Interview with Best Selling Author Steena Holmes

The second of back-to-back interviews, EA: Creatively Creative sits down with a writer whose work has made her a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She has won awards such as the National Indie Excellence Book Award in 2012 for her novel Finding Emma, and the USA Book News Award in 2015 for her novel The Word Game. Introducing author Steena Holmes.

EA: When did you discover your passion for storytelling? 

SH: I grew up hearing stories all the time from my dad. It’s probably what started it for me. I always loved to read, but honestly never thought I would be a writer, so it’s a dream come true!

EA: Who are the biggest influences in your life and career?

SH: I have a few very strong women in my life who have held me up when I needed it the most. These women push me to be a better person, a stronger woman, a more loving mother. It’s due to their support that I have the courage to create my own career and make it as successful as I can.

EA: What is your approach to writing?

SH: I always start with an idea. I then play with it for a bit, figure out my characters and then I start to write. The story comes alive while I’m writing. Dedication to sitting down and getting the words on the paper is a must for me - I have a minimum word count I attempt to beat each day.

EA: Tell us, what are some of the genres that you write or would like to write about?

SH: I write in Women’s Fiction and psychological suspense. I’d like to dive more in the the suspense/thriller realm.

EA: Do you believe writing a novel is easy?

SH: The person who believes writing a novel is easy is someone who has never attempted it. It’s one of the hardest things I’ve done. Not only are you daily combating your own self esteem, but you have expectation of others to write the best possible book you can. Every book I start and finish is a miracle.

EA: What is concept of The Forgotten Ones?

SH: The concept surrounding The Forgotten Ones is how far will we go to protect those we love? How many secrets can we keep buried before the weight destroys us? I love diving into the whole idea of secrets and how they affect everyone around us.

EA: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

SH: Just start. Don’t be afraid of the words you’ve written. Don’t try to edit them while you write - just write. If you don’t start, you’ll never be able to finish.

EA: Finally, tell the readers why The Forgotten Ones will be a must read.

SH: Early reviews are calling this a twisty tale of secrets and suspense. If you give this book a try, I believe you’ll like it!

Epilogue

Usually the ones who believe writing is easy are usually the ones from the outside looking in, those who have never attempted it. Also true is battling your own self-esteem when venturing into writing. I've talked to people who have told me that they've always wanted to write, but haven't due to fear-- well, usually fear of the criticism of others-- but that actually goes back to one's self-esteem, and not being able to overcome what others may think.

I want to thank Steena for speaking with me. For more on Steena and her books, visit her website at www.steenaholmes.com.

16,000 Views Edition: Interview with Author Nance

In anticipation of my 16K views milestone, EA: Creatively Creative sits down with an author whose book Some Love Lost (released in September 2017) has garnered over 50 5-star reviews, and her most recent release, Entrapped by a Hitta's Love has received over 30 5-star reviews. I introduce author and fellow New Orleanian, Nance.

EA: When did your passion for writing begin?

NA: I've always been the kid writing in a composition notebook, but it was just for fun, I wouldn't let anybody read it. People have been telling me for years that I should publish a book, but I would always wave them off, it took for my cousin, Treasure Malian to challenge me one day to write a complete novel for me to get started, I didn't really take it serious or become passionate until July 4th 2016, the day my Uncle Johnny died.

EA: Was writing something you've always wanted to do?

NA: Writing is not something I envisioned myself doing, I've always wanted to be a Pediatrician

EA: Who are some of your biggest influences?

NA: Aside from family, Treasure Malian and Jahquel J, their work ethics are unmatched, they're so multifaceted and their writing makes you feel all different types of emotions.

EA: Would you consider writing to be easy?

NA: Writing is in no way easy, so much hard work and dedication goes into making sure everything is right.

EA: What is the concept of Some Love Lost?

NA: Some Love Lost is about a young woman who's had to endure so much, but she still comes out on top. It's about losing love, finding what you think is love and gaining that love you lost back, all in due time.

EA: Are there any upcoming projects on the horizon?

