Ask the Author: Willow Madison
Answered Questions (14)
Willow Madison
Hi, J. Ellen. I've been writing novels for the past seven years. Before that, I was writing whenever a professional opportunity presented itself in my day to day jobs. But before that....geesh, I think I was always creating characters in my head, hoping for the day they'd get to jump ship. My first book, True Nature, was like that - when I finally sat down to start typing the story out in an email to myself...it just jumped right out of me from beginning to end. That was an amazing feeling!
This wasn't a part of your question, but I'll add this: I've come to appreciate why writing is called a 'craft' by so many people. There's always something to learn, something to add, something to take away. It isn't something that's ever perfect or perfected. Writing is crafted from scratch, made better with continued practice (hopefully!), and a labor of love. I really hope I get to work on my craft like this for the rest of my days :)
This wasn't a part of your question, but I'll add this: I've come to appreciate why writing is called a 'craft' by so many people. There's always something to learn, something to add, something to take away. It isn't something that's ever perfect or perfected. Writing is crafted from scratch, made better with continued practice (hopefully!), and a labor of love. I really hope I get to work on my craft like this for the rest of my days :)
Willow Madison
*blush Thank you for the love of my True series :)
Existential Angst - The Prequel and Existential Angst - The Novel will be released Summer 2021. Both are complete and in editing. I'll be sending out a Newsletter with announcements on ARCs and Release Day information. If you're not signed up yet, you can do so now on my website: http://willowmadisonbooks.com/whats-n...
Existential Angst - The Prequel and Existential Angst - The Novel will be released Summer 2021. Both are complete and in editing. I'll be sending out a Newsletter with announcements on ARCs and Release Day information. If you're not signed up yet, you can do so now on my website: http://willowmadisonbooks.com/whats-n...
Willow Madison
Existential Angst - The Prequel and Existential Angst - The Novel will be released Summer 2021. Both are complete as of the answering of this question (finally!) and are in the hands of my editor :)
Willow Madison
Once upon a time, there was a dirty old man. He didn't die.
Willow Madison
The quiet of the early morning was disturbed by unfamiliar voices. In a town that was still many decades away from being called “The Murder Capital of the U.S.,” this was unusual. On a block that was mostly blue-collar Welshmen who kept to themselves, even to the point that their children didn’t know by name their classmates from the surrounding blocks of German, Polish, Irish, or Italian families, this was exceptional. Why then was this man, Ellsworth, rousing his wife for an impromptu breakfast with the Fat Lady, the Tall Man, the Painted Lady, the Strong Man, and the Lion Tamer?
Willow Madison
This was a really tough question to answer! I usually love one character more than the other. I had to shake the rocks in my brain to come up with a couple that I loved both MCs equally AND a story that I loved throughout...
John Perry and Jane Sagan of Scalzi's "Old Man's War" series. The oddball-ness of this being an almost second-chance-at-love story is combined with a strong hero that doesn't try to change his stronger heroine. It's about loving who and what the other person is, without need for labels or stereotypes or empty ideals or revisited values or revised histories. In a world full of physical alterations, love can't be defined so corporeally.
John Perry and Jane Sagan of Scalzi's "Old Man's War" series. The oddball-ness of this being an almost second-chance-at-love story is combined with a strong hero that doesn't try to change his stronger heroine. It's about loving who and what the other person is, without need for labels or stereotypes or empty ideals or revisited values or revised histories. In a world full of physical alterations, love can't be defined so corporeally.
Willow Madison
Wow. Thanks for that, Amy. No, I have a BS in business. The inner workings of human nature is just something I'm fascinated with and love to explore with my characters.
I take it as a huge compliment that my writing makes you consider the psychological aspects behind the characters and stories. I try hard to make the actions and motives of my characters as believable as possible -- not always likeable ;) -- and have them fit into what I call my 'agenda' with each storyline. It's not an agenda like an end result or plot that I'm after, though. It's more of a general goal for a message I want to convey with each story. Paying close attention to the ins/outs of my characters helps me to stay focused on that goal.
