About Rissa Blakeley:
Rissa Blakeley is the author of the post-apocalypse series, Shattered Lives. She lives a socially awkward life just outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her amazing husband and daughter, four four-legged, furry children, and the many characters poking her brain, looking for more scenes about them in her books. When she isn’t writing, she can be found procrastinating on Facebook.
What inspires you to write?
Everything is inspiration. Whether it’s a song, something someone said or a place I’ve visited, it’s all inspiration. I try to absorb what I can and use it in my books.
Tell us about your writing process.
I’m a pantser. Although, I do have notebooks for each of my series or novels to jot down stuff when I’m busy doing other things. I write it down on a post it note, then stick it in the notebook. Occasionally, I will write a scene in the notebook if it hits. But, my handwriting is ridiculously horrible. My eighth grader has better handwriting! I have a major scene written for one of my WIPs and I can hardly read it! Hopefully I can figure it out when I need to drop it in the file!
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Absolutely. I don’t really talk to them, but listen. They have their own little thing going on up there–a movie or a show-and I get to tune in. There are times when it’s all jumbled (lots of whispers or everything is on fast forward) and there are times I feel like someone is screaming at me to get my attention. That’s when I have to write something right at that moment. It’s usually Henry from my Shattered Lives series, he’s an attention whore. When the series ends, I’m not sure what he will do…or do I?
What advice would you give other writers?
Write everyday. A sentence or a paragraph, it all adds up. It also helps you improve. And for the love of all that’s holy, don’t listen to others tell you about ‘rules’. As long as your piece has been edited and formatted, your plot line is hole free and YOU love it, then that’s all that matters. Write for yourself, don’t jump on bandwagons…write what’s in your heart, not for what will appease the crowds.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
Currently, I am self-published. Would I like to be published by small or large press…yes! Will that happen? Who knows. First, I have to find my girl nuts to submit.
Publishing is scary at any level. There is nothing easy about it. You will doubt yourself and you may chicken out. Have someone else push the publish button for you if that’s the case. Remember, it’s for you. While we all love to sell books, it may take years for you to sell enough to be noticed. It can be discouraging, but there are plenty of others out there that will be a shoulder for you.
Always talk to your potential readers. ALWAYS. There are times when it may seem burdening when you get a bunch of messages or emails that you need to answer, set aside time to do it. It’s part of the territory with the accessibility there is now with social media. By doing so, I have made some wonderful friends and have some really amazing readers. #MilitiaPowered!
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
There are things that will definitely test the markets…eBooks or paperbacks; purchase or borrow. Trends will come and go. I’m just going to do my thing until I can’t anymore.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: Post-Apocalypse and Paranormal both with some steamy scenes.
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Rissa Blakeley Home Page Link
Link To Rissa Blakeley Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
LinkedIn
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.
