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Lynne Hill-Clark Interview

Lynne Headshot E1617264547204

The Indie Book Butler Interview.

Indie Book Butler: Let’s start things off with an introduction. Tell us a little about yourself for those not already aware of you and your work.

Lynne Hill-Clark: I’m currently finishing up my sixth novel. I write High Concept Fantasy. The larger genre is Sci-Fi/Fantasy. My characters start out young, so I have elements of the YA genre as well. My published books are the Lords and Commoners trilogy and my soon-to-be-released companion series is a Woman’s World.

I hold a Doctorate of Psychology, specializing in criminology and justice studies. I have traveled extensively overseas and lived abroad at different times in my life. My education and travels have greatly influenced my writing

IBB: You’ve got twenty words to entice us to read your book(s). What would you say?

LHC: My books are fast-paced adventures with all the feels. They include love, action suspense & twists that will astonish you.

IBB: Where do you like to write?

LHC: I only have a desktop Mac so I’m pretty limited in where I write. Which is fine. I know that when I sit down at my computer, “It’s time to write!”

IBB: Is there anything you must have in order to write?

LHC: Just my computer and a warm office (a hate being cold). I have ear protection for when my family is being too loud so I can easily block out distractions.

IBB: What books have influenced you most, both as a person and as an author?

LHC: So many, but if I must …

  • Dan Brown’s The DaVinci Code (all of his work really)
  • Stephenie Mayer’s Twilight series
  • K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series
  • I think Sarah Maas Is an incredible fantasy writer
  • A more resent favorite read is, “The Secret History” by Stephanie Marie Thornton

The tag line for my 3rd novel, Of Gods and Goddesses, is “Vampires meet the DaVinci Code … WHAT?”

IBB: What is the one thing that has helped you develop most as an author?

LHC: Peer critiques! Especially in the beginning. I had lots of help and lots of authors who read my work, tore it apart, and gave me specific advice (line by line) on how to fix my novice writing. My writing would not be where it is today without their help.

IBB: What do you want to achieve most from your writing?

LHC: To become a USA TODAY bestseller! I want people all over the world to enjoy my stories and incorporate their themes into their daily lives, such as gender issues, environmental issues and even religious issues.

IBB: Have you received a favorite review of your work?Book 1 - A Woman's World

LHC: I’m very grateful for all of my wonderful reviews. My most recent greatest review is a five-star review from the Reader’s Favorite Award.

IBB: Were there any particular parts of the writing/publishing process that you struggled with?

LHC: Marketing! It’s a very crowded industry and getting started as a new author can be difficult.

IBB: Is there something specific you do to improve your writing?

LHC: At this point, it’s just writing every day. And reading (or rather listening to) best sellers. And like I said in the beginning it was having fellow authors critique my work.

IBB: What is the ideal relationship between editor and author?

LHC: I love my editor, thank goodness! I pray she never retires! So yes, having a good editor, who you work well with is very important! And I’m grateful that I have a good relationship with my editor. It could be difficult if you didn’t. It is best to treat him/her as a human first. E.g. ask them how they’re doing every time you communicate. It helps to be open to their feedback and not take it as a personal attack but rather a great opportunity to improve your writing. Good editors know what they’re doing so trust them and know that you don’t have to take 100% of their advice.

IBB: If you had a direct line to someone who loves or hates your writing, what would you say?

LHC: Well, I’ve had the pleasure of having both fans and people who didn’t like my first book. Thankfully there are a lot more fans than the few who haven’t liked my first book. As far as the fans go, I keep in touch with them and respond to them on social media, etc. They’re often on my e-mail lists and I offer them my latest books in exchange for a review, etc. So it’s a mutually beneficial relationship.

To the reviewers who haven’t liked my first book I simply don’t respond, or I thank them for their time and move on. I completely understand that my books are not for everyone. So as a writer, it’s important to understand that you will get bad reviews. Sometimes the feedback is constructive and you can learn from it and improve. However, if they aren’t helpful then do your very best to forget about them. Or you reach the point where I am, I’ve stopped reading my reviews altogether. I just look at my overall star average and I’m happy with that.

IBB: If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring author, what would it be?

LHC: I simply have to give 3 pieces of advice and this is for authors who want to make a living as a writer.

  1. Study best sellers in your genre (as a writer, not a reader)
  2. Find a good writing critique group to help you improve and perfect your storytelling or hire a writing coach/professor of English Lit., etc.
  3. Wait to publish until you have 3 or 4 books in a series and then learn the industry and how to properly launch the series.

These apply whether you’re traditionally published or self-published.

IBB: What does your writing future hold for you?

LHC: Lots more exciting adventures.

IBB: How have you set about the task of creating enticing cover art?

LHC: Definitely hire a professional who has lots of experience working with book covers, not just graphic design in general.

  1. The book cover needs to make the genre obvious
  2. It needs to be branded
  3. It needs to stand out in thumbprint size (small size). Bright reds and/or yellows are good.

IBB: How often do you read? What genre?

LHC: I read across many genres. Actually, I listen to a lot more audiobooks. It’s difficult to find the time to read but I can listen to the audiobooks while I’m exercising or washing the dishes, etc. I enjoy a lot of different genres. Books with elements of fantasy are always the most intriguing for me. Non-fantasy can be boring sometimes. Of course, there are exceptions.

IBB: Before we let you escape, it’s your chance to name-drop. Is there anyone who you feel is deserving of more recognition at present or someone whose writing you have recently enjoyed? Now is your chance to spread the word…

LHC: Oh my gosh, so many people to thank! As can be seen by my long Acknowledgments in the back of my books. Right now I’d like to thank my husband for enabling me to put my head down and get this 6th book finished this month. And an author who I recently discovered and find very inspiring is Matt Haig, he wrote The Midnight Library, which I highly recommend!

Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. Best of luck in the future.

For more on Lynne and her work, please visit:

Website

Twitter

Goodreads

Amazon

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