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Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Pop by and Meet Author Poppet!





Today's Guest: Indie Author Poppet


Authonomy is an on-line writing community.  A few years back, I spent about 14 months or so reading and sharing new work with other aspiring authors. The 'goal' is to work one's way up the rankings and potentially get read by a Harper Collins editor while giving and receiving feedback on works-in-progress. Because of this incentive, some ultra-competitive members got downright bitchy. I eventually tired of the game, and withdrew despite the many good things about the site. I DID make friends with a number of wonderful writers while I was there. Today, I'm introducing one of them to my blog followers: Poppet!

Poppet is a wonderful, loyally supportive fellow Indie author-- and has unleashed some very steamy and action-packed stories to indulge in! Her positive, fun approach to the madness of the Indie world has been a welcome influence beyond our Authonomy days.

Q: Have you always been a writer? Tell us about the first thing you ever wrote.

A: The first 'novel' I wrote  was when I was 14. It was a truly crap romance.I showed it to my mother (lol) and gave up that second-- and didn't go back to novel writing until many decades later. However, I used to keep journals of writing (which I've since thrown away).

Q: You've come a long way since our Authonomy days! What made you take the leap, and get your words 'out there' and widely available to readers?

A: I was accepted by publishers while I was on Authonomy. It took me another year or so before I had the courage to wear the shameful 'self published' badge. Being around so many authors who constantly bashed self- publishers, it was something I wasn't in a hurry to try. Plus Kindle Direct Publishing was only available to Americans at that time (a bit like Barnes and Noble's Pubit is now). Americans get these opportunities long before the rest of the world, and also get the best price on Kindle books. I feel awful that people in Holland pay so much more for my books. If my readers didn't disclose to me the prices they pay for my books, I never would have known that Amazon clocks on a few extra dollars-- money the author will never see and didn't sanction.


Q: Putting stories out into the public eye is an act of faith. What have you learned most about yourself as a writer by sharing your creativity with the world? (The good, the bad, and the ugly!)

A: I've learned that criticism and hatred won't stop my muse from inspiring me. I've also learned that despite my work being individual in style, it hasn't proven a barrier for me. I've learned a lot about people. If a reader doesn't 'approve' of your plot, they'll leave a negative 1 star review because they didn't get the ending they wanted. The modern reading world has spawned a generation of readers who feel entitled to tell an author who the main character should end up with-- and if they don't like 'the author's choice', the author will hear about it! I've also learned that unhappy readers will leave a review without hesitation, while a happy reader seldom leaves a review. For a new author, the deluge of negative reviews can be very upsetting-- and because of this ratio the positive reviews from readers are sometimes few and far between. I would have months of negative reviews before one person would drop a coin in my wishing well with a word of encouragement in a positive review. I stopped reading reviews for many months because it was interfering with my ability to stay positive. The new e-book revolution has completely changed the game for authors: it has both negatives and positives. The worst negative I've seen is sabotage and gang warfare on Amazon forums and reviews. I've witnessed authors being targeted-- almost every writer I know has experienced this, yet it is something no one speaks up about because when they do the bullying goes into 'DEFCON three' and hits Facebook and Twitter. Humans have so much power: I always wonder why they don't use it for positive pursuits instead of negative ones.



Q: I admire your self-disclipline and productivity. What is your process? Tell us about a typical day in the writing life of Poppet.

A: A typical day consists of 2 hours on Facebook, 4 hours work, 1 hour of Facebook with lunch, and the rest of the day spent working-- either writing or doing research. Trying to keep up with all the ideas I have means I have no life outside of writing now! But I'm happy with that, as I'm not afraid of my own company.


Q: What are your ultimate goals with your writing?
A: To land a series with a Big 5. It's my dream. It was always my dream. And it's an unattainable goal which keeps me honest!


Q: The List! Share with us five things you cannot live without, and why. (Besides the obvious choices of food, shelter, oxygen etc.!)
1- Coffee
2- Chocolate
3- Mr. Poppet
4- My kitties
5- Pizza

Poppet's latest paranormal romance is Master of Umbra.-- part of The Valhalla Series.

Those abs hold promise!!

Deliah is in grave danger, running for her life from a man who needs her dead, when serendipity plants her in the path of the Master of Umbra. Inducted into the mysterious Eagle clan of the Scottish highlands, Deliah is torn between her fate and destiny when kin clash for her affections. Falling for the scandalous villain who heads the Berserkers of the Hebrides, her fragile hope is snuffed out early by revelation and impending war. The only mantra she can cling to is the one uttered in heartfelt promise; that love comes back. Because that's what love does.

You can find all the steamy action here at Amazon Kindle US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D4E8UWE or Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00D4E8UWE

And? If you comment below, or 'like' my Facebook page with a comment on the link to this Poppet post https://www.facebook.com/pages/Spirited-Words-Book-Co/101014656667433 you could win a copy of the e-book for your summer reading pleasure!

For more on Poppet and her books, follow these links.

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