Today we are chatting with Kia Carrington-Russell the author of Token Huntress
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I am a bit of a nerd, I love anime and manga. I love physical challenges, well all challenges at that. I am a workaholic. I love animals. Although I am very creative minded, love sketching, photography, painting etc, I am somewhat terrible at cooking, its taken me a few years to admit it, but anyone in my family will stand by that statement. No support there haha
What novels affected you the most growing up?
The book that inspired me to start writing was The City of Bones and the book which most inspired me as an author and the style that I was most in aww of was Graceling by Kristen Cashore.
Where did the idea for your current book come from?
Token Huntress series was a dream I had. The only scene I had to go from was when Esmore woke in Chases room in Token Huntress when he saved her from the blasting. The bobby dolls in there were very vivid and odd as well. Yes they had to be in the book!!! I remember the fog from above cascading over the small window. I day dreamed on that for about two days. And viola, Token Huntress was a very real plot line with very real characters.
What is your routine for writing and has this method changed over the span of your career?
My method is that when writing a book I usually sit down for large clumps. I don't usually sit and write only a few hundred words, I lock myself away for hours. When I do this I usually write 8k – 15k at a time. I just like being in the moment and writing all day and night. It's how I best work. With this is lots of coffee and unhealthily FOOD!!! And not that good kind.
How important is marketing and social media for you?
So important. Readers fall in love with the author just as much as the book. I love that I can connect with my readers through daily things that I do, personal interests, hobbies etc and it is a good way that they can see what I am up to and believe in. What can I say? I am a social butterfly.
What advice would you have for other writers?
Just write. It won't write itself and half the time when you think you are having an author block, you are not, you are simply avoiding it. Just sit down and write. Don't forget to try and spend the same amount of time on marketing as you do writing. Its wonderful writing and publishing the book but you have to really get it out there. Don't be shy, be proud and stand by your individual masterpiece.
What are you reading now?
I just finished reading Blaze of Memory by Nalini Singh.
What’s your next step?
I am looking at starting my own author advice/ motivational workshops. I'm very excited for this next step in my journey as well as working hard and pushing my own books. I love what I do and that I am in an industry that I can constantly learn. I am simply being open minded and sharing that experience with those who are wanting a little bit of help and willing to listen. That is what makes this journey so magical.
Token Huntress is available on Amazon here
If you are interested in book promotion, please visit http://yourbookpromoter.com
