Good morning, Naomi, and welcome to Vision and Verse, the site for art and authors. Can you tell us what you've written?
At the time of this interview, I have twelve books published:
-An Urban Fantasy series – House Valdis (two books and a prequel out, more books coming)
-A Paranormal Romance series – Life is Hell (5 books out, writing the last one)
-A Paranormal Rom-com novella – The Ghastly Gumball
-A Paranormal Fated Mates novella – Fate, Frankincense & Funerals
-A Gothic Paranormal Romance novella – The Widow (co-authored with Rebecca E. McEwen)
-A Paranormal/UF series – Aberration (one book out, co-authored with Rebecca E. McEwen)
What is your favorite genre to write?
Currently my favorite genres are Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy
Favorite food.
My favorite food is potato. You can fix it in numerous delicious ways. Unfortunately, my doctor has told me I shouldn’t be eating it very often anymore.
Tea or coffee?
Tea! I drink tons of unsweet tea while I write… well, pretty much anytime, really.
Pizza or ice cream?
That’s a tough one. I think it depends on the circumstances. If I’m super hungry, it’s going to be pizza. If I just need a snack, it’s going to be ice cream.
Wine or beer or soda or what?
I usually have tea or water. I’m supposed to be staying away from the carbs, but on a rare occasion, I’ll sneak in a ginger beer or a soda.
Where would you like to visit?
There are many places I’d like to visit – Ireland, Scotland, Egypt, Japan, Italy, Holland/Netherlands, Germany… I could go on, but I won’t, lol.
Favorite musical artist.
I don’t have a single favorite. I’m neurodivergent, so my brain will go through fixations on certain songs/sounds. I enjoy a variety of music styles.
Do you listen to music when you write?
I do not listen to music when I write. I wish I could, but it distracts me and I start singing along instead of writing. The only kind of music I can write to, and still not all that often, is instrumental music.
What makes you laugh?
One never really knows what I will find humorous at any given time.
How old were you when you started writing?
I was thirty-nine when I started writing. My first book was published when I was 40.
Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? Or just write?
Most of the time I just sit down and write. If the ideas are coming too fast for me to keep up with, I write whatever is coming to me on my whiteboard so I don’t lose it.
Describe your perfect evening.
Quiet. A soft blanket. A comfy chair. A good book.
Where do you get your inspiration?
I get my ideas from everyday life. Pretty much anything can spark an idea. I’ve gotten ideas from seeing a shoe on the side of the road, something in a store window, a vanity license plate, passing conversations I’ve heard walking through the store, my dreams, things my kids say. I feel like if I’m open to receiving ideas, they’ll show up everywhere.
What do you do when you get a writer's block?
I let it happen. I don’t try to force myself out of it. It’ll eventually pass. If I try to force it, or fixate on it, it just makes it worse. The best thing is just to embrace that it’s happening and go find a book to read while I wait for my brain to sort it out.
Who is your favorite author?
I don’t have one favorite. These are a few of my one-click authors:
- K. A. Merikan
- Nazri Noor
- Domino Finn
- EM Lindsey
- Hailey Turner
- Aimee Nicole Walker
- Jordan L. Hawk
- Pandora Pine
- Morgan Brice
- C.S. Poe
Best book you ever read.
I read anywhere from 200-400 books a year. I can’t even begin to choose.
Last book you read.
Fluke and the Faithless Father by Sam Burns
(You can keep up with my current reads on my Instagram)
What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer?
I don’t even know. I started writing after a nearly twenty-year career as a massage therapist. I haven’t thought about doing anything else yet.
Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?
Actually, there are two. My maternal grandmother was an important support during my childhood. And, my husband of twenty-four years has been a significant strength to me in my adulthood.
What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?
-There is no one correct way to write. Whatever writing method/process you use that works for you is the right one.
-Don’t compare your writing progress with another author’s progress. They aren’t living your life and you aren’t living theirs. You don’t know what factors are allowing them the progress they’re making.
-There’s a ton of writing advice out there. Not all of it is going to apply to you or be good for you. Take what works, the rest is just noise. Just because someone has been writing longer doesn’t mean they’re always right.
-It’s okay if you don’t write every day. Some days are getting-words-down days and other days are thinking days. Both are progress.
-It doesn’t matter what you use to write – Word, Google Docs, a professional writing software, pencil and paper – as long as words get on the page, you’re doing fine!
-You’re never too old to start writing!
-Don’t let someone guilt you because you can’t afford something. If you can’t afford a professional cover designer to make custom covers, find a pre-made cover that will work. They’re usually less expensive. If you can’t afford a pre-made by someone else, design your own in Canva (check which photos are licensed for redistribution). If you can’t afford an editor yet, get an editing software to help. It’s better than nothing. We all have to start somewhere and not all of us can afford all the bells and whistles right out of the gate. Do the best you can with what you’ve got available. It’s okay!
-Don’t let critical people ruin your day. Your book isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. The people it is for will love it!
-That feeling that your writing is horrid and you should take it out and burn it – it’s normal! You are your own worst critic. Find someone you trust and get some fresh eyes on the story.
-It doesn’t matter how long it takes you to write the book – three weeks, ten years, whatever. If you are getting words on the page, you’re making progress, no matter how big or small.
-Even if you are writing to market, make sure you have some passion projects to work on so you don’t lose your enthusiasm for writing.
-Burnout is a real thing. If you get to that point, don’t try to force yourself out of it. Rest. Relax. Your desire to write will return.
-If you want to write but you are struggling to find ideas, remember that ANYTHING can spark an idea. I’ve gotten ideas from my dreams, from the license plate on a car, from a person I saw walking down the street, from a shoe on the side of the road, from a song… Literally anything can trigger an idea if you are open to it.
-Don’t worry about whether your idea has been done or not. It likely has. There’s nothing new under the sun. What matters is your version of the idea. No one else is you. They won’t have your unique voice. The world needs all voices.
Do you have some links for us to follow you?
NEWSLETTER: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t2y9y0
DISCORD: https://discord.gg/PWdp5KZ4gY
MIGHTY NETWORK COMMUNITY: https://naomivalkyriesbookdungeon.mn.co/share/gr4VVCPLp2QbzllX?utm_source=manual
FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/naomivalkyrie/
FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebookdungeon/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/NaomiValkyrie
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/the_book_dungeon/
MEWE: https://mewe.com/i/valkyriemcdonald
PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/thebookdungeon/
BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/naomi-valkyrie
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/valkyrieoracle
ALLAUTHOR: https://allauthor.com/author/naomivalkyrie/
WEBSITE: www.naomivalkyrie.com
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