Annika James - Magic and Mayhem
Marion:
Tell us about yourself, Annika!
Hello! I’m just a small-town girl
who likes to read and write about things that don’t exist, so far as we know
right now. :) I grew up in and around Chicago, but moved to rural Wisconsin in
high school. After college, I moved back and settled here. I live with my
husband of 8 years, and our two over-active kiddos. I’ve been writing for as
long as I can remember, and only this year realized my life-long dream of
getting published. I absolutely love the cover Marion did for me, and have
received many, many compliments on it.
Marion:
What was the first book you ever read that really blew your mind, that you
couldn’t stop thinking about after you’d finished?
The first one I can remember is Queen
of This Realm by Jean Plaidy. I read it in grade school, and it fueled a
life-long obsession with Elizabeth I and Tudor England.
Marion:
How do you start thinking about a book?
Is it the characters that first pop to mind, or the setting, or the
plot? Where do you usually start?
Most of the time, I start with a
situation or scene, then I build the story around that. I’m one of those
by-the-seat-of-my-pants writers, and the story comes to me as I write. Often,
I’ll jot down ideas for later in the book or other scenes I want, though, so I
have some idea where I’m going.
Marion:
When was the last time you just had
to write, and what inspired that feeling?
After a few friends read WANTED,
they demanded a sequel. The more I thought about it, the more my characters
demanded one also. So, I sat down and started it. At first, the words just
flowed, I had to get it down.
Marion:
What one scene do you think you spent the most time editing? What was it about it that you couldn’t seem
to get right?
The scene where Matt and Conor come
to Cora’s house to break the news to Ash. I just couldn’t get the dialogue
where I wanted it. I have an analogy in there, and I’m still not happy with it.
I just couldn’t come up with one that made me happy.
Marion:
What’s your worst writing habit?
Something you know you shouldn’t do, but just can’t seem to stop?
I don’t write enough. Is that a
habit? I often start a day with the intention of writing, but end up forgoing
it for other things. Then, I’m mad at myself for not writing. I really need to
buckle down and somehow get myself to write a little every day.
Marion:
What’s the one thing you wish you
were good at, but just can’t seem to master?
I wish I was better at world
building. For some reason, I just can’t relay all the details I see in my head.
My brain works faster than my fingers and I get impatient and just end up
skipping all the boring detail stuff. I really wish I was better at creating a
world the reader could really feel a part of.
Marion:
There are a lot of concepts about what writer are like, what’s the one you hate
the most? Like the most?
Many people have assumed that since
I have one book published, I’m suddenly going to be rich and famous. I don’t
know where people get the idea being an author makes a lot of money. Sure, if
you’re on the best seller list many times, you probably can live on just
writing, but I’m not there yet. :) I do enjoy the assumption that since I’m a
writer, I’m good at writing, though. When something needs to be written, an
article or something, people look at me and say, “You’re a writer, you can do
it.” That’s a nice stroke to the ego. :)
Marion:
What project are you currently working on?
I’m currently working on the sequel
to WANTED. Ash, Matt, and Conor really wanted their story told, so I started in
on that.
Marion:
About how long does it take you to get from first draft to polished
manuscript? What does that process look
like?
For WANTED, my only finished and
published manuscript, it took about two and a half years. Most of that time, it
sat unfinished. I hurried to complete it for the 2011 Muse online conference so
I could pitch it. That was October, 2011. I received my contract in June of
2012, my first editor and I worked through it during September and October-
that was content editing. Then came line edits, and the book was finally ready
in December.
Marion:
Is there a writer whose style or talent you envy? What is it about their writing that draws you
in?
Kim Harrison. She has created a
world that is fantasy, but seems like it could be so real. It is a world I want
to live in. Her books are full of action, romance, heartache, romantic tension,
friendship, intrigue, and humor. Her characters are real people - none of them
is perfect, they are all flawed in some way, yet the reader has still fallen in
love with them. I absolutely love the Hollows books, and wish I could write
half as well as she does.
Marion:
Any parting words?
I really hope everyone enjoys
reading Wanted as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Please let me know what you think on Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook,
Twitter, or anywhere else.
Marion: Thanks for dropping by! You've been a lovely guest!
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