My Interview with C.L. Schneider!
Thank
you for joining me today. I am excited
to introduce you to my readers, particularly those who enjoy the sci-fi and
fantasy genres!
1.
How a person sees themselves
is quite revealing, not to mention interesting, so I always start with the same
question: please tell us how you’d describe yourself?
·
Wow. You start out with the hard question first!
·
I would say that I’m a really patient person (just not with
technology!). I love the weird and the strange. I’m definitely a fangirl of way
too many TV shows, and I love Netflix.
·
I have a tendency to be sarcastic and irreverent, and moody. I
try not to let my moodiness show, though. Instead, I channel those emotions
into my writing. Speaking of which… I
have tunnel-vision when it comes to writing. I’m perfectly happy to be alone
with a notebook, even in a crowded room. It’s not that I’m unsociable. It’s
just that I have a whole world in that notebook that needs my attention.
2.
I know you have been heavily
influenced by your love of reading. In
particular, you were always drawn to sci-fi and supernatural, but you have said
you were drawn to fantasy by your interest in The Middle Ages. Ultimately, this is what shaped your writing,
so let’s focus the first set of questions on this.
·
Firstly, what about The Middle Ages was particularly fascinating
to you?
·
I can’t really put my finger on one particular aspect that
fascinated me, but ever since I was a little girl, I was drawn to that time
period. Even though it was dangerous and less than sanitary, I always found it
to be romantic and adventurous. There was so much yet to discover and learn. So
much mystery left in the world.
o
Did you discover
your love for this era because of school, literature, or cinema?
§ I would say literature and cinema.
o
Was there something
or someone that influences you the most from this time period?
§ When I was young, I was fascinated by the legends of Robin Hood and
King Arthur in literature and movies.
§ I loved to read about King Henry the 8th and his many
wives. It was a fascination that led me to read a large amount of historical
fiction set in that time period.
§ The Renaissance Faire also played a big part. I went every year,
starting when I was in elementary school and continuing well into adulthood. I
always went in costume, of course. I felt so at home there. I never wanted to
leave. If I could dress like that every
day, I would! Once I had my own children, my attendance dropped off. I don’t
get there near as often as I would like anymore. It’s still one of my favorite
places to go.
·
How did this lead you to fantasy?
·
As much as I enjoyed historical fiction, I didn’t read my first
true epic fantasy novel until the end of high school.
·
My brother was always into comic books and scifi, which
eventually grew to include fantasy. He kept telling me about all these great
fantasy books that he was reading, but I just had not gotten around to it yet.
·
So many books, so little time J
·
Then he bought me a copy of The Mists of Avalon, by Marion
Zimmer Bradley. And I fell in love. I read it cover to cover, back
to back. I had already been writing for years, but that book spoke to me. It cemented
my desire to write fantasy.
o
What parallels do you associate between The Middle Ages and
Fantasy?
§ I think both have an aura of mystery and adventure surrounding
them, a sense of possibility and wonder, where humanity is on the cusp of so
many things. It’s a romanticized notion.
§ The Middle Ages was dangerous and unsanitary. There were many
hardships, especially for women. But I think that’s where fantasy comes in. It
can take those base elements and plop them into a story, allowing you to
experience them in a much safer environment.
·
What do you think most influences your reading and writing
tastes? Why, and what authors did/do you
prefer, if any?
·
My tastes in reading and writing are similar. I most enjoy a
character-driven story full of flawed characters. I love to read first person
and that is also my favorite to write in. I find it easier to dive into the
character’s head and become them when I’m writing first person. My style is a blend of epic fantasy with a
modern, contemporary voice. That comes directly from my favorite authors and
their influence.
·
On the top of the list would be fantasy author, C. J. Cherryh. She had a huge influence on
my writing, especially in developing flawed characters.
·
Other authors that influenced me are Marion Zimmer Bradley
and Jennifer Roberson.
I learned so much from all of them.
