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INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

1. Paperback, hardback, audiobook?

Paperback and soon to have an audiobook. I’ll make hardcovers someday.

2. Pick a genre, any genre!

Fantasy/Science Fiction. Give me magic. Give me aliens. Give me magical aliens. Romance is in there somewhere.

3. What is the first book you remember reading?

The Berenstain Bears Junk Food

The Berenstain Bears The In Crowd

4. What book shaped your childhood most?

Probably the Berenstain Bears and Star Trek books I read.

5. When did you first start writing? 

Around the age of 12. Spent years being told by teachers that it was a waste of time to try to become an author, ex-husband said the same thing so I stopped in my late teens and did not start again until two years ago after losing my job and being stuck at home because of the pandemic.

6. What made you want to write? Does it still hold true?

All of these weird stories and fantasies have to go somewhere besides spinning in my mind. It also helps me get out some of the darker parts of my life. Each story has a small piece of something or someone who either helped or harmed me. My main character always has a best friend, that’s my tribute to the two best friends I had growing up that I stupidly cut off for my ex. Our friendship lives on through the stories I write. 

7. What book/poem are you most proud of creating?

‘A Trashy Pirate Romance’ got me out of my comfort zone. It failed on Vella but does alright on Kindle Unlimited, and people seem to enjoy it. I just have to finish writing the second one.

8. Did you publish your first book or is it for your eyes only?

No! It’s 218k word vomit. The storyline is cool, but it has so many problems I don’t know if it’s worth fixing, changing, or reworking. I let it sit in a dark corner and hide. 

9. How many books/collections have you published so far?

Four completed and published. Two under this pen name and two under my real name. My pen name does worlds better.

10. What genres do you write in (or hope to)?

Fantasy & Science Fiction with hefty amounts of romance.

11. Do you do research for your writing or is it all in your head?

Depends on what I need to know. My google history is words I can’t spell, different swords, guns, and medical things I don’t want to get wrong.

12. To plan, or not to plan your plot?

What is this ‘planning’ you speak of? I just go for it. These stories and characters are always in my head.

13. What route of publishing have you chosen? Do you plan to stick with it?

Self Publishing. Agents want a fully edited, ready-to-go manuscript from the get-go anymore, with a large social media following. Then you have to turn around, hand over your rights for them to choose the cover art and when it comes out, but have you do all marketing and pay you pennies. I can do all of that and get my full royalties while keeping my rights in place. 

14. If you could live inside another author’s universe, which one would you pick? (Ex: Middle Earth, Narnia, etc.)

Middle Earth, after Frodo finished his quest. I’m already short I could easily be a Dwarf or Hobbit.

15. Do you currently have a WIP?

More than one, and I just finished a first draft and started on its sequel. I also have three stories trudging along on Kindle Vella. If I got my ducks in a row, I could have five books ready for next year under my pen name and two for my real name. Those ducks keep running away though. 

16. Tell me about the character you’ve created who is dearest to your heart.

Lord Fynce from ‘A Trashy Medieval Romance’ and his fantasy ADHD. He has a heart of gold and the attention span of a squirrel. 

17. What do you consider your *current* magnum opus?

I don’t think I have one at the moment. I have a book I’ve been trying to write, but each time I get anywhere in it I quit and hide it. 

18. Do you have a favourite romance in your books? Or, if yours features no romance, tell us about your favourite character friendship!

Favorite Romance: ‘A Trashy Alien Romance’ Nadia is a military nurse in an alien prisoner of war camp who garners the affection of the new commander of the aliens who hold them in the camp, and a new prisoner. 

19. Do you listen to music as you write? Recommend a favourite writing song.

Yes, all sorts. 

‘In the End’ by Black Veil Brides. It’s epic! 

‘Northwest Passage’ by Unleash the Archers. That song is pretty much Canadian Viking Metal.

‘The Past is Dead’ by Beartooth. Another epic ballad.

20. Do you have any character art for your books, whether by you or another artist? (Be sure to credit/link if you can!)

No, it would be cool though.

21. If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring author, what would it be?

If someone is giving you advice of a legal nature, go to the source and don’t use third-party, shady information.

It’s okay to use a thesaurus, just don’t overuse it. (You can just say she had blue eyes, I don’t need to hear about her sparkling, sapphire orbs in every book.)

I will use all the adverbs I want! Just learn how to use them correctly.

Other writers are not your competition.

22. Have you entered any writer contests? Tell us about your experience!

Nope.

23. Who are your top 5-10 favourite writers?

Ursula K. Le Guin

Max Brooks (I’m a sucker for zombies)

Herman Melville (Moby Dick is a favorite)

Edgar Allan Poe

24. Link us your book/Twitter/GoodReads or wherever we can best connect with you!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SINNAMONCARNEL1

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21777491.Sinnamon_Carnelian