Welcome Angela Myron. Thanks for stopping by my blog. How long have you been
writing? What inspired you to pick the pen up one day and create characters
that capture the imagination?
I’ve been
writing for eighteen years. Since I was a child, I’ve loved telling stories.
I’ve always wanted to write fiction, but it was only recently that I decided I
didn’t have time, quite frankly, to not do precisely what I wanted to do with
my time left on this planet.
How long did it take for
your first book to get published?
I think this
question is probably referring to traditional publishing, since anyone can
self-publish these days and the timeline for self-publishing is completely up
to the author.
Becoming a
traditionally published author is not easy, especially today.
But despite the slim-to-none chance of being picked up by one of the Big 5,
there is a lot of opportunity out there for new authors. From small press to
e-publishers to self-publishers, it seems that every day there are more avenues
for writers to get their stories out.
I chose to
self-publish my first book. I hired an editor, cover illustrator, and cover
designer, and used my publications background to format the electronic and
print versions of the book. From the time that the story had gone through
several revisions and a professional editor, it took three months to publish.
I hope
someday to be a traditionally published author. It would be a thrill to see one
of my books on display at an airport or in a grocery store. It would also be
wonderful to be able to leave the marketing and production work to someone
else, so I could just focus on writing!
For the time
being, I am building my backlist, honing my skill, and building a wonderful
fanbase. It is a comfortable way to work, and allows me to focus on the current
project until it is done, and then move on.
What does your writing
day look like?
Wake at 5
a.m. Write until my twins wake,
which is sometimes as early as 6, and sometimes as late as 7. Feed them breakfast;
go on a playdate, then lunch. Put them down for a nap. Catch up with email,
post to Facebook, and do other marketing and book promotion activities as
needed. If there is time, write
until the twins wake, which is sometimes as early as 1 p.m., and sometimes as
late as 2 p.m. Do errands, household chores, & make dinner. Feed, bathe,
and prep twins for sleep. Eat dinner with hubby and collapse on the couch. Try
to read before crashing.
That’s all
the time I have to write. It amounts to two hours, three if I’m lucky, per day.
Not much.
Most authors are also
avid readers. Is this the case with you? If so, who are some of your favorites?
Oh, favorites
have always been a difficult question for me. I like different genres and often
read whatever I pick up. But I do naturally gravitate to fantasy and science
fiction. Some of my favorite authors of these genres include Orson Scott Card,
the great trio C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, and their predecessor George MacDonald,
Terry Brooks, George R.R. Martin, J.K. Rowling, and many more.
And now for a blurb and an excerpt!
BLURB:
Eleven
year-old Ennara Gaern has a serious grudge against the dragon on her right
hand.
Born
with a caul—a mask that foretold magical powers—she was immediately inked with
the fiendish, fire-breathing tattoo that forces her to study boring texts,
cover her hand continuously, and worst of all, keeps her from visiting the
beautiful capital city, Dordonne. But her quiet life changes when one night she
is attacked by a shadowy demon.
Tork,
an old friend and wizard, is enlisted to help. But when he arrives, he informs
Ennara’s parents that she is her world’s only hope of finding the legendary
Sword of Gisilfrid, which is needed to destroy the curse that is creating the
demons. Ennara doesn’t want to leave on the dangerous quest, but when she
learns the curse threatens her world, she reluctantly agrees.
Ennara
and the wizard begin a perilous journey to the Sunken City, pitting them
against dangerous oceans and pirates intent on claiming Ennara’s magic as their
own. With only her friends at her side, including the intelligent, aquatic cat
Smoos, Ennara must defeat monsters guarding the sword and servants of the
Fallen Druid. When her world is covered in darkness, will she know how to
dispel the curse?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt
“Misty?”
A twig
snapped. A damp chill surrounded Ennara, picking up goose bumps on her arms.
The girl hugged herself and stomped her feet to fend off the cold. Why couldn’t
the cow make things easy for her tonight?
She took a
tentative step between two wild rosebushes. The sun slowly sank toward the
distant hills across Lake Coeur. If she hadn’t stayed so late fishing at the
docks with Kithe, she’d be home by now, cow tucked safely in the well-lit barn.
Ennara
glanced around the gloomy forest. Long shadows stretched across the pasture
between her and the farmhouse. She shivered. Her father, Lir, had warned her to
bring Misty back before sunset. She wasn’t afraid of the dark, but she didn’t
want to meet one of the monsters stalking around at night that Kithe told her
about.
She heard the
familiar clang of the cow’s bell and called again, stepping near the sound.
Trees blocked her view. She peered between them, trying to catch a glimpse of
the exasperating bovine.
The
life-filled woods departed as the last rays of light slipped behind the hills,
leaving a hollow version of its higher self. The girl shivered a second time
and rubbed her arms.
The bell
sounded once more. Ennara jumped and spun around. She ran a few steps in the
direction of the sound, further into the trees.
Through the
approaching dusk, she caught a glimpse of metal. There it was—the cow’s bell
and collar hung on the limb of a young cottonwood. How had Misty managed to get
it off? Confused, the girl stepped toward the bell.
Behind her, a
twig snapped. She froze. She turned to see a tall shadow flitting among the
trees. Her heart fluttered as she backed away. “M … misty?” she whispered.
Okay, now you've scared me! Super excerpt. And now a bit about the author.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Like many
writers, I have a full life in which I juggle many duties and joys. I love to
cook, garden, and play with my twins. As a mother to toddlers, I write whenever
I am not helping them navigate their day--which typically means in the early
mornings and early afternoons when they sleep, and sometimes when Grandma comes
to visit.
I was
twenty-two when writing became a passion of mine. I've been doing it in one
form or another ever since. But it took me a very long time to follow my
heart's desire to tell stories.
For years, I
simply journaled. I delved into writing articles for newsletters and grant
proposals. I settled into technical writing, often finding myself a one-person
writing, editing, design, app development, and publication team. I learned the
basics of journalism, and finally, when on maternity leave with my twins, I
turned to writing fiction.
I am grateful
for every reader I have. Writing can be a solitary pursuit, but it can also be
a dialog, a meeting of the minds. I invite you to connect with me:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myron.angela?fref=ts
Buy
Links:
Angela will be awarding to a randomly drawn commenter during each week on the tour, a wall calendar print from http://www.cafepress.com/ennaraswag (Items can be exchanged for other equal or lesser value items from Ennara Swag on Cafepress.), and will award a t-shirt from http://www.cafepress.com/ennaraswag to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour (US ONLY). Also, a $20 Amazon GC will be awarded to a randomly drawn host.
Week 4 calendar giveaway (July 22 - 26):
Readers, follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
