IndieView with Barbara Russell, author of The Heart Collector

I’ve always loved steampunk novels, but those set in New Zealand are very few, and I love people with superpowers, so I thought, why not putting everything together?

Barbara Russell – 9 August 2019

The Back Flap

Auckland, 1884. The Supernaturals are frightened. Despite being able to do extraordinary things like teleporting or lighting a fire with a stare, a serial killer, the Heart Collector, is slaughtering them. He rips their chests open and removes their hearts.

While other aristocratic, nineteen-year-old girls spend time dancing, Isabel trains hard to become an MI7 agent—Military Intelligence Seventh Division, a crime squad run by Supernaturals. The Heart Collector murdered her best friend, and enrolling at MI7 is the best way to help catch the killer.

Isabel senses other people’s feelings as if they were her owns. But MI7’s leader is too worried about Isabel’s safety to let her join the team.

Eager to prove that her power is valuable, Isabel volunteers to meet Murk, a dangerous Supernatural man who can turn himself invisible. MI7 desperately tried to recruit him and failed.

She believes that her power is enough to convince Murk to become an MI7’s agent and help apprehend the Heart Collector. If he wants to attack her, his feelings will broadcast his intention, and she’ll be ready.

What Isabel isn’t ready for is to fall in love with the man who will collect her heart.

About the book

What is the book about?

It’s a steamy romantic suspense set in Victorian Auckland (New Zealand). The female protag, Isabel, is a Supernatural, a woman gifted with the power of reading other people’s feelings as if they were her own. She and other Supernaturals have to catch a serial killer who’s killing people with superpowers. Think about X-men in Victorian clothes and in a New Zealand setting 🙂

When did you start writing the book?

More than a year ago. Then my beta readers ripped it apart, lol, then I edited, and then I queried it. Long process…

How long did it take you to write it?

The writing per se was quick, 4-5 weeks. It’s the beta reading and then the editing that take a long time, but I can’t complain. My betas have been incredibly useful.

Where did you get the idea from?

I’ve always loved steampunk novels, but those set in New Zealand are very few, and I love people with superpowers, so I thought, why not putting everything together?

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Yes!! All the action scenes. It’s hard to get them right. They can drag so easily.

What came easily?

Inner thoughts, I think. I like when my main character thinks about what’s happening, what she’s feeling, or notices clues to the mystery.

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

I borrowed some traits from real people because it’s easier to ‘copy’ certain attitudes than make them from scratch. For example, in The Heart Collector, Victor is the head of MI7 (Military Intelligence Seventh Division) and I’m not really good at giving orders or being a leader, so I wasn’t sure I could portray a leader in a believable way, and I took a few traits from people I know who lead a company.

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?

Bec MacMasters! Awesome Aussie author of steampunk and Gaslamp novels. I love her style, her characters, her plots… everything 😉

Do you have a target reader?

People (18+) who enjoy romance, adventure, and steampunk settings. The majority of romance readers prefer contemporary settings and just a romantic plot, but I hope they’ll give me a chance 🙂

About Writing

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

I start with the blurb, then I write the synopsis, then the outline. If the story doesn’t make sense, or I think it’s boring, I start again. After writing the first draft, I let it sit for a few weeks before reading it all over.

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

I do outline, I can’t pants. I need a map, lol. Outlining makes (I think) the writing process much faster, but I just write a few sentences per chapter to leave some space for last-minute creativity.

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

A mix of both. If I have time, I prefer editing as I go because I’m dyslexic, I have more typos in my body than blood cells, so I try to be careful when I write.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I didn’t because my editor at Soul Mate Publishing did an awesome job 🙂

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

Nope, no music, no distractions, no phone. While I love writing, I take it as a job as well, so I want to focus properly. I envy those writers who can work while listening to music

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Not this novel, but other works. I got a few full requests and a couple of revise & resend, but eventually, I never found an agent.

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

It was a gradual process, but I just wanted to get published, lol, but I wasn’t confident enough to go solo. So I started querying small presses and found my editorial home with Soul Mate and Champagne Books.

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

I buy professionally made covers. I’d love to make them, but I can’t afford spending money for a Photoshop license or to buy stock pictures. Too expensive for me.

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

It’s a learning process. I try to do as much promotion as I can, but it’s time consuming. Usually, I organize a book tour when the book is released, then I write to reviewers and bloggers, then I buy some FB ads.

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

Don’t give up! It’s a steep road and the competition is fierce, but I found lovely authors who support and help me throughout the way 🙂

About You

Where did you grow up?

On an island with a volcano and lots of earthquakes 🙂

Where do you live now?

Middle Earth!!

What would you like readers to know about you?

I’m an entomologist and a soil biologist, which is a fancy way to say that I dig in the dirt, looking for bugs. I was a kid when I read The Lord Of The Rings and fell in love with fantasy novels.

When I discovered cosy mystery, I fell in love with Hercules Poirot and Sherlock Holmes. Then I grew up and . . . Nah, I’m joking. Don’t grow up, folks! It’s a trap.

What are you working on now?

A Gaslamp story (for those who don’t know the genre, Gaslamp is basically paranormal set in Victorian time). It’s the second book of a series I haven’t released yet 🙂

Thank you for having me!

End of Interview:

Fro more from Barbara visit her website and follow her on Twitter.

Get your copy of The Heart Collector from Amazon US or Amazon UK.