Taking the advice of Stephen King, I always write for one person, my sister. She represents my target audience: young women who enjoy a little romance, lots of action, complex characters, a developed world, and a well put together plot.
Ariel Pakizer – 6 November 2014
The Back Flap
Ballerina Calissa Delano Lavalle lost her mother in a car accident, and now she struggles to dance. Her coach recommends Calissa take a break, but, without dancing, nothing can distract Calissa from her mother’s absence and the distance her father’s placed between them. Calissa tries pulling the unraveling threads of her life together, but even her friends slip away. Weighted with the past, she cannot move forward, until something new invades. Animals have started following Calissa. Her life takes a dangerous turn where the supernatural becomes real. Two beautiful and undoubtedly lethal boys will change Calissa’s life, tangling her past and future, endangering her friends and family, and forcing Calissa to search inside herself and discover what it means to be human.
About the book
What is the book about?
A sixteen year-old ballerina named Calissa who struggles to restructure her life after her mom died in a car accident. Worse yet, Calissa drove the car. Now must face her guilt and the dangers lurking around her, like animal stalkers and two boys with strange eyes.
I wanted the story to be more than just a fun read, I wanted it to mean something, to resonate with people in the real world while exploring a supernatural one. So Iron & Glass clashes “real” problems with paranormal ones. It also focuses on why each day should be lived and how to forgive yourself and others.
When did you start writing the book?
I wrote the book about three years ago when I lived in Washington State. I just moved there, and I wanted to connect back to the state I grew up in. Nothing can transport you like a book, so I decided to write Iron & Glass and place it in Michigan, where I was born.
How long did it take you to write it?
The actual writing for Iron & Glass took me around four months. I did a few months of pre-work and research before that, so I’d say it took seven months.
Where did you get the idea from?
Stories usually hit me all at once or come in pieces, and Iron & Glass came one part at a time. I watched the film Serenity and watched actress Summer Glau, a trained dancer, play a girl named River Tame, who fought off an army in a last-ditch effort to save her brother. The fight scene looked graceful yet deadly, and suddenly I wanted to write about a ballerina with some fighting capabilities.
Later, while sitting under a tree, two male characters walked into my head. I could tell they loved each other like brothers, but, for some reason, they seemed sad, like they might have to leave one another. I also knew they connected to my ballerina. Then it was a matter of figuring out their stories and how they intertwined.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Iron & Glass had originally been two books. I finished the first book, but, about a week after, I realized the story belonged in a single novel. I wanted each chapter and scene to mean something, moving a character or the plot forward. I could’ve have more side plots, but I felt the story read tighter if I combined the two books into one and cut out the side plots that didn’t link directly back to the main one. So, I opened the document back up and really re-worked the story.
I also struggled with the end of the novel. I left the ending for years, believing I liked it. Then, a few months ago, I deleted the last chapter and re-wrote it. I’m much happier with this ending, though, I guess you say an alternative one does exist on my computer somewhere.
What came easily?
The plot. The moment I understood the characters, their story unfurled like a flag in a gale breeze. I knew how everything and everyone connected. I wrote the first word while knowing the end game for every character and how they’d get there.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
My characters feel like a friend. They seem so real it wouldn’t surprise me if they walked out of my computer and struck up a conversation. I can’t say any of the character came from people I know because they feel like people themselves.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
Oh boy, every book I read influences me in some way or another. I’d have to say JRR Tolkien inspired me to write. I started the Lord of the Rings trilogy when I was nine years old. Tolkien’s characters seemed rich and alive; he created a world I could walk into and explore through the pages of his novels. A year later, I started my dream of becoming an author and my first—and a terrible—novel.
I’d also say Rick Yancey inspires me. His Monstrumologist series still haunts my thoughts. Talk about complex characters. Yancey’s ability to pack emotion and feeling and meaning into every line of his stories will never cease to amaze me. I’m so excited Fifth Wave took off for him, but I highly recommend everyone to read The Monstrumologist.
