Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Interview & Giveaway with M.R. Pilot, author of A Bloodline's Echo


Now available on Kindle is the young adult fantasy A Bloodline's Echo by M. R. Pilot.




When did you become interested in storytelling?

I can’t remember a time not being interested. It just took me twenty-something years to decide I’d do something about it. I mean, I would write some stuff—usually weird—as a child, but it was just fun. Now that I’ve started, I’d be hard-pressed to stop.

What was your first book/story published?

This one! 😊 Unless the creative writing assignment I did as a ten-year-old for my sixteen-year-old aunt counts.

What inspired you to write A Bloodline’s Echo?

About a year ago, I was feeling quite bored and unfulfilled. I was working, I had accomplished most of the big quests on Skyrim, you know…the creative blues. I can’t draw or sing. So, eventually, I started to write, and the story blossomed. The characters felt so real I couldn’t abandon them. I also was inspired to incorporate my favorite story aspects: a bit of magic, a bit of romance, a bit of intrigue, some conflicts I could relate to—albeit wholly exaggerated.

What character in A Bloodline’s Echo is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

Cori’s temperament resembles mine to a small extent. Rylo, the male main character, doesn’t eat meat and neither do I, though for varying reasons. Least like me would probably be Dwyn. He’s exceptionally extroverted, a little pushy, etc. But I strive for my characters to be independent, fully-rounded entities. I hope that all readers find a trace of relatability in them.

What is your favorite part in A Bloodline’s Echo?

The commotion towards the end. It ends with “to be continued…” but before that. Not only do some answers come to surface during this part, but I grew more comfortable with action scenes through it. And…it leaves lots to pick up on in book two. Not to fret—it’s not a painful cliffhanger!

What was the hardest part to write?

The middle for sure. Oh, that wretched middle. I knew where the story was going early in the game, but there are so many potential scenes that can pave the way. I stuck with what felt like the most natural sequence of events. I wanted to implement story ties—little, non-distracting things—that have important implications later in the series, but while continuously moving my characters forward in a meaningful way.

What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?

My day job is cleaning teeth, but I wouldn’t necessarily call it my ideal career, though it has its moments. This is random, but I’d love to be a high school counselor.

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

I don’t have many, but the ones I do have, I’ve read. It’s my first story so I was seeking validation to some degree. It might be wise to cut myself off from it. Negative reviews on my favorite books hurt me, which is silly, so I should perhaps tread lightly when reading my own. I think all authors appreciate reviewers, I know I do, but I couldn’t let reviews—positive or negative—influence my writing. Although reviews are often thoughtful and full of insight, I’m the only one who knows the secrets that remain to be unfolded. I’d be risking losing my vision if I considered every comment as fact and addressed it.

What well-known writers do you admire most?

Christopher Paolini (I love how he still answers story questions on twitter), Patrick Rothfuss, J.K. Rowling, Holly Black, Nora Roberts. Truth be known, I admire every writer. For their imagination, their time, probable excessive caffeine intake—doing whatever it takes to build that world.

Do you have any other books/stories in the works?

Book Two of The Avadi Series is in the works! 😊 A project closer to completion is one that I started as an in-between-takes kind of thing, but I’ve fallen in love with it. It’s a change of pace and a whole lot of fun to write. It’s an urban fantasy tentatively titled The Curse of Luma.


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About the Author

M. R. Pilot is an avid reader, coffee-drinker and animal lover. When she’s not cleaning teeth, she’s partaking in Alaskan hikes, watching anime, relentless page-turning and/or keyboard clicking. She loves to talk about any of those things for an indiscriminate amount of time—feel free to reach out if you do, too.

Learn more about the author at: www.worldofverbena.com/

Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

2 comments:

  1. From one caffeine addict to another -

    Thank you so much for the feature today! It is much appreciated. All the best,

    M. R. Pilot

    ReplyDelete
  2. So happy for you.I love and miss you lots.Congratulations on your book.

    ReplyDelete

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