Hello Everyone! I have a question for you! Do you ever just "meet" an author whose writting just grabs your attention so quickly that you want to be engulfed in their work? Well the world by Erica M. Christensen has completely grasped my attention.
Tonight I'm posting my interview with her. She is a spectacular author that writes New Adult Novels that'll rip your heart out! I fell in love instantly with her work when I read them. Her book of poetry is called "Scattered Sheets/Spilled Ink" which I read in about 35 minutes then proceeded to read "The Kiss" which has become my favorite new story. Both of them hold so many emotions that I was drawn to them partially because I'm an emotionally driven person and also due to the fact that her writing is perfection!
I absolutely can't wait for #11 to happen! I think it'll be a great book to add to my collection as well as how her m/m book comes along. I see great things in her future.
You may purchase her books at the link provided below after you read this wonderful interview that was such fun! I learned a lot about her and know you will too! I hope your enjoy this as much as I have!
I now present to you... The mind of Mrs. Erica!
1: Have you won any awards/achievement in the writing world?
Scattered Sheets (my small poetry collection) hit number two on the Amazon’s Best Seller list in Women’s Poetry in September 2014.
2: When did you first consider yourself a writer? Is there an appropriate level of seniority that one has to reach before one can be considered a writer?
I still feel guilty about considering myself a writer, but that is what I am. I don’t think there’s a level of seniority at all.
3: What or whom inspired you to start writing?
I have no clue. I started writing when I was little. My inspiration to write today comes from my daughters.
4: What is your biggest goal in life aside from your writing career?
To inspire my children to grow up and not feel that their dreams are silly or unattainable. I want them to do whatever it is they believe they were born to do.
5: Do you have a specific writing style? What author would you say are you most relatable to?
I feel like I write very casually as if I were speaking to a friend. I would love to know the answer to the second half of the question. So, if anyone knows what author my work is relatable to please let me know. I’m curious.
6: How did you come up with the titles for your books?
I came up with the title for Scattered Sheets because the writing is very messy. It follows no rules, whatsoever. It’s literally just “spilled ink”. When people read the title I want them to think of a huge pile of tear-stained notebook papers all crumpled up and scattered on a floor. I thought of The Kiss because it’s based around New Year’s Eve and what is NYE without The Kiss? ;) The Bet … well… you’ll just have to read The Kiss to find out why The Bet is titled “The Bet”. :P
7: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to focus on?
In The Kiss, there are definitely two, maybe more. But, the main two that I want people to get is that 1) Setbacks in life are inevitable, but it’s how you deal with them that matters. 2) Life is unpredictable and so are people.
8: How much of the book is realistic/false?
The whole book is pretty “realistic”, but it’s definitely fiction.
9: Are experiences that Addison goes through based on someone you know, or events that you've witnessed?
Not really. There are a few pieces I based off of my own experiences, but most of Addison’s experiences are her own.
10: What is your favorite movie and why?
Oh goodness, I can’t pick one favorite. My favorite genre is horror though! If that counts ;)
11: Is there a character that you would potentially write a novella about or want to include more in the main story?
Oh I have big plans for a new character that you will meet in The Bet. Her name is Hilton and I absolutely love her. I also think I MIGHT take a stab at writing my first M/M romance and the main character will be Carlos from The Kiss.
12: What books have most influenced your life? Did you make any life changes because of it?
I can’t say that I’ve ever made life changes over a book. But, many books have influenced my life.
13: What book are you reading now or was the last that you've read?
I am currently reading Keep It Secret by Olivia Snow.
14: Are there any new/archaic authors that have grasped your interest? Why?
Yes. K. Pinson because she’s the bomb diggity. No, but really… Between The Raindrops… READ IT.
15: What are your current projects?
Currently working on: The Bet (book 2 in The Addison Series). Candy Hearts. Taking Back Yesterday. With Love, Sparrow.
16: Who is your role model in the writing world?
I have many. I definitely admire Stephen King and Jessica Park.
17: Who would you say backs you up the most besides your family?
Besides my family and my close friends (because I consider them family), I’m going to have to say Ebenezer backs me up the most. Ebenezer is the first person (outside of my family) who ever showed interest in my writing. I can literally spout off a million things about all of my WIPs and Ebenezer remembers every detail about them. To a writer that means a lot… like a lot a lot. I’m sure like many other writers, I feel as though many people don’t take me nor my work seriously yet. It’s a very shitty feeling… but when a writer comes across someone who they know doesn’t feel obligated to support their dream and supports their dream because they want to… well… it’s an amazing feeling. I’m lucky to have so many wonderful people in my life.
(Hey Mrs. Erica, I support your work as well as love it! )
18: Do you see writing as a career if not then what is your main focus in the working world?
I do. Many people probably see my writing as a hobby though I’m sure. I would not consider my part-time job a career… I don’t want to be a bartender for life.
19: If you had to rewrite any of your books, would you? Why, or why not?
Nope. I’m proud of my book babies. They’re perfectly imperfect. :)
20: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated? Interest in reading?
I’m sure my interest in writing originated from reading. I was always surrounded by books when I was little, so I’d say my interest in reading started when I learned how to read. I did go through a phase where I hated reading though. I felt like I could be writing instead of reading. I also hated most of the books that were assigned to me in school and I felt like once I hit a certain age there was no hope for books anymore. I thought they were all going to bore me so I desperately wanted to write books that interested me. Luckily, I rekindled the flame of my love for reading. ;)
21: Can you share a little of your current work or a work will that be launching soon?
