My Writing Process Blog Tour

Today I’m taking part in the MY WRITING PROCESS blog tour. I was invited by Kat Ross whom you can find at http://katrossbooks.com. Thanks, Kat!

The MY WRITING PROCESS blog tour introduces new authors and bloggers in a sort of pay it forward venue. I have four writerly questions to answer, and then I have three authors/bloggers to introduce. Those tagged will join the tour, posting their answers about a week later.

So first, the questions:

What am I working on?

I’m about to enter the last revision stage of my upcoming book, MY TETHERED SOUL, which is due for release on June 10^th from Month9Books. I just had a cover reveal yesterday, and I’ll be signing copies of the book at BEA in New York in May. I'm also writing another book.

How does my work differ from others in its genre?

There are other books involving reapers, but my book has mythical beings called Vila, which are half faery and half witch. I can’t recall another book with this mix of supernatural creatures. Maybe there are, but I do not know of them.

Why do I write what I do?

I love magic in stories. I think it makes stories much more interesting. And I love creating magical worlds and people and telling their tales. And YA simply rocks!

How does my writing process work?

First comes the idea, that little seed that slowly forms into a sapling in my head. Once the idea is solid, I like to figure out where the story would go. Yes, I’m a plotter. For my latest WIP, I wrote notes to myself on my phone for bits and pieces I needed to remember for the story. My next step is outlining, which sometimes includes index cards. From my short outline points on the index cards, I start typing. That’s when the pantser in me comes out, usually because the characters try to usurp my plotting. When I have a few good chapters fleshed out, I start sending them to my crit partner and beta reader.

And now it’s time for me to tag the next three victims … er, participants. Look for their posts in the upcoming week or so where they’ll spill all their writerly secrets.

Elizabeth Holloway

http://www.elizabethhollowayauthor.com/

http://we-do-write.blogspot.com

Elizabeth Holloway is a maternity nurse living in Southern Pennsylvania with her two teen children and their pets, Bam-bam the dog and Tinkerbell the cat. In addition to nursing and writing, she’s also an avid reader, an artist, a karaoke singer, a music lover, and a kick-ass Pictionary player. Her debut YA novel, CALL ME GRIM, will be released from Month9Books in Fall 2014.

DelSheree Gladden

http://delshereegladden.blogspot.com/

DelSheree Gladden lives with her husband and two children in New Mexico. DelSheree has several bestselling young adult urban fantasy series and will be releasing her first contemporary romance this year.

Ioana Visan

http://weirdvision2001.blogspot.com/

Award-winning writer Ioana Visan has always dreamed about reaching the stars, but since she can't, she writes about it. After fighting the apocalypse aftermath in "Human Instincts", she played with shapeshifters in “Blue Moon Café Series: Where Shifters Meet for Drinks”, and then she dealt with vampires in “The Impaler Legacy” series, before tackling longer works like a fantasy trilogy and a science fiction series. She was awarded the Encouragement Award by The European Science Fiction Society at Eurocon 2013.

Interview with Ioana Visan

Today we're chatting with author Ioana Visan about her latest novella, HUMAN INSTINCTS.

Welcome, Ioana! Tell us a bit about yourself.

I'm a web designer, and I live in Iasi, Romania. Ever since I was a little kid I dreamed about reaching the stars, but since I can't, I write about it.

How long have you been writing?

I was just doing the math the other day and I realized I've been writing in English for ten whole years. I've been writing in Romanian for way longer than that.

Tell us about HUMAN INSTINCTS. What’s the story about?

Human Instincts is an apocalyptic novella. We find out from the start that there was a war and a virus and then a vaccine whose side effect was putting an end to humans' ability to evolve intellectually. The story focuses on Dr. Deanna Nichols efforts to get unaffected DNA samples from a group of dangerous criminals held in a prison inside the arctic desert. Without giving away too much of the plot, I can tell you there's a lot of tension and drama, but there's also hope.

How did the idea of the story come to you?

I wanted to write an apocalyptic story, but I didn't want it to focus on the causes or the technical side of the event. I was more interested in the solution of the problem and the way it psychologically affected the people involved.

Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

All of the above. My writing usually goes through four stages. First, I write the story and revise it once to get to the second draft. Then I let my friends read it for nitpicks on the plot and characterization. I fix the problems and then it's off to editors, people who don't know me and are not familiar with my writing. It works for me.

Are you a planner or a pantser?

A planner as in I know from the start how a story begins and how it ends. Everything in between is the pantser's fault… mostly.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Waiting for editors to return their drafts.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

If it's winter, the cat so I can keep my hands warm. Otherwise, silence would be nice.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

From a selfish point of view, I think I'd choose teleportation. I like to travel, but I'm not so keen on the whole getting from one point to the next part.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Nothing weird comes to mind, but being a science fiction writer, I did google lots of technical terms and procedures.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: cryptic, devastate, and kangaroo.

The kangaroo mob had devastated the crop field, leaving behind cryptic infinity signs.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

I'm grateful to everyone who ever read my stories and asked for more. My editors must have a place reserved in heaven already, I demand so! And my family who is amazing and deserves all the best things in the world.

And finally, where can people find you online?

All the information regarding my writing is available on my website. My blog is my personal playground and I'm also happy to connect with readers on Facebook and Twitter. Here are some links.

Website: http://ioanavisan.zxq.net  

Blog: http://weirdvision2001.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorIoanaVisan

Twitter: https://twitter.com/weirdvision

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/ioanavisan

Human Instints is available through Amazon

Amazon:

US http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008BICTQQ

UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008BICTQQ

FR https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B008BICTQQ

DE https://www.amazon.de/dp/B008BICTQQ

IT https://www.amazon.it/dp/B008BICTQQ

ES https://www.amazon.es/dp/B008BICTQQ

And Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/172012

Ioana, thanks so much for chatting with us today. It was great having you on the blog and learning about your book!