About LaVerne Thompson:
LaVerne Thompson is a USA Today Bestselling, award winning, multi-published author, an avid reader and a writer of contemporary, fantasy, and sci/fi sensual romances. She loves creating worlds within and without our world. She also writes romantic suspense and new adult romance under the pen name Ursula Sinclair.
She is a certified chocoholic and is currently working on several projects. Some might even involve chocolate. But writing helps maintain her sanity.
What inspires you to write?
When ever I open my eyes I'm inspired to write. I write because I must. There are so many stories swimming around in my head that needs to get out. lol
Tell us about your writing process.
I'm predominately a pantser. I might create a very base outline of the characters names and descriptions but that's about it. I get a thought or a scene in my head and I just start writing. I try to write everyday, even if I'm doing self edits. Those are edits before I send the work to my editor. But I write full-time so I write whenever my muse tells me. Which tends to be every day. I've been known to get up at 2AM and write until 4 or 5AM.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
My characters are in my head and I have learned that I just need to listen to them when they talk to me. When I try to steer then in a direction they don't want to go it doesn't end well. For me. lol
What advice would you give other writers?
The best advice I've ever received from another author I pass on. Keep writing. Don't stop. Finish that first book and go right onto the next.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I had gotten a ton of rejections from publishing houses. Then I was part of an online group that had a guest publisher come chat with us. She took online pitches and invited me to submit my story. It was a small press but a start. I went on to be published under 5 houses. That was just before self-publishing took off in the industry. When I saw what was happening and the positive feedback from fellow authors, I began self-publishing and became a hybrid author. But eventually I made the decision to be an indie author and commit to that. I got all my rights back to my published works from the publishing companies and I've never looked back.
I'm indie all the way and that works for me as well as many others. However, for new authors I say it's up to you. If you already have a strong marketing background and understand how the business end of publishing works then by all means start with self-publishing. If however, you want to take some time to really learn the business first then consider traditional or small press to enter the industry.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
The industry has changed a lot since I first started and continues to do so. I don't think anyone can predict with certainty what will happen other than to say it will continue to change and nothing will stay the same. Nor will we be turning back to what it once was.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: Fantasy, paranormal and sci/fi romance, new adult and romantic suspense
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print, Audiobook
Website(s)
LaVerne Thompson Home Page Link
Link To LaVerne Thompson Page On Amazon
Link to Author Page on iTunes
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
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.