I take it as a huge compliment that my writing makes you consider the psychological aspects behind the characters and stories. I try hard to make the actions and motives of my characters as believable as possible -- not always likeable ;) -- and have them fit into what I call my 'agenda' with each storyline. It's not an agenda like an end result or plot that I'm after, though. It's more of a general goal for a message I want to convey with each story. Paying close attention to the ins/outs of my characters helps me to stay focused on that goal.
Willow Madison
Hi, D. The start of the giveaway has been pushed back a little. I believe it will now start in the middle of April. I will post an exact date and link in a blog posting on here as well as my status updates.
Thank you for your interest, and I'm sorry for the delay. All of the True paperbacks are currently available for purchase via Amazon and the sister-company, Createspace.
~W
Thank you for your interest, and I'm sorry for the delay. All of the True paperbacks are currently available for purchase via Amazon and the sister-company, Createspace.
~W
Willow Madison
Hi, D. I'm happy to announce that all of my True series books are available in paperpack as of yesterday. Within the next week, they should be popping up on Amazon, but you can also purchase them directly from the Amazon printing service by using these links:
True Nature https://www.createspace.com/5421718
True Beginnings https://www.createspace.com/6131746
True Choices https://www.createspace.com/6131888
True Control 4.1 https://www.createspace.com/6132169
True Control 4.2 https://www.createspace.com/6132205
I should have we were one once book 1 & 2 also available in paperback within the next few weeks. (fingers & toes crossed!)
I will be offering a Goodread's Giveway for the First Edition of True Nature starting March 30th.
Happy reading! And let me know what you think of the paperbacks if you pick them up :)
~Willow
True Nature https://www.createspace.com/5421718
True Beginnings https://www.createspace.com/6131746
True Choices https://www.createspace.com/6131888
True Control 4.1 https://www.createspace.com/6132169
True Control 4.2 https://www.createspace.com/6132205
I should have we were one once book 1 & 2 also available in paperback within the next few weeks. (fingers & toes crossed!)
I will be offering a Goodread's Giveway for the First Edition of True Nature starting March 30th.
Happy reading! And let me know what you think of the paperbacks if you pick them up :)
~Willow
Willow Madison
I'm not overly active on social media at the moment, Kimmi. I have a website under remodel, willowmadisonbooks.com, and can be reached directly with willowcmadison@gmail.com.
Willow Madison
Hi, Kimmi. Your full comment was cut off (probably a limit set by GR??). It would help our discussion if I knew to which book you are referring?
updated with full response:
Kimmi, I can tell that you’ve given this a good deal of thought and I can feel how upset you are. I’ll include your message in full at the bottom, because I can’t abide censorship, even by a limit in characters on GR. I’ll also address your comment in full with an equally thought out reply and hope that you can feel what I wish to convey as well, in its entirety.
The details:
I now understand that you are referring to a friend’s review of King, book 1: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My comments on that review were for book 2.
For the sake of full disclosure – here’s my own 3* review of book 1 which pre-dates the one to which you refer: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... There are no comments posted to this one, only 5 likes at the time of this post. This was not something that I would expect you to know as it wasn’t a part of my review, but I only chose to read this book based on a summer-long team reading challenge. King fit the bill for a pop up for extra points for my team + on a teammate’s TBR + a hot cover. That cover is HAWT.
My reply to your post:
Prior to joining the team reading challenge over the summer, I was reticent to post negative or even neutral reviews. I felt (almost) the same as you – as a fellow author, I should refrain from posting my opinions publicly. I’m not shy or sweet – I write dark erotica after all, but I was being “nice.” Or as I instruct my pets (bubbies) to be – I was being as nice as I can be.
I joined the challenge with a childlike naiveté. I only saw it as an opportunity to be forced out of my dark erotica corner of comfiness. I didn’t think about the necessity of reading books that weren’t my cuppa and then being forced to write a review or leave my teammates hanging in the wind. There were weeks when a book of my chosen tastes was not to be in the cards. I read a good deal of crappa (to me) over the summer frankly. I know we don’t know each other at all; but suffice it to say, I’d never leave a teammate sucking hind tit. Bad form. Bad karma. As a result, over the summer, I left some scathing reviews, all heartfelt and honest.
