Interview ~ Stacy Mantle, author of Shepherd's Moon

 Read on to learn a little more about my newest favorite author! And don't forget to go here for a chance to win a Signed copy of Shepherd's Moon and a basket full of pet goodies! This book is AMAZING! I gave it 5 stars. Click the link above to read my review. 

Interview with Stacy Mantle, Author of Shepherd’s Moon

Thanks so much for taking the time to do this interview.  Thank you for having me! It’s a great pleasure to be here and I really appreciate you giving me the time to talk about my newest novel, Shepherd’s Moon!

What is your all-time favorite book?

Wow… That is a really tough question. For me, it’s like trying to choose a favorite pet. I guess if I were stranded on an island and the only book I could take with me, I would choose Vol. 1 of the Norton Anthology of English Literature. That way, I would have all of my classics. Lately, though, I’ve been on a Game of Thrones kick and I would miss that series tremendously!

What inspired you to want to become a writer? I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was old enough to hold a crayon. There’s something about the timeless and ancient tradition of storytelling that touches something almost primal in me.

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors? 

Write. Seriously – write. Writing is easy when you get paid for it, or have a contract for a book, but it becomes very difficult when you don’t have a financial motivation. I think that’s what separates the real writers – the ability to carry on writing when it’s not easy.  Once you make a commitment to being a writer, you’re taking on a sacred oath to never give it up.

What jobs did you have (or currently have) before you became a writer?

I’ve done everything from working on dude ranches in Colorado to being the senior copywriter for a Fortune 500 company. For the last twenty years though, I’ve worked solely as a writer in one capacity or another. I usually only get a chance to work on my novels at night.

Do you have any hidden talents?

Actually, I guess I do! I grew up playing classical piano and I compete in archery competitions. I also target shoot with “regular” guns.

I am dying for the next book, when is it coming out?

I’m hoping I can have it available for purchase by this October. It will actually be done some time in August, but I want to make sure my beta readers and editors have plenty of time to review before we make it available to the general public.

 

Shepherds Moon hinted at some romantic tension between Alex and Tristan, will they explore those feelings? Or is that a spoiler?

Alex and Tristan have a very complex relationship that will most definitely be explored further in the second book. I’m not saying it’s going to be fully developed, but it will most certainly be explored! 

How do reviews, good or bad, affect you?

I’m honestly not sure how much bloggers and reviewers realize the effect they have on authors. There was a time when criticism would send me into a depression, but I think that 20 years of writing has toughened me up a bit. I still have a hard time reading reviews, but I do it anyway – and I always try to incorporate the recommendations into future projects.

How many books do you have planned for this series? 

I’m very fortunate that I have so many amazing and complex characters in this series – because of this, I feel like I could develop many novels from this series. Each character also has the potential for a spin-off series, and the political structure of the novel allows me lots of room to bring in new characters. At this point, I’ve got 10 outlines developed for the series. If people are still interested after that, I’ll have no problem developing ten more!

Can you tell us the title for the next book? 

The next novel is entitled “Blood of the Shepherd” and it primarily takes place in Seattle, Washington.

Favorite food? 

Mexican food is a staple for me, but I also love Japanese food whenever I can get it.

Cat or Dog?

I’ve got a lot of pets, so that’s a very tough question. I love the independent nature of cats, but I also love the affection of my dogs.

What do you do to relax?

I’m not sure I understand the question… J Seriously, though – I spend way too much time behind a desk, so my escape is watching someone else’s world. I’m a complete TV hound and I read a lot.

When writing, do you plot and organize, or do you write then fit it all together?

I made a tragic mistake with Shepherd’s Moon by not plotting and I hope that I can avoid repeating it in future books. I have a very non-specific outline that I’m using for Blood of the Shepherd, but I do let my characters go off in other directions if they need too. Scrivener is helping me stay more focused in this next novel and I’m realizing how important it is to outline.

What is one thing you absolutely need while writing? 

Iced tea or hot tea (depending on the time of year). That’s a must have. It also helps if I have a cat lying on my desktop and a dog at my feet.

Anything you would like to add? 

I just want to thank everyone who has taken the time to read and review Shepherd’s Moon. One way you can help your favorite writers is to “Like” their books (and facebook pages and Twitter accounts), and reviews are super important on Amazon and Barnes & Noble (et al).

I really appreciate you taking time from your schedule to answer these questions. 

Thanks for having me!

Learn more about Stacy Mantle here:
Facebook: 

Shepherd's Moon: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shepherds-Moon/161543100603408
Stacy Mantle: www.facebook.com/stacymantle

Twitter:

http://www.twitter.com/stacymantle

G+

StacyMantle: (shortened) http://goo.gl/5K6z1
Shepherd's Moon: http://gplus.to/ShepherdsMoon

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13117192-shepherd-s-moon
RedRoom: http://redroom.com/member/stacy-mantle


Buy Shepherd's Moon Here:
Amazon:

    E-book: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005ZN147A
    Print: http://www.amazon.com/Shepherds-Moon-Stacy-Mantle/dp/1466471387

Amazon UK: 

    E-Book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shepherds-Moon-Series-ebook/dp/B005ZN147A/
    Paperback: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shepherds-Moon-Stacy-Mantle/dp/1466471387/

Barnes and Noble:

    Print: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shepherds-moon-stacy-mantle/1035668762