“I didn’t want to fall in love with you. But, there are things in life we just can’t control no matter how hard we try and love is one of them. I guess what I’m trying to say is… I love you and I’d like to be with you, for however long our forever lasts… whether it’s a week, a month, a year, or a hundred years. Because being with you is worth the potential pain I may have to endure if our forever falls short.” - Isaac, in Candy Hearts.
(I can't wait for her book "Candy Hearts" to come out! I'll be the first to consume this wondrous book!)
22: If there is, then what do you find most challenging when you put pen to paper? What is the easiest part when you write? What was your favorite scene that you've ever written?
Getting all of my scattered thoughts onto paper is probably the most challenging.
23: What superhero is your favorite and why? What super power would you add?
I really have a soft spot for all superheroes, but I’d have to say that Thor is my favorite. He flies, controls weather (Oh Lord, do I love some storms!), he can time travel, and he’s strong. Thor is just a bad ass. The only superpower I’d add (and I don’t even think it’s a superpower) is an indestructible hammer so he can never die.
24: Who is your favorite author and what is the reasoning for enjoying their books? How would you describe their writing style?
I really can’t pick a favorite! There are so many amazing authors out there. I do absolutely love Colleen Hoover’s writing style though. I might really just love her and that’s what makes her writing style so appealing.
(Uh oh, we might have to fight over her love! ;) )
25: What age group do you mostly write to? What age group has mainly responded in the most positive way to your work?
New Adults and the responses I’ve received vary greatly between New Adults and Adults.
26: Have you been on book tours and if so, what was your experience? Conventions? Workshops?
Sadly, no I have not. YET. ;)
(When you do, I'll be there for a "meet and great"! :)
27: Who designed the covers? Which is your favorite?
I did the cover of Scattered Sheets through Amazon’s cover creator. Red Bird Designs did my cover for The Kiss. I definitely favor the cover of The Kiss, RBD did a magnificent job.
(I want to know what the cover for "Candy Hearts" will be. I hope it's the couple with the Hair mustaches.)
28: Do you have any specific advice that you want to get across to your readers that want to pursue a life of writing?
Read and write often. Listen to constructive criticism! There really are people out there who give one and two star reviews that aren’t assholes. Take what they have to say and learn from it. You can tell the difference between a bad review that came from an honest reviewer and a bad review that came from an asshole reviewer. Read On Writing by Stephen King. Oh, and did I mention read and write often?
29: Do you remember the first book you read or caught your attention the most?
Sadly, I do not. I do remember the first book that ever made me cry was Petey Ben Mikaelsen.
30: What book, to your knowledge, made you laugh/cry the most?
Oh boy, I cry in a lot of books. Most recently though, I bawled my eyes out in Flat-Out Love.
31: Is there one author that you wish you could co-author with who is it? Why?
Oh, definitely. I’m not exactly sure how it would work, but I’d love love love to co-author with K. Pinson someday and I’d say I’d love to co-author with Jessica Park, but honestly, I’d probably die if I ever got that chance.
32: What genre do you want to write that you haven't written yet?
Horror.
33: Other than writing do you have any hobbies?
Nope. I used to bowl, but I haven’t been on a league in a couple years now.
34: Do you have a go to comfort food?
Chips. Yum.
( Hey Mrs. Erica, my favorite is Ice Cream. Depression makes me fat! ;) )
35: If you could live fictional (book or movie) world, what would it be? What character would you be most like?
Emma Stone in Superbad. Why? Because Jonah Hill… that’s why.
(Did I forget to mention that Mrs. Erica loves Jonah Hill? Well, she's does!)
36: Do you still read a book regardless if a review has given away an important piece of the book? Do you still read a book regardless of the positive/negative reviews? Do you ever give away spoilers to others when you read.
Of course! That’s like loving steak and not eating it because someone else hates it. Okay, maybe it’s not exactly like that… but I definitely still read the books. Maybe it’s because I’m a writer so I know how much hard work went into writing the book and how many tears went into the book. Not to mention how many times the writer probably wanted to give up but still pushed forward and managed to write word after word until they finally got to write “The End”.
(I love this answer! Reading is like eating steak! Just because one person doesn't like it... Doesn't mean someone else won't! Spoken by the words of a true author!)
During the next two weeks, there will be a giveaway that anyone can enter that will end on the 23rd of January after my next interview is posted! Please share this because the more people that enter, the more winners there will be. I have copies of "Scattered Sheets" and "The Kiss" up for grabs. All you have to do enter for a chance to win is to comment what your perfect date would be as well your favorite coffee!
Release Date: Price:
November 25, 2014 The Kiss: e-book $2.99
paperback $9.99
July 16th, 2014 Scattered Sheets (Spilled Ink): e-book $2.99
Links:
Facebook:
Blog:
Scattered Sheets Spilled Ink:
http://www.amazon.com/Scattered-Sheets-Spilled-Erica-Christensen-ebook/dp/B00LVAK58A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1419978652&sr=8-2&keywords=Erica+Christensen
The Kiss:
E-book:
http://www.amazon.com/Kiss-Addison-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00OCAG7I8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419978499&sr=8-1&keywords=Erica+Christensen
paperback:
http://www.amazon.com/Kiss-Addison-Erica-M-Christensen/dp/1502709201/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1419978700&sr=8-3&keywords=Erica+Christensen
The title "Candy Hearts" will be coming soon to readers in 2015!
