Journey to Aviad Tour: Interview w/ Allison D. Reid

Interview w/ Allison D. Reid

Author of "Journey to Aviad" 

Welcome to the Journey to Aviad Blog Tour today. I am honored to be hosting Allison D. Reid in an extensive interview. I hope to find out a bit about her process into creating her novel and about the woman behind this high fantasy novel. 

Interview provided by: Kathryn Jenkins

Hi Allison, let’s open this interview up with getting to know you a bit more. Can you tell us about yourself?

I’m going to skip past the information in my author biography, because it is already out there for everyone to read and I don’t want to be repetitive. Like many other writers, I’m a quiet introvert, so this particular question is always a difficult one!  I’d rather talk about anything but myself.

In my youth I traveled extensively through Europe, which had a huge impact on me.  My perspective and creative vision were forever changed.  Though at this point in my life I am unable to travel as I once did, the adventures of my characters live on.  That’s one of the joys of being a writer; I can go anywhere, anytime—even to places that don’t really exist—all from the comfort of my imagination!  My greatest joys are in writing, studying, and spending time with my family. 

What inspired you to become a self-published author? Did you ever try to go the traditional route? Why?

As I was finishing the writing for Journey to Aviad, my first impulse was to find a traditional publisher.  But the more I looked into that process, talked to other authors, and researched my options, the less appealing that idea became.  I realized that many of the benefits of traditional publishing that I assumed would be there, such as comprehensive editing and marketing services, were actually a thing of the past. 

Additionally, more than one traditionally published author I spoke to had run into copyright issues.  Some were even involved in lawsuits against their publishers just so that they could keep writing more books.  Since I knew that Journey to Aviad would be the first book in a series, I did not want to run into the same problems others had experienced.  Despite the stigma that is sometimes associated with self-publishing, for me it meant freedom.  Freedom with my creativity and message, and the ability to maintain control over my own work, for better or worse.  I believed at the time that self-publishing was the future of publishing, and as I watch the industry grow, I still believe this is the case. 

The characters in your novel Journey to Aviad are well-rounded. Can you tell us about the process you took to create each one of them? Also, how did you go about your world building?

Morganne and Elowyn started out as characters in an online roleplaying game.  Their histories and personalities developed over time as I interacted with other players and created an in-game storyline for my gaming guild. 

Roleplaying is actually a very good writing exercise that I highly recommend.  I had to learn to speak, think, and react the way my characters would in any given situation.  To do that on the fly, you have to know your characters pretty intimately.  They grow beyond the confines of the flat page and become real, three-dimensional people with needs and feelings all their own.

Most of the other characters in Journey to Aviad I had to create as brand new personalities, mostly to fill specific roles in my plotline.  I was pleasantly surprised by Einar, who more than any of the others took on a life of his own and changed the course of the story.  I am still considering bringing him back in the future, but am not yet sure how or where.  He may just surprise me yet again! 

My world had to be created from scratch since obviously I could not use the game world I had originally been in.  However, there are aspects of it that are reminiscent of the places I once knew there.  I’ve preserved some of the essence of those online experiences while still making them fully mine.  I also called upon memories of my time living in Europe, and did a lot of medieval history research to bring that era alive for my readers. 

Many authors struggle with grammar and creating a manuscript without errors. I noticed with some background research you offer editing services on the side. Did you have to go through an editor for your novel? Or did you do it all yourself? Why did or didn’t you?

I’ve always been pretty good at grammar, and so has my husband.  Initially we both pored over the book looking for problems.  Countless friends, colleagues, and other writers helped me as well.  I did have an editor look over it once.  She helped the most with formatting and technical issues related to printing that I as of yet had no clue about.  But I did not have the money to get a full-blown edit done.  So I had to work that much harder to make sure my manuscript was clean.  After going through this difficult process, I decided that I wanted to be better prepared for my next book, and also be able to help other self-publishing writers.  I took an editing course and received my certification just after Journey to Aviad was published. 

Every author is inspired in different ways when it comes to their creative muse. What sets your brain off and makes your head scream for your pen and paper to begin your writing?

Characters inspire me.  Sometimes my best ideas start with a “person” who comes alive in my imagination and deserves a place to live and breathe.  Worlds also inspire me, and as a fantasy writer, the confines of my own imagination are the only limit.  Certain places and eras of history tend to draw me too.  The Middle Ages has been a particular favorite.  Dry as they might seem to others, my research books often spark fresh ideas for me when I am stuck in a rut.  Nature speaks to my creative muse as well.  Beautiful places refresh my spirit and help me get re-focused.  Some of the amazing things I’ve seen in my travels have made their way into my writing, even if in a different form.

The decision to become an indie author is a hard one without your family to support you. Can you tell us how your family helps you with your journey as an author?

