Veronica Scott
Today I am so pleased to share with you an interview that i had with Veronica Scott. She is an amazing author and it has been such a blessing to get to know her. Here's the interview notes...
When did you write your first book and how old were you?
I was seven and I wrote and self-illustrated a fairy tale with princesses, flying horses, flying cats and a riverboat captain as the romantic interest. My heroine and the captain kissed once (chastely with closed lips I'm sure) and got married.
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite? I have about forty published books, mostly scifi romance, but a few set in a fantasy universe and a series of paranormal romances set in ancient Egypt. My favorite is always the one I'm working on at the moment because it gets all my attention. If I had to pick just one, it would probably be my first published scifi romance, Wreck of the Nebula Dream, which was loosely based on the sinking of Titanic, but set in the far future. Many readers tell me that's still their favorite book of mine.
As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
The first woman on Mars! Obviously I missed that one - I don't fit NASA's parameters for astronauts - but I did have a very long career at NASA/JPL, where we built Mars rovers among other exciting projects. I even have a NASA Exceptional Service Medal, which is an actual medal.
What is the first book that made you cry?
Probably Little Women, when (SPOILER) Beth dies. The only time I've ever cried over a scene I wrote myself was in Timtur: The Teacher's Alien Healer where a supporting character dies and my heroine sits by his side through the night so he won't die alone.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
I write standalone novels, connected series novels and then the actual sequential Badari Warriors series. I do whatever feel right for the characters and the story involved.
How long were you a part time writer before you became a full time one?
If we're talking about my serious effort to become published, versus all the years I wrote in my spare time but didn't make any concentrated attempts to be published, i wrote a paranormal romance novella in late 2010 and had it professionally critiqued to learn what I needed to do better. I worked on those specific areas - head hopping, telling versus showing, etc. - and in late summer 2011 Carina Press acquired Priestess of the Nile, which released in 2012. I also began self-publishing in 2012. In 2015 I was able to leave my full time job at NASA/JPL and become a full time author.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
40-60 days. Then there's an editing process which adds more time before I can release the book.
What advise would you give a new writer, someone just starting out?
Just sit down and write. Don't edit yourself as you go (time to edit later), don't expect perfection on the first draft. There's no one right way or wrong way to write a book so do what feels right to you. You will have to learn your craft and there are so many other aspects to being a published author BUT if you don't write the words, nothing else matters.
What comes first, the plot or characters?
When I start writing a book I usually know the hero and the heroine, the beginning and the end, and a few major scenes along the way. The rest comes to me as I write. I'm not a plotter or an outliner.
Are you on social media and can readers interact with you?
I'm on Facebook, twitter and Instagram and I have a blog.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vscotttheauthor
Where can readers purchase your books?
My books are available on all major ebook seller sites, Amazon, Apple, Kobo, Nook and Google Play.
What's your favorite food?
Chocolate! or blueberries...
If you could only have one season, what would it be?
I love Autumn. It's not too hot and not too cold and the world is full of pretty colors.
If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
Impatient, creative, introvert.
Would you rather always be an hour early or be constantly twenty minutes late?
My mother always said if you were on time you were already late, so I show up to everything early!
Tea or coffee?
Tea for me, in a pretty china cup!
Morning person or Night owl?
Definitely a morning person.
I currently have the first three books in my award winning scifi romance series Badari Warriors collected in a box set and on sale for $.99. Here's the blurb:
Welcome to the interstellar civilization known in the far future as the Sectors!
This Badari Warriors box set gathers the first three science fiction romance novels from this award winning series into one collection. Featuring genetically engineered soldiers of the far future, the Badari were created by alien enemies to fight humans. But then the scientists kidnapped an entire human colony from the Sectors to use as subjects in twisted experiments... the Badari and the humans made common cause, rebelled and escaped the labs. Now they live side by side in a sanctuary valley protected by a powerful Artificial Intelligence, and wage unceasing war on the aliens.
B&N Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/badari-warriors-veronica-scott/1131391367?ean=2940161513095
