Feature Friday with V. S. Nelson

AN INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR V.S. NELSON

This time of year many of us look back at what we’ve accomplished then set our goals accordingly for the upcoming year. What can you tell us about 2013 and what changes are in store for you and us, your readers, in 2014?

Funny you should mention that, as I’ve been giving this past year some serious thought. 2013 was filled with tons of highs and some very personal lows, but overall it was an amazing year, one far better than I had anticipated.

By November of 2012 I received a couple of offers for my series, Sekhmet’s Guardians. After looking over the generous offers, I made the decision to try something new, something that I never would have considered several years ago.

I knew I was way too close to this series to turn things over to anyone else and I firmly admit I wanted control over the content and my covers. Gabriel and his band of heroes are extremely vocal and they had planted their desires in my mind. Going against their wishes was something I didn’t want to challenge, so I made the decision to self publish the first book in the series, Eternal Lovers and see how things went. If all went well, I’d think about releasing the second book. In the back of my mind, I knew if things didn’t go well, I could always re-pitch the series and accept another offer.

I make no bones about being a series reader and one of the things I detest, is having to wait an entire year to read the next saga in an on-going story. When I discussed this with the publishers, I was told they doubted if they could meet my requests to publish no less than two in the series per year, considering the size of my novels. This also weighed heavy on my mind when I made my final decision to self pub. I made the promise to myself and to my readers; at least two books per year would be released while I continued to write out particular series.

Eternal Lovers hit the shelves early in the year after I went on a serious promotional campaign. I have to admit I flooded Facebook, Twitter and other media outlets letting people know it was coming. I personally had over 200 signed editions sold before it was released and sold another four hundred sold in the first few weeks. The response and reviews Eternal Lovers received spurred me on and I released Eternal Nights, in April. A large majority of those who had read the first book were ready to continue on with the Guardian’s story. Meanwhile I went to work with edits on Book Three and in November, I released Eternal Blades, the third in the series.

That’s an awful lot of writing. Aren’t your books over five hundred pages each?

Yes they are, but please understand; one doesn’t put words down on paper or on the computer and release them to the public right away. At least this writer doesn’t. All three books I released in 2013 were finished for the most part in 2011 and copy written in 2012. After I finish the first draft of a novel it goes to my beta-readers for a good hard look. Changes in content are made based on their comments and when I feel it is ready it goes to one of two copy editors… who of course, suggests more changes and rewrites. We tend to send the manuscript back and forth a few times until I think it is ready. Then it is sent to first of two line editors. Self published books tend to be critiqued harder than traditionally published books and reviewers are eager to point out any mistakes or typos one is left in the book. Even though I take as many precautions as I can, I’m quite aware a few will slip by. It happens even to those who are traditional published. Fact is, I haven’t read a book in the last three years, traditional published or not, I didn’t find mistakes in. Sadly, even the big five editors don’t catch all of them, probably because they, like the rest of us, are over worked.

What were some of your personal highs? Didn’t I hear about a wedding? Can you tell us about it?

That you did. And what a wedding it was. My high school sweetheart and I were married this past August in Las Vegas during the costume ball at the Romance Novel Convention put on by none other than cover model extraordinaire, Jimmy Thomas. I can honestly say I’m the only woman I know whose wedding was conducted by a minister in a loin cloth! Just recently, Eternal Blades was mentioned in detail in USA today’s Romance column. That thrilled me to no end. I haven’t made the best seller list (yet), but working hard towards it.

During December, all three of my books in the series were nominated for the AYWR Best of 2013. Votes were cast, scores came in and all three made the final round. I was up against some pretty tough competition as I was familiar with most of the books on the list. The votes by readers were cast again, and I’m happy to announce that all three books made the final cut and were listed as the AYWR top ten books of the year!

What was the hardest part or thing you had deal with in 2013?

Probably, juggling my time – both personal and career. I was pretty spoiled in 2012 as I spent most of the hours of the day writing. In 2013, I was elected to two RWA (Romance Writers of America) Chapter boards. Finding enough to devote to my writing and do the jobs assigned to me was a handful, although I can honestly say I think I pulled it off. I also ran the 2013 On the Far Side Writer’s Contest for the FF&P Chapter in addition to judging another nine international writing contests. I can guarantee you; I won’t be doing overloading myself again this year. Although, I have enjoyed my time on the boards, I’m smart enough to know it was too much for anyone to handle for too long. I will be chairing the contest again this year and I’m really looking forward to that. Contents offer aspiring authors so much feedback on their way to publication. Judging contests is one way, we as published authors, can pay it forward and that is extremely important to me. On a more personal note, I think it’s no secret; I lost both of my parents within six weeks of each other the later half of the year. It’s been hard, I still find myself picking up the phone to call Mom with exciting news.

I’m so sorry for your loss… So did you enter your series into the writing contests you’re talking about? Did you win?

