Well, I was a little frustrated with a favorite author of mine at the time and I decided (out of spite) that I would write a book before they wrote their next one.

D.R. O’Shea – 14 August 2020

The Back Flap

After nightmares begin to seep into Cael’s waking life, a mysterious stranger arrives offering to help. But that help comes at a steep price. Taken from their families, Wynn joins Cael on his journey across the Five Kingdoms as they struggle to find reason behind the powers they’ve been cursed with.

Unsure of their guide, Landon, and fearful of those around them, Cael and Wynn experiment with their abilities alone. The dreams they share offer a dangerous new gift, one neither of them could have expected.

As they try to navigate their new connection they find themselves questioning their choice to follow Landon and what his true motives are. When the ominous rebels confront them, will they betray the man who protected them or will they fight to save his life?

About the book

What is the book about?

The story centers on a world where magic is real, and it begins within dreams. Two young kids are sought out by opposing groups, both promising protection and safety but both also hurting families and children to get what they desire. The first in the series is their chaotic journey to a mysterious academy where they’re told they will be trained on how to use their gifts.

When did you start writing the book?

I wrote the first page way back in 2013, but I didn’t start writing in earnest until around January 2019.

How long did it take you to write it?

​ Whew, all said and done, probably 4 years total.

Where did you get the idea from?

Well, I was a little frustrated with a favorite author of mine at the time and I decided (out of spite) that I would write a book before they wrote their next one. It was late at night and I suppose the idea for magic within dreams was a natural progression for me.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The perspective was a huge one. I am still struggling with whether or not I made the right choice here. In the end I think only the readers of my book can decide whether the perspective is something that makes sense to them individually.

What came easily?

The magic system came easily but also the stories within my story. They all seemed to float out of my head and onto the paper perfectly. Unfortunately, there were quite a few stories that I had to take out of the book. I had a great time just world building inside these side stories but it stretched the word count a bit too high.

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

I wrote them thinking they were all fictitious, but after reading it I think there are quite a few people who I based these characters on.

Do you have a target reader?

Anyone looking to go on an adventure.

About Writing

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

​My writing process is lazy and super procrastinating. When I started writing daily (or almost daily) I would try and dedicate at least two hours in the morning to writing but that’s about it.

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

I had a few stages of outlining. It is my first story and I wasn’t sure how to tackle it. I wrote a very broad maybe 2,000 word overview of the entire series. Then I went in and dug around for the first book detailing a bit more. I had major scenes outlined, but getting to each of those scenes was a huge effort. I was staring at this outline for weeks waiting to get to the next scene but the journey kept naturally growing.

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

Oh absolutely waited until the end to edit. The reason it took me so long to start writing consistently was because I edited the first page and then the first chapter probably two dozen times. I can’t even find the original page I wrote seven years ago. It’s a shame because I think there was something special on that page.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Yes indeed! I think it’s especially important for first-time writers to hire a professional editor. There are so many things we don’t know going into this new world. I am absolutely not a writer by trade, so the editing, the content, the development, everything really, it was all a little lacking. The editor really helped coalesce all my ideas and fix a whole bunch of formatting and grammatical errors that I made.

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

I would only rarely listen to music while writing but when I did it was ALWAYS ‘The XX: Intro’ on extended repeat.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes, indeed I did. Unfortunately for me I submitted prior to hiring my editor and the time frame I set for myself didn’t really allow for a re-submission. I am a fairly step-by-step person, I follow my timeline pretty closely.

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 you spend so much of your time writing, it becomes a very important piece of work to you. I couldn’t just let my work sit or be deleted and forgotten because a few agents said no. It was a pretty immediate decision after the first no came in. I wasn’t sure whether traditional publishing would have been beneficial regardless, but I wanted to have that experience. When that was no longer an option, self-publishing was there to save me.

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

I wanted to get it professionally done but the artists I was speaking with wanted a few weeks to a few months to finish. I was a little more time constrained and so I decided to jump on google and figure out how to use Photoshop! I knew what I wanted, so it wasn’t that hard to finish it. And Photoshop is a seriously intuitive tool, so it made it very easy. I told you guys, I follow that timeline pretty strictly!

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

As with every step of the process, I’m partially winging it but also partially planning it all out. I don’t know what to do, but I do have a general idea of what I should be doing.

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

Always, always, always get your book edited professionally. If you’re writing a fantasy book, definitely focus more on the content edits if you’re tight on funding. But if you’re writing a non-fiction book, I would suggest focusing on the copy-editing. A second pair of eyes is imperative!

About You

Where did you grow up?

New Hampshire.

Where do you live now?

New Hampshire.

What would you like readers to know about you?

​I am a chatterbox; I love to talk about life and adventures. It doesn’t always translate in professional settings as I am more focused on completing a task rather than enjoying the time, but I will talk your ear off given the chance. And I’m always willing to help someone who deserves it.

What are you working on now?

I am currently working on book 2 of The Last of Ryn Dvarek. I’m hoping to be finished with the first draft by next year. Hopefully the editing phase won’t be as extensive as book 1 was now that I know what I’m doing. But we’ll see!

End of Interview:

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Get your copy of A Journey Into Dreams from Amazon US or Amazon UK.