Interview: June Stevens-on her upcoming book

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Welcome to Beck’s Book Picks.  Today I have June Stevens. This is a different kind of interview, I'm interviewing her about a book that she is still writing! Yup, you heard right. Sit back and grab a drink and enjoy this interview and then be sure to add Voodoo Moon to your TBR list.

Tell us a little about yourself?

Thank you so much for having me!  I am a thirty-@#$# year old wife, stepmom, sister, and auntie.  I have been a freelance writer, editor and ghost writer for several years.  I recently founded Curvalicious Living Magazine(http://curvaliciousliving.com), where I am editor in chief.  In my “day job” I am a court advocate for victims of domestic violence. 

Tell us a little about your latest release and how you came up with the idea?

Well, it hasn’t been released yet.  What I am doing is the Idea to Novel Experiment:

I am attempting to take a novel from idea to published novel in 6 months.  And I am doing it publicly by blogging about it. The idea came about as a way to motivate myself to seriously participate in NaNoWriMo, and focus on getting a full length novel written.  I figured the pressure of writing the book publicly would make me stick to it this year.  I also think it’s a good way to show just how my book for writers, The Story Cookbook: An Organized Approach to Fiction Writing (http://curvywriter.info/blog/?page_id=33), can be used to help develop a book.

The Plan:

Sept & Oct: Pre-write the book using the Story Cookbook (I’m a little behind, but I think I will be ready to go by Nov. 1)

November: NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month): Write, write write.  At least 50K words

December & January: Revisions and edits

Do you only write this one genre or have you branched out?

In the past I have had several romantic fiction short stories and novella’s published under different pennames.  I have scrapped them all and am starting over with a new pen name and new genre.  In the past I have not linked my pen names with my real name (the name I use for nonfiction).  Starting with the book I am writing for The Idea to Novel Experiment during NaNoWriMo, Voodoo Moon, I will write paranormal romance as June Stevens. 

This is my first attempt at paranormal/urban fiction.  I’m excited and nervous.

What are you currently working on?

Voodoo Moon: Voodoo Moon is set in a futuristic post-apocalyptic world I call the ParaNorm World.  After a worldwide cataclysm and wars that broke down society and changed the landscape of the world, a new society had to take shape.  The magic users and paranormal beings that spent centuries in hiding and were relegated to myth and legend had to come out of hiding to save the world that shunned them.  Now witches, vampires, werebeasts and normal humans live side by side in a society that was built by merging technology and magic.

In the ruins of old cities new ones formed.  New governments rule.  Within the walls of the autonomous city-states that have risen up life is safe with Peacekeepers on every corner. Or it should be.  Beyond the walls in the outer-zones is where the outlaws live.  Right?

Fiona Moon is a member of the elite Black Blade Guard.  She hunts down the worst ParaNorm outlaws and is no stranger to the OZ.  But when powerful ParaNorms start going missing inside NashCity she realizes there may be something nasty lurking within the city walls.  When the crime hits close to home, Fiona must seek help from the one man that embodies everything she despises.

Do you have any writing quirks?

I often stare into space or put my head in my hands while I’m thinking.  It worries my husband, he always thinks something is wrong.

What gets you into the mood to write?

Usually lying in the bed, taking a shower, or driving the car.  Anything I am doing where I CAN’T sit down and write seems to trigger my creative juices.

Favorite snack or drink while you write?

Anything caffeinated and chocolate.

Any words of advice to aspiring authors?

Just do it.  Writers write.  Don’t let anyone discourage you.  And most importantly don’t let YOU discourage you.  The biggest reason I decided to motivate myself to write this novel or risk very public humiliation is because I didn’t want to be one of those people that kept saying “someday”.  I have written many short stories and novellas (under pen names I no longer use), but I kept putting off writing something mainstream to break into what I really wanted to do, write full length novels.  I kept letting life, other projects, and my own procrastination get in the way.  Then, in August I lost my mother.  She was only 55.  She was also a very talented writer and she always wanted to write a book.  But she always said she didn’t have time and maybe someday when she had time, could focus…the excuses were limitless.  But her time wasn’t.  I’m determined I’m going to live my dream and do it well enough for the both of us.  So, now that I’ve depressed you, that is my advice: Live your dreams while you can…if life gets in the way, find a way to get around it.

What are you currently reading?

I have Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews in my Ipod and I listen to it when I clean house, but other than that, no time to read right now L

And finally, is there anything you would like to share?

I hope you will follow my progress in the Experiment and the progress of Voodoo Moon on the CurvyWriter Blog (http://curvywriter.info/blog/) and the ParaNorm Website: (http://paranormworld.info/blog/).