My husband was a huge help to me when I was writing Journey to Aviad.  He was always someone I could bounce new ideas off of.  I counted on him to grasp the underlying theology in my story and make sure that it stayed sound.  Additionally, he worked with me to make sure the final version was well-edited before it went to print.  He has been both my best supporter and greatest critic, and I have needed both.

When you do find yourself not writing and living a normal, everyday life, what kinds of things do you find yourself doing in your free time?

I run a home business full time, have two young children, and three cats and a dog.  There really isn’t any such thing as “free time” in my every day schedule!  When I am not working, and am too tired to write or research, I do things with my family.  We watch TV or movies together, or sometimes play Minecraft.  My husband likes to fight the monsters, but I just like to build.  I’ve made a number of castles, and surrounded villages with defensive walls so that my daughters and I can have our own, beautiful, monster-free zone!  One of these days, I just might be ambitious enough to try to re-create some of the places in my books.

There is always that goal for every indie author to one day be able to write full time. Can you tell us a bit about what you do in your professional life that gives you the bread and butter while you work towards this goal?

Professionally I am a virtual assistant working from a home office.  My biggest client is an organization of art quilters, so even while I’m doing traditional computer work, I also get to look at (and even handle) lots of beautiful artwork as part of my job.  I’ve also done some limited web design work, and of course, editing for other writers. 

Each author finds themselves struggling with one aspect of this career. What do you think is your weakness and what is your strength?

My admitted weakness is marketing.  I am not very good at promoting myself, and I don’t have a lot of connections in the business.  Part of my issue is time—I simply don’t have enough of it!  This is something I am trying to ramp up gradually, especially as I approach the release of the second book in my series.

My greatest strength, I hope, is my writing.  I want to challenge the assumption of many that self-published means low quality.  It takes a lot of time and hard work to produce the best books I possibly can, but I think the end result is worth it.  My hope is that my series will stand the test of time…and the scrutiny of generations of readers.

Journey to Aviad is the first book in your Windrider Series. Can you tell us how many books we should expect? And when we should expect book two to be published?

Book two is scheduled for release in 2015, which is very exciting for me!  I think the second book is even better than the first and can’t wait to share what happens with everyone. 

I have a general idea of what I want to do with the rest of the series, but I haven’t outlined the whole thing yet.  My guess is that there will be at least 5 books.  However, that could change once I get into the details.

Synopsis

Threatening clouds and fierce storms besiege the city of Tyroc. More frequent and powerful than ordinary storms, young Elowyn, a weaver’s daughter living in the outskirts of the city, senses something disturbing and unnatural about them. She soon realizes that the storms are but a warning sign of much more frightening things yet to come.

Terrifying wolf-like creatures emerge from the depths of the wilderness at the bidding of a dark master. His name found only among the crumbling pages of ancient texts, the re-appearance of Alazoth and his Hounds is a dark omen for the people of Tyroc and beyond. Only legends remain of the heroes and prophets whose blood was shed ages ago to banish him into the abyss, which should have remained his prison for all time. How he has been released is a mystery, but all the old stories agree that death and destruction are sure to follow.

With the Hounds inching closer each day, the city of Tyroc caught up in religious and political turmoil, and her home life no less turbulent, Elowyn has nothing left to rely on but her meager courage and a budding faith in Aviad, the Creator. She and her sister, Morganne, set out on a remarkable journey that challenges everything they have ever known about themselves, the world, and the path that Aviad has laid out for them.

Available @: Amazon, Kindle, & BN

About Allison D. Reid

Allison D. Reid was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Her love for medieval fantasy was sparked by the Narnia Chronicles by C.S. Lewis, which fed both her imagination and her spiritual development.  When at the age of thirteen her family moved to Germany, her passion for medieval history and legend only increased, and she found herself captivated by the ancient towns and castles of Europe.  Allison returned to the United States to study art and writing at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA.  She earned her B.A. under the tutelage of the well-renowned and prolific writer Andrew Salkey, a student of her other great inspiration, and the father of fantasy, J. R. R. Tolkien.  After graduating from Hampshire College, Allison moved to Connecticut.  There she got the opportunity to attend seminary and further explore her faith before returning to her home state of Ohio.  Allison now lives in the Miami Valley area with her husband and children.  She continues to work on her first published series while taking care of her family, editing for other independent writers, and managing a home business. 

How to Connect w/ Allison: Website, Blog, & Facebook Page

Interview #2 w/ Renee Scattergood

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.

I am Renee Scattergood. I'm currently living in Australia with my husband, Nathan, and daughter, Taiya. We also have two cats, Anakin and Padme, and two guinea pigs, Prince and Sith. I have currently written four episodes in my Shadow Stalker series, which at this point is likely to be about twenty-four episodes long.

What are you working on now?

I'm currently working on Demon Hunt, which is a prequel novella to my Shadow Stalker series. It's a story about a camping trip that Kado and Auren take the year before the start of the series that goes awry when Auren accidentally releases a demon from the shadow world.

How do you come up with the titles for your books? Do you find it difficult?