·
Later on, I fell in love with Jim Butcher’s writing as well as Simon R. Green.
Devouring their books taught me how to write first person.
·
You love fantasy, but you say you primarily write in urban
fantasy. What is the difference between
these two genres, in your opinion?
·
The fantasy genre usually involves magic or magical creatures of
some kind, set in an imaginary world.
·
Urban fantasy takes some of those elements and drops them in the
modern age. Most are set in a city/urban environment that can be real or
fictional. The technology and advancements are what we are used to today, or
close to it. It usually involves mythical, legendary, or magical creature(s).
Sometimes the human characters are aware of what is in their midst. Sometimes
they’re not.
o
Why do you prefer to write primarily in Urban Fantasy?
§ Actually, I don’t write primarily in urban fantasy. I would say I’m
pretty evenly split between epic and urban.
o
What about Urban Fantasy draws you to it specifically?
§ I love creatures and urban legends. Being able to explore some of
those legends, to bring those creatures to life, and play with the fabric of
reality is really appealing to me.
·
You also write in Adult Epic.
Would you please describe what this is for readers who are unfamiliar
with the genre?
·
Epic fantasy is often a journey or quest story. Many times it
involves long travels across multiple lands with fantastical creatures. The
people and societies are medieval in nature.
·
War and great battles are a common theme, as well as magic. The
protagonist’s decisions and choices have far reaching effects that influence
the outcome of things on a grand scale.
·
Adult epic is just how it sounds: epic fantasy with mature
themes and situations. Think of it as an MVLSV rating on your TV J I don’t write
gratuitous violence or sex, but I don’t shy away from whatever the scene
requires.
3.
You debuted as a published
author with your trilogy, The Crown of Stones. I would like to focus the next set of
questions on this series.
·
I read this series was born from your desire to create a
character whom you could get lost in.
You said your protagonist, Ian Troy fulfilled
that aspiration. What makes him so
special to you?
·
I had been writing my whole life, but as soon as I created Ian, I knew he was
special. Not only would he be my first published main character, but I
constructed him to be so flawed, he felt real. It was incredibly easy to fall
into his head and write from his prospective. I never had to wonder for an
instant what he might say, or how he might react to a situation. I knew him so
well. I could see the story unfolding through his eyes.
o
Where did you find the inspiration for this character? Was he based on a real person or a beloved
fictional personality you enjoyed?
§ My father loved westerns. My mother read a lot of mysteries,
historical fiction, and biographies. My sister enjoyed horror and crime novels.
And as I mentioned, my brother read a lot of comics and scifi. I was the baby
of the family. By the time I was old enough to read, our bookshelves were
filled with many different genres, including the classics. It gave me a wide
reading base to grow up with, and so many wonderful characters to fall in love
with.
§ When I sat down to write Ian, I wanted to pay homage to some of those
beloved characters that had sparked my imagination (and my love for books) so
many years before. To do this, I knew I had to incorporate a bit of those
characters into Ian’s personality. So I made him part cowboy and
part outlaw. I wanted him to be a good guy, but a rogue, a detective when he
needed to be and a monster even when he tried not to be. I needed him to be flawed and suffering, yet
bold and strong, valiant yet broken. Drawing from those favorite characters of my
youth allowed me to add those complexities into his personality.
o
How did you develop this character and the world in which he
lives?
§ There was one simple key to developing Ian. I made his greatest strength his greatest
flaw: magic.
§ From there, I needed to determine what he wanted most, what he
feared, what he liked and disliked, his other strengths and weaknesses.
§ A character’s childhood plays an important role for me. Much is
engrained in us during that time in our lives. One tragic event can change us
forever. One harsh comment can fester inside us. But I didn’t want Ian totally wrecked from it, so I created
enough hardships to leave him conflicted, but not completely broken by his
youth. That way he still had a ways to fall in the books.