Thank you… Actually small sections of the first three books were entered into a variety of contests at one time or another. I primarily entered the contests for feedback long before I had beta-readers or critique partners. The comments left on the first few pages/chapters of my manuscripts were worth their weight in gold. Did I win any of those contests? Nope, didn’t think I would nor did hope to. Maybe if I had waiting until they were in their final form I might have but, as I mentioned, I entered them primarily for feedback when they were still considered rough drafts.

What does the future and 2014 have in store for you?

I’ve already got a few things in the works and on the schedule. In addition to my heavy writing regiment I’m already scheduled for a several public appearances. I’ll be attending the 2013 Tucson Book Festival in March, the Desert Dreams Writers Conference in April, I’ll be presenting a workshop at Building the Dream and a guest author at Arizona Dreamin’, a readers event, at the end of May and of course, I’ll be returning to the Romance Novel Convention in Las Vegas this coming July where I’ll be giving a two hour workshop on Sprinting – the Key to Finishing that Novel. Beyond that my publicist is still working out the details.

What advice can you give to aspiring authors and to authors who want to self publish?

To the aspiring author I want to suggest you stay true to your characters (muses) especially if you have ones as vocal as I have. Learn your craft and listen to those who have paved the road to success, then find a balance in your writing. Read everything you can get your hands on and try writing in various genres before committing yourself to just one. Write what you know and use those life experiences in your writing. It will eventually pay off. Get involved with your local writing community and join organizations like RWA –there is a wealth of education and support out! Write often; write everyday even if it is only a line in a journal.

Remember, write, take classes and be patient. Nothing good happens over night.

To the author considering self publication: know that each author must make their own decision based upon what they want in their career. Self publication is not for everyone, nor should it be. Before I wrote Urban Fantasies and Paranormal Romance I was traditionally published for over twenty years in Non-Fiction. It was only after I researched and weighted the pros and cons of self publishing, was I able to make a logical decision. If you think you have the time, energy, money and knowledge to self publish and you want control over content, covers and more where your books are concerned then educate yourself first and listen to those who have ventured into the process before making that final decision. I know I picked one particular successful self published author’s brain for months, until I was afraid she wouldn’t answer my calls. I was lucky enough she took my calls, answered my questions and helped me get it right. I’m no expert in the field of self-publishing and I’m happy to say I’m still learning, but I’m enjoying the ride… that much is for sure.

I know your time is precious so I’ll only ask you one more thing… What are you willing to tell us about your series, Sekhmet’s Guardians… without any spoilers, please?

Oh that’s easy. Don’t you know, all authors are more than happy to share bits of their stories with anyone who is willing to listen?

Considered a cross over between an Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, Sekhmet’s Guardians is the tale of five thousand year old alien warriors who live in our modern society and the women they come into contact with. Beginning with Eternal Lovers, the reader learn pretty quickly my books are multi-plotted much like a nigh time HBO or Showtime series and each book centers around a different couple even though all the characters in the books continue on in the future tales.

Eternal Lovers is the story of Jennifer, a young married Native American woman who has lost her way and seeks the help of her best friend, Alice. While visiting her in Chicago, she begins a journey of self discovery. Her world is rocked and she soon learns as do the readers, not everything is as it seems. The security team assigned to the house she is staying is actually five thousand year old ancient warriors and she is only half human. Eternal Lovers is a story of love, discovery, and re-incarnation.

The readers were introduced to Raphael in book one (one of those security guards I mentioned above) and he takes center stage in Eternal Nights when he has come to the conclusion he is losing his mind due to the erotic dreams and voices he is hearing. He eventually learns the voices are coming from Jessica, Jennifer’s baby sister. Jessica is content spending her life as it was deemed by her grandmother so many years ago, until she meets Raphael… and then she is determined to find away to escape her prison.

The women of the estate are no longer content to stay locked up like the crown jewels in Eternal Blades and ask for the right to train as warriors… Convincing the male chauvinist warrior, Gabriel, who runs things they have that right, is not as easy as it seems. The story centers on Lance, the youngest of the warriors and Tshering Snow, a woman of many unusual traits from the Himalayas.

Eternal Tuat, book four in the series will be released in the spring of 2014. It is the first historical in the series and will take the readers back in time, back before the war, back to a time they all lived in harmony. Unlike, the other stories, this book is written in the first person and is told from Bagsu’s point of view… If you haven’t read the series, I‘ll let you in on a little secret; Bagsu is the leader of Guardian’s enemy, Set’s Legions and is also Gabriel’s identical twin brother.

Soon to follow Eternal Tuat’s release, Eternal Life will bring us back to the present. It’s Michael’s, the Guardian’s physician’s quest to remain single.

There are eleven books named and scheduled for this series already, but I’ll wait to tell you about the others, if you don’t mind.

No, I don’t mind at all. V, I want to thank you for your time, expertise and for sharing your stories with us.

It’s been my pleasure.