Sometimes the title just pops into my head as I'm writing. If I don't have a title by the time I'm done with the first draft, I know I'm going to have a hard time with it. Generally I will try to get my story description down to one sentence and try to find a title that describes that.

Interview w/ Quan Williams

What were some of your earliest inspirations?

I was a big star wars fan. So to help encourage me to learn how to read, my mother subscribed me to Marvel’s Star Wars comic books. Also, while in 2^nd grade, the teacher would take an hour out of every day and read to us. She would read classic children’s books like Trumpet of the Swan, Charlotte’s Web, Watership Down, and this little, obscure book called “The Hobbit.” I loved Pooh, but The Hobbit really captivated me and was the catalyst for my love of stories.

Interview w/ M.J. Moores

You started writing at a very young age. What types of stories did you lean more towards in your early stages of writing?

I loved adventures. Indiana Jones, The Goonies, you name it… those movies inspired me because of their excitement, daring, and slime! I wrote a 10 chapter novella for my grade 4 teacher (she’d only asked for a 3 page short story) called The Enchanted Jungle Figure that very closely resembles the overriding concept of Lord of the Flies but the difference lies in the fact that my friends and I find an enchanted castle run by giant tigers who capture one friend who went off on his own. In the castle there are all kinds of booby-traps to overcome. I loved writing it! Then I went on to write Death Cave and various other edge-of-your-seat suspense and adventure stories all involving my close friends and me!

Interview w/ Renee Scattergood

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer? Do you remember the exact moment you made the decision and why?

In 1995 I was going to college for film and video production, and one of the required courses was an English course that required us to do some creative writing. My instructor was so impressed with my work that he had me read it in front of the class on a couple of occasions (which I have to admit was quite horrifying for me). One day he called me up after class was over and asked me if I had ever considered getting any of my work published. I had always loved making up stories, but I never considered writing them down, and I certainly never considered I could be good enough to have something published. He got me thinking about it, though, and I started writing for fun after that. It wasn’t until a few years later that I started to consider writing more seriously.

Author Interview w/ Mishka Jenkins

Many people in the world spend countless amounts of time writing in a year. But, many never deem to have their work published. What inspired you to publish your first book?

I was at a point in my life where I could either get a job in an office or I could pursue the dream I had harboured for years. Thankfully, I was in the very lucky position to be able to choose the latter.

As an author you must find inspiration to write a story. Can you tell us what your muse is and why?

Ah, that’s a toughie! I think everyone draws their inspiration from so many places, I know I do. A lot of the time I get the best inspiration from the world around me, from a simple conversation between strangers to an advertisement I see in a magazine.

Interview w/ Melissa Barker-Simpson

What inspired you to become a writer?

I used to write plays and perform them for my family when I was a child, usually roping my sister in and a group of friends. As soon as I could write I would get lost in a story or, in this case, script. My mum likes to say I started talking when I was ten months old and I haven’t stopped since!

I don’t know when I began to think of myself as a writer, but I do remember the numerous short stories I wrote growing up. I would read them to my friends (a slow form of torture) and then move onto the next adventure. I wrote my first novel when I was a teenager but nobody would ever want to read it!

I had a few really inspiring English teachers, who took my passion and encouraged me to run with it. But I think I was born to write. I haven’t always been very good at it, but I’ve always put my heart and soul into it. I was certainly born with stories in my head and when I wasn’t jabbering about them, I was writing them!

Shadow Stalker: The Hidden Truth Book Interview

Your first publication, Shadow Stalker: The Hidden Truth is being release August 30, 2014. What can you tell us about your book without giving anything away?

Without giving anything away, all I can say is that it’s about a girl who learns a startling truth about her past, which ultimately puts her life in danger. As the series progresses, she learns that she has more enemies than friends, and finds that she has to rely on herself for survival.

Interview w/ Jan Marie

       What inspired you to become a writer?

I liked the idea of being able to speak your voice without saying a word. I am not much of a talker. There were also certain events in my life that helped push me in that in that direction too.  For example in the 6^th grade. The class had to write a story on how a parrot got its colors. The teacher was very impressed with my story showing my mother at parent teacher conference. I think it was at that moment the seeds of being a writer was planted in me. It took time for it to bloom though. It was not until middle school/high school where in English Lit class I got introduced to the works of poets and authors such as Maya Angelo, Shakespeare, Edgar Allen Poe, William Blake. I was then that it all came together inspiring me to try to write myself.

Interview w/ Frank Graves

       What made you decide to re-write and update the “Ancestral Trail Trilogy”?

Published in 1993 = 52 Chapters in magazine format, 26 chapters within an Ancient World, next 26 Chapters within Cyber World. Initially each chapter contained 3,000 words and when adapted to magazine format only required about 1,600 words per chapter. The new Trilogy Novels each contain roughly 5,000 per chapter 27 chapters including lengthy prologue. It's been 20 years and Ancestral Trail still has a large following so novel was the way to go.