As an author it's important to remember that sometimes you need to LEAVE your writing space for inspiration. This past week I hiked a mountain with some family who were visiting, and as I sat up there near the top, the icy wind blowing my hair against my dried-out lips, the white sun glaring into my eyes while I looked down upon that open land dotted with cacti and underbrush, I felt like a wild thing. And I started imagining--imagining the main character from my fantasy novel, "The Charismatics," climbing her own mountain in the sequel I'll start writing this summer, and the harrowing journey she has ahead--and it was magical. I itched to start writing again. So before I introduce my steampunk author friend, Ava Morgan, and our interview about her self-publishing journey, let me just remind you that as artists we need to EXPLORE the world sometimes. Eat a new food, go on a mini-trip, take a salsa dancing class, gree to a date.
Experience life so that we can encapsulate it fully in our writings, and enjoy our precious time here.
Now let's meet Ava Morgan, steampunk author extraordinaire!
Experience life so that we can encapsulate it fully in our writings, and enjoy our precious time here.
Now let's meet Ava Morgan, steampunk author extraordinaire!
1. Tell us about Ava Morgan as a child (all the strange details!). Or maybe just some personality traits. Did you show signs of a future as a writer, even when you were young?
Thanks for welcoming me, Ashley. I was the lone wolf/class nerd growing up, always reading or scribbling stories down in a notebook. My usual inspirations were Saturday morning cartoons (Waaay back in the day when Saturday morning television was reserved for the young’uns), Dungeons and Dragons, and Choose Your Own Adventure novels.
This geekdom definitely wasn’t cool when I was growing up in the Steve Urkel era. If I only knew the terms cosplay and fanfiction in those days. It would have saved me plenty of preteen angst about my little corner of weirdness. But I’m happy to live in a time now where people are embracing individuality and consuming entertainment with a scifi/fantasy bent J
2. What have been your best and worst experiences in writing so far, and how have you handled them?
I’ll start with the positive. My best experience was choosing to go the self-publishing/independent route. I love the freedom and control I have over my writing, the ability to work hard to turn it into a career. No one is telling me I can’t write steampunk and paranormal romance at the same time. No one is telling me I can’t have multicultural characters in my novels or to change their ethnicity and background so readers will feel more “comfortable”. A couple editors actually did tell me to do this when I was in traditional publishing. With self-pub, the only people whose opinion matters are the readers, not a marketing department.
As for the not-so-positive experiences, see the above. I used to write historical romances for trad pub, and encountered my share of difficulties from both creative and business standpoints. I realize some authors prefer this route to publishing. I’m not attacking them. It’s just that trad pub wasn’t a good fit for me and the stories I wanted to publish.
3. Why did you decide to self-publish? Was it always your plan, or something you decided upon after querying for a while?
I had stories that I knew were better served for a niche market. Self-publishing allowed me to do that. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I like how self-publishing provides higher royalties than those in boilerplate publishing contracts.
4. Tell us about your current novel available (or novels).
I just released Dominique’s Dilemma, a novelette that takes place in the steampunk Curiosity Chronicles world. It centers on the story of Dominique Fontaine, a former industrial spy for the French, as she and British agent Colton Smythe deal with a mysterious mechanical menace terrorizing the people of her village. There’s sort of an old French fairy tale theme going on… The whole Curiosity Chronicles series follows agents from both New Britannia and France as they race to catch criminal industrialists and find scientific inventions, all while discovering love.
5. What does your writing process look like? How long does it take you to write each draft, do you re-write the entire second draft (as I’ve read some authors do) or just tweak it, etc.? Beta-readers, editors, cover design? TELL US YOUR SECRETS.
I write 5-6 days a week, and I aim for a certain word count. Once the first draft is done, I give it and myself a break for a few days. Then I begin self-edits. Once those are completed, I hand the manuscript to my editor and several beta readers. Finally, when all the feedback is received, changes are incorporated into the final draft. As for my cover design, I go with For The Muse Design. Elaina Lee is amazing. She knows what images work for different genres, especially steampunk art. She also designs my covers for my YA paranormal series The Grafters and my upcoming shifter series Wolves of Amarok.
6. Any mistakes you've made or advice for other writers?
My mistake was failing to educate myself about my options early on. Do your research before you make any decision. Don’t just rely on one source of information. Fact-check, read the self-publishing blogs, participate in forums. Also, don’t be afraid to treat writing as both business and pleasure. Yes, we do it because we love the art of writing, but we need to consider ourselves business entrepreneurs as well as artists.
7. What is something readers don’t know about you? Hobby you enjoy, or a fun personal quirk?
I love film noir and pulp fiction. There was definitely a gritty but stylish aesthetic in the look and tone of 1940s-50s entertainment. My bookshelves are weighed down with classic movie tomes, Golden Hollywood autobiographies, and Raymond Chandler collections.
8. And finally, I like to ask each interviewee to recommend a charity that they feel personally drawn to, so that I can add it to the charity page on my website! What organization or charity do you feel we should raise awareness about?
