Local author interview: Rochelle Bradley

Recently I was privileged to interview another great local author, Rochelle Bradley. Read on!

What was the first creative piece you wrote?

I wrote a screenplay while in high school, but my first complete novel-length manuscript I wrote in September 2008. 80K words in six weeks. It‘s currently under my bed but it was fun to get the characters out of my head. The heroine time-traveled so I’ll have to give props to all those Star Trek/Dr. Who episodes I’ve watched over the years.

What was the initial inspiration behind your first novel?

A dream. It played in my head like a movie. No one I knew was in it and I saw through someone else’s perspective. I can remember vivid details at will about this type of “epic” dream. Most of my stories are based on dreams.

The Fortuna, Texas series

You are the local Dayton liaison for NaNoWriMo. Could you tell us about your role for those unversed in what NaNoWriMo is about?

NaNoWriMo stands for: National Novel Writing Month, which happens every November. Writers from around the world are challenged to write 50K words in 30 days or 1,667 words per day. An ML (municipal liaison) is a fancy word for volunteer. All MLs help encourage writers to keep going and make their personal goals. We also plan events where we sit and write together. Writing is a solitary activity so meeting others that “get you” is fun.

What advice do you have for writers who want to try NaNo for the first time?

Do it! It’s awesome to meet fellow writers in the area and have a deadline. Even if you don’t make your goal you are still closer to the finish product and hopefully you’ve made new friends. My published novels I started during NaNoWrimo. If I can do it, why not you too?

What most reliably reinvigorates you when you feel like giving up on writing?

I love meeting with other authors to have lunch, coffee or to just talk. It’s helpful to have someone who understands marketing, editing, and writing woes and successes.

Creatively speaking, what are you working on currently?

Good question. Ha! I should be working on book four in my romantic comedy series but I’ve unearthed a paranormal/urban fantasy new adult novel. The main character comes from long-lived people who have djinns in there bloodline. Of course, she’s clueless about her heredity and has been hidden within the average human high school.

But, alas, book four is due out in the fall. Ironically it’s called Municipal Liaisons but isn’t about NaNoWriMo, rather it’s about the mayor of Fortuna, Texas.

What authors are most interesting to you of late?

For summer vacation this year I attempted to read six books in seven days. I was able to get through five. They ranged from romantic comedy to paranormal romance. I enjoyed taking a break from the heat of Fortuna, Texas. However, my most recent read is by CC Dragon. I met her a few years ago at Lori Foster’s RAGT (Reader and Author Get Together) but I hadn’t bought a book until the Writer’s on the River event in Peoria, IL. She has several series and I purchased the first book in her Deanna Oscar series: A Mansion, a Drag Queen, and a New Job. Set in New Orleans, it was a fun read with humor, ghosts, mystery, and mayhem. And yes, I’m itching to read book two. There are ten in the series.

How do you feel about the state of the book industry and what would you change about it if you could?

I like that anyone has the opportunity to sell and promote their manuscript. There so many wonderful tools on marketing, designing, editing and the craft of writing available to everyone. Writers (especially newbies) should take advantage of these lost cost and sometimes free tools. Even YouTube has helpful videos on editing and craft.

For the most part I have not had issues with the giant, however one of my pet peeves is regarding Amazon. If a reader orders my book today and they have a Prime account Amazon will print it on demand immediately then the reader will get the book tomorrow. If I order my book Amazon will wait three weeks to print it. It could take up to six weeks to get the package. This makes it hard to plan for events especially if you have pre-orders and don’t want to pay the expedited shipping. Which reminds me…I should go order some books for my fall events.

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Rochelle has consistently been a source of encouragement and inspiration to me and the other Dayton-area authors. Her enthusiasm for the craft and for NaNoWriMo is infectious. Please have a looksee at what she’s up to and consider supporting her work.

Rochelle’s Social media:

https://twitter.com/AuthorRochelleB

https://www.instagram.com/rochelle.bradley/

https://www.pinterest.com/BradleyRochelle/

https://rochellebradley.com/

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/rochelle-bradley

https://www.facebook.com/RochelleBradleyAuthor/

https://rochellebradley.tumblr.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/302601987137169/ (Fan Group)

https://www.amazon.com/author/rochellebradley

Rochelle’s buy links:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0778LRCW8 (The Double D Ranch Fortuna, Texas book1)