Interview with Author Caitlin Hensley

Today I have a special treat for you! This week I interviewed one of my fellow writers who I look up to immensely. Caitlin Hensley is an up and coming author who I work with quite frequently. I have tailored these questions to both help you learn about her, and also to help other up and coming writers. Enjoy!

What is the title of your book?

Paranormal Legacy

How do you plan on publishing?

I’ll be indie publishing through CreateSpace.

Did you design your own cover, or have someone else help?

I designed my own cover, but Marcy Rachel from Marcy Rachel Designs was nice enough to help me add a few finishing touches.

What format(s) will your book be available in?

Paperback and Kindle.

When do you expect your book to be released?

Probably late March. I’d like the exact release date to be March 22, but I’ve read that it can take anywhere from a week to fourteen days after the book is uploaded before it actually goes live.

What genre does your book fit into?

Paranormal with a touch of romance.

What makes your writing unique?

Compared to the millions of other books out there, I’m not sure my writing is too terribly unique. But I like to use sarcasm, strong descriptive sentences, lots of dialogue, and just enough description to get the reader’s imagination flowing.

Why would someone like your book?

I’ve got something in Paranormal Legacy for just about anyone. Paranormal creatures, humor, adventure, mystery, a bad boy, slight romance, magic, and an eccentric British vampire.

How old were you when you wrote your book?

I think I wrote the first draft about six years ago, so I must have been around 12.

How long did it take you to write it?

I can’t remember how long it took me to write the very first draft, but the latest version took a couple months.

How long did you work on it until you felt like it was ready for publishing?

Well, that’s a tricky question. I worked on Paranormal Legacy for about five years before I ever let it see the light of day. A few people told me I should publish it, but I didn’t believe them, because I’m extremely picky when it comes to my writing. And I mean EXTREMELY. So another year passed, and then I decided to self-publish. I’m still polishing up the book right now, and it’s getting down to the wire. But I can’t seem to stop!

Did anything in particular inspire anything in your book?

I overheard my little sister talking on the phone to her friend, and that sparked an idea.  And my fingers flew from there.

What else are you working on right now?

I’m still working on my NaNoWriMo 2012 novel, and I’m also editing another book I’m thinking of publishing next year.

Amazon recently released the official rules for their 2013 Breakthrough Novel contest, and many authors are working on their submissions. Is this something you plan on doing? If so, tell us a little bit about your story.

Yeah, I’m excited about the contest! This will be my first time to participate. I’m planning to enter a story into the young adult fiction category. It’s called Dust to Dust, and it’s about a teenage drug dealer living on a futuristic world plagued by hungry vampires.

What do you like to read?

I’ll read just about anything in the YA category, as long as it’s not too full of romance. I read a few adult books too, but usually I find adult fiction too full of long and winding description for my tastes.

What advice would you give to other aspiring writers?

Develop a thick skin so the criticism can’t get to you. Accept valuable criticism, and ignore all the rest. And no matter what, keep writing. Write and write and write. Then edit some, then keep writing.

Any advice for the editing process?

I think it’s best to wait at least two weeks after finishing a book before you start editing it. It’s hard for me to make myself wait so long, because I’m usually excited to dive right in, but I always make myself wait. That way I can look at the project with as fresh eyes as possible.

What are some of your hobbies besides writing and reading?

I like to clog, which is sort of like tap dancing. And I also like designing book covers and taking care of my dog Blair. Taking care of her is almost a full time job by itself!

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what do you listen to?

I like to listen to scores from movies and TV shows when I write, because they’re always so dramatic. Two of my favorites right now are the Pirates of the Caribbean and Game of Thrones CDs.

Where can people go to learn more about you and your work?

You can check out my Facebook page or my blog. I keep both updated regularly.