Ask the Author: Nancy Gray
Answered Questions (7)
Nancy Gray
I have a lot of favorite fictional couples, so it's hard to narrow it down, but I'll try.
My current pick is Asuna and Kirito from the Sword Art Online manga and anime. They compliment each other well. Asuna is a powerful character with an indomitable attitude and Kirito, while being shy is has a will to overcome all odds against him.
This second pick might be a spoiler for those reading the Clockwork Angel series, though I doubt it. Reading the first book, I could tell there was going to be a love triangle, but if you don't want to know who the second love interest is, don't read any further.
My second pick is Jim Carstairs and Tessa from the Clockwork Angel series. Even though there is a love triangle and I don't know how it is going to end yet, Jim is such a likable character it's almost impossible for me to wish him anything but the best of luck, especially since he doesn't have much time to make the most of his life. Whatever the outcome, I like them as a couple better than I like Will and Tessa together.
My third pick is probably Rosiland and Jason from The Fire Rose by Mercedes Lackey. What can I say, I like a good beauty and the beast story.
As I read more and more books, of course, the pick will probably change, but I think these two are the favorites for now.
My current pick is Asuna and Kirito from the Sword Art Online manga and anime. They compliment each other well. Asuna is a powerful character with an indomitable attitude and Kirito, while being shy is has a will to overcome all odds against him.
This second pick might be a spoiler for those reading the Clockwork Angel series, though I doubt it. Reading the first book, I could tell there was going to be a love triangle, but if you don't want to know who the second love interest is, don't read any further.
My second pick is Jim Carstairs and Tessa from the Clockwork Angel series. Even though there is a love triangle and I don't know how it is going to end yet, Jim is such a likable character it's almost impossible for me to wish him anything but the best of luck, especially since he doesn't have much time to make the most of his life. Whatever the outcome, I like them as a couple better than I like Will and Tessa together.
My third pick is probably Rosiland and Jason from The Fire Rose by Mercedes Lackey. What can I say, I like a good beauty and the beast story.
As I read more and more books, of course, the pick will probably change, but I think these two are the favorites for now.
Nancy Gray
The first idea for this book series came from a dream I had of a blood-splattered lighthouse. I don't remember many details of the dream, but that image stuck with me.
During this time, I was also reading a book called "Weird Carolinas" and it told a story about blood actually raining down over a small section of North Carolina. I was intrigued by the horror of this real life event and got the idea for the "Blood Rain" in my story. (I highly recommend this book series for anyone who wants to learn interesting details about their state. It was intriguing and their is a different "Weird" book for each state.)
I got my inspiration for the world of "Lacern" from many different places. I was watching the "Avatar the Last Airbender" series on TV (NOT the movie) and thought that the different regions with different types of magic was a fun concept.
I was also playing Morrowind during this time and had the thought that it would be interesting to be able to get on top of one of the giant mushrooms. I started imagining rope bridges connecting them and came up with the idea of Mercy's treetop village.
The novels I read at the time were also a big inspiration. I was reading Jim Butcher's "Codex Alera" series and the Canim in the stories gave me inspiration for the beast races in mine. There are many differences between my story and his, however, in that there are many different types of beast races in my story and the origin of the beast people is very different. (I'm trying to avoid spoilers...)
I started writing all of these ideas down in a sort of hodge-podge fashion and ended up filling up an entire notebook of notes about the setting, the characters and their backgrounds, plot ideas I found interesting, arguments the characters might have, motivations, etc. In the end, I took these ideas and made a rough outline. I followed the outline some of the time and free wrote if my characters didn't cooperate. (Anyone who has ever written extensively has probably had this problem or will have this problem in the future--your characters don't always do what you want them to do in the end.)
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the story. I'm hoping to have the second of the series "Blood Moon" published soon.
During this time, I was also reading a book called "Weird Carolinas" and it told a story about blood actually raining down over a small section of North Carolina. I was intrigued by the horror of this real life event and got the idea for the "Blood Rain" in my story. (I highly recommend this book series for anyone who wants to learn interesting details about their state. It was intriguing and their is a different "Weird" book for each state.)
I got my inspiration for the world of "Lacern" from many different places. I was watching the "Avatar the Last Airbender" series on TV (NOT the movie) and thought that the different regions with different types of magic was a fun concept.
