Author Ripley Patton is one of the few self-published writer's shaking up the publishing world. Her first release, Ghost Hand accumulated rave reviews, and I personally believe she is an author to look out for. I see big things in her future and for the future of this very addictive series. I recently did a one-on-one interview with Ripley. Here is what she had to share.
Q: Please tell us about your latest book.
A: My latest book is Ghost Hold, book two of The PSS Chronicles, and it is a young adult paranormal thriller. My goal in writing this whole series was to create a page-turning YA that just couldn't be put down once someone started reading it, and my beta readers tell me I've done just that. They say book two is even more gripping than book one. Also, I wanted to use a plot that I'd never seen or read, a supernatural birth defect. One of the most common comments I get about The PSS Series is that people think Psyche Sans Soma is real. They usually Google is or look it up only to find out it is purely from my imagination. But I guess that means I made it seem realistic.
Q: What can we expect from you in the future?
A: Book three of The PSS Chronicles, of course. It is already writing itself in my head.
Q: How do we find out about you and your books?
A: My website is the best hub of info: http://www.ripleypatton.com/.
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4340243.Ripley_Patton. I hang out there a lot. And you can follow me on Twitter and FB too using the links on my website.
Q: Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?
A: I have a daily routine, but if things aren't flowing I don't force it. There is always something to do when you're a writer.
Q: What is your writing routine once you start a book?
A: Get up when I wake up (ah, the luxury). Eat breakfast. Spend about an hour answering e-mails/doing business. Write for three hours with a break for lunch. Then time with my family and promotion in the evenings.
Q: What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
A: Walk or hike. I also LOVE movies and reality television. And I sometimes do found-object art.
Q: What truly motivates you in general? In your writing?
A: Self-expression and self-discovery is probably my biggest motivator in general and in writing. I write to find out what I feel, think, know, and believe.
Q: Where do your ideas come from?
A: Everywhere. Seriously. I need several more life-times to write all the ideas I have now.
Q: Do you feel humor is important in Young Adult Paranormal writing and why?
A: Absolutely. I think humor is important in most writing. Life is often funny. And if it isn't funny it's so sad that you've gotta laugh so you don't cry. I'm told that my main character, Olivia Black, often makes readers laugh out loud. She certainly makes me laugh.
Q: Would you like to write a different genre than you do now, or sub-genre?
A: I love my genre. I don't think I'll ever stop writing genre YA. But I have some ideas for contemporary or literary YA, and I also have several ideas for contemporary adult fantasy.
Fill in the blank favorites
Favorite Dessert? Root Beer Floats or Blueberry Pie. It's a tie.
City? Portland. I LOVE where I live.
Season? Fall.
Type of hero? Flawed.
Type of heroine? Flawed and gutsy.
Q: What are some of your favorite things to do?
A: Um, write, but that seems obvious. I'm an avid reader. I like to hum. And I love to escape to nature.
Q: Do you have a favorite author? Favorite book?
A: All-time favorite is probably Unwind by Neal Shusterman. That book made me love YA and realize you could write something excitingly different in the genre. Something people hadn't seen before.
Q: Who are some of your other favorite authors to read?
A: Lisa McMann, Juliet Marillier, Mary Holland, Ursula Le Guin, Madeleine L'Engle, Octavia Butler.
Q: Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine?
A: My favorite book is always the book I'm writing. And I don't pick favorite characters. The others might overhear me and seek revenge.
Q: What book for you has been the easiest to write? The hardest? The most fun?
A: Well, Ghost Hand took me three years to write, probably because it was my first, and there were several earthquakes and a move overseas and back during the writing of it. It was the hardest. Ghost Hold only took me six months to write and it came much easier. And they were both loads of fun.
Q: Which comes first, the story, the characters or the setting?
A: I have no idea. It's all a beautiful jumble.
Q: Have you experienced writer's block---> If so, how did you work through it and what is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?
A: Never. I don't believe in writer's block. If I'm not writing, I'm thinking about writing, or promoting writing, or dreaming about writing. All life is writing. I guess I might have writer's block when I'm dead. And the most rewarding thing about writing is when someone loves what you've written and asks for more.
Q: If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?
