Welcome to my blog again dear followers. Today I have something different for you all. Kristen Hope Mazzola agreed to an interview and I thought you would all like to know what was said....
Kristen Hope Mazzola is an up and coming independent author from sunny South Florida. Crashing Back Down is her debut into the literary world. Kristen is currently working on the rest of her Crashing Series, which will include a sequel, Falling Back Together, and a prequel, Walking Away. She even has a few more tricks up her sleeve, with more characters to introduce and more twists to unravel, so keep your eye on this talented young author!
When Kristen is not driving a pen into paper, she enjoys reading all different genres and fishing. “There is just something so magical about water and the calm it brings to my life,” says Kristen. Even though writing is not her only career she is pursuing, Kristen hopes to one day be a full time writer. Having a day job and a busy life, makes finding time for writing difficult, but anything worthwhile in life is difficult. Loving life, writing, and fishing basically make up her world.
I write under my real name. I never considered a pen name, I want my readers to know me for who I am.
What made you want to be a published author?
The dream came over me like a tidal wave and I knew that it was my calling.
What genre do you write in and why?
I write in new adult romance mostly. It is natural for me. I enjoy reading that genre, so I enjoy writing in it too. Writing is my passion in life, so I write the stories I would want to read.
If you could talk to your 12 year old self, what advice would you give?
I would tell myself that everything was going to work out just the way I hoped and the rocky road that I had to take to get there would all be worth it.
Have any other authors influenced your writing through theirs?
Jamie McGuire. Reading Beautiful Disaster made me want to start writing again after a long absence from the craft. So, she didn’t influence my actual writing style, but she inflanced me to pick back up the pen.
If you are a self-published author what made you take this route and what was your experience (good or bad)?
I have always been determined to do things on my own, so being an independent author was exactly the road I wanted to take. I never considered contacting publishers. I have loved every step of this incredible journey!
How would you rate your writing?
I really don’t know. I am very modest and I think that is for my readers to decide.
How do you react to poor reviews of your book?
Everyone is entitled to their opinion and not every book is going to be loved by all. I welcome reviews of all kinds and am thankful that someone took the time to not only read the words I wrote, but also took the time to write the review. So I react positively to all reviews and learn from my mistakes. If there is a good point made in the review, I make a note of it and chalk it up to a learning experience.
What influences your choice of book covers?
The characters. When I am trying to think of a cover, I think about the main character and what they would want. Also the overall tone of the book. Crashing Back Down is about a hard emotional road that a widow is forced to trudge down; the cover was not going to be a woman happily frolicking through a field of daisies.
How do you balance your writing with your real world responsibilities?
It is so hard for me actually. I write in the stolen moments the my day to day life allows.
Do your characters drive the plots of your stories or do you plan out your plot?
I let the characters drive the plot, hands down. I feel that gives the story line a more natural flow.
Do you ever write what you dream? Give an example.
No. Actually, I do not have vivid enough dreams to be able to write about. I wish though!
Do you market yourself or pay a professional?
I market all on my own.
What are your tips for editing?
Find a good editor and have them go through it as many times as physically possible. I thought Crashing Back Down was polished, had already sent out my ARCs, and then had to have it gone through again, TWICE. Now I am finally confident in the finished product.
What inspired you to write your current WIP or current published work?
I started writing a bunch of short stories. Some of them stayed as just shorts and I did not fall in love with their characters. But Walker and Mags stole my heart and I knew that their story was going to be really enjoyable to continue, so I did.
Do you prefer to write stand-alone novels or a series? Why?
Well, since Crashing Back Down is my first novel ever and it is part of a series, I think I would have to go with series. But I don’t know yet. Maybe down the road my mind will change. I don’t have an idea for a few stand alones to come in the near future!
If you could change one thing in the publishing process what would it be?
Make it easier to have works on multiple channels.
What advice would you give to a new author?
Never let yourself get discouraged. It is not easy, but the reward is fantastic. And EDIT, EDIT, EDIT!
Share a favourite quote from your book.
“You’re my true north. No compass would point me in any other direction but to you.”
Mags McManus has just become a war widow in her mid-twenties. Her late husband, Randy, left for the Army right after their wedding. Instead of celebrating his homecoming and living in marital bliss with her soulmate, Mags finds herself living in constant agony. Dealing with the guilt of still living without Randy, are Randy's best friends and parents.
Rising from the ashes of this tragedy, Mags starts to learn how to love and trust again, finally being able to find happiness. But sometimes things really are too good to be true and again Mags learns how cruel the world can be as she crashes back down.
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