Today, we have Carrie Butler here to talk about her New Adult Paranormal Romance, STRENGTH, which releases today!
Happy
release day, Carrie!
Thank you, Elizabeth and Dorothy! I'm so happy to
be here. :)
We're happy to have you. Tell us a little about yourself.
Right now, I'm focusing on my
writing career and doing freelance graphic design on the side. It's a little
scary, but the job market has been less-than-stellar for daydreaming marketers
in Appalachia. Go figure. *Grins* At least I'm doing what I love!
You're right about that! It makes things much easier when you're doing something you love!
How
long have you been writing?
STRENGTH is my debut novel, but I've
been writing "seriously" for a few years now. Before that, my stories
went on and on, defying all word count ranges... *shudder*
Ha! I think the ability to "kill your darlings" is one of the last things to develop, as a writer. But, it's such an important step.
What’s STRENGTH about?
Category: New Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Sapphire Star Publishing
When college student Rena Collins finds herself
nose-to-chest with the campus outcast, she’s stunned. Wallace Blake is
everything she’s ever wanted in a man—except he can’t touch her. His
uncontrollable strength, a so-called gift from his bloodline, makes every
interaction dangerous. And with a secret, supernatural war brewing among his
kind, there’s no time to work it out. To keep Wallace in her life, Rena will
have to risk a whole lot more than her heart.
Interesting premise, and Wallace Blake sounds absolutely swoon-worthy! How
did you come up with the idea for this story?
For years, I'd been toying with the idea of a unique,
supernatural race. (Okay, three races.)
One night, for whatever reason, I couldn't stop thinking about the concept of
balance. I started jotting down notes while listening to music, and "All
I Know" (the 2005
Five for Fighting cover) came on.
The lyrics sparked something, and the next thing I knew, the romance element
had fallen into place.
*Sigh* I love that song...
Okay, now you have to scoop me up off the floor. I love that song, too. And I can see how it was an inspiration.
STRENGTH is considered New Adult. The genre has been getting a lot of press lately. What
are your thoughts on the New Adult genre in today's market?
In September, Publishers Weekly
reported that over half of young
adult sales were coming from adults. Even more surprising, 78% of those adults
were buying for themselves! Since new adult (NA) is a category that bridges the
gap between YA and adult fiction, it's starting to tap into that lucrative
market.
Dozens of publishers—from small
presses to the Big 6—have opened their doors to new adult submissions. Some have
even launched lines dedicated to the category. I think we're witnessing a
period of tremendous growth for NA.
I think you're right! It's an exciting time for NA and NA writers.
Tell us a bit about your writing process. Do
you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?
I had seven critique partners and four beta readers for
STRENGTH. Whew! It was a lot of feedback to take on, but it really helped me
grow as a writer.
Are
you a plotter or a pantser?
These days, I'm more of a plotter. I
started with Post-It notes and copier paper, moved on to Excel spreadsheets,
and then finally found my stride in Scrivener. Now I can't start a book without
it!
I hear Scrivener rocks, but I'm still stuck in my pantser ways. Call me stubborn. What’s
the hardest part of writing for you?
Waiting to get to the "good
parts". I never write scenes in order.
What
do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?
H2O. Gotta keep the ol' brain going.
If
you could have any super power, what would it be?
"I belieeeeve I can fly!"
Seriously, I can't imagine how liberating that must feel.
(Plus, I'm terrified of airplanes.)
Flying would be pretty cool! What's
the weirdest thing you've googled?
Oh my goodness. I’m probably on so
many “watch lists” I remember Googling how to remove bloodstains from
sidewalks. That was awkward...
Hehehe! Well, there are LOTS of reasons why you might google that, right? ... Right?
Quick
writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: anniversary, jumping
jacks, and hallucinating.
“Was I hallucinating, or were my parents
doing jumping jacks on their anniversary?”
(Because we all know that’s what
parents do behind closed doors on their anniversary—jumping jacks.)
I know that's what I'd do on my anniversary, if I were married.
Finish
this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably...
...thinking about writing. Sad,
isn't it? ;)
It doesn't matter what I'm doing—sketching,
designing a book cover, doing target practice, etc. My characters refuse to
shut up! Thankfully, that seems to be a good thing in this industry.
Yes, it's a very good thing. Who would you like to thank for supporting you and your writing. Let's hear your
shout outs.
Oh, what a cool idea! So many people
have helped me get to this point, and I would have never made it without them.
Let's see...
*Takes a deep breath* Shout-outs to:
God, my folks, my sister, my brother-in-law, my nephew, my niece, other family,
friends, my publishers (Amy & Katie), my editors, my SSP family, my critique
partners, my beta readers, the blogging community, the Twitterverse, my Facebook
fans, #NALitChat regulars, book reviewers, and the ever-popular Dorothy Dreyer and Elizabeth Holloway!
And
finally, where can people find you and your books online?
In March, they'll be able to find
STRENGTH on Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Nook, iBooks, Sony Reader
Store, Kobo, Diesel, and Baker & Taylor.
Where to find Carrie:
Where to find Strength:
Thank you for joining us today, Carrie! And congratulations!
