1. Tell us about your latest book Dark Prophet and the series it is a part of.
Dark Prophet is the second book in the Chronicles of Koa series. It’s a dark fantasy with a dash of paranormal romance. The series centers around Koa Ryeo-won, a half-blood vampire on a quest to break her
mother’s curse. She works for the Netherworld Division, an elite organization that monitors the Netherworld and all of its supernatural creatures. Koa’s weapon of choice is her father’s enchanted sword, she
can fly, and in this installment of the series learns that her mother’s unknown lineage has passed down a
mysterious power on her. It is that power that makes her a target for the demon named Bund, who will
kill as many humans and vampires as it takes until Koa surrenders to him.
2. Who is your favorite character in Dark Prophet and why?
My favorite character of the series is Halston. He’s blonde, British, and Koa’s boss. I find Halston incredibly interesting. He has such a rich back story as an angel seeking redemption. He will do anything
to protect the humans, but sometimes finds himself torn between his love for the half-blood vampire and
his quest to return to Heaven.
3. As a sci-fi fantasy writer, you have to have a vivid imagination. Where do you find this inspiration for
your stories?
Most of my stories come from my dreams. I keep a journal on my nightstand and often awaken to jot
down my dreams or nightmares. Many of the chapters in The Chronicles of Koa series are scenes that
I’ve dreamt about. I also find great inspiration in art, music, books, and movies.
4. When did you begin writing seriously and what steps did you take to get your work published?
I’ve always written stories, since childhood, however it was a creative writing course at Central Piedmont Community College that helped me break free from my fear of criticism. Having my work read
and critiqued by strangers was very difficult for me. After the overwhelming positive feedback, I finally
had the courage to seek publication. I did my research on querying agents and sending proposals to publishers. I also learned that both seek authors with strong platforms. I took this advice and started building my platform through blogging, social media, and networking with other authors, editors, and artists.
Traditional publishing takes great patience. And so, I decided to self-publish The Chronicles of Koa. Not
only did it add to my resume in hopes of looking more desirable to agents, but it brought great satisfaction that I could create an international bestseller all on my own!
5. Who is your favorite author and what do you like most about them?
Stephen King: I have almost all of his books, and have read his memoir and writing lesson book called
“On Writing”. He is such an inspiration to me. He has such imagination and drive, and came from very
humble beginnings.
6. How much to do you think the book cover influences the sales of the book?
In today’s world of e-books, I think it is quite important. The old saying is to never judge a book by its
cover, however, when a customer sees a webpage full of only covers, you definitely want to stand out in
some way. Still, a great cover can only do so much. The story must speak to the reader. I’m glad Amazon
gives customers the option to sample a book, and yet, every book should at least have a cover that looks
professional.
7. An author puts their heart and soul into writing a novel. How do you handle unfavorable criticism?
It used to bother me, however, I’ve grown to expect and appreciate constructive criticism. I quickly
learned that you truly cannot please everyone. Some readers want a lot of description, while others like
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