Thanks for being here today, Claire. Would you please share a short bio about yourself?
Building on a background of fantasy game design, a fascination with history, and a lifetime love of books, award-winning author Claire Ashgrove brings to life action-filled, passionate journeys of the heart. Her paranormal series, The Curse of the Templars, marries the history of the Knights Templar with the chilling aspirations of the most unholy--a must-read for speculative fiction fans. She also writes as the National Bestselling Author Tori St. Claire and historical romance author Sophia Garrett.
In her non-writing time, she’s runs Finish The Story, a full-scale editing house co-founded with Bryan Thomas Schmidt. She lives in Missouri and enjoys cooking, studying ancient civilizations, and spending downtime with her two sons and too-many horses, cats, and dogs.
Wow! I'm exhausted just after reading your bio! But back to the interview...Do you consider yourself a shy and/or introverted person?
Not really. I don’t particularly like to initiate a conversation with a stranger, but I’m completely comfortable carrying on a conversation if it’s initiated with me. I’m probably less introverted than a lot of authors, although I wouldn’t say I’m the “life of the party” by any means.
What’s the hardest part of this business for you?
Marketing and Promotions. There’s so much time required to simply plan a marketing or promotions push, and lawdy, that time drives me nuts. There are so many other things I could do: edit for my editing company, write, work with the horses, play video games with the kids… things that I enjoy far more than planning dates and strategies. I also have never been someone who’s entirely comfortable “selling myself,” and sometimes promotions feel like pushing me, or my books, at people. Which makes me a bit uncomfortable. Though once it’s said and done and things like blog tours are in swing, I love doing them and connecting with readers and new-to-me bloggers! (And those who’ve worked with me since the beginning too, of course!)
Tell me about a time that you had to step outside your comfort zone either in your writing career or in your personal life?
You know, this sounds really silly, but what first comes to mind happens fairly regularly—having to pick up the phone and call a stranger. Like… calling a store to see if they have something in stock. I hate doing that. I would much rather drive all the way around town checking different places and striking out than make a phone call to ask. Unless, of course, it’s someone/someplace I communicate with regularly. On a publishing level, having to reach out to successful authors for endorsements is extremely uncomfortable.
I totally understand the phone thing! I hate that, too. What’s one tip you could share with shy and introverted people that’s helped you?
Truthfully, when it comes to publishing, I know there’s a huge fear of ‘rejection’. Be that from agents/editors, from reviewers, from other authors even. The fear often grabs that there’s something about us which makes us more prone to stay in our caves and keep our necks safe from harm. But really, when it boils down to everything, these people are humans, just like you and I. Even better, we’ve all been there, and we all know what it’s like. Editors know that sitting down for a pitch can be paralyzing if you’re shy, and a simple remark like, “Pardon me, I’m a bit nervous” isn’t something you need to hide. Put it out there. People will respond, nine times out of ten, with empathy and compassion and do whatever possible to put you at ease. Just don’t let your fears get the best of you. If you don’t take the chances, you’ll never know the possibilities.
Would you please share a short blurb of your book and where my readers can buy it?
Halle Rhoads has a terrifying gift--she can kill with the fury of the storm.
She should have known that kind of power wouldn't go unnoticed. Thrust into a world full of dark magic with a handsome stranger who claims he can teach her, she struggles to master her abilities and stumbles onto a dangerous truth. She's a windwalker, the chosen vessel of the ancient dragons who once ruled the world. Many will stop at nothing to possess the power in her blood, should they discover her secret. With necromancers hunting her and Halle's closest allies guarding secrets, mastering her magic becomes a matter of necessity.
But accepting her destiny is altogether different. For doing so means she must sacrifice everything.
Your book sounds fantastic. Where can my readers find you on the web?
Claire Ashgrove Website
Untamed Spirit Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Buy links:
Building on a background of fantasy game design, a fascination with history, and a lifetime love of books, award-winning author Claire Ashgrove brings to life action-filled, passionate journeys of the heart. Her paranormal series, The Curse of the Templars, marries the history of the Knights Templar with the chilling aspirations of the most unholy--a must-read for speculative fiction fans. She also writes as the National Bestselling Author Tori St. Claire and historical romance author Sophia Garrett.
In her non-writing time, she’s runs Finish The Story, a full-scale editing house co-founded with Bryan Thomas Schmidt. She lives in Missouri and enjoys cooking, studying ancient civilizations, and spending downtime with her two sons and too-many horses, cats, and dogs.
Wow! I'm exhausted just after reading your bio! But back to the interview...Do you consider yourself a shy and/or introverted person?
Not really. I don’t particularly like to initiate a conversation with a stranger, but I’m completely comfortable carrying on a conversation if it’s initiated with me. I’m probably less introverted than a lot of authors, although I wouldn’t say I’m the “life of the party” by any means.
What’s the hardest part of this business for you?
Marketing and Promotions. There’s so much time required to simply plan a marketing or promotions push, and lawdy, that time drives me nuts. There are so many other things I could do: edit for my editing company, write, work with the horses, play video games with the kids… things that I enjoy far more than planning dates and strategies. I also have never been someone who’s entirely comfortable “selling myself,” and sometimes promotions feel like pushing me, or my books, at people. Which makes me a bit uncomfortable. Though once it’s said and done and things like blog tours are in swing, I love doing them and connecting with readers and new-to-me bloggers! (And those who’ve worked with me since the beginning too, of course!)
Tell me about a time that you had to step outside your comfort zone either in your writing career or in your personal life?
You know, this sounds really silly, but what first comes to mind happens fairly regularly—having to pick up the phone and call a stranger. Like… calling a store to see if they have something in stock. I hate doing that. I would much rather drive all the way around town checking different places and striking out than make a phone call to ask. Unless, of course, it’s someone/someplace I communicate with regularly. On a publishing level, having to reach out to successful authors for endorsements is extremely uncomfortable.
I totally understand the phone thing! I hate that, too. What’s one tip you could share with shy and introverted people that’s helped you?
Truthfully, when it comes to publishing, I know there’s a huge fear of ‘rejection’. Be that from agents/editors, from reviewers, from other authors even. The fear often grabs that there’s something about us which makes us more prone to stay in our caves and keep our necks safe from harm. But really, when it boils down to everything, these people are humans, just like you and I. Even better, we’ve all been there, and we all know what it’s like. Editors know that sitting down for a pitch can be paralyzing if you’re shy, and a simple remark like, “Pardon me, I’m a bit nervous” isn’t something you need to hide. Put it out there. People will respond, nine times out of ten, with empathy and compassion and do whatever possible to put you at ease. Just don’t let your fears get the best of you. If you don’t take the chances, you’ll never know the possibilities.
Would you please share a short blurb of your book and where my readers can buy it?
Halle Rhoads has a terrifying gift--she can kill with the fury of the storm.
She should have known that kind of power wouldn't go unnoticed. Thrust into a world full of dark magic with a handsome stranger who claims he can teach her, she struggles to master her abilities and stumbles onto a dangerous truth. She's a windwalker, the chosen vessel of the ancient dragons who once ruled the world. Many will stop at nothing to possess the power in her blood, should they discover her secret. With necromancers hunting her and Halle's closest allies guarding secrets, mastering her magic becomes a matter of necessity.
But accepting her destiny is altogether different. For doing so means she must sacrifice everything.
Your book sounds fantastic. Where can my readers find you on the web?
Claire Ashgrove Website
Untamed Spirit Blog
Buy links:
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