Hello friends! Today with have paranormal author Laura Bickle back on the blog. She is a returning OAAA author and wonderful all around person.
- Hi Laura, welcome back. What have you been up to in the last year?
Thanks so much for having me!
I’ve been at work the Wildlands series for Harper Voyager. The first book, NINE OF STARS, came out in December. My protagonist is Petra Dee, the stubbornly non-magical daughter of an alchemist. Petra’s a geologist who finds herself in the backcountry of Yellowstone, fleeing some old ghosts from her past. Joined by her coyote sidekick and a man who used to be an undead cowboy, she’s tracking down a malicious spirit that’s killing wolves and leaving only their skins behind in the snow.
- You write a lot of different kinds of books, how do you hop from one to another?
I really enjoy the variety. When I’m working on a book, it’s the only book in the world for me. I sometimes feel a little sad when one book is completed and the story has flown the nest, but I always look forward to what’s next. The book nest doesn’t stay empty for long!
3. Do you prefer to write story driven or character driven books?
I think that I lean toward things happening, and slightly favor story-driven plots. I mean, if there’s an opportunity to set something on fire, I will! But I think the external conflict needs to mirror the characters’ internal conflict. For me, things need to happen both inside and out. At the end of the book, my characters and the world I’ve created need to have experienced significant changes that put them at odds with each other.
4. What is your favorite kind of book to write?
I love writing books with supernatural elements in worlds that are very similar to our own. Writing magical twists is a lot of fun for me. I really enjoy developing systems of magic and supernatural creatures for the worlds I create. I’ve written about ghosts, basilisks, alchemists, vampires, salamanders, oracles, and a whole host of other things that go bump in the night. I love every one of them.
5. If you could talk to your pre-published self what would you say?
I would tell myself not to worry so much, and just focus on having fun. Perfection does not exist, and there is never a perfect moment or a perfect word. Just go for it!
6. Do you have any regrets in your career? If so, what?
I think my biggest regret is not having the confidence to put my work out there sooner. I’ve always been writing, but it took me a long time to work up the nerve to start submitting my work.
7. What would be your advice to a new writer?
My best advice is to try National Novel Writing Month at least once. NaNoWriMo helped me develop productivity habits that I use in creating all my books. I learned to set aside editing for later in the process, and focus instead on flow and getting words down on paper. The biggest hurdle for me is always getting started, and the NaNo technique really helps me build momentum.
8. What was your favorite book as a child?
My favorite books as a child were the Bunnicula books. I loved the idea of a vampire rabbit and his animal cohorts. I still work animal sidekicks into the books I write, because I think they have such an interesting perspective on people that really reveals character in an unexpected way. NINE OF STARS, for example, features a coyote sidekick, Sig. He may or may not be THE COYOTE in capital letters, but Sig has his own motivations that sometimes dovetail with his human companions.’
Plus, I’ve always been surrounded by animals. I can’t really imagine my characters not being surrounded by critters!
9. What’s your current favorite book?
Right now, I’m reading THE SECRET HISTORY OF WONDER WOMAN, by Jill Lepore. Wonder Woman was my biggest childhood heroine, and it’s a lot of fun to be able to dip back into that world and see how she was created.
10. Anything else you’d like to talk about?
I’ve got some fun Ohio events coming up soon. I’ll be giving a talk about all things Wonder Woman at Pickerington Library on May 6, and visiting WizardWorld Columbus in August. Deets are at my website, www.laurabickle.com.
Enter to win Laura’s donation in the month long giveaway.
Leave a Reply