IndieView with Melissa Simonson, author of Blood Echo

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I think that generally in first books, writers tend to base their main characters off of themselves, which was what I did. 

Melissa Simonson – 2 May 2013

The Back Flap

Obsession is the dark side of love.

Iris Avery and her best friend, Estella, spend their time drowning in the empty excesses indulged in by their crowd of Upper East Side snobs until Estella’s sudden, shocking death.

Iris searches for answers in everything from philanthropy to hypnotherapy, feeling her existence is nothing more than a dark half-life full of guilt and repentance, but finds only endless questions. And several of them revolve around her when she discovers she’s connected to a high-profile murder.

Later, Iris begins hearing Estella’s voice whispering cryptic commentary in her head, and she can’t help but wonder if the hypnotherapy has been helping or hurting. Is her friend trying to warn her about something?

Bizarre packages pile up on her doorstep, and their meaning is obvious: Iris’s secrets aren’t so secret after all.

About the book

What is the book about?

I never know how to answer this question. Blood Echo isn’t a romance, but it deals with obsessive love, which in my opinion is a very powerful and dangerous thing. I want to say addictions as well, since my main character struggles with several.

When did you start writing the book?

I started it when I was twenty-two, so… about three years ago.

How long did it take you to write it?

It was an off and on process. It sat on my computer, unfinished, for about a year and a half. It wasn’t until February of 2012 that I started working on it again. From start to finish, it took a little over three years, but if we’re only counting writing time, it’s more like a year and a half.

Where did you get the idea?

Most of my ideas come from nowhere. They just happen. I remember I was sitting at my mother’s kitchen table one evening, doing God knows what, and I just got this flash of the prologue. It snowballed from there.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

I think I struggle most with action scenes. I’m not sure why this is. Emotional scenes sometimes give me trouble, since I’m sort of an ice princess and generally pretty stoic.

What came easily?

Estella, a side character in Blood Echo, came easiest to me. Any italicized scene in the book just popped into my head; I didn’t need to think about what would happen in any scene involving her.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

They’re fictitious, with the exception of my main character. I think that generally in first books, writers tend to base their main characters off of themselves, which was what I did. I think the reason I did that is because it’s easier, when writing in a first person narrative, to put yourself in your character’s shoes.

 We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I’m not sure that any of my favorite authors have influenced how I write, since emulating different writing styles feels unnatural, but my favorite writers are Chuck Palahnuik, Jeff Lindsay, John Steinbeck, Meg Cabot, and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

 Do you have a target reader?

I never thought about target readers, really. When I was finished with the book I figured Twilighters would like it, and only because of the vampiric theme. I also thought it was more aimed toward the YA crowd, but after a couple people said otherwise, I changed my mind.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

Not really, unless ‘chaotic’ is a writing process.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

Never. If I’m lucky, when I start a new manuscript, I’ll know the beginning and the end. It’s all that’s in-between that gives me trouble. Most of the time it’s as though there’s some invisible person telling me chunks of the story as I go—I never know what’s going to happen, until it does.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I don’t think I even know how to edit. I barely think I know how to write. But I revise and re-write often, especially because of the fact that I never outline. If something changes in the MS that contradicts what was said before, I’ll go back and tweak things.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Not while I write, but music is great at providing inspiration. Dozens of songs have influenced certain scenes in Blood Echo, everything from Thursday to Muse to Rise Against.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

In the beginning, yes, when I was bright-eyed and ignorant about what agents wanted and expected. I changed my tune pretty quickly, though, and the ones I did query always rejected me.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I didn’t know what Indie was, until about three months ago. I never formed some concrete decision to go indie. I just saw that Red Adept Publishing was accepting manuscript submissions and thought ‘What do I have to lose’?

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did it you do it yourself?

The cover was handled by a professional at Streetlight Graphics.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I pretty much wing everything I do in life. I’ve read a few articles on marketing and whatnot, but I’ve never been fond of being the center of attention, nor do I like talking about myself very much. Undoubtedly, this is something I’ll need to get over!

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

I don’t think I’m qualified to give advice since I sort of stumble blindly along, but I will say that you shouldn’t let rejection deter you too much. Developing thick skin is a must.

End of Interview:

For more from Melissa, visit her blog.

Get your copy of Blood Echo from Amazon US (paper or ebook), Amazon UK (paper or ebook), or Barnes & Noble.

 

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