About Rebecca Holmes:
I used to think that inventing entire worlds and cultures in my head was something everybody did in their spare time. Then I realized this may or may not be a talent I should put to good use. When I'm not writing, I'm probably playing video games, sewing, reading, or taking a nap. (Seriously–naps are underrated.) I live in Vancouver, BC, Canada with my mum and my dog.
As a reader, I devour as many fantasy books as I can get my hands on, with the occasional diversion into science fiction or purely historical fiction. Genre-bending, trope-smashing and upside down perspectives are always welcome. I seek novelty and aim to create it in my own work.
What inspires you to write?
Anything can be a source of inspiration! Sometimes the strangest things, like the soup I had for lunch or a conversation I overheard at work, can spark an idea that turns into part of my world-building or forms the basis of a character trait. I can be watching a colleague and think, "hmm, such-and-such a character would probably have those mannerisms." Then I'll go home and add those details. Going back to the soup example, I went through a phase of craving Campbell's Split Pea and Ham Soup. I needed a hardy crop as a staple food for a culture in my book, so I researched different types of peas online and found they are closely related to lentils (which also happen to grow well under harsh conditions). Within no time at all, lentils became the lifeblood of an entire fictional nation, and all because of my real-world lunch choices.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
Right now, I'm reading A Practical Guide to Sorcery by Azalea Ellis. I like to support other indie fantasy authors and seek out unique twists on the genre. Michael Wisehart, Sam Feuerbach, Andrew Rowe, S. M. Gaither, Jennifer Ealey – there are too many to list!
Tell us about your writing process.
"Process" is an overly generous term for what I do. Writing the first draft is chaotic and often non-linear. Planning and outlining stifles my creativity. I have learned to just roll with it and get words on the page. Once complete, I have a much more structured and measured process for grooming it into the final product. I'll take care of the obvious developmental edits, then have an alpha reader go through it and critique plot, pacing, and point out anything that doesn't make sense or needs more detail. I'll revise from that, then get some beta readers involved and revise some more. Then comes external copy editing and quality analysis, cover, blurb, and all the salesy stuff, which is nowhere near as fun as the actual writing.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Yes! I argue with them, scold them, and sometimes feel exceptionally bad about what I've put them through. I wouldn't wish such a fate on my worst enemy, but I'll readily do it to my book characters! I have to form an emotional attachment to my characters in order to write effectively, but that means ALL my characters, including the ones the reader is supposed to hate. Often, I feel like the mediator, trying to stay neutral between them and empathize with all sides.
What advice would you give other writers?
You can't edit a blank page, so write SOMETHING and don't worry about getting it right first time. It can be messy, disjointed, whatever – just get all those ideas out of your head. No one but you is going to read your first draft, so don't feel embarrassed if it is a shambles. The more you write, the easier it gets. Focus on pumping out the words, then go back and perfect it later.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I self-published. In a genre that is now dominated by YA and steamy romance, I assumed (rightly or wrongly) that my work was too unusual to get picked up by an agent. I did search all over the internet for literary agents in my country who specified an interest in my niche, and found very few. I also liked the idea of retaining some control over my writing journey and didn't want a big company pressuring me to write a certain way, or to rush to meet hard deadlines. The downside? Marketing a book on your own, without the backing of a publishing house, is HARD. I don't know if I made the right choice. Time will tell.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
At some point, there needs to be a middle ground established between the "elite" few who manage to get traditionally published, and the immense sea of self publishing activity. Self publishing has become so accessible, we have an astronomical number of new books coming out every year with essentially zero quality control. This situation isn't great for authors OR readers. As an indie author, how do you attract readers when there are millions of books in your genre? How do you know if you've produced a high quality book without experts in publishing to guide you? As a reader, how do you sift through millions of books to find the amazing ones? In my opinion, we need a self publishing pathway that imposes the same quality standards as a traditional publisher would, but is still open to everyone who is willing to put in the work to make their book shine. Serious authors are going to do the hard work anyway, and it'll boost readers' confidence in giving indie authors a try if they have that 'stamp' of expert approval.
What genres do you write?: Fantasy
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Rebecca Holmes Home Page Link
Link To Rebecca Holmes Page On Amazon
Link to Author Page on All Author
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
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.