§ I know some authors do a character interview, but mine is more like
pages and pages of barely legible scribbles in a notebook as I’m trying to
dissect this person and decide what makes them tick.
§ From the start, I wanted Ian to stand out. So I looked for how best to accomplish that.
By making his entire race appear physically different from the rest, it added to
the Shinree being ostracized and suppressed as a people. It gave more fodder to
the other of the races to use against them. It also fed into Ian’s loner mentality. The other races were
crafted around the Shinree’s plight and history, based on their attitude toward
the Shinree and their level of involvement in their suppression/slavery.
§ The world itself had to be dark but with just enough beauty to add
in a sliver of hope.
o
What do you hope to convey to readers through Ian Troy, if
anything? Is there a message in his
struggles or tale? If so, what is it and
why is it important?
§ I didn’t start out trying to convey anything. I was simply telling Ian’s story. But as it unfolded, I began to
realize the messages were there, whether I intended them or not.
§ The story deals a great deal with addiction. Not only living with
it and fighting it, but how it affects the people around you.
§ There are many instances of judgements and misconceptions based on
race, so the story dives deep into prejudice and oppression, and the
consequences of the choices we make. I think facing real world issues in the
context of a novel provides a safe environment to consider the subject matter,
which can potentially alter views and shine new light on old problems.
o
Do you think the world you crafted around Ian Troy changed
your initial view of the character you had intended him to be? Why or why not, and how do you think it affected
your trilogy, if at all?
§ I imagine it did somewhat. The Ian that was published was not exactly the same
Ian as I created in the beginning. Most of those changes were due to my
determination to grow as a writer.
§ Those that were attributed to the world-building would be mostly his
views of the other races and his behavior toward them. With crafting such
extreme prejudices between the realms, I created a major divide between the
races. Ian was not immune to that divide. If anything,
due to his upbringing and his forced battle training at a young age, his
opinions were more skewed. It was something he had to learn to work through as
the trilogy progressed.
·
Did you begin with the intension of writing a trilogy or did it
just grow into one through the writing progression?
·
I had always intended to write a trilogy. I wanted the first
book to introduce the characters and the world and to hopefully draw my readers
into the pain the land of Mirra’kelan and its people has been feeling for so
long.
·
I wanted the second book to take the readers deeper into the
mystery. My aim was to explore the world and its history, while also
intensifying the personal struggle of not only my protagonist, but the other
characters as well. Book 2 gave me the perfect opportunity for Ian Troy to spiral
even further down than he already had. He wasn’t the only one, either. Many
characters suffered and the world they live had become even more dangerous.
·
The third book was to slowly raise Ian and the gang,
and their world back up. It uncovered all the remaining mysteries and tied
everything together.
·
Ultimately, Ian had to learn to
embrace who and what he was. The three books allowed him to complete that
journey.
·
Does one of the novels in the series speak to you more than any
of the others? If so, which book is it
and why does it stand out to you?
·
Book 1 is my baby. There is no denying that. I cried the first
time I held it in my hands. It was my childhood dream-come-true. It was where I fell in love with these
characters.
·
I adore book 3 and how it all came together. It was amazing to
write.
·
But there was something about book 2. I really dug deep with
that one. I tore into Ian’s soul, and put
a few other characters through hell, as well. In doing so, I connected with
them in an even deeper way. I think the greatest improvements in my writing
came during the writing of book 2.
·
Without consideration of your own taste or preference, is there
a particular book in the trilogy that you feel will resonate with readers more
the rest? Why, or why not?
·
Most people have said that they’ve loved each book more than the
last. So I suppose, by that logic, it would be book 3.
·
I think that’s because the trilogy was such an emotionally
intense journey, for not only the characters, but the reader. That was how I
designed it. And finally seeing how all their arcs played out, who lived and
died, how all the conflicts were resolved; there’s a kind of relief in that.
4.
In the next set of questions,
I would like to cover an array of topics.