So the challenge “popped my cherry” on writing “bad” reviews.
King was a book that does fall into my chosen tastes. As my review says, I ended up “in like” with it, so I was curious enough to pick up book 2 (I believe it’s on another friend’s review of book 1 that I curse her for enticing me to read 2 actually). I’ll admit, I was tempted by Mr. Cliff Hanger.
I read book 2. I hated it. It stunk. It sucked. It was lousy. I stand behind my comments on my friend’s review. My comments weren’t based on anyone else’s reviews or comments however. (I would never, another “bad form/karma” point that I wouldn’t expect that you’d know about me though). They were solely my own opinion, formed from having actually read the book.
However, I didn’t rate nor review book 2 on GR. Like so many other readers on here, I was busy and never got to it. And – this is most important for you to understand for the next part of my reply – I didn’t post anything on Amazon.
You may not be aware of this as a reader, but I am as an author. Amazon is “king.” It’s the largest retailer of online book sales. It has this crazily mysterious algorithm that calculates a book’s rating based on sales and reviews. Negative reviews hurt more than positive ones help. As a fellow author, I only post my positive reviews to Amazon. I think of this as playing fair. I don’t post my negative reviews on Amazon. Never. Not once. I won’t. Ever.
GR, although owned by Amazon, is a different animal entirely. This is a forum for readers. Authors walk these halls at their own risk. I’ve been to the Coliseum in Rome. GR is just that. Books are gladiators. Readers are ravenous citizens awaiting their next bite of entertainment, all Caesars with thumbs readied for judgement. Even champions fall prey to sword now and then. And you know what they say about the pen and the sword…the analogy is a bit muddled, but it’s in there somewhere.
Conclusion:
My opinion disagrees with yours on this series and on this point. I am an author. Some could argue that I should be held to a higher standard of public opinion because of that. Others might say I should pander to a more affable public image at least and avoid speaking up. As much as I can, I choose to ignore those lines of thinking. I enjoy GR for what it is – a free space for reader interaction. In an opinion that I have shared with others on here before – authors are welcome, but they should wear steeltoes to avoid getting crushed.
If a reader chooses to judge me based on my reviews or comments, not my books, so be it. I’m not being flippant here. I mean no disrespect. I of course want more readers to enjoy my books. I won’t bite my tongue to make that happen though.
My own books are now scarred and seasoned gladiators themselves. I’ve had my share of negative reviews and comments on here, you can rest assured. My personal favorite so far is Nikki’s for my first Spartacus: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... Man did she ever hate that book. Funny gifs though.
(Kimmi’s original question in full)
Willow, here is my message in its entirety.
Hi, Willow. I just finished reviewing a book and started scrolling through reviews when I read the one you left for the same book. Sometimes I do that to find new authors or to get book recommendations. I must confess that I read the comments and though I was a bit sad, I was shocked when I discovered you yourself are an author. I can appreciate that we are all entitled to our own opinion and while I respect that, as a reader I can't support an author who tears down their own colleague. It is one thing to not like a book because you didn't like the storyline but to blatantly rip apart another author is ridiculous.
"Book 2 really stunk - not much plot and even less that made sense. I think there's a book 3 coming out soon, but I will be passing on it. I also think it feels like an after thought. Here's why: (Donna don't read unless you're finished ;)
[I think all the reviews of book 1 that said they loved Preppy and Bear had the author thinking of ways to include them more in book 2. King and Doe both have imaginary conversations with Preppy and there's some bs insinuation that he's a ghost at the end?? Book 3 is supposed to be about Bear since King and Doe have their HEA (lame btw) with book 2 already. Such dumb bullsh!t!"
