Please give a warm welcome to Stephanie O’Hanlon author of Affaire de Coeur & Out of My Grave.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working on or promoting.
I have just completed a new manuscript, so I’m focusing now on catching up with the promoting I missed while I was in writer La-La Land! I’m excited for my next release, which is a werewolf-horror novel titled The Beast of Bradley Downs from Damnation Books forthcoming this year.
What genre is your book? Do you write in other genres as well?
I have done historical romance, vampire romance and horror. I’d like to try my hand at other genres as well though. Whatever sparks my interest!
Do you have an agent and/or publisher or are you self-published? If self-published, do you use a professional editor? If traditionally published, who is your publisher?
I am with an indie publisher, Eternal Press & their sister publisher Damnation Books, which provide high quality eBooks and paperbacks. I am always on the hunt for an agent though!
Is being an author your dream job? If so, how long have you been chasing the dream? If
not, what would be your dream job?
It really is my dream job! I never really thought of writing being an actual career for me until I attended film school. It turned out I wasn’t very good at anything but writing scripts & doing continuity! So, I got more into writing and that turned into actually diving into writing full-length novels. I hope to take my screenwriting abilities with me on my career.
What has been your best moment as a writer?
My first five star review for Affaire de Coeur! I felt validated as a writer, even though I had a publisher and the book was released. There’s nothing like a five star review!
What challenges have you faced in your writing career?
Mainly finding an agent and promotions. Every agent that I query loves to gush about how talented I am, but then say it’s not the right time or right for them at this time. It gets a little discouraging, wondering when IS the right time? But I don’t let it get me down. On promoting, it seems to take a lot to get things out there, a lot more work than I had anticipated. I’m very serious about making this my career though, so I take the time to do it.
Do you see yourself in any of your characters?
I think there’s a piece of me in every single one. A lot of the time they are private pieces that no one else really gets to see. I also think that perhaps my past lives come through in my stories. I’m kooky like that!
Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
Oh, yes! In one of my unpublished manuscripts, a character named Donatien, a libertine in 1766 France. He’s so much fun! He’s cocky, adventurous, sexy, daring. I can’t wait to share his story with everyone.
Do you base your characters on people you know?
I have, yes. Sometimes in not a very flattering light either! But, I never regret it, even if the person is upset by it. I held up a mirror, apparently they didn’t like what they saw!
What do you do when you’re not writing?
I work on promoting, as well as read, watch my favourite movies, spend time with my mum, snuggle with my cats and play with my dogs, try to work in some time with friends. Normal things!
How much time a day do you spend on social media?
Probably far too much! Haha. It’s hard not to when you rely on it for promoting your work.
What do you do to stay sane as a writer?
How silly, writers aren’t sane! We talk to imaginary people & tell real people about it. It takes a special kind of crazy to do it!
Do you read your reviews and if so, how do you cope with a bad one?
I love every review I get, whether it is a good or bad one. If it is a negative review I simply wish the person well and hope they will like something I write in the future. You can’t please everyone, sadly.
I have found the writer’s community to be very supportive and welcoming. Please share three writers that you recommend for us to check out.
You can find Stephanie on her Facebook and Twitter.
To buy Stephanie’s books click on the covers or links provided:
