The Everything Else of Writing: Author Interview with Christine Schulze

Your bio says you’ve always loved reading magical fantasies. What made you decide to write the first one of your own? 
Well, if we’re being completely technical with this answer, I wrote my first fantasy book around the age of four or five, as a wedding gift for my babysitter. It was called Johnny to the Rescue and was inspired by these “Surprise, Surprise, Puppy Surprise” toys I had. They were these little dogs and cats that came with surprise outfits, like princess, mermaid, cowboy, etc. That made me come up with the concept of what I called “Surprisers,” which were dogs and cats who talked, walked, and did everything like people. Johnny was this heroic figure who was always rescuing Princess Brighteyes from King Baddy. I wonder if perhaps I got that idea from my love of watching my babysitter rescue Princess Peach from Bowser on my Super Nintendo.

I bring all this up because that book and the series that sprang from it would ultimately set the foundation for many of my current books. I remade the Johnny to the Rescue series a couple different times as I grew older and eventually expanded their world, creating the realm of Loz that’s seen in both my currently published series, The Amielian Legends and The Gailean Quartet. Other inspirations behind my current works include The Legend of Zelda games, Lord of the Rings, anything by Diana Wynne Jones, and Narnia.

If Johnny to the Rescue is my earliest work, let’s talk about my most recently published Symphony of Crowns, third in The Gailean Quartet and my longest work to date, coming in at 800+ pages. The original version was written back when I was in college, so about twelve or so years ago. Since then, I thankfully found my current editor, Kira Lerner. We’ve honestly spent the past few years revising the entire series, including this book, so it’s hard to say how many revisions it’s undergone. A lot. A lot of rewriting, expanding the world, expanding the characters and their complexities, and a lot of just overall learning to improve as a writer.

I actually just had a reader give the most humbly glowing review. So, from Johnny to the Rescue all the way to Symphony of Crowns, I’d say all the hard work, dedication, and learning with my editor is well worth it.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? 
I think sometimes it’s just all that “middle stuff,” if you will. I love crafting a good, tense, in the moment beginning, and I likewise love writing emotionally satisfying conclusions. I’ve never been one to write completely in the order of events, and it’s fair to say that sometimes I have the beginning and end sorted before the middle.

But I have found in more recent years that outlining really helps. The word “outline” used to be terrifying, but I now understand that an outline doesn’t have to be anything formal or overly structured. Even just writing a list of events in the order they will occur can really get my thinking on track for how things ought to go, avoiding plot holes, etc.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
I think one of the biggest encouragements has come from having a really great editor to work with. I would highly recommend that anyone serious about writing and publishing find a really good, solid editor who really knows their stuff. Who isn’t afraid to challenge you to change your book for the better, but who can also believe in you and your work, believe in what it can become once polished. If you can’t afford an editor right away, which is completely understandable, work on developing a team of beta readers who can read your book and provide both guidance and encouragement. You can find beta readers on various Facebook groups, Tiktok, etc.

It doesn’t hurt to have encouraging friends or encouraging significant other either. My boyfriend of two years now is super supportive of everything I do as I strive to make my dream of becoming a full-time author a reality. While it was never a relationship requirement for me, I am blessed in that he reads and loves everything I produce. I don’t think this is necessary, but you definitely need someone who supports what you do as an author and what it means to you.

Marketing is the biggest key to getting sales. What is the best marketing source you've used that has produced more sales rather than just clicks?
I’ll be honest in saying I’m rather new to the world of book marketing. I’m actually taking time off from writing this year because I’ve found that with my full-time day job, I don’t have the time I need to devote to both writing/editing and trying to learn/understand marketing.

That being said, I’m starting to see that it can be valuable to have a regular newsletter (mine is monthly) that includes exclusive info that readers aren’t going to get anywhere else. It’s intimate, personal, and a good way to start forming a bond and building a trusted relationship with your readers. I also just started my first Booktok. I’m still getting the hang of it, but I find making short videos on my books to be fun and it’s been a great way to engage with some new readers. I’d like to look into avenues like podcasts and more interviews like this one as well.

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
This isn’t so much about writing itself, but I think it’s valuable for writers to realize that the real challenge isn’t writing a book. It’s not even publishing a book, as that can be done pretty easily these days. The challenge comes from everything else: having a solid editor, making all those revisions, finding the right cover artist, branding yourself, knowing how to get your work in front of readers, etc. For those who want to get serious about writing and publishing, there’s so much more that goes into it besides writing the book itself.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
I would tell others who are struggling to just start writing. You can always edit what’s on the page, but you can’t edit nothing. And also, while it’s important to have a good editor and to make revisions and to make something the best it can be, on the other hand, once it’s done, it’s DONE. I’ve seen a lot of folks get hung up on nitpicking the details and never letting their work just be “finished.”

An author I follow on Tiktok, E.A. Winters, recently brought up an excellent analogy. She said that a carpenter doesn’t make just one chair that he spends years perfecting. He makes many chairs, tables, beds, etc. and continues to improve his craft with each new piece he makes. Writing is like that. The best way to improve and grow as a writer is to know when your current work is done and then move onto the next. I truly feel like I learn something and improve with each new book I write.

And that doesn’t mean that the older ones are bad! I’ve had loads of people who still find and enjoy my older works. They’re still solid, they’re still the best they could be when I wrote them. But the newer books will be even better as you apply all you learned from writing the first books and press forward.

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
My next book in the works for 2023 is The Last Star, a stand-alone YA fantasy novel with Words Matter Publishing. I’m pleased to share the blurb with you:

The first Stars were extinguished that fateful night. The work of the Shadows had begun.

Aspiring teenage astronomer, Lianna Sidra, knows the Stars are nothing more than blazing fires, providing light and warmth to her world of Novalight. They aren’t magical, protective Guardians. Those are just silly stories, fairy tales from which Lianna strives to protect her imaginative little sister, Celesse. After all, such superstitions drove away their flighty mother, and Lianna couldn’t bear to lose Celesse in the same way. Ever since Professor Donati took them in, life has been normal. Stable. And Lianna would prefer to keep it that way.

But then Novalight’s Stars begin to vanish, plunging their world into darkness, cold, fear. Shadow-like beings take over where light once reigned. Together with Celesse, Professor Donati, his goofy son, Dashiel, and her crush, the spiritual Soranu, Lianna embarks on a race against time. The pursuing Shadows seem especially drawn to Celesse. What’s more, evidence of ancient magic indicates that the key to defeating the Shadows lies in finding the next “Blue Star,” or ruler, of Novalight, challenging everything Lianna believes about her safely rational worldview.

As Lianna and her friends discover mysterious connections between their families at the Stars, they realize things are not as they appear. What are the Shadows, and why are they so fierce in their pursuit? Can they unravel the mystery before the last Star is destroyed, ending all light and life on Novalight? And can Lianna challenge her own beliefs to discern truth from fiction before she once again loses the people she loves?

Good Cliffhanger! But that's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Christine's books, here are some ways to get started.

Sign up for her newsletter to get exclusive content about her books: https://www.A.com/newsletter
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Christine-E.-Schulze/author/B007DZRX2S
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Christine%20E.%20Schulze%22
Booktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorchristineeschulze

And here's a bonus for my readers... Leave a comment on this post and you'll be entered to win one of her eBooks from her Amielian Legends series. One winner will be chosen next Wednesday night. Here's a link to that series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L9F4JJ1

A Twist on Writing about the Bible, Author Interview with Scott Toney

You write fantasy based on Biblical themes? What drew you to writing in this style?
I’ve attended church and participated in charitable events through church for a long time, and so having Biblical themes just seemed to come naturally for me. And I also am a huge lover of the Fantasy genre. When I first sat down to write and mill over concepts the two things meshed for me, and I realized I had something great when I thought up the premise for The Ark of Humanity.

“God flooded the earth to annihilate humanity's sins. What if that sinful race didn't die when flood waters covered them but instead adapted to breathe water?”

What type of feedback do you get from readers about taking a Bible story into a new context?
I’ve had positive feedback from both Christians and non-Christians alike. People say that they really enjoy the story and the depth of the good v.s. evil concepts in both of my Fantasy books. My Christian readers love the themes and references. And here is a quote from one of my non-Christian readers below to show how he enjoyed it.

“Scott has a beautiful writing style and the world which his characters exists is both vivid and believable. He manages to combine an engaging story line with a new take on moral stance. The link to Christianity is interesting but not dominant that a non-Christian like me can enjoy it. If you enjoy reading books that are away from the norm, then I would highly recommend Scott's Ark of Humanity.” – James Hardy, on Amazon.com

Are there any unwritten rules for writing fantasy? How do you go about creating a fantasy world?

I give a lot of thought and planning to my books before I write them because they need to be both believable and fantastical at the same time. The author needs to create and build concepts that the reader believes could actually exist. And as for rules… That’s one thing I love about fantasy, there are no rules. The sky is the limit. As long as you ground it in believability and realistic human relations, you can do pretty much anything.

How long did it take to write your first book? How many re-writes do you think you did?
Two and a half years for The Ark of Humanity. I edited and re-edited the work again and again to get it just right. I also topped the charts of Authonomy, an author website, and put some valuable advice from HarperCollins to good use.

Did you go the normal route of seeking out a traditional publisher?

I did at first, sending out something like 15 to 20 submissions, and then I took a look around that realized I would rather self-publish and do this thing my way, getting higher royalties and putting my Public Relations degree to good use.

I’ve started up a self-published author group called BreakwaterHarbor Books with a young lady from London and am having a blast watching my sales and the group grow. We currently have an author named Mike Lee as a member who writes Sci-Fi and has been in Amazon’s top 100 for Kindle Sci-Fi for three months now. May we all have that kind of success in the future :) .

Are you active with any writer’s critique groups? If so, how have they helped you?

 I’m an Authonomy member, and the authors I’ve met there have been pertinent in helping me to become the level of author I am today. My gratitude to my fellow authors on Authonomy for their critiques and assistance is vast.

What is the best guidance an editor has ever given you

I was once given some great advice, Edit it thoroughly three times yourself and find three other, writing minded individuals, to help with edits as well. I tend to trade off services for editing help and there is an author and gentleman named Ivan Amberlake who has helped with editing all of my books and was the main editor for three of those. He’s recently released an urban fantasy book titled The Beholder and it is a truly amazing work.

What type of publicity do you do to promote your book?

 Breakwater Harbor Books has been a great way to promote for me, along with word of mouth, Goodreads and Free Giveaways. Learning and selling has been an extremely fun ride.

What has surprised you the most about getting published that could have improved your writing sooner?

Confidence in my writing. I think going at writing and thinking you can’t do what the well know authors do just hinders you. When you have faith in yourself, that’s when your true strengths and abilities are able to shine.

What advice would you give someone who thinks they have a great novel in their brain just waiting to be told?

Write it. Begin it today and write one single-spaced page a day. You’ll be astonished at how fast your work is completed and how many people want to read it. Start today. It will be worth so much to you once it’s completed.

 If you would like to buy one of Scott's books, here's a link to his Amazon page. Here's the link to the publishing website.