Christopher Moore was the first author I read who really made me want to be a writer. He mixes humor and feeling in a way that tells a truly entertaining story and I strive to do something similar.
Katrina Monroe – 26 April 2015
The Back Flap
Oh. My. God.
Rain Johnson escaped the insanity of her radical environmentalist family, only to end up waitressing for a living. Her scale of success—with her at the bottom—only goes as high as that college degree she never got, until she gets one hell of an epiphany from a Trinity Corporation public-relations guy who calls himself Jude. He tells her she’s the Lamb of God, and it’s time for that whole Second Coming thing. But when her first minor miracle gets her arrested and an ecoterrorist using the name Messiah starts blowing up pesticide plants, Rain and Judas are in for way more apocalypse than either of them expected.
Jude scrambles to save his personal plan for salvation, but Lucy, the devil herself, has her own well-laid plans. It doesn’t matter that Rain’s a conflict-avoiding lesbian and Jude is history’s worst traitor. They’re all that stands between humanity and an end of the world that wasn’t supposed to happen.
About the book
What is the book about?
In broad terms, Sacrificial Lamb Cake is about a young woman who lives a pretty aimless life. All she wants is to get through the day with her apartment and relationship intact. Then, someone who calls himself Jude claims that she is the Messiah and it’s time for the whole Second Coming thing. Needless to say, it throws her for a loop, especially when her first minor miracle gets her arrested.
When did you start writing the book?
I started writing it (the first time) in 2009 when I first started writing and thought I knew everything. A few swift kicks in the ass and three full story overhauls later, I had an idea I could really work with. This was February or so of 2014.
How long did it take you to write it?
If you want to get technical, from fruition to submission date, it took about 5 years. The final version which became what Lamb Cake is now, though, took a little over 4 months.
Where did you get the idea from?
The mythical idea tree where all good ideas sprout, on the petals of the highest, brightest blooms.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
The real struggle didn’t come until content edits after it’d been selected for publication. A favorite scene of mine was cut because it disrupted the flow of the novel. While it was funny, it didn’t fit and it was hard to take the axe to it.
What came easily?
Dialogue between Rain (my main character) and Jude. They’re both quick-witted characters, so it was interesting to see how their interactions played out.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
Jude, G, and other celestial characters are caricatures I developed from Christian theology. The rest are pure fiction.
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?
Christopher Moore was the first author I read who really made me want to be a writer. He mixes humor and feeling in a way that tells a truly entertaining story and I strive to do something similar.
Do you have a target reader?
Adults with a good sense of humor will enjoy my books.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I generally start with a character and a what if. My current WIP is based on this statement: What if you inherited a haunted house and the ghost wouldn’t leave because they don’t have reality TV in the great beyond?
I usually pants the first 15k words or so, until I get a feel for the voice and characters and conflict. Once that’s all sorted, I write a short outline and continue from there.
The best time for me to write is usually the mornings when the only thing around to bug me is the cat.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
Not at first, and even when I do it’s parse notes—an idea about a character’s motivations, or a basic outline of what will happen in the next one of two chapters.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
Minor edits as I go. Usually helps with the continuity if I read and tweak what I’ve written the day before.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
I listen to movie soundtracks or anything without words. My favorites are Lindsey Stirling, Erik Satie, and the Maleficent movie soundtrack.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
Yes. *whimpers*
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
A gradual process. After receiving a hundred or so agent rejections for Lamb Cake, I decided to pursue a small press. I wanted the book out in the world, knew it was ready for it, but the timing wasn’t right in the agent world. Next time. *crosses fingers*
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did it you do it yourself?
The publisher took care of that and , WHOA, is it awesome. I haven’t met someone yet who wasn’t intrigued by it.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
A little of both. A blog tour and release party were both planned, the rest I’m winging as new resources come to my attention.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Take your time. Edit your book carefully and then do it again. It’s exciting having a first draft done, but there’s nothing more damning than having a subpar book out in the world. Treat yourself and your work like a professional and others will too.
About You
Where did you grow up?
The Florida of the Tim Dorsey novels. It’s scary. It’s weird. It’s awesome.
Where do you live now?
The great white tundra, otherwise known as Minnesota. It’s a great place to foster a creative mind. I highly recommend a visit to Minneapolis. Plus, we’ve got Neil Gaiman and Prince.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I like talking to readers. It’s how I know what you like and want to see in books. I invite readers to email me at authorlady22@gmail.com.
What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on finding a home for my super hero comedy, Static Hero. It’s a fun read and I look forward to sharing it.
End of Interview:
For more from Katrina visit her blog or follow her on Twitter.
Get your copy of Sacrificial Lamb Cake from Amazon US (paper or ebook), Amazon UK (paper or ebook) or Barnes & Noble.
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