This week, the
Writer’s Blog welcomes the one and only April M. Reign. So, tell us a little
bit about yourself.
April:
First, let me thank you for giving me this opportunity to do
an interview with you, Donald. It’s always a pleasure to share a moment interacting
with you and your readers/fans.
I’m a full time author and full time single mother. Two years ago, I was lucky enough to be able
to resign from corporate America and write full time. I live in Southern
California where I was born and raised. Living near the beach is perfect for me
because I find my most tranquil, serene place to write near any body of water.
I believe you are in
the process of writing five different series? How do you write so much and
still avoid repetition?
April:
That’s a great question, Donald. I think my advantage is that
I don’t write all of my series in the same genre. The second thing is the
connection I have with my characters. Each character has to be different and
unique in the same way that real-life people are different and unique. That way
when I’m writing their story, I don’t confuse them with other characters from my
other series. They become friends. And like our real-life friends, they are
usually quite different from each other.
World-building is an
art form, and one which you excel at. What do you think about when creating a
place for your characters to live?
April:
Everything! WHO and WHAT they are is very important.
Obviously, I wouldn’t have my vampires living in a house with windows and no
window coverings, if they lived out in sunny Florida. I, first, try to
understand who my characters are, what their personalities are like and what
the basic plot of the story is going to be. Then I ask myself: where would they
live, who would they surround themselves with as friends and what their world
around them would look like. I will even visit places that I envision as a home
for my characters. Then I study the small things like the kind of homes in the
area, the structures and buildings and the type of stores that cater to that
location.
You also create
beautiful covers. How do you find the right image to capture the desired feel?
April:
Thank you for calling my covers beautiful. Finding the right
image can be a challenge at times. At this point, I’m limited to stock photos,
so I search and search until I find the photo that fits the description of my
characters. Then I try to come up with a background that is relevant to the
story. I have been known to pick out my characters from the stock photos first
and describe them from the visual. That makes the cover easier.
If you could have one
supernatural power, what would it be?
April:
You’d think this question would be easy, but I found it hard
to answer. A supernatural power reminds me of a creative gift given to artists
of all kinds. It’s hard to pick just one of the many gifts that are out there.
But If I had to choose one supernatural power, it would have to be the ability
to teleport myself to different locations. I have family and friends around the
world. It would be fun to see them more often without the time involved in
travel. It would have other advantages too. Imagine being able to appear in
Rome or the pyramids in Egypt. But what if that ability came at a price? Oh no,
I’m coming up with a story idea… ha. Thanks, Donald! :D
Since you are also a
mother, tell us about your family. How have they inspired your literary
efforts?
April:
I have a very close family. My parents are still happily
married after 46 years. My sisters are my best friends and my two sons are my
pride and joy. Being a single mother, raising two children, wasn’t an easy
task. Not because they were out of control, but because aside from writing in
my spare time, I worked a full time job and didn’t get to spend the kind of
time with them that I would have liked.
But… my sons are supportive and understanding dipped in a
bunch of patience. J
Because of that, I was able to divide my time and still make them a priority.
They are my heroes and I marvel at the young men that they’ve become today.
The Mystical Witch
Series combines mythology with modern conceptions. Do you have a favorite
character from mythology?
April:
Oh no, I don’t have one favorite. I find many characters of
mythology fascinating for many different reasons.
The Turning Book 3,
Vampire Vengeance was recently released. What should we expect from Vampire
Vengeance?
April:
Vampire Vengeance is the 3rd book in The Turning Series.
This is the summary of book 3:
His sister is in the hands of the enemy.
The town where he lives claims that the woman he loves is
dead.
The Sanguis clan leader has disappeared.
And Apollo is running out of time.
In a harrowing attempt to find the woman he loves, Apollo
confronts his adversaries and the dark secrets of his birthplace. One clue
leads to another until he runs into a dead end. As the clock to rescue his
sister runs out of time, Apollo leads the remaining Sanguis clan to the
werewolf compound in Spain. Once inside and behind enemy lines, he will come
face to face with his most dangerous enemies, unravel family secrets and
discover an heirloom with powers far stronger than he knew existed. As he
leaves one life behind, he will discover another, where he will be forced to
choose between good and evil, family and solitude.
You write books,
create covers, and even sell merchandise. Do you have any advice for
self-published authors trying to market their work?
April:
Treat your writing like a business. Remember that you are
sharing your brand with the world, not just your books. You are your brand, so be the kind of business that you can be
proud of. Set up a professional website, make a presence on social media and
treat everyone with respect. The same way you’d like to be treated. If you’re a
self-published author then you have the creative ability to think outside the
box and explore new ways to get your brand to the public. Make it fun, but make
it professional.
Being a bestselling
author on Amazon, with legions of fans, what would you suggest is the best way
for a writer to connect with their audience?
April:
Be available. Be
willing to share information or connect with your readers. Every person is
important and every bridge you build creates a stronger network of fans who
become friends. As a writer, we spill our hearts and minds onto the pages of
our books. In many ways, that alone, creates a bond with the reader. But when
someone takes the time to express how your books touched them in one way or
another, I believe it’s our responsibility and honor to take a moment to
interact—to form that reader/author bond. Social media has enabled us to know our
readers and to give our readers an opportunity to know us. Utilize the power of
this phenomenal opportunity.
Thank you for joining
us on the Writer’s blog, April. We look forward to Vampire Vengeance and all
the literary excellence to come…
April:
Thank you so much, Donald. I enjoyed these thought-provoking
questions and I hope that those who visit your site will get something from my
answers.
You can find April M. Reign's work here:
Bio:
April M. Reign is the bestselling author of The Mancini Saga, The Mystical Witch Series, The Disciples of the Damned Series and The Turning Series. She started her writing career long before she could read or write. While bundled around a campfire at the beach in Southern California with her family, she'd share stories about sea monsters and land creatures.
In her teenage years, authors such as Nora Roberts, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Jude Deveraux, Anne Rice and many others were the influence that shaped her career as an author.
April lives in Southern California with her two teenage sons, her attention-seeking cat and the glorious beach, which is almost close enough to be her backyard.