NA: I'm finishing up the finale to my series It's Only Your Love That Gets Me Through.

EA: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

NA: Push yourself to your fullest potential and don't write for no one but yourself because if you don't love it, how can you expect the readers to?

EA: Finally, tell the readers why Some Love Lost is a must-read.

NA: Some Love Lost is a must read because it has a little bit of everything in it. There's lies, abuse, betrayal, love, and hate, all things that happen in real life that everyday people can relate to.

Epilogue

A key thing that Nance stated in her advice is very instrumental as a writer. Make sure that you're writing for yourself, and not for anyone else or following trends, but what you want to write about. Part of my approach as an author is when I write something to consider if this is something I would read or at least considering myself before I begin.

I would like to thank Nance for taking the time to speak with me. For more on Nance, and her books visit her Amazon Author Page by clicking on the link below.

Amazon: Nance

Interview with Author Aahoo Ellie

EA: Creatively Creative kicks off its first interview for the month of  March with an author whose upcoming novel Shakespeare's Promenade is set to release soon. Introducing Aahoo Ellie.

EA: When did your journey as an author begin?

AE: There were many tipping points that led me to have an interest in writing. I'll tell you the very first: When I was in 5th grade, and those old school Macintosh computers existed that, when shut down, did not save your work. Our assignment was to write a five page story, and of course, I procrastinated until the night before. I fidget my foot when I'm focused, resulting in my fidgeting foot unplugging the computer and deleting everything. After my ten-year-old self recovered from a nervous break down, I wrote a story about Dodo birds escaping a pirate ship and received a grade of 105%. That was when I learned that I write best when I'm an emotional wreck (or maybe just filled with many emotions).

EA: Who are the biggest inspirations in your life and career?

AE: My mom. Hands down. She's a badass and taught me that 'no' was just a word-not a verdict.

EA: What is your approach to engaging readers when writing?

AE: Engage myself first. If I want to excite readers about my upcoming (or already released) novel/short story, I have to be excited about it too. I want my readers to love my characters as much as I do.

EA: What is concept of Shakespeare's Promenade? Is it a series or a standalone?

AE: It's a four book series (with a four book prequel series). Here's the concept of the first:

Beneath the University of Oxford there is a secluded tube station leading to Shakespeare’s Promenade, a mystical land where the Shakespeare lineage is royalty and only the young and beautiful are gifted immortality. There is but one rule: remain contented, or torture methods will be executed to add the conspirator into Shakespeare’s army of deranged clowns.

Twenty-three year old Roxanna Obelix, who lives alone with her depressed and legless father, believes her mother had been murdered by artists for the last fifteen years. When her father reveals that her mother was actually kidnapped by Roxanna’s estranged grandfather, William Shakespeare, she ventures into Shakespeare’s Promenade and discovers she is a part of a prophecy to begin a War on Art, and murder William Shakespeare--all three of them.

EA: Do you think writing a novel is easy?

AE: No-but it's fulfilling. It's like therapy--which is not easy, but definitely worthwhile.

EA: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

AE: Don't seek validation!

EA: Finally, tell the readers why Shakespeare's Promenade will be a must-read.

AE: Shakespeare's Promenade is a crazy twist on the "world" of Shakespeare as we know it. The citizens inside each have an evil and good side to them, so it has the reader guessing until the very end--who's a clown? Who's a spy? How much do they know? Roxanna is a sassy and determined character who is easy to root for, and Ed and Matt make great acquaintances (not to mention Ed makes a terribly great love interest). All in all, it's one hell of a world to get lost in.

Epilogue

Most writers, I being one of them, will tell you how therapeutic writing is. It can also be a way for some to express themselves in ways that they usually can't. Aahoo's concise advice reminds me of one of the principles that I've shared with someone, and have learned to live by: don't put your self-esteem-- or work, for that matter-- in the hands of people. Don't give people that kind of power of you. 

I definitely want to thank Aahoo for speaking with me. For more Aahoo and her literary works, visit her website at www.aahoo.xyz.

Amazon: Aahoo Ellie Pourang

Instagram: @aahoo_