Inside The Indie Author with Nicholas Westbrook
Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym, and why or why not?
I’ve thought about it briefly, but in the end I knew that I wanted people to know it was me. I didn’t have a reason to create a character to hide behind. If I was going to be doing all the work to promote and write my book? I wanted to be seen for it.
What is your “go-to” method for working through or around writer’s block?
My “Go-To” is to write something bad. It sounds silly, but a lot of times just the act of writing is a good start to getting through writer’s block (and sometimes it’s better than you expect). Once I feel looser, it’s easier to push through the block on another project.
From your perspective, what are the most important elements of good writing?
For me, good writing is about the story. Good descriptions and “plot twists” are great, but respect to the story comes first.
What comes first – the location, the plot, or the characters – and why?
For Blanc LaBelle and the Troll’s Daughter, the characters came first. They started in separate short writing exercises, and when I started building them out, everyone came together into something more coherent, and then the location built itself.
What are your least favorite and most favorite things about publishing a book?
Least favorite is the marketing. I’m a quiet person by nature, so having to take on the role of Carnival Barker feels unnatural to me. I’d love to just focus on the writing, but drawing attention to myself into the digital void is a big part of self-publishing. My favorite part is either holding the physical book when it’s finally available or hearing what people think when it’s finally available.
What is a significant way your book changed from the first to the final draft?
Without getting too deep into spoiler territory, there was initially going to be a different “Big Bad” that crossed across all the books. Matt was going to be less of a character, but he just helped himself and became a larger part of the world.
What was the inspiration for your most recent book?
A lot of this book started in 2020, during the height of the pandemic. Mira was the first character, since I thought it would be fun to add a bit of whimsy and fun to a terrible situation. I wanted an escape from the world, and so I built somewhere without the worry of COVID. I had lived in Seattle and there’s so many corridors and hidden alleys in the city that I felt there may well be a secret world within the 24-hour places tucked out of sight.
Where are your most productive writing spaces, and what elements are important about that space to keep you focused on writing?
I have an office that I do a lot of my writing in. I have a special light that I turn on before my writing time begins, so that it tells my brain it’s time to work… usually.
If you were to give one of your side characters a novella of their own, who would it be, and why do you think they need their own story?
I would love a Dolly novella. I think her history of starting in the Under, going to the Above to rescue her sister, and eventually getting banished for it is a story with a lot of twists and turns. She could have retreated, but chose to use her banishment to benefit others.
What is your writing software of choice, and what is its best feature?
I’m a Scrivner junkie. I find that it’s easy to navigate and organize thoughts, research, notes, and inspiration all in one place.
Tell us the title of one of your favorite novels, and why this book is a favorite.
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay really sticks out to me as a favorite. It’s a political fantasy, but it's a surprisingly easy read that kept my attention without needing big “magical” moments.
What are you reading right now?
I’m working my way through Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Tell us a little something about your current WIP. When do you expect it to be released?
Blanc LaBelle’s next adventure is in the works! I’m potentially releasing it sometime this year, but more specifics as we get further into the year.
How can readers find you? Website, social media, Amazon auth
or page… share all the links!
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