Today, we’re talking with Lina Hansen about his book, Cursed Out Loud
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I’m a teacher by training and a (science) communication specialist (Marketing, PR) by job experience. I got so fed up with all these technical texts I started writing paranormal mysteries…
Why do you write?
When I was still working, writing crazy, supernatural stuff kept me sane. Now it gives me something to look forward to every day.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
On vacation. I travel a lot, and my journeys inspire all of my novels. I also worked as a travel freelance writer once, and that influences my settings.
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
I love the idea of infusing magic into contemporary settings.
How would you describe your writing process?
Slow and meticulous. I don’t hammer out first drafts in one go. Instead, I do a mind map for the general ideas, then I create a summary. Only once I know I have an ending, do I start mapping out the three acts, using a template I developed. Then, I start with the writing. I managed to bang out a 60K novel in six weeks once – the approach was recommended to be able to write more than one novel per year, but that was the exception. It needed massive editing, so I’m not doing that anymore. It’s more like an organic growth.
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
It’s a great way to get your message out there, and it’s also the only way to engage with actual readers. I would suggest, however, to stick to SM that really work for you instead of doing a little bit of something all over the place. Also, make sure NOT to talk only about writing all the time. Writing should be a part of it, but not the biggest, otherwise people interested in the writing might get overloaded.
What advice would you have for other writers?
Keep writing. No matter what happens, just don’t give up – as long as you enjoy it. Even if 99% of us don’t make it to the top, at least we have created something unique. And no, AI stuff isn’t up to par. At least it isn’t yet.
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
I stand accused of a sense of humor and for cozy mysteries quirky titles that work in a series are a must. Since I love playing with words, finding titles has never been a problem. Covers also are easy, since I have experience in graphic design and I paint. That’s why my covers tend to be quite colorful… Knowing the genre requirements are a must, but within the framework, creating a cover is a highly enjoyable experience. I do use a cover designer, though. It makes life easier.
What’s your next step?
Finish off my two series and write another standalone.
What book do you wish you had written?
A multi-million copy Bestseller, LOL! Since that won’t happen, I’ll settle for the feedback I got from one of my readers. She was a triple-mom, with three jobs, and my stories helped her escape for a short while.
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
That depends on the review…. No one likes two or one star reviews, especially not if they are a) slapped on without an explanation or b) based entirely on personal experience or even misunderstandings. I had one reviewer giving me one star because they hated “witch cozies”. Well, then why do you download the freebie? I would never, ever engage, however. That’s unprofessional and it will only get you into trouble. I do appreciate reviewers who give reasons for their ranking. I can learn something from that. Or, I can simply feel good about someone liking my novel.
