1.
Who is your favorite writer?
There are a few I enjoy but if I had to pick I would say Jane Austen but overall Anne Rice. I love
the simplistic yet detailed writing of Jane Austen but I admire Anne Rice for being at the forefront
of women writers in the United States. Anne Rice was a complicated person. While I do not
share her views regarding Christianity, it does not mean I do not respect her for who she was or
her own beliefs. I respected her for the writer she was and her support for any person who
wanted to write, traditional and self-published alike. I had issues with several of these
cyberbullies who plagued Goodreads and Amazon for a long time. She tolerated none of it,
openly confronting them for who they were. Bullies. When I saw her Facebook post condemning
these bullies, I emailed her asking for advice, not expecting an answer-back but was surprised
when she did. She gave me several kind words of advice.
2.
At what point do you think someone should call themselves a writer?
I feel anyone who wants to write can be called a writer. Passion to write, time to gain experience,
and dedication will define how good of a writer you can become.
3.
What do the words “writer’s block” mean to you?
Writer’s block is the bain to every writer’s existence. How I overcome it is by taking a break,
putting aside the project, and starting another. It allows me to refocus.
4.
How do you process and deal with negative book reviews?
I learned, in the beginning, to take negative reviews into consideration and learn from them.
Every book is going to get negative reviews. Not everyone will like what you write and that’s
okay. I simply focus on those who enjoyed my writing, putting the less constructive reviews in
the back of my mind.
5.
What is the most difficult part of your writing process?
Simply said, editing. It’s painstaking, and time-consuming but very necessary to produce a well-
finished piece of work.
6.
How long have you been writing or when did you start?
I started out drawing and traditional art. I won several awards at a young age. It was in High
School that I started writing in High School.
7.
What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?
Write, edit and revise. Keep revising until you are 100 percent it’s error-free. Make sure your plot
is solid. With so many people now self-publishing, your writing has to be perfect if it’s going to
stand out. Book covers, a good biography and book blurb will also help make you stand out.
8.
What comes first for you — the plot or the characters — and why?
Some writers format an outline first, and others script out their chapters. I format my plot as I
write and develop the characters as I go. I feel when you set a character ahead of time, it sets
them in stone. Characters should evolve along with the plot and your writing.
9.
What’s your least favorite part of publishing?
Honestly, I’d have to say marketing. Writing is the easy part, marketing is maybe 70 percent of
the publishing process.
10.
What would you say to an author who wanted to design their own cover?
If you got the skills, do it. I create my own covers as well as book trailers and my own biography
11.
On a typical day, how much time do you spend writing?
It depends on if I am marketing or not. I try to get in at least an hour or two a day.
12.
How do you come up with the titles for your books?
The titles of my books usually revolve around the plot of the story itself.
13.
Describe your writing space.
My writing space is nothing fancy. It’s a recliner, in front of a desk, in front of the TV.
14.
How long does it take you to write a book?
It depends on how invested I have become in the plot itself.
15.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I have to have background noise to write. For some it’s distracting, for me it helps me focus more
on my writing.
16.
Where do you get your ideas for your books?
Watching movies. It inspires my creativity.
Interview With Lynn A. Marie