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March C S R Discussion Day: Crave by LitLover

Cia

Entry posted by Cia in CSR- Can't Stop Reading

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Did you have a chance to read LitLover's scifi vampire novel, Crave? Maybe read it again if you were a fan when LitLover first posted the story? Hopefully you enjoy it and have lots of comments or questions ready to ask! But first, I have an interview with her to share... apparently she's never had to talk about herself that much! LOL

 

 

What action would your name be if it was a verb?

Hmm, well if my name were a verb it would be daydreaming.  I’m always being accused of daydreaming; while I’m writing, and while I’m reading.  Not that exciting, I know, but it fits. 

Share one unique or quirky habit you have.

I don’t know if it’s a habit or a quirk, but I won’t write about a character until I hear their “voice” in my head.  Even minor characters have a unique inflection and tone.  If their “voice” isn’t clear they’re scrapped from the story because I know I won’t be invested enough to give their character the attention it might deserve.

What are you wearing (and no fibbing!)?

I just got home from the office, so I’m wearing fairly professional attire: a dark blue blouse, black slacks, and chunky black heels.  If you caught me in a few hours it might be sleep pants with kittens on them and a tank top.  ;) 

What is one story/book/eBook you’ve read and reread and think others should read immediately?

I don’t really have one favourite book, although I am a diehard Jane Austen fan and reread her books often.  More contemporarily I always recommend anything by Headstall (here on GA).  I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read Song and Dance and Cards on the Table.  I’m a sucker for a good HEA.

What’s the best part of being an author?

Being able to create worlds and characters purely from imagination.  People can be anything you dream up; any profession, race, or sex, and the worlds you create are only limited by what you picture in your mind’s eye.  It’s a great feeling to effectively sketch out what you see so the reader is right there with you.   

What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story (including space)?

I would love to follow Jenson and Merrick into space.  It would be amazing if some of those places actually existed so I could visit them in person.  One of the locations I’ve had in my head lately was Landin’s home world of Anphilia.  It’s a water planet with areas I imagine look much like the Caribbean ocean.  It would be great to go scuba diving in the Caribbean just to get a feel for that world.  (Not because it’s -17 Celsius in March.)

What prompted you to combine a science fiction story in space/alien planets and ‘vampires’?

It was an idea that came out of the blue.  I was having a discussion about the vampire craze in books and movies with a friend and wondered “why are all vampires paranormal?  What if they were created by some natural event instead?”  That thought led to vampires being descendants of humans with altered DNA.  I wasn’t sure the concept would be well received, but when I ran the idea by Gary (Headstall) he encouraged me to take the leap and post the story.  

Just how many twists did you write in Crave, and how much did you enjoy coming up with them?

There were several twists in Crave, which led to the nickname “Cliffie Queen” one reader bestowed on me.  I have to admit, I loved writing Crave because, although I tried to keep the story from becoming too fantastical, it was freeing having all imaginable worlds and species at my fingertips.

Politics is a complicated subject to write. Did you have to keep notes/use a cheat sheet to keep all the differing elements relating to that accurate as you wrote the story?

As this was my first real story, I thought I could “wing it”, but quickly found out how easy it is to get lost in the details.  I was about halfway through the story when I realized I needed an outline for my own peace of mind.  By the last chapter I had a fairly detailed summary with character names, affiliations, and even a personal history of the major characters.  I will never write another story without an outline, and would recommend the process to all new writers until you figure out what works best for you.

Can you share something of your current or upcoming work to entice readers?

I’ve been toying with a few ideas lately.  The first is book two of Crave set a couple of years after the epilogue.  I’m also working on a short story for Landin and Tei that’s in the rough copy stage. 

Another idea I have brewing is something I haven’t shared with anyone, including my esteemed editor (it’s that new).  The theme is darker than anything I’ve written before, and is inspired by events that have affected people I care about.  It won’t be “based on a true story,” but the subject matter is personal to me.  I don’t know if the finished product will see the light of day, but it feels like an important story to tell. 

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Valkyrie

Valkyrie 110,353

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Great interview :) I loved Crave and am excited to see you're planning a sequel. :D  Do you set aside specific times to write or write when inspiration strikes?  

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Timothy M.

Timothy M. 50,252

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I'm an avid SF reader and one of the things I admired about Crave was how well the tech stuff was handled. You didn't go into boring detail, but on the other hand we got enough explanations to make it believable.

My question is: did you intend to include a strong, independent female character or did Audra develop as you started writing the story?

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Headstall

Headstall 306,679

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Fantastic interview with great questions and answers. Obviously, I'm a huge fan, but I still want to commend you for such a great job on your first story. It was a very rewarding journey for me :) . I liked what you said about your side characters because I connected with every one of them. My question is, did you see Audra and Dr. Forbes have that push/pull connection before you started, or did it evolve along with the story as Crave unfolded? 

