I’ll go into greater detail about my lengthy hiatus later this week. This post isn’t about me, because it’s Blog World Tour time! *cheers and applause* I know, I know. How exciting right? This time our guest comes to visit us all the way from South Africa. Everybody, please welcome Lynn Miller!
Lynn Miller lives in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her love for storytelling started before she was able read or write but she only found the time to pursue this lifelong passion once she sold her software business. Her magical tales weave the blurred grey between good and evil with love, family and friendship.
When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up with a cup of coffee and her kindle. She has always enjoyed both Romance and Urban Fantasy, and she writes in the genre that encompasses both: Paranormal Romance. She’s an outdoorsy city girl – comfortable at a campsite with her family or enjoying cocktails with her girlfriends.
Book 1, The Witch’s Pride, tells Jet and Laken’s Story.
Fallen Angel Jet has two weeks to find a witch or lose the most important weapon in the fight against The Devil. The powers that be decided eons ago that Jet will marry the her and start a new generation of magic. Instead falls for a woman from his past: Laken – a fellow ER doctor and single mom with secrets of her own. Falling for her new boss seems masochistic, and that is before she learns about Jet’s part in her family’s secret and troubled history.
Q- How many books do you have planned for this series?
A: Eight. There are only eight Sons of Rebellion and I do have an over arching story for those eight books. I don’t have any definitive plans for anything more but I can see a legacy series branching off. I have a plan to tell Eve’s story too, but that will have to wait.
As much as I love series, I think it’s better when there is a definitive end. If the author has no plans to end the series, I will decide on my own end point. And I won’t go back.
Q- What surprised you most about your story?
A: The hidden secrets, that not even I knew about. I will write a scene and if it goes according to plan, that’s great. But more often than not, a character will veer off in their own direction, forcing me to think about the motive for their actions and unearthing another layer of backstory and the motives behind the story arc. This happens more than I’d like to admit and I find myself having to change my outline after a chapter or two.
Also, the character dynamics. I’m writing about their family, and learning how all of them interact with each other has been so much fun, and in some cases completely surprising.
Q- What made you want to become a writer?
A: It was never a decision. I remember dreaming up entire storylines for my dolls in the few minutes before I fell asleep at night and then play them out the next day. In my teens a seemingly small interaction between me and a friend prompted an entire storyline.That was the first time I committed my stories to paper. I still have some of my original story ideas in a box somewhere. A few years ago I dabbled with a bit of fanfiction and I had a story to tell. I didn’t like the limitations of that world so I scrapped it and retold the story in my own world. The characters I created seemed to enjoy my world more and hence, The Sons of Rebellion were born.
Q- Who are your favorite authors?
A: Oooh. I love JK Rowling’s ability to plop in memorable, yet seemingly insignificant information. It’s a skill I desperately want to master. Jim Butcher’s ability to add setting details without getting overly descriptive. JR Ward and Larissa Ione both have an enviable ability to tell an engaging family drama while still keeping the focus on the Romance. And, of course, Meg Cabot. I have read almost everything she has written. From her Middle Grade stuff to the more Adult. I love her humour and her ability to make the usual angsty bits slightly more fun.
My favourite book, though, would be A Place of execution by Val McDermid.I am a series reader. And my list of authors seem to reflect that. It’s been a while since I’ve purchased a traditionally published stand-alone story.
Q- Anything about this industry that you really love?
A: Hmmm, I wasn’t sure how to answer this. I find JK Rowling’s rags to riches story very inspiring. I think, from that perspective, I find our industry as a whole, inspiring. To get your story from imagination to Amazon takes a lot of tenacity. And in the case of Indie Authors, it means learning a skill set that is not necessarily inherent. Marketing is not an easy thing, especially for those of us who enjoy the solitude writing brings.
Also, I have found a community within the industry, that has been extremely supportive. I get to talk shop with people who understand what I’m talking about. I get to work with about seven other authors who are so helpful and supportive and who value my input and opinions.
Q- Tell us something not many people know about you.
A: I was born with a murmur on my heart. I spent most of the first four years of my life in hospital and on heart medication. I had an operation to minimise it when I was four years old and have been healthy ever since. It’s still there and my doctors would prefer if I behaved like someone with a heart condition but I have never let it hinder me.
I will admit that whole procedure left quite an impact on me. To the extent that the hospital where all this happened has made it into my books.
I am a somewhat private person. People don’t know a lot about me, not because I’m hiding things, but because it never occurs to me that people might actually be interested.
I love connecting with others authors! Most of the authors I’ve met are very welcoming and supportive. We all know how hard it is to write a book, and it’s my favorite part about being a writer.
Thank you, Lynn, for joining us! Can’t wait to see you on the rest of the Blog World Tour! In the meantime, find Lynn on Twitter, and check out her website!
~Allie
Nice to meet you, Lynn! I too love series (although I also enjoy standalones!) I agree that a series should have a definite end point.