Sometimes I'll plop them into a situation and think of how they'll react. Whether the scene gets into their story depends on what they're likely to do. Naomi from my novel called Tribeless was the easiest to work with, because her personality nailed what the concept and plot needed in its female protagonist.
What advice would you give other writers?
Take things one day at a time, especially if you don't have the starting funds or the support you need. That's how you keep your interest in writing going. Develop a good writing habit. Five hundred words a day goes a long way in the grand scheme of things. And always remember that the critiques of your books are not a reflection of your personality or your future skills, so don't feel bad about that one or two-star review.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
No matter how many times I've tried to dedicate myself to another hobby or profession, I always end up going back to writing and publishing. Self-publishing is my preferred method of getting books out because it reaches the stories' target audience most efficiently. I'm willing to try the traditional route though, as soon as I can finish a manuscript more geared towards readers here. There's no harm in going for both. Experience is the greatest teacher after all, so there's no better way to learn about traditional publishing than to just do it.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
It's hard to tell at the moment. There are different pros and cons to both industry and self-publishing. The trend between digital and physical book distribution shifts at a rapid pace too, and sometimes it's difficult to keep up. The upside is that it means publishing will be here to stay, so readers will have no worries when it comes to searching for their next favorite novel. In the future, these novels might even be integrated with multimedia platforms other than audio technology.
What genres do you write?: Romance, Fantasy, New Adult
What formats are your books in?: eBook
Website(s)
Ann Sepino Home Page Link
Link To Ann Sepino Page On Amazon
Link to Author Page on Smashwords
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
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.
