Hi Nadine Travers, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself and your background? I got a lot of titles. I’m an accountant by date, wife and mother 24/7 and a writer for the rest of the time.
Discuss your newest book. My new book, Unbind, will be released May 3rd. This book is the first book of ten. This is a group, Supernatural Intelligence Agency or call SIA, that will have to investigate in the Paranormal Facility. They will discover an ancient evil wizard that was banned in dimensions, tried to get back by killing witches.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated? I always did it. I got a story idea that it’s not written yet, which I was sixteen years old.
What are your current projects? I got book 3 of my Scotland Lovers, time travel series that will be out this fall, also the other book of SIA and an angel series, which will start this fall too.
What books have most influenced your life most? Lord of the ring (3 books) that was the biggest story that I read not only once but 5 times in each different age.
What inspired you to write your first book? For SIA series, I wanted to have a group that was investigated, I love paranormal and it’s easy for me with all those creatures. That give me latitude to write more intense scene.
Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special? Her name is Azura, she’s a witch and can control the 4th elements. Well, she tried too. She’s very powerful but she needs her lovers (which she didn’t want him) to bring her magic at the powerful level. Rook is the commander of the SIA team. He is a werewolf; he dedicates himself to his work. Until, his mates (Azura) show up and his world became to be upside down. Sounds interesting.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? If we are not perfect but clumsier, in a way. We can evolve and transform to be better but with the help of the right person in your life.
Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book? For Rook: Kurt Urban, for Azura: Amy Adams but with red hair
When did you decide to become a writer? Secretly I always want too. But since my first language is French and that I wanted to write in English. That give me more difficulties and still do.
Why do you write? I need it, I got too much story in my head not to get out of it.
What made you decide to sit down and actually start something? I was turning in circles for many years. I was looking at the RWA website at least once a day. I wanted to be part of it. I decided in to join in April 2014, and I was in the learning process. I took so many workshops; it’s been like a brainwash.
Do you write full-time or part-time? For now, part-time but in a very close future I want to do it full-time.
What is the hardest thing about writing? Editing, to be honest. Working my world build and do the first draft. It fun for me.
What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book? Plan my 10 books with the main story of the villains and each book individual story.
What is the easiest thing about writing? My first draft.
What book are you reading now? Mostly, historical, paranormal, MC bikers, new adult too. I have recently discovered the MC books myself.
What is one random thing about you? I love to help other.
What is your preferred medium of writing? Pen and paper or strictly tablet and computers? Computer all the way, Scrivener was my lifesaver.
What does your writing process look like? Usually, I do mind mapping of my story, series or individual book. After, I work my character, they bring other aspects in the story but also strong villains. World build if we need it or at least the basic. After I write my first draft.
Do you have any strange writing habits (like standing on your head or writing in the shower)? I write in my commute time, in a train that I took each day.
How important are names to you in your books? They are, they mean something that is close of the story. Unbind was for the starting release binding of the evil wizard.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? I love my imagination; I never know most of the part my muse will bring my character to be in this way. I discover during my writing process.
Did you make any marketing mistakes or is there anything you would avoid in future? Tried to put my pre-order too close. I have to wait at lease to have my book comes back from my editor.
What is your favourite motivational phrase? I got a lot, but one is never give up your dream.
What is your favourite book and why? OMG! I got too much. But I will think that Lord of the ring series is want of my favourite of all time. Why? Because this is pure imagination and this brings you in other countries.
Do you have any advice for other writers? Never give up. We have to try and learn. Make mistakes and learn from them. But if this is what you wanted to go for it. I means I have three books in my second language. Editing is rough, but it’s very possible.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing? I love to read, also to play video games.
From where do you gain your inspiration? Anywhere, it could be some news or someone talks about a situation, I could say that I good ideas for a book. I look around, taking the train, you see a lot of people talking to each other. That could give you ideas.
What would you say are the main advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing against being published or the other way around? Both had advantage and disadvantage, the only good question to ask is this one. What do you want in your writer life? Do you want to write only and others took care of everything or been in control and decide, even, with small experience that you have, or you could have both too?
How do you market your books? I got my newsletter for my fan, I put my release of Facebook and Twitter. I will try to do a Facebook Party and also Facebook Ads and to see how it work.
Why did you choose this route? I didn’t have the patience to wait for the answer to be honest. I discover that I love the manage project like the cover design.
Would you or do you use a PR agency? I got a VA which it helps me. Working full day, family time during the day. My social media was poor at the beginning. For me it’s an investment, he is able to do other work that I’m not able either.
Do you have any advice for other authors on how to market their books? I think it’s learning and mistakes. I don’t think that you could have a step-by-step guide and to give you magical readership. I think you need to try different ways but also to be comfortable in those ways too.
What part of your writing time do you devote to marketing your book? When I’m in my first draft mode. I don’t have a lot of time to do. Maybe 1 hour per week. But when I’m waiting for my book to come back from my editor, I got more time to work those and to set up automated processes, to promote my book but also to promo book that it’s coming.
What do you do to get book reviews? Now, people do it without me asking them. I think that an honest review from someone you don’t know, it’s like candy for children. Even, bad review is good, if they are constructive.
How successful has your quest for reviews been so far? I could say so-so, with Unbind I will do more and experiment more with it.
Do you have a strategy for finding reviewers? None so far, but I plan to contact blogger and other reviews in this case.
What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews? I think that if it’s constructive is good. Even a bad one. You can’t please everyone and that’s fine too.
Any amusing story about marketing books that happened to you? Yes, I set up a Facebook party, for my book, which will be May 15th. I didn’t see this even was private. I invite everyone but until I saw my mistake and I got to redo another even and reinvite everyone.
What’s your views on social media for marketing? Good, I think this is the way to be close of your reader. They love to have a portion of your life, it means a lot of them. It’s like they are part of the family in a way.
Which social network worked best for you? I could think Twitter so far, second Facebook.
Any tips on what to do and what not to do? You need to be real, fake writer it shows very fast. In the same time, you keep your private life private, you show them only portion that you want to show.
Did you do a press release, Goodreads book launch or anything else to promote your work and did it work? I will do my first Facebook Party May 15th, I will probably try Goodreads too. I will see what I could find and work it.
Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why? OMG! So much for different reasons. Tolkien to ask him tricks how to create a big saga, Lee Child to ask him about to write good tension and action in a story and JK Rowling how to make a powerful series.
If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why? Harry Potter, because you don’t need a big degree to write a success worldwide.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers? Never give up! I think that writer stop writing to trying to when they think it’s going nowhere, give yourself time to learn and to write. But also, have other writer friend, even it’s online. To talk and to other when the other people wonder why you still doing it.
How can readers discover more about you and your work? They could find me here:
Website: http://www.nadinetravers.com
Twitter: @NadineWriter
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/NadineTraversWriter/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/nadinetravers
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