When Olivia Hardin began having strange movie-like dreams in her teens, she had no choice but to begin putting them to paper. Before long the writing bug had her and she knew she wanted to be a published author. Several rejections plus a little bit of life later, and she was temporarily “cured” of the urge to write. That is until she met a group of talented and fabulous writers who gave her the direction and encouragement she needed to get lost in the words again.
Olivia’s attended three different universities over the years. She toyed with majors in Computer Technology, English, History and Geology until one day she heard the term road scholar and she knew that was what she wanted to be. Now she “studies” anything and everything just for the joy of learning. She's also an insatiable crafter who only completes about 1 out of 5 projects, a jogger who hates to run, and she’s sometimes accused of being artistic.
A native Texas girl, Olivia lives in the beautiful Lone Star state with her husband, Danny and their puppy, Bonnie.
Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?
I generally let it flow. I like to follow the characters, not direct them. If I am in their head and know them, then they’ll tell me what’s going to happen. It’s usually much better than I could have planned.
Do your characters ever want to take over the story?
Yes, they do! I have a certain character named Roon who first appeared in book 1. He has been continuing supporting actor in my trilogy, but he has really been demanding his own story. I guess I’m going to go ahead and give in to him later this year.
What is your favourite food?
Food. No, seriously, I pretty much love food. Italian, Asian, Seafood, BBQ… and when all else fails, a big juicy steak.
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Morning. I get up early and enjoy the chance to relax on the back deck with my coffee before the chaos of my day begins. At night I usually crater by 10:00 p.m.
Where do you dream of travelling to and why?
Ah, I have no many places I want to go. I’ve talked a lot to the hubby lately about going to Alaska. There’s something awe-inspiring about the wildness of that place.
Do distant places feature in your books?
A little, but I generally would prefer to have visited the locations in my stories. For instance, a good portion of Shifty Business takes place in New Orleans which I visited with some writer-friends last year. I feel like I’m better at “placing” characters in the setting when I’ve been there.
Do you listen to music while writing?
Yes, a lot of instrumental music. I find the words in lyrics distracting when I’m trying to write.
Shifty Business is the third book in my Bend-Bite-Shift Trilogy. We briefly met Gerry and Nicky during book one of the series. In Shifty we get to find out what was happening to the pair while we were following the other characters at the start of the trilogy. It turns out Gerry and Nicky are married, but that is just the beginning of the secrets that get revealed during the book.
What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?
I’ve learned that if I’m going to be successful, I have to find the right mix of business and pleasure. I love writing. It is a passion, it is in me right down to my bones, but I have to be serious about it. I have to be willing to spend time and money to craft my work the best I can.
Is there anything you would do differently?
I don’t think I would do anything differently. Even my mistakes were lessons well-learned and I’ve had a great time so far. It’s been a great adventure.
Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?
Everything influences me. My past, current happenings in my life, my friends, my society. Life is like a great big grab bag waiting for me to delve my hand inside and pick something up!
Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?
It’s important to have a support group. These should be fellow writers as well as non-writers. Accept their props, their critiques, their advice and get better each day.
What are three words that describe you?
Goofy, loving, blessed
What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?
I have a few favorite books, but one of them is Robert Heinlein’s Glory Road. I revisit it often, just like touching base with an old friend.
Any places readers can find you on the web?
Website: http://booksbyolivia.com
Website: http://oliviahardinwriter.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/oliviaH_writer
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/oliviahardin
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16955158-shifty-business
Amazon (Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/Shifty-Business-Bend-Bite-Shift-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00AM0P1PC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355999157&sr=8-1&keywords=shifty+business
Olivia Hardin
Paranormal Romance
Gerry Hinton thought she had the perfect career as an operative for the Company. Her next assignment should have been another "mission accomplished", but hell was delivering hand baskets that day.
When a little girl gives a mysterious silver box to Gerry, her world self-destructs. Suddenly under constant mental attacks, the only person who can save her is her partner, Nicky--but nothing comes without a cost. Secrets buried deep in the past begin to rise, threatening everything she holds dear.
If she can't out run her past, can she save her future?
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Thanks for the fun interview!
ReplyDeleteHappy reading, everyone.
~Olivia
You're very welcome :)
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