I was also playing Morrowind during this time and had the thought that it would be interesting to be able to get on top of one of the giant mushrooms. I started imagining rope bridges connecting them and came up with the idea of Mercy's treetop village.
The novels I read at the time were also a big inspiration. I was reading Jim Butcher's "Codex Alera" series and the Canim in the stories gave me inspiration for the beast races in mine. There are many differences between my story and his, however, in that there are many different types of beast races in my story and the origin of the beast people is very different. (I'm trying to avoid spoilers...)
I started writing all of these ideas down in a sort of hodge-podge fashion and ended up filling up an entire notebook of notes about the setting, the characters and their backgrounds, plot ideas I found interesting, arguments the characters might have, motivations, etc. In the end, I took these ideas and made a rough outline. I followed the outline some of the time and free wrote if my characters didn't cooperate. (Anyone who has ever written extensively has probably had this problem or will have this problem in the future--your characters don't always do what you want them to do in the end.)
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the story. I'm hoping to have the second of the series "Blood Moon" published soon.
Nancy Gray
Sometime's I'm inspired by my dreams. I keep a dream journal next to my bed in case I have a vivid dream that could be the start of a potential story.
Also, sometimes I get inspired from real life stories I hear from the news or from books about real places. I tend to mostly get inspiration from my own state. Sometimes real life is stranger than fiction, and there are some very interesting places and strange stories from South Carolina.
I also get ideas by reading, playing video games and role playing games, and watching movies. Any sort of creative medium is a good outlet for inspiration.
Going out can also lead to different thoughts which can then lead to story ideas. Going to a museum of any kind can be good inspiration. I highly recommend going outside and carrying a notebook or laptop wherever you go to be ready when inspiration hits.
Also, sometimes I get inspired from real life stories I hear from the news or from books about real places. I tend to mostly get inspiration from my own state. Sometimes real life is stranger than fiction, and there are some very interesting places and strange stories from South Carolina.
I also get ideas by reading, playing video games and role playing games, and watching movies. Any sort of creative medium is a good outlet for inspiration.
Going out can also lead to different thoughts which can then lead to story ideas. Going to a museum of any kind can be good inspiration. I highly recommend going outside and carrying a notebook or laptop wherever you go to be ready when inspiration hits.
Nancy Gray
I'm currently working on the third and final book of the "Blood Rain" series, "Blood God." I might work on a spin off series that takes place in the same universe a few hundred years after the ending of this trilogy, but I have a few other projects I'd like to complete first.
I'm also working on a young reader horror series called, "Junior Investigator's Club." I'm working on the fourth novella right now. I'm trying to find an agent for this series and believe it has a great deal of potential. There is definitely a need for more young reader horror.
I'm also working on a young reader horror series called, "Junior Investigator's Club." I'm working on the fourth novella right now. I'm trying to find an agent for this series and believe it has a great deal of potential. There is definitely a need for more young reader horror.
Nancy Gray
Never give up. Technically, if you've written anything you're a writer and no one can take that from you. If you want to get published, though, the key is to be persistent. Expect lots of rejections, but don't let that make you question who or what you are.
Believe in your work, and keep reading and writing. The more you read and the more you practice, the better your writing will be, and one day you will be published, even if you have to do it yourself.
Also, test readers are important. Let others read your work and critique it and take any criticism seriously. Sometimes, you'll have to rewrite your work several times, but that's all part of the process and growing as a writer.
Believe in your work, and keep reading and writing. The more you read and the more you practice, the better your writing will be, and one day you will be published, even if you have to do it yourself.
Also, test readers are important. Let others read your work and critique it and take any criticism seriously. Sometimes, you'll have to rewrite your work several times, but that's all part of the process and growing as a writer.
Nancy Gray
The best thing about being a writer is being able to create something from your own mind that becomes a unique experience for someone else. Writing is as fun for the author as it is for the reader but the meaning behind the work is different for both. It's also nice to look at the world from another person's perspective, and find out that sometimes the characters you're writing surprise you.
Nancy Gray
If I'm having writer's block on a particular project, sometimes I switch gears and start something new. I might brainstorm on a project that I put down for a long time or do some other type of creative activity in the meantime. Sometimes, ideas come from many different places, even drawing a picture or playing a video game or role playing game. Exercising my imagination in some way tends to help. Also, for some reason, I do my best creative thinking soaking in a nice hot bath.
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