INTERVIEWWelcome! Thanks for being here and taking a few minutes to chat. What is the hardest part of writing your books?
I feel like the hardest part is editing. Editing my own work is not my strong suit, and I thrive in the realm of ideas, but not so much in polishing them up.
Do you play any sports?Yes. I sometimes play basketball and baseball. My family is very athletic. I never really got into soccer the way my sisters did, but I love martial arts.
How do you react to a bad review of your book?
I try to be polite and thank the reviewer whenever possible. Some of the authors who’ve come into the writing game after me, and haven’t even gotten ANY reviews, wish they would get even a bad review. So I try and remind myself of that. Any attention is good, and I’ve heard that even bad reviews sell copies. So there’s always that. If I came to visit early in the morning would you impress me as being more like a chirpy bird or a grumpy bear?
I would definitely be more of a grumpy bear. Mornings are not really my thing. I do have to wake up early to get to work, but if I had my way, I’d hibernate and be all toasty warm and comfy, and wake up around noon.
What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
I’m an extroverted introvert. What that means is that I can be the life of the party, but afterwards, I’ll hole myself up in a room and play video games to re-charge.
You just won a huge lottery what is the first thing you'll buy?
I won’t buy anything. I’ll just get all the money in dollar bills and then do a happy dance with all that money, maybe burn a few of them just for the heck of it, and then proceed to be responsible and pay off my student loans.
Is there a piece of advice that you have received that has really stuck with you? If so, what was it?
Yes. Cornell West said that, “You should never confuse your success with your greatness.” This is important for us authors to remember. We take a lot of criticism, and sometimes sales don’t go the way we want them to, but ultimately it’s not about the numbers.
If you could select one book that you could rewrite and add your own unique twist on, which book would that be and why?
Hmm. That’s an interesting question. I love love love the Indigo series by Louise Cooper, but was disappointed by the very last book, where the main character has amnesia and minor characters take over for much of it. I’d take out those parts and write in a huge battle scene with our heroine Indigo fighting the final demon in classic fantasy style, I think.
BLURB:
Fallenwood – where your dreams and nightmares are only a portal away…
Fallenwood—a land where magic is the life force, dragons are sages, and wizards good and evil battle for supremacy. When 23-year-old Ash is thrust into the middle of Fallenwood’s power struggles, she is also forced to face her own inner battles. Life on Earth was hard enough on Ash, who is locked in grief for her stepfather. Now, the fate of Fallenwood rests on her shoulders. She must destroy the Great Crystal—the catalyst for all the land’s magic. As the kingdoms prepare for war, Ash must look inside to find the power to save the world, and herself.
EXCERPT
Ah, that feels better. He yawned. Over the years, he’d become accustomed to the particulars of being a cat. He had not always been one. Once known as a man named Alexander Dorrin in a former life, he had been a royal messenger for the Kingdom of Evendown, and he always wore his favorite white boots trimmed with gold thread—a masterwork. In his messenger days, Alexander knew he just had to own them for himself. They made him feel like a king, and he had been transformed when wearing them. Now, as a cat, he still wore them. He sported other clothes, too, during his transformation, but his boots were the only item that seemed to transfer their colors. Having white paws was one of the only consolations to his change, as they reminded him of his boots and made him feel less naked.
How completely heartbreaking and humiliating his transformation had been! The thought of it still brought tears to his eyes.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
My name is Leslie Soule (pronounced "soul" like that part of you that is innate). I am an author who loves to try new genres and Sacramento, California is my hometown. I have an M.A. in English from National University and am a member of the English Chapter of the Sac State Almuni Association, and the Sacramento branch of the California Writers Club (as of June 2014).
Buy Link: Amazon
Website: http://www.lesliesoule.com
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GIVEAWAY
Leslie will be awarding $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn host.
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