A: Wishing I was.
Q: Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers.
A: Write the story you want to read. Don't let anyone tell you you can't do it. There is no failure unless you give up.
Q: Please tell us about your latest book.
A: My latest book is Ghost Hold, book two of The PSS Chronicles, and it is a young adult paranormal thriller. My goal in writing this whole series was to create a page-turning YA that just couldn't be put down once someone started reading it, and my beta readers tell me I've done just that. They say book two is even more gripping than book one. Also, I wanted to use a plot that I'd never seen or read, a supernatural birth defect. One of the most common comments I get about The PSS Series is that people think Psyche Sans Soma is real. They usually Google is or look it up only to find out it is purely from my imagination. But I guess that means I made it seem realistic.
Q: What can we expect from you in the future?
A: Book three of The PSS Chronicles, of course. It is already writing itself in my head.
Q: How do we find out about you and your books?
A: My website is the best hub of info: http://www.ripleypatton.com/.
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4340243.Ripley_Patton. I hang out there a lot. And you can follow me on Twitter and FB too using the links on my website.
Q: Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?
A: I have a daily routine, but if things aren't flowing I don't force it. There is always something to do when you're a writer.
Q: What is your writing routine once you start a book?
A: Get up when I wake up (ah, the luxury). Eat breakfast. Spend about an hour answering e-mails/doing business. Write for three hours with a break for lunch. Then time with my family and promotion in the evenings.
Q: What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
A: Walk or hike. I also LOVE movies and reality television. And I sometimes do found-object art.
Q: What truly motivates you in general? In your writing?
A: Self-expression and self-discovery is probably my biggest motivator in general and in writing. I write to find out what I feel, think, know, and believe.
Q: Where do your ideas come from?
A: Everywhere. Seriously. I need several more life-times to write all the ideas I have now.
Q: Do you feel humor is important in Young Adult Paranormal writing and why?
A: Absolutely. I think humor is important in most writing. Life is often funny. And if it isn't funny it's so sad that you've gotta laugh so you don't cry. I'm told that my main character, Olivia Black, often makes readers laugh out loud. She certainly makes me laugh.
Q: Would you like to write a different genre than you do now, or sub-genre?
A: I love my genre. I don't think I'll ever stop writing genre YA. But I have some ideas for contemporary or literary YA, and I also have several ideas for contemporary adult fantasy.
Fill in the blank favorites
Favorite Dessert? Root Beer Floats or Blueberry Pie. It's a tie.
City? Portland. I LOVE where I live.
Season? Fall.
Type of hero? Flawed.
Type of heroine? Flawed and gutsy.
Q: What are some of your favorite things to do?
A: Um, write, but that seems obvious. I'm an avid reader. I like to hum. And I love to escape to nature.
Q: Do you have a favorite author? Favorite book?
A: All-time favorite is probably Unwind by Neal Shusterman. That book made me love YA and realize you could write something excitingly different in the genre. Something people hadn't seen before.
Q: Who are some of your other favorite authors to read?
A: Lisa McMann, Juliet Marillier, Mary Holland, Ursula Le Guin, Madeleine L'Engle, Octavia Butler.
Q: Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine?
A: My favorite book is always the book I'm writing. And I don't pick favorite characters. The others might overhear me and seek revenge.
Q: What book for you has been the easiest to write? The hardest? The most fun?
A: Well, Ghost Hand took me three years to write, probably because it was my first, and there were several earthquakes and a move overseas and back during the writing of it. It was the hardest. Ghost Hold only took me six months to write and it came much easier. And they were both loads of fun.
Q: Which comes first, the story, the characters or the setting?
A: I have no idea. It's all a beautiful jumble.
Q: Have you experienced writer's block---> If so, how did you work through it and what is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?
A: Never. I don't believe in writer's block. If I'm not writing, I'm thinking about writing, or promoting writing, or dreaming about writing. All life is writing. I guess I might have writer's block when I'm dead. And the most rewarding thing about writing is when someone loves what you've written and asks for more.
Q: If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?
A: Wishing I was.
Q: Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers.
A: Write the story you want to read. Don't let anyone tell you you can't do it. There is no failure unless you give up.
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