"Cinders" tells the story of Cinderella after she gets her prince. What prompted you to take this approach to an old classic?
It's an interesting story! In a nutshell, my daughter was obsessed with the Disney version of Cinderella and I kept seeing the trailer in front of it about Cinderella II and I thought, hmmm, a continuation of what happens AFTER. From their my imagination went wild!
Any plans to continue the stories of any other fairytale heroes?
Not for continuing stories, no, but I am publishing two more novellas that are fairy-tale themed.
What's your background with writing?
I've been writing since I was ten years old. By the time I was 18 I had written two novels and knew I wanted to be a novelist. I went to college and got my degree in English/Creative Writing and here I am! Okay, so it wasn't that simple, but you get the idea. I've been writing seriously for so long that it is just a part of the way I live.
Who are your inspirations/influences?
Annie Dillard! Her writing is what inspired me to switch my major from Technical Writing to Creative Writing in college. I'm also a huge fan of Flannery O'Conner, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Jhumpa Lahiri.
What was it like working with createspace?
Fantastic, actually! It was easy to use and their quality is pretty good. I didn't have any major hangups at all even though there are a few things I would change if I could - like how they print PROOF on all the proof copies even if there is nothing you're going to change in it. I've liked using them enough that I'll be using them for my other two novellas as well.
Who was responsible for the cover/book design and promotional video?
I did everything for the cover, design, and promotional material myself. This included hiring a seamstress to make the dress since I'm obsessed with details like that. It helps that I'm a photographer. :)
What did you do in terms of marketing/publicity?
My readers have helped a lot by accepting free copies of the book for reviews on their blogs and Amazon and Goodreads. I've held contests and did a blog tour as well. I'm also part of a bookmark exchange where we help promote other works.
Do you have any stories from book signings/radio interviews/etc.?
Sadly, I have not done a radio interview. It's something I'd like to do, but I haven't stretched that far in promoting my work yet. I did have a release party which was a lot of fun, but very small. It was mostly for friends and family to purchase the book without shipping costs.
What is the name of your blog and what can readers expect to find there?
I currently blog at The Innocent Flower. I occasionally hold contest, do book reviews, and talk about writing. My blog is also connected to my Author Site. Come by! I'd love to see you there.
What projects do you have planned for the future?
I'm currently working on Thirds, the next novella in my fairy-tale novella series. Thirds is a retelling of the Grimm's fairy tale One-Eye, Two-Eyes, Three-Eyes. It's about a girl named Issina surrounded by beauty, magic, and love, yet none of it belongs to her. With the help of a goat and spirited elf, she discovers a way to conquer her superior sisters with a force stronger than magic.
I'm also waiting for edits on my novel Monarch, which will be released by Rhemalda Publishing in September 2011.
Is there anything else about you we should know?
You can find out more about me on my Facebook profile or my blog. It's been a pleasure interviewing with you today. Thank you!
Thanks for interviewing me!
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