Hi, I'm Lianna.
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Hi, Tialla! Can you tell us about your two novels? What are they about? Holding the Future Hostage: “A Mystical Bottle... A Teenage Beauty... A Criminal... A Universe of Pursuit. When a teenage girl finds an enchanting perfume Vial, her world is thrown into chaos. Friends become enemies; enemies become friends. Trust is what she needs most - and what she can't find. Through a series of deadly experiences, she discovers that this Vial plays a vital role in deciding the fate of many. Murder and betrayal surround her - hundreds try to claim her very life. A test of determination awaits.... Will she survive? Visions of the future, attacks, kidnappings, travel, explosions, and murder fill this page-turning novel with suspense and surprise.” Where Shadows Lie: “His dark past haunts him. His new life taunts him. After twenty years in the gangs and a hefty prison sentence, an early release gives Shawn the opportunity to turn his life around. But that isn’t so easy when gangs are involved. Only a year into his fresh start, the gang catches on and makes Shawn’s life miserable. After all, once a gang member, always a gang member. His very blood belongs to them. Threats become promises. Whispers become actions. Words become bullets. He must fight – not only for his life, but to save his honor, prove his integrity, and protect the woman he loves. An ember of hope glows in the darkness, strengthening his resolve. Will her support and his determination be enough to dispel the shadows of his past? A story of discovery and faith, love and perseverance.” How would you describe your newest work in progress in one sentence? A young woman drowns and as she takes her dying breath, transforms into a mermaid. Who was your favorite character to write? Hands-down, Shawn. He was my favorite since the beginning! When did you first begin writing? I began my first novel at age 13, but I’ve been writing various stories for as long as I can remember. What was the hardest part during the writing process of your first novel? All of it. ;) I didn’t outline that novel, so I had no idea where it was headed, thus the writing process was a mess, and the editing even messier. Even publishing was difficult because I had to find a company and weigh pros and cons and all that. What is your preffered platform to write on? I have a MacBook, so I enjoy using Pages. It also works amazingly for NaNoWriMo because the word count is always up on the screen. Who are your favorite authors/biggest writing inspirations? J.K. Rowling is a huge inspiration to me. Not only are her books incredible, but the entire world she created for Harry Potter is phenomenal. The more I read her work, the more I am impressed with all the research and backstory she put into it. Also, she’s the first billionaire author in history, so that’s incredibly inspiring. What/who gives you the most motivation to write? My husband is my greatest encouragement! He’s my biggest fan and always motivates me to write. Favorite books? The Auralia Thread by Jeffrey Overstreet, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Favorite movie? How can I possibly pick just one? If I absolutely had to...well I can’t, so I’ll say the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy. Can you give us an excerpt from either of your novels? Holding the Future Hostage: “Shawn and his buddies had broken into the laboratory, and there was a wild fight for the Ruby Vial. The Vial was accidentally dropped into a bucket of dry ice. The fight instantly stopped and they debated what to do. When Bryan whisked the Vial out of the bucket, they were shocked to find it sapphire in color. The Vial had an inscription on the side--revealing the nature of the Ruby Vial. The inscription said: ‘This Vial holds the life of the Universe. All life of the Past, Present, and Future is held in this Vial, and if it perishes--so does the very being of Earth. Guard against the many enemies who thirst for the power this Vial holds. Protect it!’” Where Shadows Lie: “My eyes flew open, and I shot upright. My lungs burned as I tried to catch my breath. Chills coursed through my body. A pool of sweat saturated my bed; the sheets choked me. My heart hammered against my ribs. I stood, placed my trembling hand along the cool pane of the window, and slid it open. I stared into the city lights, wishing I could forget these nightmares. Forget my dark past. Would they ever stop haunting me? As the warm night breeze caressed my face, my mind suffocated in turmoil. I leaned over the windowsill, gazing at the part of town I used to call home. It was the darkest part of the city, as if it was smothered in coal. A bitter taste filled my mouth as the terror of my nightmare tingled my memory. I thought I was past this. I had changed. I served time for my crimes and was doing my best to live a new life. What more could I do? Yet, my past life of hurt, anger, pride, and rebellion wouldn’t let go. No matter how far I tried to distance myself, it hung onto me, like shackles. Resolve began to settle in my mind. I straightened my back and narrowed my eyes at the city in disgust. I would not let it beat me. I had changed; I would continue to change, and I would not go back to that life—no matter how long my memories tortured me. I was not that man any longer, and I would not succumb to it.” Is there a story idea that you’ve had in the past but just never gotten around to writing it? Definitely. A few, actually, but I’m not sure they will ever make it into stories. What advice would you give to those who are new to the publishing process? Avoid vanity presses. If you have to pay for a “package” to publish your book, don’t use that company. You shouldn’t have to pay for anything to publish your book, other than to have a cover created/the book formatted, etc. When looking into a company, Google the term “{company name} scam” to read more about it. Also, decide on what you want before you even start researching companies. Do you want to self-publish or traditionally publish? Do you want to retain most of your rights, or would you rather not be in sole-control of your book? Answering these questions to begin with will help narrow the publisher search. What is your biggest piece of advice for writers (experienced and non-experienced)? Write like no one will be reading it. Write just for yourself. Allow yourself to have a horribly messy first draft because a messy first draft is better than an unfinished one. Don’t edit while writing, it'll just bog yourself down--just get the words down, and edit later. Thanks so much, Tialla for being here with us!
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