Wednesday 7 August 2013

Author Interview: April Bostic




About the Author:

April Bostic is a New Jersey-based romance author who enjoys unleashing her creativity and letting her imagination run wild. Her love of romance books inspired her to become not just a reader, but also a writer. In December 2008, she self-published her first novel, a contemporary romance with a supernatural twist entitled A Rose to the Fallen.

Her first short story, Right Here, Right Now, released in January 2012 is an erotic romance with a dash of S&M. The following year, she released two more short stories: a romantic urban fantasy inspired by the Greek myth of Eros and Psyche entitled Eros, My Love, and a sexy romantic comedy entitled Love Addiction.

After five years, she released her second novel The Howling Heart, a paranormal romance that delves into the mystical world of werewolves and Norse gods.

Find out more about April on her official website http://www.aprilbostic.com

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2768953.April_Bostic

Do you plan everything or just let the story flow? 

When I write novels, I write an outline first. It consists of all the information about each character, their descriptions and relationships to one another. Then I write summaries of what I want to happen in each chapter. If there is specific dialogue that I want to remember, I will jot it down. As I write the story, I follow the outline and fill in the details and dialogue.

Do your characters ever want to take over the story? 

No, they pretty much do what I tell them to do.

What is your favourite food? 

Pizza, and anything else Italian. I love it so much that my mother once said I should’ve been born into an Italian family.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I’m definitely a night owl. I like to sleep and hate getting up.

Where do you dream of travelling to and why? 

I’d like to visit England. Most of the actors I like are from there, and so are the majority of the heroes in my books.

Do distant places feature in your books? 

Yes, heaven and Mount Olympus are in my novel, A Rose to the Fallen, and my short story, Eros, My Love.

Do you listen to music while writing?

Yes, I usually create playlists for my novels and listen to them on repeat. If I’m writing a particular scene, I might play one song repeatedly until I’m finished.

Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

The Howling Heart is an adult paranormal romance about a young werewolf from England who falls in love with a human woman from the city. They both face obstacles that prevent them from being together and it’s not only because they’re different species. I like to think my werewolves are unique from other authors’, because their existence is the result of the love between one wolf and a human, and the supernatural intervention of Norse gods, Máni, the god of the moon, and Freya, the goddess of love. My werewolves are called Varulv and they’re descended from 12th century Scandinavia. The word is Swedish and Danish for ‘werewolf’. They can’t keep their human form for an extended time or if they fall asleep. A special light inside of them allows them to shift between species. I think my novel is a true romance, because every major aspect of the story involves love.

What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?

Applying some of the critiques I’ve received from my first book helped me do a better job writing my second one. I have to have thick skin to be an author, because some readers are nasty and the Internet is a haven for anonymous people to unleash their negativity. Instead, I’ve learned to focus on the readers who enjoy my books, because they are the ones I should care about.

Is there anything you would do differently?

In the past, I used to respond to some negative reviews, because they would be hurtful and it was my first book. Now I don’t let the negativity bother me, because I’m used to them.

Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing? 

I was inspired to write The Howling Heart after watching the movie Blood and Chocolate and the television series Wolf Lake. I also draw inspiration for most of my stories from attractive men I see on film, television, or the Web. They become my muses and help me when I plan the characterizations of my heroes. For Riley, the hero in this novel, I drew inspiration from British actor, Alex Pettyfer. I’ve always wanted to see him play a werewolf, so I imagined him playing Riley when I wrote the character.

Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?

If you write a story, and you’re passionate about it, don’t give up on it. See it through to the end, because you’ll feel so good about yourself when you do. It’s a major accomplishment to finish a story, whether it’s a short story, novella, or novel. Don’t get discouraged by negative readers or reviews. Remember for every person who doesn’t like your work, there will be someone who does. Writing, like all forms of art, is subjective, and not everyone is going to like your work. Be brave and put yourself out there. It takes a lot of courage to be a writer or author. Don’t be afraid, because you’ll realize it’s not so scary once you do it.

What are three words that describe you?

Generous, creative, logical

What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?

My favorite books are the Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris. I also enjoy the HBO series, True Blood, which is based on the series, although I enjoyed the books more.

Blurb of your latest release or coming soon book:

The Howling Heart
by April Bostic
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Eternal Press
Date of Publication: August 1, 2013
Cover Artist: Elena Dudina

Book Description:

Paige Donovan is an ambitious college graduate who aspires to reach the top of the corporate ladder. She’s climbing fast when given the promotion of a lifetime at a prestigious fashion magazine in New York City.

Her bright future comes to an unexpected halt after news of her father’s death. She inherits his old cabin in the Colorado Rockies and just when she thinks her luck couldn’t get any worse, she has a car accident in the mountains and awakens in the small, remote community of Black River.

Soon she’s engulfed in the mystical world of Varulv—wolves descended from 12th century Scandinavia and blessed by Norse gods with the ability to appear human. Paige is desperate to return home, but never expects to fall for her rescuer, Riley Gray, a charming young werewolf from England who offers her an alternate future with his pack.

Now she must choose between the career she’s always wanted and the love she’s always dreamed.

List of previous books if any:

A Rose to the Fallen
Eros, My Love
Right Here, Right Now
Love Addiction

Any websites/places readers can find you on the web:

http://www.aprilbostic.com
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2768953.April_Bostic

2 comments: