If you've spent any time in the blogosphere, you've likely met today's talented author and blogger. Crystal Collier not only writes awesome books with eye-catching covers, she's a relentless cheerleader for other authors, constantly supporting their new releases.
For that reason, it's even more exciting that we get to support Crystal in her new release. I showed you the breathtaking cover of Soulless a couple of months ago:
She recently set some time aside to answer a few questions for my blog. Not only did she tell us about her writing process, but she also shared the multiple concepts that led to the above cover. Read on for that surprise!
Q: Like me, you spent a while trying to get published before you landed that first deal. How does it feel to finally have your words in the hands of readers?
A: Surreal. Every time someone says they’ve read my work, I do this little happy dance. (With cheese.)
Q: I’m in love with your covers! How involved were you in the cover design process?
A: Super. The cover for Moonless ended up being nothing like what I was thinking, but my super genius graphic artist got it exactly right. After a couple false starts with Soulless, I sent him (very rough) mock-up ideas, and he ran with one of them. Talk about flattery! Here are the mock-up ideas:
Q: Tell us a little about Soulless.
A: The official summary: Alexia manipulated time to save the man of her dreams, and lost her best friend to red-eyed wraiths. Still grieving, she struggles to reconcile her loss with what was gained: her impending marriage. But when her wedding is disrupted by the Soulless—who then steal the only protection her people have—she’s forced to unleash her true power.
And risk losing everything.
Soulless is the dark heart of the Maiden of Time trilogy. This was a hard book to write because I didn’t want to see my beloved characters suffer. (My editor made me.) The decisions Alexia faces will determine her character—whether she’ll lose herself to the darkness of her shifting world, or rise above it.
Q: You describe Moonless as Jane Eyre meets Supernatural. What inspired you to write a series with that combination?
A: It just happened. I had a dream of this teenage girl facing a prejudiced society with impossible decisions to make, all while being haunted by an irresistible man with blue eyes. By the second draft I realized Moonless belonged to a larger story world, one that had been tumbling around my head since I was 13 (with things that go bump in the night).
Q: How long did it take you to write Soulless? Was it easier or harder than writing the first book in the series?
A: Soulless was written in about a year (including revisions). However, it had been tickling around my brain since 2007. Compare that to Moonless, first draft completed in 2003, entirely rewritten at least 10 times and finally published in 2013. Yeah, I’d say the process was wee bit easier.
Q: Will readers be able to read more of Alexia’s story or is this the final book in the series?
A: The final book in the trilogy, Timeless, is in the works. There will be a spin-off serial series (release date TBD 2015) titled Bellezza, and the Maiden of Time trilogy is a partner series. Alexia’s story may come to a close with Timeless, but she and her friends will be making appearances in future works.
Crystal Collier is a young adult author who pens dark fantasy, historical, and romance hybrids with a thriller pace. She can be found practicing her brother-induced ninja skills while teaching children or madly typing about fantastic and impossible creatures. She has lived from coast to coast and now calls Florida home with her creative husband, three littles, and “friend” (a.k.a. the zombie locked in her closet). Secretly, she dreams of world domination and a bottomless supply of cheese. You can find her on her blog and Facebook, or follow her on Twitter.
If you're ready to buy Soulless or add it to your Goodreads list, check out the links below. You can also learn a little more about Crystal by visiting her website or following her on social media. Enter the Rafflecopter below to win one of six Halloween-themed/time travel-themed reads.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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