Author of the Month
Alicia Dean
[JUNE 2010]
Chosen by MyShelf.Com reviewer Faith V. Smith
Way back when I was asked to read a draft of Alicia’s latest book and I found myself mesmerized, long after
I finished giving my thoughts on her work, the characters, plot, and spine-chilling ending stayed with me.
That is why I chose Alicia Dean as author of the month for June.
Heart Of The Witch was released
last year through Dorchester Publishing. This author is someone to watch in the future for fast-paced
suspense as well as romance.
Faith: When did you discover you wanted to write, not be a writer, but just write?
Alicia: When I was pretty young. I wrote my first story when I was about ten or eleven. It was a romance, and the leading man looked exactly like Elvis Presley. :-)
Faith: Your book, Heart Of The Witch, was romantic but with paranormal suspense. What prompted you to write this intriguing book?
Alicia: Thank you. I've always loved to write suspense and the paranormal craze piqued my interest, so I thought I'd attempt a story that blended the two.
Faith: Please tell us what was the hardest thing you encountered in writing Heart Of The Witch.
Alicia: Probably getting the nerve to send it out. The writing of it flowed fairly well (or, as well as writing any book can flow, :-) ), but I felt very timid and uncertain about whether or not it was good enough to be seen. When I had the opportunity for Sharon Sala to read it, and she loved it, that certainly helped my confidence.
Faith: I've interviewed several authors who all have been rejected before they became published. Care to tell us what was your hardest rejection and why?
Alicia: I think my rejection from Avon was the hardest. I so wanted to publish with them, and the editor loved my writing, although she had a few suggestions for revisions. She asked to see it again, and I revised it, then sent it out. She came back with a no, saying she loved my revisions, but wasn't sure how to market the book, since it was a mixture of paranormal and suspense and didn't fit an exact niche.
Faith: Do you have plans for another book along the same lines?
Alicia: I've toyed with a few paranormal ideas and would love to write one along those lines,
if it wasn't just a copycat of Heart
Of The Witch. Lately, I've been concentrating on writing thriller/suspense, but hopefully,
there's another paranormal or two left in me.
Faith: Do you have a set schedule for when you write? And if so what is your favorite time to write?
Alicia: My life is so crazy and sporadic that I really don't have a set schedule, but I try to write at least a few times each week, although ideally I would write a little each day. My favorite time is first thing in the morning. By the end of the day, my brain has gone a bit numb.
Faith: Who has most influenced you in your writing?
Alicia: That's impossible to say. I've read a multitude of amazing books over the years, and wanted to emulate all of those fantastic writers. I'd say that Mel Odom and Sharon Sala have been my biggest recent influences.
Faith: What do you read when you let your hair down?
Alicia: Mostly thrillers. I adore Dennis Lehane, Michael Connelly, and Lisa Gardner. I also love reading books by my friends, but unfortunately, I don't have nearly enough time to read for pleasure.
Faith: Any tips for aspiring writers?
Alicia: Keep writing, keep writing, keep writing. Don't doubt yourself and second-guess so much that you give up, or keep re-working the same few chapters over and over. Finish the book, get feedback, improve it as much as you can, and send it out. You can't publish what you don't submit.
Faith: Anything you would like to say to your readers?
Alicia: Just that I am so thankful for each and every one of you. Publishing was a dream come true for me and nothing thrills me more than to hear that someone loves what I wrote. Feel free to drop me an email using the contact form on my website any time.
Bibliography
- Heart of the Witch [2009]
- Midnight Sentry [2009]
- Nothing To Fear [2007]
- Poetic Injustice [2008]
- Smashing Pumpkins [2008]
- Tears of the Wounded [2009]
- Truly Madly [2008]
Reviews:
Read the review on Myshelf by Faith V. Smith of
Website / Contact:
2010's Honorary List
| None |
|||||