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Reader1810

Reader1810 52,195

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Like Tim, I am a fan of sci-fi stories. I especially like stories involving vampires (sexy, hunky and stand up vampires, not the creepy and mean kind) so this story really fit the bill. 

 

I ended up binge reading 17 chapters of Crave in one weekend, so that I could get to the end and see how everything turned out. This story definitely is a "Can't Stop Reading" kind of story. I found some chapters that I missed liking, so that's done too. 

 

Now, about that sequel...though, from reading your interview, it sounds as if you have many voices in your head. How do you decide which voice to listen to? 

 

Edit: Oops, yes, terrific interview Lit! :hug:

 

Edited by Reader1810
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Headstall

Headstall 306,679

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Oh, yeah, and thanks, Lit, for the nice shout out :) 

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LitLover

LitLover 66,967

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2 hours ago, Valkyrie said:

Great interview :) I loved Crave and am excited to see you're planning a sequel. :D  Do you set aside specific times to write or write when inspiration strikes?  

 

Thank you, Val :*)

 

I try to set aside time to write on weekends.  I make a cup of tea and barricade myself in a quiet room.  I also like to write over my lunch hour on weekdays.   I've been surprisingly inspired in the middle of the day ;)  

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Drew Espinosa

Drew Espinosa 144,404

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Lit, we were all blown away with your first story. :hug: It was simply amazing, and I'm so glad Gary gave you the nudge to publish it.

 

Rereading Crave, I realize what one of the draws for me was- Merrick. Whether he was the little kid who asked a lotta questions, or the grown man who relentlessly pursued Jenson; he quickly became a favorite of mine. :) And I gotta say, it was absolutely fun rereading this! :D 

 

 

Lit, throughout all your stories, from Crave to Choices, your editor has been Gary. What is the single best piece of advice he gave you as you began your author journey with Crave? :)

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LitLover

LitLover 66,967

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2 hours ago, Timothy M. said:

I'm an avid SF reader and one of the things I admired about Crave was how well the tech stuff was handled. You didn't go into boring detail, but on the other hand we got enough explanations to make it believable.

My question is: did you intend to include a strong, independent female character or did Audra develop as you started writing the story?

 

Thanks, Tim :)  I also love SF and my pet peeve is too much information.  If I get bogged down by too many tech details l. Essentially, I wrote it with me as the reader :*) 

 

Audra was always planned to be a strong female character (she was a captain after all), but the scope of her role wasn't something I'd planned.  she was a fun character to write though :) 

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LitLover

LitLover 66,967

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1 hour ago, Headstall said:

Fantastic interview with great questions and answers. Obviously, I'm a huge fan, but I still want to commend you for such a great job on your first story. It was a very rewarding journey for me :) . I liked what you said about your side characters because I connected with every one of them. My question is, did you see Audra and Dr. Forbes have that push/pull connection before you started, or did it evolve along with the story as Crave unfolded? 

 

Thank you, Gary.  I wouldn't have ever had the courage to post the first chapter without you :hug: 

 

Audra and Dr Forbe's relationship wasn't planned and developed as I was writing.   Every time I pictured their interactions in my head there was an underlying tension between them.  I was really happy that the connection tanslated well on the page.

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LitLover

LitLover 66,967

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1 hour ago, Reader1810 said:

Now, about that sequel...though, from reading your interview, it sounds as if you have many voices in your head. How do you decide which voice to listen to? 

 

Thank you, Reader :)

 

I think I'm like most authors here and I listen to the voice(s) that are the loudest and most persistent.  

 

I have sort of suppressed Merrick and Jenson while writing Unforgivable and Choices, but Merrrick, in particular has been pretty vocal in the last month. ;) 

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LitLover

LitLover 66,967

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43 minutes ago, Headstall said:

Oh, yeah, and thanks, Lit, for the nice shout out :) 

 

i think you might actually :blushing: if you knew how much I've reread CoTT and SaD.  Heck, I'm gearing up to read CoTT again when you announce you're revisiting M, K and the rest of the gang. 

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LitLover

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42 minutes ago, Drew Espinosa said:

Lit, we were all blown away with your first story. :hug: It was simply amazing, and I'm so glad Gary gave you the nudge to publish it.

 

Rereading Crave, I realize what one of the draws for me was- Merrick. Whether he was the little kid who asked a lotta questions, or the grown man who relentlessly pursued Jenson; he quickly became a favorite of mine. :) And I gotta say, it was absolutely fun rereading this! :D 

 

 

Lit, throughout all your stories, from Crave to Choices, your editor has been Gary. What is the single best piece of advice he gave you as you began your author journey with Crave? :)

 

I think Merrick was one of my favourite characters to write, because I got to know him as a child and, in a sense, got to see him grow up, and fall in love.  

