I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get some of my inspiration from my favorites like The Vampire Diaries, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, The Mortal Instruments, Vampire Academy, etc. For me, 

G. K. DeRosa – 1 October 2015

The Back Flap

All that Celeste Wilder ever wanted was to find someone who would sweep her off her feet like she had seen in countless romantic movies. When she meets the gorgeous and mysterious Constantin brothers her senior year of high school, she gets much more than what she had bargained for. As they introduce her to an exciting supernatural world that she never imagined existed, she makes a startling discovery about her own family legacy and is forced to make a decision that will change her life forever.

About the book

What is the book about?

Wilder: The Guardian Series is about a teenage girl, Celeste, who is finishing her senior year of high school and struggling to find her place in the world. She meets two brothers, Roman and Nico, who have recently moved into her small town and suddenly everything changes. She’s thrown into a supernatural world that is terrifying and yet strangely exciting. As the story unfolds, she finds that the Constantin brothers aren’t the only ones with secrets, and she discovers the pivotal role she is to play in this new supernatural reality.

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing the book last year, September of 2014. I remember because it was just a few weeks before my birthday, and I randomly just decided to sit down and start writing. One of my friends even gave me a “How to Write a Novel” book for my birthday!

How long did it take you to write it?

The first draft only took about two months to write, but the editing process was quite lengthy. It was my first attempt at a novel and self-publishing so there was a steep learning curve. I wrote and re-wrote for months! I probably have read Wilder over a hundred times – no exaggeration! Then I interviewed a few freelance editors and had them edit a few chapters before finally settling on one. And of course I had a few friends and beta readers give me their feedback, and I made changes accordingly. So though I wrote the first draft rather quickly, the final wasn’t published until June 2015, nearly nine months later.

Where did you get the idea from?

From my over-active imagination . I am a huge fan of young adult supernatural books, and I’m obsessed with many TV shows. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get some of my inspiration from my favorites like The Vampire Diaries, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, The Mortal Instruments, Vampire Academy, etc. For me, there is just something so appealing about a strong female character, and of course there always has to be a love interest!

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Most of it flowed pretty well, luckily for me. The only part where I did struggle was the end. The whole story is a build up to that pivotal moment, and I wanted to make sure it was a satisfying climax. Also I knew I wanted to create a series so it was important to provide some closure while still leaving a certain open-endedness to the story.

What came easily?

Writing dialog is what’s easiest for me. Perhaps I should have gone into screenwriting! The back and forth of character dialog is my favorite part to write. I frequently write just that for pages and then go back and fill out the description and other prose to beef it up.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

My characters are entirely fictitious, but I do borrow certain character or physical traits from people that I know. I think all good writing is influenced by real life and those around you.

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?

I love Diana Gabaldon, who wrote the Outlander series, but I could never write like her! It would be way too consuming. I find that my writing style is more similar to Stephenie Meyer or E.L. James (except not in the sexual way), in that it’s not very flowery or overly descriptive. I tend to write as I speak so I write in a very conversational tone. That’s just a personal preference as a reader; I don’t like to get bogged down in pages of description about a cloud in the sky or a blade of grass.

Do you have a target reader?

It’s funny because my target readers are young adults, primarily teenage girls in the 15-19 age range, but I find that many of my readers are closer to my age (women in their 30’s). I get it because I myself am a huge fan of YA books, it’s primarily all that I read. I think as adults it’s satisfying to reminisce about that great time in our lives.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I really don’t! As a newbie writer, I just threw myself at my laptop and started writing. I’m taking an online class right now with James Patterson, and I’m trying to work on a more structured process.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I do a very basic outline, but it’s really just to keep me on a general track. I find that my characters lead me as I write. Sometimes I’ll be writing dialog and a character will say something that takes me on an entirely different path than I had originally intended. It’s very cool.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I do a bit of editing as I go, but I try to just power through and get it all down. I’ll usually write a few pages and then go back and do a quick once over.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Yes! No matter how many times you look at something, it’s essential to have new eyes on any writing project in my opinion.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I don’t, but I’ve recently been reading about the benefits. I may have to give it a try. It would have to be something without words though because I’d just end up singing and not focus on the writing!

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

No, I didn’t. Maybe one day…

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

As this was my first attempt at writing, I just figured self-publishing would be a good way to start. My husband has an e-commerce business through Amazon so it was really because of him that I made the decision. Amazon makes it so easy, and with his guidance on how to market and sell, it was an easy choice.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

I did have it done professionally. I actually used 99 Designs and had graphic designers submit multiple designs, and then I worked with the ones I liked best to create the final image.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I read a few books and watched some videos on marketing ebooks and my husband was a big help as well. I wouldn’t say I had a structured plan, but I did do a good bit of pre-launch advertising through Facebook and Twitter. I also teamed up with a popular blogger and did a book giveaway with a signed picture of Ian Somerhalder from The Vampire Diaries. That got a lot of attention! 

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Just do it! Sorry to be cliché, but there are so many talented writers out there that are too scared to go for it. There are numerous platforms available that make it really easy for self-published authors to get their work out. If you love to write and you want to make a career out of it, just take the plunge!

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in sunny Palm Beach, Florida and attended the University of Florida. I’ve lived in Milan, Italy, New York City, and now outside of Warsaw in Poland. And yet somehow, I always end up going back to Florida eventually!

Where do you live now?

I am temporarily living in Kutno, Poland which is a small town outside of Warsaw. My husband is Polish, and we are here spending some time with his family and delving into Polish culture!

What would you like readers to know about you?

I am a teenager at heart and an eternal romantic .

What are you working on now?

I just finished the first draft of the second installment in The Guardian Series, and I can’t wait for it to come out in the fall. Keep an eye out around October-November 2015!

End of Interview:

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Get your copy of Wilder: The Guardian Series from Amazon US or Amazon UK.