^ Although I am not currently a published author, I think the above is in very poor taste and may cost you readers that would have otherwise given you a chance. You don't know me from Adam and I'm sure you could not care less what I think but I'm sure you want to increase your readership and in my humble opinion statements like the above have the opposite effect. Just for the record Preppy isn't a really a ghost in the way one would think and drawing conclusions on the speculation of other reviewers is in poor taste.
updated with full response:
Kimmi, I can tell that you’ve given this a good deal of thought and I can feel how upset you are. I’ll include your message in full at the bottom, because I can’t abide censorship, even by a limit in characters on GR. I’ll also address your comment in full with an equally thought out reply and hope that you can feel what I wish to convey as well, in its entirety.
The details:
I now understand that you are referring to a friend’s review of King, book 1: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My comments on that review were for book 2.
For the sake of full disclosure – here’s my own 3* review of book 1 which pre-dates the one to which you refer: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... There are no comments posted to this one, only 5 likes at the time of this post. This was not something that I would expect you to know as it wasn’t a part of my review, but I only chose to read this book based on a summer-long team reading challenge. King fit the bill for a pop up for extra points for my team + on a teammate’s TBR + a hot cover. That cover is HAWT.
My reply to your post:
Prior to joining the team reading challenge over the summer, I was reticent to post negative or even neutral reviews. I felt (almost) the same as you – as a fellow author, I should refrain from posting my opinions publicly. I’m not shy or sweet – I write dark erotica after all, but I was being “nice.” Or as I instruct my pets (bubbies) to be – I was being as nice as I can be.
I joined the challenge with a childlike naiveté. I only saw it as an opportunity to be forced out of my dark erotica corner of comfiness. I didn’t think about the necessity of reading books that weren’t my cuppa and then being forced to write a review or leave my teammates hanging in the wind. There were weeks when a book of my chosen tastes was not to be in the cards. I read a good deal of crappa (to me) over the summer frankly. I know we don’t know each other at all; but suffice it to say, I’d never leave a teammate sucking hind tit. Bad form. Bad karma. As a result, over the summer, I left some scathing reviews, all heartfelt and honest.
So the challenge “popped my cherry” on writing “bad” reviews.
King was a book that does fall into my chosen tastes. As my review says, I ended up “in like” with it, so I was curious enough to pick up book 2 (I believe it’s on another friend’s review of book 1 that I curse her for enticing me to read 2 actually). I’ll admit, I was tempted by Mr. Cliff Hanger.
I read book 2. I hated it. It stunk. It sucked. It was lousy. I stand behind my comments on my friend’s review. My comments weren’t based on anyone else’s reviews or comments however. (I would never, another “bad form/karma” point that I wouldn’t expect that you’d know about me though). They were solely my own opinion, formed from having actually read the book.
However, I didn’t rate nor review book 2 on GR. Like so many other readers on here, I was busy and never got to it. And – this is most important for you to understand for the next part of my reply – I didn’t post anything on Amazon.
You may not be aware of this as a reader, but I am as an author. Amazon is “king.” It’s the largest retailer of online book sales. It has this crazily mysterious algorithm that calculates a book’s rating based on sales and reviews. Negative reviews hurt more than positive ones help. As a fellow author, I only post my positive reviews to Amazon. I think of this as playing fair. I don’t post my negative reviews on Amazon. Never. Not once. I won’t. Ever.
GR, although owned by Amazon, is a different animal entirely. This is a forum for readers. Authors walk these halls at their own risk. I’ve been to the Coliseum in Rome. GR is just that. Books are gladiators. Readers are ravenous citizens awaiting their next bite of entertainment, all Caesars with thumbs readied for judgement. Even champions fall prey to sword now and then. And you know what they say about the pen and the sword…the analogy is a bit muddled, but it’s in there somewhere.
Conclusion:
My opinion disagrees with yours on this series and on this point. I am an author. Some could argue that I should be held to a higher standard of public opinion because of that. Others might say I should pander to a more affable public image at least and avoid speaking up. As much as I can, I choose to ignore those lines of thinking. I enjoy GR for what it is – a free space for reader interaction. In an opinion that I have shared with others on here before – authors are welcome, but they should wear steeltoes to avoid getting crushed.
