Tuesday 23 July 2013

AUTHOR INTERVIEW - L.M. PRESTON



A LITTLE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

LM. Preston was born and raised in Washington, DC. An avid reader, she loved to create poetry and short-stories as a young girl. With a thirst for knowledge she attended college at Bowie State University, and worked in the IT field as a Techie and Educator for over sixteen years. She started writing science fiction under the encouragement of her husband who was a Sci-Fi buff and her four kids. Her first published novel, Explorer X - Alpha was the beginning of her obsessive desire to write and create stories of young people who overcome unbelievable odds. She loves to write while on the porch watching her kids play or when she is traveling, which is another passion that encouraged her writing.


What is your name, where were you born and where do you live now?
LM Preston and was born in Washington DC. Now I live in maryland just outside the Washington DC metropolitan area.

Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?
I didn’t always want to be a writer although I was always writing for pleasure. Initially I wanted to be a teacher, then a Chief Financial Officer. However, I’ve done many amazing and fulfilling jobs, but none of them are quite my passion like writing is.

When did you first consider yourself as a "writer"?
When my 1st book was published. However, now looking back, once I started to write all the time, I was a writer.

Did it take a long time to get your first book published?
Yes, it took about 2 years. However, I went several routes.

Do you work another job as well as your writing work?
Yes, I’m an Engineering Manager. I love my day gig, it stretches my mental imagination. It also makes my writing even more enjoyable because I get great inspiration from the many people I work with.

What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarise it in less than 20 words what would you say?
Thundering Luv is about two people who appear to be opposite in everything, only to find that love is the most important thing to have in common.

Who is your publisher? or do you self publish?
I co-own a small press named Phenomenal One Press with my husband. We’ve been in business since 2009 and have published one other author since.

Do you have a "lucky charm" or "lucky routine" you follow when waiting for your book to be accepted by a publisher?
Well I also submit my works to literary agents in hopes they can promote our books to other markets. It’s a challenging process. I don’t have a lucky charm, but I just blast out a ton of query letters and move on to the next project.

How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?
For most of my full length books it takes me a firm 4 months to outline and write it. However, for short stories it takes me about a week. But the editing process is much longer than the writing.

Which of your books were easier/harder to write than the others?
The hardest books for me to write was Explorer X-Alpha (my first finished novel) and Wastelands (book 2 in the Bandits series). I don’t know why they were harder but they were.

What can we expect from you in the future?  ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?
I plan on finishing up my middle grade series in 2014 with Explorer X-Gamma. Also, finishing off the first episode of my Summer Luv series with Double Trouble Luv, next summer. Finally, book 2 in my Purgatory Reign series, Deviant Storm will also be coming out in 2014. I will continue to hop between Young Adult Paranormal, Scifi and Romance.

Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?
I have one plan for a stand alone book that will come out in 2015. As well as writing the last book in The Pack series.

What genre would you place your books into?
My books fit in Young Adult, Middle Grade, SciFi, Paranormal and Contemporary Romance.

What made you decide to write that genre of book?
I just write what I love. I didn’t make a decision it just felt right.

Do you have a favourite out of the books you have written? If so why is it your favourite?
Purgatory Reign is my absolute favorite. I had fun creating it has mystery, paranormal, romance and a bit of scifi thrown in.

Do you have a favourite character from your books? and why are they your favourite?
I’d say Daniel from Bandits is my favorite. He’s a young futuristic pirate and have a soft spot for pirates.

If you had to choose to be one of your characters in your book/books which would you be? and why?
Oh my, all of my characters have issues. But if I had to pick one, I’d like to be Shamira from The Pack.

How long have you been writing?, and who or what inspired you to write?
I’ve been writing seriously since 2009. But my inspiration for writing is my husband and my kids. They are my biggest fans.

Where do you get your book plot ideas from?What/Who is your inspiration?
Truly they just pop in my head.

Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?
I really can’t have too much of a routine as I sneak in writing whenever I have free time. However, I do wake up every morning to write.


Where can readers follow you?
LM Preston,YA SciFi Author

Facebook:http://tinyurl.com/2fev6qc

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