About Courtney Lillard:
I am from Appleton, Wisconsin and graduated with my B.A. and M.A. in Communication Studies. My writing career began in the spring of 2018 once I was out of school, although I began to put together stories ever since I began college around 2012. Writing began as means to pass the time while putting those stories into something physical. Currently, I am on the fifth book of the Dark Angel series and hope to continue publishing this year.

What inspires you to write?
The stories I write are heavily inspired by the music I listen to while others come from dreams that I spent time developing (after I woke up of course). I love fantasy books, so the concepts are familiar, yet when I get an idea I like to roll with it by playing some music to set the mood.

What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
My favorite author is the moment Mercedes Lackey. I'm currently attempting to read her Heralds of Valdemar series in chronological order.

Tell us about your writing process.
Writing is something I enjoy doing whether there is music playing or not. During the process of putting the scenes together, I can lay in bed listening to various pieces in order to shape how the story will go. Unlike a lot of authors, I also prefer to write from beginning to end even when the focal character's perspective changes. Since I am currently on the fifth book, I am able to understand where everything needs to be and go back to made changes or additions. I like to think I am an organized person, so this fits my personality.

For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Rather than act as if the characters are separate people, I like to put myself in their shoes as if I were an actor taking on that particular role. It really helps me to conceptualize their behavior with the events that need to take place in that particular book.

How did you decide how to publish your books?
I chose to self-publish through a local publisher. For new writers, especially in the fantasy genre, I would encourage you to try submitting to different agents or publishers first before settling on self-publishing unless you have a preference. The reason for this is that it publishing a series can become rather expensive and time-consuming if you want it to become popular. If you need the help of a marketer or agent, don't be afraid to see if it will get picked up. If not, then you know which path is best for you.

What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think now is the time for book publishing! Once I shared my book with family and friends, there were a handful of people who told me they would like to write and publish a book too. The only thing holding you back from this is your mentality.

What genres do you write?: Fantasy and YA

What formats are your books in?: Print

Website(s)
Courtney Lillard Home Page Link
Link To Courtney Lillard Page On Amazon

Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
LinkedIn

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.