Knowing you are a blogger,
as I am, I find myself wanting to pick your brain regarding this aspect of our
literary world. There are so many
variations to blogging, but as an author, I personally focus on books.
·
Mostly they can expect to find book reviews and guest posts.
·
I don’t blog original content as much as I should. After I
published the first book in the trilogy, I tried writing an original post every
month, but forcing myself to come up with something to write about, just wasn’t
working. I wrote and rewrote. I stressed about it like crazy and wasted far too
much time. Eventually, I decided it was something I had to let go.
·
So, for now, I write a blog post when I’m moved to write one.
They come out so much better that way.
·
What’s your view on reviews?
·
I believe reviews can be helpful to an author, but they can also
be a hindrance. It can be hard to read them objectively, when you want everyone
to love what you’ve created. Yet, focusing too much on bad reviews can diminish
your confidence and breed an excess of self-doubt. Reading too much into
gushing reviews can do just as much harm.
o
Do reviews influence you as a reader? Why, or why not, and how?
§ They influence me somewhat, but I don’t base my decision solely on
reviews.
§ As a writer, I know that a story is experienced by everyone
differently.
§ Now, if a book has twenty one star reviews and nothing else, then
maybe I’ll pass. But if there is a healthy mix, and the cover and premise interest
me, I won’t even look twice at the negative ones.
o
What do you look for in a book as a reader, and how do you view
yourself as a reviewer? I mean, what
makes a good book, in your opinion, and what turns you off to a story?
§ Normally it’s a cover that catches my eye first. I have a thing for
covers and can fall instantly in love with a book if the cover is striking
enough.
§ After that, I read the blurb. Character names are important to me.
In fantasy, there are a lot of unique names for characters and places. If I
pick up a book and I can’t pronounce any of the names because they are so
outlandish, I’ve immediately lost interest. Just because the book is fantasy,
doesn’t mean it has to be so out there that you can’t make it through a
sentence without struggling.
§ I’m turned off by stories where the characters are flat. I’m a
character person. If I can’t connect to a character or be made to care about
them, I lose interest. I’m that way with
TV shows as well. I watch a show for the characters more than the plot. I can
forgive a lot in the plot if I love the characters.
§ If the pacing is too slow or the scenes are repetitive, I find
myself wanting to skip ahead. I love a good fight scene. But if you have a
fight scene every chapter and it goes on for half the chapter, that’s too much.
§ To me, a good story is one that you can’t stop thinking about. It
leaps into your thoughts when you’re making dinner or driving. A good story
should make you feel what the characters feel. It should play out like a movie
in your head, and leave you sad when it’s over.
o
Do you read reviews of your work? If so, do they affect how you direct your
current or future writing?
§ I do read reviews.
§ My first reviews were so wonderful, I was shocked. I published the
first book because it was my dream. I never really thought about anyone
actually reading it, let alone loving it!
§ But those first reviews didn’t at all prepare me for receiving my
first bad one. Once I did, I cried. I remember being amazed at how one person
could say it’s action-packed and then the next review would say it was slow.
But I developed a thick skin pretty quickly, and thankfully, those reviews have
been in the minority!
§ I don’t write based on reviews, or on what I think will be popular.
I write the story as it needs to be written, and I stay true to my characters.
That being said, if I were to consistently receive reviews pointing out the
same issue, I would certainly take another look at it. It would be stupid of me
to ignore a negative pattern.
o
What do you want readers to know about reviews in general?
§ I love to hear how my books make people feel. I’m so grateful for
that and for all my readers. My only thing is: don’t put spoilers in your
reviews! Personally, I hate spoilers, so that’s a huge pet peeve of mine.
§ The Crown of Stones is full of twists and turns.
There are so many reveals. All it takes is a word or two, and something I spent
the whole book building up to, is spoiled for someone.
·
What is your writing process like? Do you set aside an allotted amount of time
each day or week to focus on writing, or do you create as inspiration strikes?