There are so many authors! I’ll briefly mention a few more. Maggie Stiefvater’s lyrical writing is something I aspire to and love to read. Brandon Sanderson’s world building, character development, witty writing, and tight plots make for incredible and breath-taking stories. I always read the advice he gives to writers. Richelle Mead created Rose Hathaway, and I appreciate such a strong female character. Cinda William Chima, Laini Taylor, Libba Bray, Robin Hobb are all amazing authors I’ve been inspired by.
Do you have a target reader?
Taking the advice of Stephen King, I always write for one person, my sister. She represents my target audience: young women who enjoy a little romance, lots of action, complex characters, a developed world, and a well put together plot.
We both consider characters (she writes too) important and believe they bring stories to life. She prefers characters to solve their dilemma with quick thinking over a new-found power, believing it makes for a more interesting, suspenseful story. She also likes stories to stay plausible, characters who don’t heal within a day, no magically fast and unexplained traveling abilities, and no pulling out knifes because, really, the character would die of blood loss. No over dramatic characters, clichés, or unhealthy romances, but she’s a sucker to close relationship and characters that get put through hell.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
It changes a bit for every story. I don’t force story ideas, those usually come every few months or so without me having to do anything. Once I have an idea I like enough to write about, I focus on the general plot and developing the characters. Then, I work on picking out names, fleshing out the world, and figuring out how it all ties together.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I always have some sort of outline. I never just sit in front of my computer and start typing away without a plan or purpose. I know who the characters are and where I want the plot to go. Before I write anything, I bullet point plot points for the entire book(s). I don’t break them down into scene, but, typically, each bullet point becomes one or two scenes. Sometimes the bullet points will have explanations under them about how this will change a character, where I plan to go with this, or more detail exactly how I want this to happen.
Of course, stories can run away with an author. I’m always willing to change my plans if story takes me in a different direction. I plan it out, but if it doesn’t feel right, I’m willing to adjust. The story usually ends up tighter and more exciting when that happens.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
If I get stuck on a scene, I’ll go back to the last one and read it over. One or twice a scene, I’ll start a sentence a few times before moving forward. But I usually don’t edit as I write. I don’t want to worry about making the first draft perfect; I want to get my ideas down. I’m pretty frantic on the keyboard so I don’t think about it and just let my characters and story do the work. After completing the manuscript, I’ll leave it alone for a least a month or more, then go back and start editing.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
Always. I use music to help me set the story’s tone. I create a playlist for each story I write and listen to that whenever I’m plotting, writing, or editing the story. Iron & Glass’s playlist had a lot of Indie artists like Kishi Bashi, Volcano Choir, Young Magic, and others.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
I only submitted to one agent for Iron & Glass. Just as I started querying, I moved again. My life got crazy so I stopped querying and starting writing. Writing helps me think and helped me sort out moving yet again.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
When I landed an Internship with Miss Millennia Magazine, they told me the internship ended with publishing a book. I thought it was an amazing opportunity and jumped right on it. I could get my feet wet about what it takes to market a book, and I could actually publish one of my stories.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
My mom designed the basic outline, and then a professional gussied it up.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I’ve got Miss Millennia Magazine behind me. They developed a great guerilla marketing strategy we’re following.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Do your research. It’s a big step and you want to make sure you don’t stumble.
About You
Where did you grow up?
Michigan. Cold but beautiful, I lived there for most of my life and still am a die-hard fan of all Michigan sport teams.
Where do you live now?
I live in Florida, which is hot but beautiful in a different way.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I write because my characters don’t give me a choice. I’m a Christian, Irish, Native American, a Stark, a Gryffindor, a Windrunner, a monstrumologist, a State Alchemist, a firebender, of the Green Ajah, an elf of Rivendale, a Studio Ghibli fangirl, and a fan of horses and music.
What are you working on now?
Too many things if I’m being honest. I’m querying a YA fantasy, The Cat that Swallowed the Moon. Editing Clock Face Twelve, the first book in my YA steampunk trilogy. I’m also drafting a query for it. I’m editing book two in a fantasy series co-authored with my sister and editing a query for book one, The Day of the Black Moon. I just wrote the first book in another fantasy series and plan to write book two soon. I will write the last book in the steampunk trilogy first, just as soon as I get another one of these projects finished. Yep. Yikes.
End of Interview:
For more, visit Ariel’s website.
Get your copy of Iron and Glass from Smashwords.