Author Spotlight · Interview with an Author · New Release

Interview with an Author featuring S.L. Choi

The Literary Vixen presents…

Joining us today is S.L. Choi! Her debut book, Bad Girls Drink Blood (Blood Fae Druid Book 1) released on May 17th 2022.

Congrats on your new release! How has the new release been going for you?

Thank you! And thank you so much for all of your support. How has it been going? CRAZY!!! Everyone warned me, but I was not prepared lol

How long have you been writing?

I’m sure everyone says this, but as far back as I can remember. I wrote poetry when I was younger. A LOT of poetry. Teens are just a giant ball of emotions. They feel everything so intensely, and poetry was my outlet.

I’ve always written little bits of stories here and there, but I didn’t try to take an idea from start to finish until the last few years.

Describe a typical writing day.

Wake up. Tend to my furry overlords. Drink coffee. Stare at the computer. Drink more coffee.  It sounds like I’m making a joke, but that is pretty much my day. Though, I am typing/editing/working social media during the staring phase.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

Another cliché answer, but everywhere! This book was a line that popped into my head while driving down the road.

Now that I think about it, a lot of my ideas come to me while I’m driving – aka the worst possible time! I’ve pulled over so many times to ensure I didn’t lose an idea.

What do you hope your readers take away from this book?

I wish I had a deep, thought-provoking statement to give you, but really, I just want my readers to feel compelled to turn the pages and have a great time. 

WAIT! I take that back. The thing I love about urban fantasy (and my favorite series) are the ones where I feel like I can drive to the location and find the characters, or at least find where they are hanging out. I’d love it if someone was driving down the Strip and said that’s where (censored for spoilers) would be.

What is the significance of the title?

The original title was darker, not at all the same vibe. My editor wanted a new title. Bad Guy by Billie Eilish screamed Lane, and even inspired a few (very obvious) lines. Lane sees herself as a bad girl/guy. Lane drinks blood. Bad Girls Drink Blood.

If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Sarcastic, awkward, self-deprecating.I said st 

I asked my critique partner because I was stumped and she gave me a whole (incorrect) list: talented, supportive, hilarious, dedicated, kind. Boy do I have her fooled!

What was the highlight of writing this book?

Finishing. Seriously. Not because I hated writing, but because it was such a sense of accomplishment. I DO have another finished book, but this one had been living in my head for a long, long time.

Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with me?

I’m working on the edits for book 2 of the Blood Fae Druid series. I also have a book on the backburner about a messy Vakyrie (think Thor, Ragnarök inspo for vibes)

What advice would you give to other authors?

Find your people. Typically, the only company you keep are your characters when you’re deep into writing. I walk around everywhere talking to my characters, talking through scenes, testing dialogue. But your characters won’t be there to support you when rejections roll in, or reviews roll in, or critiques, or comments, or anything else that live in your head after you read it. 

Find. Your. Support.

What is the one thing you want people to know about you and your books?

Wooooowwwwww. This is hard for such a simple question. I think bottom line is I don’t take myself seriously (have you seen my TikTok? I can’t be bothered to put on makeup or even get out of my pjs). So, don’t try to take my book seriously either. Enjoy the ride!

 

Thank you S.L. Choi for chatting with me! I will include her information down below. Check out her newest release, Bad Girls Drink Blood today!

~Synopsis~

Part sun fae, part blood fae, all abomination.

After a life spent dodging slurs, threats, and assassination attempts, Lane Callaghan gave her past the one finger salute and ditched her former fae home for good.

The detective agency she and her sisters run on the edge of Las Vegas continues to limp along, with Lane doing more debt collecting and intimidating than investigating, but anything to pay the bills. Between working for low-lifes to bring down even lower-lifes, eating cheesy poofs by the bucket, and flirting with the criminally attractive bartender where she conducts business, life is good.

That ends when a routine job goes sideways leaving Lane with a sack full of stolen sun shards—the source of sun fae power. Without the shards, the sun fae face giving up their magic completely, or risk death if they use their power.

As far as Lane’s concerned, good riddance, considering they would rather see her dead—except her father and adopted sister are sun fae. Lane must choose to return home to save the fae bastards that almost killed her…or let them burn.

“With tantalizing hints of a wolfy blood tryst, a heavy dose of sisterly love, and plot twists to make the ride a surprise, S.L. Choi’s, Bad Girls Drink Blood is too much fun. If you like the Hollows, you will love this.” — Kim Harrison, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Hollows series.

S.L. Choi is an urban fantasy author with a deep love for humor, fast-paced action, and hit-you-in-the-heart feels. She grew up imagining goblins living in the rocks outside her bedroom window, while fairies flew through the flowers. Now she puts those stories to paper. When not writing, she is either photographing the beautiful New England area, hiking, gaming with her equally nerdy husband, or attending to the small furry overlords who rule them both.

https://linktr.ee/SLChoi

Author Spotlight · Interview with an Author

Interview with an Author featuring Joanna Reeder

The Literary Vixen presents…

Joining us today is Joanna Reeder! Author of Imitating a Fae Queen (Raven Court Book 1) and the Kindle Vella series, Courting Fae Thieves and Crowns.