·
My stories usually sprout from the creation of a character.
After I have a clear understanding of who will tell the story, I craft a few
other characters.
·
I do a rough outline, and then start writing. I start every
story in a notebook first. I call it my
skeleton. Once I have a few chapters down that way, I transfer it to my laptop
and put the meat on the bones. Sometimes, if I’m not clear on the next
chapter, I go back to the notebook for a couple of chapters.
·
Very often I don’t write linearly. I write whichever chapters or
scenes stand out the most in my mind. Then later I go back and marry them all
together.
·
Once the draft is done, I put the story through multiple
rewrites before it goes to my editor.
·
I don’t wait for inspiration. When I’m writing a draft, I try to
do something to move my story along every day. If it isn’t writing, it’s
plotting, brainstorming, or research. I
do my best writing in the morning after the kids get on the bus.
·
Life happens, of course, and at least one day a week my writing
time seems to get eaten up with grocery shopping, errands, and the like. When
that happens for too many days in a row, though, I get grumpy.
·
The weekends are much harder to carve out time. I’m often up ridiculously late, then, trying
to do something so I don’t feel guilty about doing nothing.
·
How does being an author affect your approach to blogging and
vice versa?
·
If I’m inspired, I write a blog post. If I have to scrounge for
something to write and force myself simply because I feel like I should—I hate
that. If it doesn’t come natural to me, it doesn’t get written.
o
Did you begin blogging because you were a published author? What encouraged you to not only write, but to
publish?
§ I had never blogged a day in my life until I published Magic-Price. After, everyone said: you have to
blog. So I did. I tried, anyway (see answer above!).
§ I started writing when I was a child. I was a huge reader. I was
the kid who would leave the library with a stack of books so large, I could
barely see over the top. Writing was simply an extension of my love for books.
§ When I was 16, I wrote my first full length novel. That’s when I started
dreaming of being a published author. Life got in the way, but the dream never
left me. Every time I would go in a bookstore, I would envision seeing my book
on the shelf. After a while, as the years dragged on, it used to depress me. I
grew to have a very love-hate relationship with Barnes & Noble!
§ Once my kids were in school full time, I knew this was my chance. I
devoted to myself to writing, and Magic-Price was born.
·
What is your opinion of the Indie vs Traditional debate?
·
There are pros and cons on each side. I don’t think one path is
right over the other. Rather it’s a matter of what’s right for each individual.
·
Are you self-published, signed with a small press, or are you a
traditional author with a literary agent/publishing house?
·
I am a self-published author.
o
What was your road to being published like? Did anything surprise you? After going through your experiences, is
there anything you wish you’d have known or done differently?
§ I had planned to go the traditional route. Once Magic-Price was completed, I started looking
for an agent. I did all the research, sent out my query letters, and waited. I had
a few nice bites, but no takers. One rejection letter had a more personal, positive
message that inspired me. After that, I read everything I could get my hands on
to improve my craft.
§ Then I sat down and completely rewrote Magic-Price. My intention was to start the
agent hunt again when it was done. Then I discovered CreateSpace. I
decided to self-publish instead of spending months or even years hunting for an
agent and publisher. I still believe it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever
made.
§ I think what surprised me the most is the community. I had no idea
other authors would be so welcoming and supportive.
§ One thing I wish I had known was to start building up my online
presence before I published. I rarely
used Facebook and didn’t know the first thing about Twitter. Now I practically live there!
5.
What can we expect to see
from you over the coming year?
·
The first book in my new urban fantasy series, NITE FIRE: Flash Point
is available now.
·
I am aiming to have the second book out in the fall.
·
I am also currently working on an Ian Troy short
story for that will be a part of an anthology to be released later this year.
·
Want to learn more about C.L. Schneider’s current WIP or
upcoming New Release?
o
CLICK HERE.
I
appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule. I look forward to discovering the world of The Crown of Stones, as well as, your new urban fantasy series!
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