I met S. M. Boyce online through Twitter and I quickly
realized that not only was she talented, she was also kind and
funny. Her debut novel,
Lichgates,
was a semi-finalist in The Kindle Book Reviews Best
Indie Books of 2012, and won the Blogger Book Fair Reader’s
Choice Award for Best Fantasy Novel in July 2012.
Boyce has a B. A. in Creative Writing and has put it to good use. The highly anticipated Treason, the second book in the Grimoire Trilogy, was released on October 27, 2012 and she is hard at work on the third book, Heritage.
Treason is also on a blog tour right now until December 31st. During the tour, Boyce will be giving away $500 worth of prizes, so be sure to check that out. You can get the tour schedule HERE.
Luckily, Boyce agreed to an interview even though she is extremely busy. So, here are her thoughts on writing, publishing and marketing, for your reading pleasure:
[FFM] What inspired you to write your first book?
[SMB] Years of daydreaming and asking “What if?” I draw inspiration from everything in my life, and the Grimoire Trilogy was a fleeting idea that snowballed into something truly epic.
[FFM] Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?
[SMB] There are quite a lot of challenges facing new authors, especially nowadays. Between choosing whether to go indie or traditional and trying to dodge all the scammers along the way, it’s hard to know what to do. That’s why I created Boyce’s Guide to Writing . It’s a blog I update weekly with tips, tricks, and discussions on new developments in the industry. Feel free to go check it out and subscribe—it’ll always be free.
[FFM] How do you market your work? What avenues have you found to work best for your genre?
[SMB] Again, a lot of my marketing tips and discoveries are on Boyce’s Guide to Writing . However, I can tell you now that Twitter has been vastly helpful. It’s such an easy way to connect with readers, engage with fans, and network with new authors. I’ve made a ton of sales thanks to Twitter, and I definitely recommend authors build a presence on the social networking site. Feel free to follow me and tweet me a hello.
[FFM] Who designed the covers?
[SMB] A friend of mine, Rob Meridy. However, he’s not for hire at the moment (Mwuahahaha he’s mine). He does this for fun. If you want to take a look at his other work, you can check out his Deviant Art site.
[FFM] Can you tell us about your upcoming book?
[SMB] Sure thing. Heritage , the last in the Grimoire Trilogy, comes out next Fall. I’m making great progress on it, and that should be right on time. Each year after, I’ll release a novel with the backstory on side characters like Stone, Deidre, and the first Vagabond. Down the line, I even plan to release a print copy of the free online encyclopedia of the world. So follow my blog and stay tuned!
I’m also going to release the first book in a new series next fall, just before Heritage. If you’d like to get updates on this new series, make sure you follow my bookworms-only blog or sign up for ARCs of all my future works .
[FFM] Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
[SMB] Definitely. Both Thomas Winship and Nikki Jefford are talented authors who don’t get enough recognition for their great work. You should definitely check out their novels.
[FFM] Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
[SMB] My biggest advice is twofold: get an editor and develop thick skin. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been writing or how good you think you are—everyone needs an editor. Find someone who works with you and challenges what you know, and swap services if they’re a bit pricey.
Make sure you check out Boyce’s Guide to Writing for more.
[FFM] Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
[SMB] Thank you for everything. Your reviews, fan letters, blog comments, and feedback are invaluable. You remind me to stay positive when things get rough, and I can’t thank you enough for that. Stay awesome!
Here are some Links to Boyce and her Books:
Blog
Website
Google+
YouTube
Goodreads Page
Amazon Page
Official Book Website
Amazon (US)
Amazon(UK)
Goodreads
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords
Createspace
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