Happy Sunday, I hope you are staying warm and cozy on this cold day. Today I am posting the interview with Cecily Wolfe! She is an inspiring author of YA, contemporary fiction, and historical romance; to name a few genres. She writes for the sake of writing and loves every minute of it! Cecily has a new book out called Starlight. If you want to follow her and learn more about her and her books check out her sites. She can be found on Instagram, Amazon, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, LibraryThing, BookBub, Youtube, and her Website!
Are you an indie author or a traditionally published author?
I am an indie author when it comes to fiction, but I have had non-fiction material traditionally published.
Tell me a little about your writing journey, thus far.
My writing journey had been a fantastic, exhausting, and thrilling learning experience! I have met so many other indie authors who have been welcoming and supportive, lending me great advice that has saved me time, money, and stress.
Do you write under a pseudonym? If so explain why.
I do write under a pseudonym. Sometimes characters who come to me are inspired by family or friends (or non-friends, shall we say) from my real life, and I would never want to upset or draw attention to anyone by including them in a book in an identifiable way. With a different name, I don’t have to worry about that.
What genre do you write and why?
I write in several genres, however, the stories fit as they come to me. Those I have written in already include inspirational historical romance, young adult, and contemporary fiction.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently working on my 2019 books: The Library War, which is contemporary YA, and a contemporary women’s fiction called American Girls, which is inspired by my younger sister and my experiences growing up in the 1980s, and we are co-writing it together. This has been more stressful than we had ever imagined.
What inspired you to write your books?
I have been writing since I was in elementary school, and I am inspired by absolutely anything. It might be a word on a sign, an overheard conversation, or a face I see in a crowd. Dreams bring me a lot of characters and their stories as well. I never know where I’ll get my next idea, which is a very fun and exciting way to live.
What are your top 5 favorite books?
Five of my favorite books are The Shadowhunter Chronicles by Cassandra Clare (sorry, I can’t choose just one of them!), Crash Into You by Katie McGarry, Air Awakens (the whole series!) by Elise Kova), Royal Marriage Market by Heather Lyons, and The Cherished Quilt by Amy Clipston. I love a variety of genres – it just depends on the story and the characters. It’s hard to pick just five as my favorites, so I’m sure I’m missing so many others here!
What does literary success look like to you?
Literary success looks like me being happy writing. It doesn’t mean not stressing or working – there’s plenty of that! The day I sit down to write, and I hate it, I’m done. It’s great to see wonderful reviews and royalty deposits, but at the end of the day, if I don’t look forward to writing again the next day, it just isn’t worth it. I have so many characters in my head who want to tell their stories, and I can’t imagine ever not wanting to do that for them.
How many hours a day do you write? What is your writing routine?
Most days I write a chapter (about 2000 words). This may take an hour, or four, depending on how much time I have to sit and write at one time. I work full-time (as a librarian – perfect job for a writer and reader!) so sometimes it is hard to fit it in, but if I love what I’m writing, it is easy to push through, even when I’m tired. Some days I only have twenty minutes and only get 500 words done, but it all adds up at the end. I like to write in the mornings, but I’ll write whenever I can fit it into my schedule on any given day.
If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it be and why?
Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire, and not because of the book itself. The book is one of my favorite stories and a great escape when my head is full of life in general, and I need to clear it. McGuire paved the way for so many of us and gave us the inspiration and confidence to push forward and send our books out into the world, and to not give up. I used the self-publishing advice on her website when I first began and thought while I could do the writing, the formatting, covers, marketing – all of that – was beyond me. She made me realize that it wasn’t, and while it hasn’t been easy, it’s been so worth it. I wish I could thank her personally for her practical and realistic advice, offered so freely to us all.
What advice would you like to give to aspiring authors?
Just do it! Yes, it sounds easy, and it is, except when it isn’t. If you want to write, write. Do it every day. Pay attention to the world and people around you. Characters and their stories are right in front of you. Dream, both when you sleep and when you are awake, and work towards making your dreams come true. Set goals, make plans, and stick to them. Don’t give up!
Check out her new book: Starlight!!
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