 

Gary was invaluable to me, and continues to be a source of wonderful advice and encouragement.  I think his single best piece of advice, and there is a lot of advice to choose from, is to take my time, slow down, and re-read my chapters.  In the beginning I was so excited that I would tear through chapters, without going back over my work as much as I should have.  Through Gary I've learned to slow down and read each chapter out loud, and hear how it might sound to the reader.  The one thing my poor editor still struggles with, however, is curing me of my comma aversion/affliction. ;)  

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Drew Espinosa

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5 minutes ago, LitLover said:

The one thing my poor editor still struggles with, however, is curing me of my comma aversion/affliction. ;)  

I'm sure Dr. Gary will find a cure. ;) And after that, Dr. Gary could examine my... Damn! I was gonna say something naughty, but this is a feature posted by GA's staff, I wouldn't want to get in trouble. 0:) 

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Timothy M.

Timothy M. 50,252

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10 minutes ago, Drew Espinosa said:

I'm sure Dr. Gary will find a cure. ;) And after that, Dr. Gary could examine my... Damn! I was gonna say something naughty, but this is a feature posted by GA's staff, I wouldn't want to get in trouble. 0:) 

 

Considering all your topic posts gets featured on the Recent Posts list for all GA to see (although only for a short time), I wouldn't worry about any naughty comments here.

 

And while we're on the topic, I'd like to know how much you :blushing: and :P LL, while you wrote the scenes we were all waiting for. :lol: 

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Headstall

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11 minutes ago, Drew Espinosa said:

I'm sure Dr. Gary will find a cure. ;) And after that, Dr. Gary could examine my... Damn! I was gonna say something naughty, but this is a feature posted by GA's staff, I wouldn't want to get in trouble. 0:) 

OMG! :rolleyes: . Anywaaaaay... commas are a scourge for a lot of us :yes:

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Reader1810

Reader1810 52,195

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21 minutes ago, LitLover said:

The one thing my poor editor still struggles with, however, is curing me of my comma aversion/affliction. ;)  

If it makes you feel any better Lit, you're not the only one who owns stock in "Comma, Inc." :)

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Timothy M.

Timothy M. 50,252

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1 hour ago, Headstall said:

Anywaaaaay... commas are a scourge for a lot of us :yes:

 

1 hour ago, Reader1810 said:

If it makes you feel any better Lit, you're not the only one who owns stock in "Comma, Inc." :)

 

Yep, you should see my texts when AC and Kitt have edited. Comma edits are at least half the mistakes corrected. :facepalm: 

Edited by Timothy M.
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Drew Espinosa

Drew Espinosa 144,404

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12 minutes ago, Timothy M. said:

Considering all your topic posts gets featured on the Recent Posts list for all GA to see (although only for a short time), I wouldn't worry about any naughty comments here.

I think, I cleaned up quite nicely since the upgrade. :P

 

12 minutes ago, Timothy M. said:

And while we're on the topic, I'd like to know how much you :blushing: and :P LL, while you wrote the scenes we were all waiting for. :lol: 

I also picture Lit and Gary rubbing their hands evilly when it came to her cliff-hangers. :P And yes, I added in Gary, I mean have y'all seen how many times he gloats on reading the chapters before us? <_<:lol: He loves tormenting us as much as Lit! 

Edited by Drew Espinosa
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Headstall

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1 minute ago, Drew Espinosa said:

I think, I cleaned up quite nicely since the upgrade. :P

 

I also picture Lit and Gary rubbing their hands evilly when it came to her cliff-hangers. :P And yes, I addrd in Gary, I mean have y'all seen how many times he gloats on reading the chapters before us? <_<:lol: He loves tormenting us as much as Lit! 

The cliffies are all Lit's. And I do not torment, although I do support all the decisions Lit has made in the torment of her readers :P .

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Drew Espinosa

Drew Espinosa 144,404

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Just now, Headstall said:

The cliffies are all Lit's. And I do not torment, although I do support all the decisions Lit has made in the torment of her readers :P .

That just means you're an enabler. -_-:P 

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Headstall

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10 minutes ago, Drew Espinosa said:

That just means you're an enabler. -_-:P 

No, I'm a supporter of my talented friend... and no remarks about supporter  :P

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Drew Espinosa

Drew Espinosa 144,404

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:rolleyes: Excuses, excuses... :P 

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LitLover

LitLover 66,967

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27 minutes ago, Timothy M. said:

And while we're on the topic, I'd like to know how much you :blushing: and :P LL, while you wrote the scenes we were all waiting for. :lol: 

 

It was funny.  There wasn't a lot of blushing while I was writing the scenes, but I did have moment of embarrassment after I posted, knowing someone was reading those scenes. 

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Reader1810

Reader1810 52,195

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15 minutes ago, Drew Espinosa said:

That just means you're an enabler. -_-:P 

:2thumbs:

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Headstall

Headstall 306,679

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So, Lit, of all the characters in your three chapter stories, do you have a favorite? The choices are great, but mine would definitely be Merrick, with vampire Jenson a close second :) . 

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