Author Interview and Giveaway: Rachelle Rea

     Hey writers. Today I would like to present author and freelance editor Rachelle Rea! Rachelle's a member of both our group and the Go Teen Writers group. In addition, she's offering a special giveaway of a 10-page edit. Don't miss the opportunity to sign up for it.

     And now, on with the interview.

   Tell us a little about yourself first.

   I am a homeschool graduate who sloshed through Algebra and soared through History. I am a college girl attending a Christian university in pursuit of a Communications degree—senior year is almost upon me! I am a freelance editor who loves to perfect punctuation and is fearlessly loyal to semi-colons. 

   I blog about books, writing, and my favorite word at my personal blog, Inspiring Daring, and I can also be found on Meditations of His Love, Kindred Grace, and Adornabelle. 

     How much research do you usually put into your books?

     I write historicals, so plenty. J My writers’ group (Word Weavers) has asked me a number of times how I know all this stuff. And it’s funny because I feel like such a cheater. Some authors say they spend months researching medieval Italy or the anatomy of a WWII bomber plane. Yet I find nonfiction tomes about the Dutch Revolution dry, but I’ll consume a biography about William of Orange and come away from it with all sorts of ideas. I just search the Internet for all the itty-gritty details not included in biographies.
     In other words, there’s no way I would have survived as a novelist pre-Google. J

     What are a few interesting things you’ve studied/researched for your latest novel?

     What nuns wore in the 16^th century (habits were indeed black by then). How far a horse can travel in a day (30-60 miles, depending on the horse’s health). How deep the English Channel is (at it’s deepest, app. 400 feet). The family tree of Philip II of Spain (convoluted). How to say “I love you” in Dutch (Ik hou van jou). 

     How does your real life interact/play a role in/interfere with your writing life?

    

     Oh, I like that you categorize “real life” and “writing life” as different. At this stage of my life (for the entirety of my college/university experience), my real life and writing life have operated in cycles. During semesters, I read, research, outline my next novel, edit my last one. During Christmas Break and summers, I write like mad.

     So, to answer the question, my real life and writing life glare at each other across the room because we all know only one of them can have my attention at a time. Talk to me in a year, though; that may have changed after I’m a college-educated woman no longer bound by the rigidity of the school year. J

     What do you do when you're not writing?

     I go to the beach or blast worship songs in my truck or watch TV dramas or princess movies. At my local YMCA, I coach gymnastics to preschoolers through pre-teens. Children are my joy; stories are my passion. I read. I blog. I blog about the books I’m reading.

     When you read, what is your favorite genre?

     Historical fiction, hands-down. My tastes have stretched recently; I’ll read dystopians (Roth rocks), YA (Stephanie Morrill and Laura Anderson Kurk), and even some contemporary (Jenny B. Jones and Kristen Heitzmann).

     But I start to get cranky after a fast from historical fiction—and a plunge into a different century is the only cure.

     What keeps you motivated?

     A pink sticky note greets me whenever I open the box that holds my earliest “manuscripts” (short stories riddled with perfect protagonists and speaker tags). It says, Write like you’re ten. When I was in middle and high school, I could sit for hours with a pen and paper (I detested the computer then) and just write. Not because I thought I should, but because I loved it. I lost that for a time, but I’ve got it back again: that thirst to put a story down in all its dazzling brilliance—and then edit it until it starts to actually resemble dazzling brilliance.

     If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be?

     Can I pick something that’s still related to the publishing industry? I think I’d like to be a publicist. Becoming a book blogger/reviewer has allowed me to use my passion for great stories to get those same great stories into readers’ newsfeeds, hands, and hearts. When I fall in love with a book, I can’t shut up about it (on my blog, social media, or in real life). Doing that for a living would be amazing.

     If you could have time travel abilities and could meet anyone from any time, who would you like to meet?

     Queen Elizabeth I. She has always been my favorite historical figure, because she was daring and utterly unpredictable. I love reading her biographies. Plus, the Elizabethan era is my favorite time period in which to write, so research trip!

     If the Doctor and his Tardis showed up on my front lawn, that would be where I’d ask to go.

     And finally, where can we find you online?

     I love connecting with new friends and kindred spirits! Find me on…

     Facebook // Twitter // Goodreads // Pinterest // Google+ // LinkedIn // Inspiring Daring // My Newsletter

     From all of us at YAWA, thank you so much for being our guest today!

     My pleasure! Thank you for having me!

     And now, it is my pleasure to announce that Rachelle will be offering a 10-page edit to one lucky winner. Don't miss this awesome giveaway.

Rachelle Rea's Giveaway

Author Interview: Brian McBride {Giveaway!}

Today I have with me our very own YAWA admin Brian McBride!  I'd tell you more about him, but then that'd defeat the purpose of an interview ;)

Tell us a little about yourself first.

Well, I am a writer (obviously, or I wouldn’t be here ;) ) and I love to read too! I am a musician and have had years of practice on the drums, bass guitar and piano. I love to take pictures and share them with people. I like draw and will often draw creatures and characters from my stories. I recently moved to Santa Rosa, California too! The Land of Sun!

Oh, and I LOVE iced tea! Lipton, please.

If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be?

I would want to be a photographer, definitely!

Who or what has had the most influence on you as a writer?

I think Ted Dekker has been a major influence in my writing. His stories showed me how to add the sinister element to my own… especially in my thrillers. Donita K. Paul is also a major influence. In fact, I believe her DragonKeeper Chronicles are the stories that introduced me to fantasy worlds.

God has been the most prominent influence in my writing, however. When I write, my stories are always from a Christian perspective, even if the stories may not be blatantly Christian. They will always carry a Biblical message.

When you read, what is your favorite genre?

Well, my favorite genres kind of hop all around. First, it was fantasy, then horror, then fantasy again, but now I think that I’m beginning to drift toward dystopian. But that doesn’t mean I don’t adore fantasy and horror!

What was the biggest obstacle to getting published for the first time, and how did you overcome it?

The biggest obstacle for me, I think, was the money. I was self-publishing with Outskirts Press, but their packages were expensive. I am very thankful, however, for an extremely supportive extended family. All of my family chipped in with a little cash here and there to help pay for the package, and voila! Here I am!

When did you first realize you wanted to write books?

I don’t think I ever “realized” that I wanted to be a writer. I think that it just happened. I just started doing it and eventually I had finished three novels (one that I permanently shelved)!

Which are you - panster or plotter?

I’m definitely a pantser, though I’ve always wanted to be a plotter. I think that plotters are probably a lot more organized. Usually, I just let the words flow and let them lead where they may.

Are you planning any other books?

Haha, definitely! I have two more planned books in The Starcrafters’ Saga, a dystopian trilogy that I am working on, and a stand-alone horror novel. :D

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Take breaks if you feel that you are pumping out words that are not quality. When I wrote 5,000 words in one day, I was writing until 3 in the morning, but I began to feel like every word I wrote was not worth the time I put into it. So, yeah, take breaks; go for a walk, go out with your girl/boy friend, get some coffee at Starbucks, READ A BOOK.

Where can we find you online?

I am an active Facebooker, Tweeter and blogger. You can find me on www.facebook.com/authorbrianmcbride and www.twitter.com/brianmcbride96 and www.jointhestarcrafters.blogspot.com!

I'd say thanks for joining us, but that just feels weird.  You're part of 'us'!  Thanks for supporting YAWA, I guess?  Haha...

Now, the part you've all been waiting for: the giveaway!  Open to all ages, US addresses only, please.

a Rafflecopter giveaway