If a reader chooses to judge me based on my reviews or comments, not my books, so be it. I’m not being flippant here. I mean no disrespect. I of course want more readers to enjoy my books. I won’t bite my tongue to make that happen though.
My own books are now scarred and seasoned gladiators themselves. I’ve had my share of negative reviews and comments on here, you can rest assured. My personal favorite so far is Nikki’s for my first Spartacus: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... Man did she ever hate that book. Funny gifs though.
(Kimmi’s original question in full)
Willow, here is my message in its entirety.
Hi, Willow. I just finished reviewing a book and started scrolling through reviews when I read the one you left for the same book. Sometimes I do that to find new authors or to get book recommendations. I must confess that I read the comments and though I was a bit sad, I was shocked when I discovered you yourself are an author. I can appreciate that we are all entitled to our own opinion and while I respect that, as a reader I can't support an author who tears down their own colleague. It is one thing to not like a book because you didn't like the storyline but to blatantly rip apart another author is ridiculous.
"Book 2 really stunk - not much plot and even less that made sense. I think there's a book 3 coming out soon, but I will be passing on it. I also think it feels like an after thought. Here's why: (Donna don't read unless you're finished ;)
[I think all the reviews of book 1 that said they loved Preppy and Bear had the author thinking of ways to include them more in book 2. King and Doe both have imaginary conversations with Preppy and there's some bs insinuation that he's a ghost at the end?? Book 3 is supposed to be about Bear since King and Doe have their HEA (lame btw) with book 2 already. Such dumb bullsh!t!"
^ Although I am not currently a published author, I think the above is in very poor taste and may cost you readers that would have otherwise given you a chance. You don't know me from Adam and I'm sure you could not care less what I think but I'm sure you want to increase your readership and in my humble opinion statements like the above have the opposite effect. Just for the record Preppy isn't a really a ghost in the way one would think and drawing conclusions on the speculation of other reviewers is in poor taste.
Willow Madison
Hi, Holly. Thank you for your interest in the True Series.
Amazon is funny in a prudish kinda way...the cover for book 2 is a little too 'revealing' for their tastes I guess. They like to hide it from readers.
It's available with the below link:
http://www.amazon.ca/True-Beginnings-...
Just in case you ever run into this problem again (for my books or any others), here's a solution:
If you do a search for author name on the main Amazon page, you'll see a clickable link just above the books that are listed "Excluding adult items. Show all results"
By selecting this, you shouldn't have any titles or covers blocked from the search results.
I hope you enjoy True! I'd love to hear from you again - good or bad ;)
Happy reading,
~W
Amazon is funny in a prudish kinda way...the cover for book 2 is a little too 'revealing' for their tastes I guess. They like to hide it from readers.
It's available with the below link:
http://www.amazon.ca/True-Beginnings-...
Just in case you ever run into this problem again (for my books or any others), here's a solution:
If you do a search for author name on the main Amazon page, you'll see a clickable link just above the books that are listed "Excluding adult items. Show all results"
By selecting this, you shouldn't have any titles or covers blocked from the search results.
I hope you enjoy True! I'd love to hear from you again - good or bad ;)
Happy reading,
~W
Willow Madison
Thanks for the love! I loved your review too! Did you end up re-reading the book? I am working on book 2. There will only be 2 books to this story and I'm hopeful to have it published May 1 (fingers n toes twisted tight).
As a side note - I know you liked my other series "True" also -- I have an add on book that is nibbling at my brain...centers around Lucy's friend, Laura. But I can't decide if I should just leave that series alone and continue on with the other books in my head or give it a go...what do you think?
As a side note - I know you liked my other series "True" also -- I have an add on book that is nibbling at my brain...centers around Lucy's friend, Laura. But I can't decide if I should just leave that series alone and continue on with the other books in my head or give it a go...what do you think?
Willow Madison
True Control will be coming out in January 2015...with a special twist. It is the final book of this series. But fans will have a true choice too...
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