Tell us a bit about yourself

Born and raised in Utah. I live with my husband, three littles and a cat named after one of my characters. I love leisure bike rides, kayaking, playing my guitar and Dr. Pepper.

What inspired you to start writing?

When I was in the 4th grade, my teacher encouraged me to enter a story in the Reflections Contest. So I wrote and submitted and won first place in my school. I’ve loved to write ever since!

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I know I’m not alone in it, but I’ve trained myself to write in short 15-20 minute bursts. I’ve had to with little kids. I know some authors need huge blocks of time to write. My best writing time is also in the afternoon. Not the early morning or late at night. I haven’t found many writers with that schedule.

How do you deal with emotional impact of a book (on yourself) as you are writing the story?

I step away. I go on a walk or for a bike ride. I give myself space from it so that when I come back to it, I can look at it through an objective eye as I edit.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

The constant back and forth between being proud and surprised at the books I wrote, but also the imposter syndrome that can hit at any time and feeling that I’m not good enough or that I’m “pretending” to be an author.

What comes first for you — the plot or the characters — and why?

The characters. Once I’ve gotten to know my characters and their quirks and backstories, the plot comes together from it. A lot of times, the characters determine the plot.

Let’s talk about Kindle Vella. Tell me about your experience with it.

I have loved kindle vella. I think the thing I love the most is that my readers get to experience the story in almost real-time as I do. Sometimes I write a bit ahead, but I’m rarely more than an episode or two ahead of what is currently live. With books, I experience the story all by myself for weeks and weeks, then after tons of edits, etc, etc, and the final book launch, by the time my readers get to experience my book, it’s already “in the past” for me. 

My story Courting Fae Thieves and Crowns on Kindle Vella has also been my favorite story I’ve written so far. Of course all of my stories are my babies, but this one has a lot of my heart in it!

Describe yourself in three words.

Loyal, Spiritual, Kind

Do you have any new series planned?

I’m still finishing up my Raven Court series (3 books and a novella are out and I’m working on #4) After that, I’m not sure. Part of me is watching and waiting to see how Kindle Vella goes. I have several stories running through my head that could work well with Kindle Vella.

What advice would you give to other authors?

No writing is wasted. Even that scene you cut because it doesn’t work, or those first few drafts of anything. Every word counts because it helps you learn to be a better writer. And as with anything, practice makes you better.

What is the one thing you want people to know about you and your books?

I love storytelling and I want my stories to be accessible to anyone. So all of my books are 100% recommendable. I don’t write steamy, or gore, or foul language, so you can recommend my books to your daughters, co-workers and grandmas.

 

Thank you Joanna Reeder for chatting with me! I will include her information down below. Check out her books today!

~Synopsis~

They say I look just like her.

They say I could save the realm if I pretend to be her.

But I’m just a human girl and refuse to leave my life to save their precious Raven Court. 

My boyfriend, Sterling, might be a fae, but I want nothing to do with Faerie. Luckily, he promised never to take me. But when his painfully gorgeous brother, Tien, shows up and says I look identical to their missing High Queen, I’m asked to go with him to prevent Faerie from sinking into chaos.

When I refuse, I’m kidnapped.

As I’m forced through the portal to Faerie by the brooding Tien, he promises my captivity is only temporary. If I can convince the Raven Court their beloved queen is alive and well, he’ll take me back home. But while I’m pretending to be her, dark secrets surface. I try not to care, but realize I might have the power to change an injustice that suddenly means so much to me… even as a fake queen.

Faerie is magical and cruel, full of wonder and madness. But it isn’t my home. And yet, it feels so familiar…

Torn between two different worlds, I’m forced to consider: where do I truly belong?

Imitating a Fae Queen is perfect for fans of The Iron King and The Vampire Diaries. If you love brooding fae captains, terrifying water horses, and best-friend romance, you’ll love this page-turning fae fantasy.

Imitating a Fae Queen is Book One in the Raven Court Series by USA Today bestselling author, Joanna Reeder.

Joanna Reeder is a USA Today Bestselling author who takes readers time traveling through dreams, shifting into fantastical creatures, and tossed into Faerie. Her fantasy stories always have a dash of romance, leave readers turning pages long into the night, and eager to recommend them to their daughters and grandmas and coworkers!

When Joanna isn’t writing, she enjoys bike rides and kayaking with her hubby and kids, vacations at the beach (with a book to read, of course!) and learning new songs on her blue electric guitar.

She’s a believer in the paranormal (seriously, she has stories) and her motto is, “A Dr. Pepper a day keeps insanity away!”

Three FREE stories by signing up for my NL: https://joannareeder.com/getmyfreebies

My kindle vella story is also on my patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/Joannareeder

https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B07B2CK51M

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17736350.Joanna_Reeder

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/joanna-reeder

https://facebook.com/joannareederauthor

https://facebook.com/groups/joannasdreamreeders

https://instagram.com/joanna_reeder