Compassion International is a child sponsorship program that my husband and I have been a part of for five years now. This program enables people to donate $38 a month to provide a child in developing countries with access to food, clean water, education, and mentoring. With all the hatred and persecution plaguing humanity right now, we sometimes forget about the smallest victims. Compassion International provides an opportunity to be proactive by helping children live better lives.
Thanks for hosting me today, Ashley! I enjoyed our conversation. Looking forward to reading more of your novels. Cheers!
Thanks for welcoming me, Ashley. I was the lone wolf/class nerd growing up, always reading or scribbling stories down in a notebook. My usual inspirations were Saturday morning cartoons (Waaay back in the day when Saturday morning television was reserved for the young’uns), Dungeons and Dragons, and Choose Your Own Adventure novels.
This geekdom definitely wasn’t cool when I was growing up in the Steve Urkel era. If I only knew the terms cosplay and fanfiction in those days. It would have saved me plenty of preteen angst about my little corner of weirdness. But I’m happy to live in a time now where people are embracing individuality and consuming entertainment with a scifi/fantasy bent J
2. What have been your best and worst experiences in writing so far, and how have you handled them?
I’ll start with the positive. My best experience was choosing to go the self-publishing/independent route. I love the freedom and control I have over my writing, the ability to work hard to turn it into a career. No one is telling me I can’t write steampunk and paranormal romance at the same time. No one is telling me I can’t have multicultural characters in my novels or to change their ethnicity and background so readers will feel more “comfortable”. A couple editors actually did tell me to do this when I was in traditional publishing. With self-pub, the only people whose opinion matters are the readers, not a marketing department.
As for the not-so-positive experiences, see the above. I used to write historical romances for trad pub, and encountered my share of difficulties from both creative and business standpoints. I realize some authors prefer this route to publishing. I’m not attacking them. It’s just that trad pub wasn’t a good fit for me and the stories I wanted to publish.
3. Why did you decide to self-publish? Was it always your plan, or something you decided upon after querying for a while?
I had stories that I knew were better served for a niche market. Self-publishing allowed me to do that. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I like how self-publishing provides higher royalties than those in boilerplate publishing contracts.
4. Tell us about your current novel available (or novels).
I just released Dominique’s Dilemma, a novelette that takes place in the steampunk Curiosity Chronicles world. It centers on the story of Dominique Fontaine, a former industrial spy for the French, as she and British agent Colton Smythe deal with a mysterious mechanical menace terrorizing the people of her village. There’s sort of an old French fairy tale theme going on… The whole Curiosity Chronicles series follows agents from both New Britannia and France as they race to catch criminal industrialists and find scientific inventions, all while discovering love.
5. What does your writing process look like? How long does it take you to write each draft, do you re-write the entire second draft (as I’ve read some authors do) or just tweak it, etc.? Beta-readers, editors, cover design? TELL US YOUR SECRETS.
I write 5-6 days a week, and I aim for a certain word count. Once the first draft is done, I give it and myself a break for a few days. Then I begin self-edits. Once those are completed, I hand the manuscript to my editor and several beta readers. Finally, when all the feedback is received, changes are incorporated into the final draft. As for my cover design, I go with For The Muse Design. Elaina Lee is amazing. She knows what images work for different genres, especially steampunk art. She also designs my covers for my YA paranormal series The Grafters and my upcoming shifter series Wolves of Amarok.
6. Any mistakes you've made or advice for other writers?
My mistake was failing to educate myself about my options early on. Do your research before you make any decision. Don’t just rely on one source of information. Fact-check, read the self-publishing blogs, participate in forums. Also, don’t be afraid to treat writing as both business and pleasure. Yes, we do it because we love the art of writing, but we need to consider ourselves business entrepreneurs as well as artists.
7. What is something readers don’t know about you? Hobby you enjoy, or a fun personal quirk?
I love film noir and pulp fiction. There was definitely a gritty but stylish aesthetic in the look and tone of 1940s-50s entertainment. My bookshelves are weighed down with classic movie tomes, Golden Hollywood autobiographies, and Raymond Chandler collections.
8. And finally, I like to ask each interviewee to recommend a charity that they feel personally drawn to, so that I can add it to the charity page on my website! What organization or charity do you feel we should raise awareness about?
Compassion International is a child sponsorship program that my husband and I have been a part of for five years now. This program enables people to donate $38 a month to provide a child in developing countries with access to food, clean water, education, and mentoring. With all the hatred and persecution plaguing humanity right now, we sometimes forget about the smallest victims. Compassion International provides an opportunity to be proactive by helping children live better lives.
Thanks for hosting me today, Ashley! I enjoyed our conversation. Looking forward to reading more of your novels. Cheers!
| Ava Morgan is a history buff, vintage style lover, and a bibliophile. She’ll read anything, especially steampunk, fantasy, and pulp fiction. When she isn’t planted in her writing chair, she can be found bicycling with her husband, raising two furry canine children, costuming, and traveling. Come say hello at www.avamorgan.com. |  |
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