Author Spotlight: Stephie Walls
September 26, 2014 • News
1) How did you get started as an author and what made you want to pursue that field?
I’ve always written. It’s just what I do. But prior to this year, I’ve never had a desire to make anything I wrote public. Bound by Love is a work of fiction but it’s also my story. I will never admit which parts are true and which ones are fiction but the weakness I felt during that time in my life was real. I wanted to tell a story that women could identify with, not one that necessarily was flowers and rainbows and the obligatory happy ever after. I don’t know any woman who hasn’t sacrificed herself foolishly for the love of a man and in our youth we have a propensity to lose ourselves in the desire to please. I never intended for Bound to have a sequel but Freed was born somewhere along the way and Brett (character in the book) wormed his way into my heart. While writing Bound, I started getting ideas for all sorts of other stories and found that I loved what I was creating. I was fortunate enough to find other people who believed in me and encouraged me to keep pursuing what became a dream to be a full time writer.
2) What hurdles have you overcome while striving towards your goals?
My biggest problem is time management. I own a business, have a small child, and am very active in her school. Finding time to write, market, promote, interact, and everything else that is required to get my name in front of people is very difficult and often results in sleepless nights. But honestly, I think all writers, even those who are wildly successful struggle with similar issues.
3) Which novel has been your favorite to write and why?
Metamorphosis is by far my favorite to date because it was so much fun to work on; from the manuscript, to the cover model, to the designer, to the editing, I have met some amazing people who just made this everything I ever hoped writing could be.
4) For those looking to become an author, what advice would you give them?
Be patient! Don’t expect instant success. Write because you have a story to tell, not because you expect to get rich quick. If you are writing because you love it then one sale is worth the effort you put into a novel.
5) Favorite motto?
Hmmm. I don’t really have a motto but I believe in hard work and paying it forward. I hope that at some point I can offer the loads of advice I have received from talented authors to a newbie on the scene.
6) In one word, how would you describe your writing style?
Raw. I seem to have a propensity for touching on subjects most romance authors shy away from because readers have such an aversion to “bad things”. The fact is my characters face real struggles, they aren’t millionaires, they make huge mistakes, and hopefully my readers can connect with them.
7) Which author inspires you the most and why?
Colleen Hoover inspires me as an author. First and foremost, she’s just funny – follow her on Facebook and watch the videos she posts. Secondly, she is in touch with her fans. Every time I have seen her in person or gone to a signing, she has been so friendly and warm that I felt like I was talking to a friend. In terms of inspiration, her first story was written on a whim. She put it on KDP so that her grandmother could read it and some other various friends/family. Her story BLEW up! I think what inspires me most about that is that it shows anyone can do it. Anyone can have a story that touches the hearts of readers. She wasn’t in it for money or fame and I think because of that, she’s really down to Earth and captures the hearts of her fans.
8) Goals for 2014?
With 2014 almost over, my goal list is fairly short. I hope to get the second book in this series, Compass, out sometime in November and then take the holidays off to spend with my daughter before pushing out the final four books in 2015.
9) What new projects are you currently working on?
This series has just started and completing it will take me through the end of 2015. There are six books starting with Metamorphosis. I also have a novella that I’m working on called Chimera that I hope to release in the next couple of months but it’s not on the top of the priority list.
I’m really excited to be working with Stephie on her upcoming series!
Make sure to connect with her on Facebook.
– CJC Photography
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram