Hello! Today with us we have Rachal Davis (reader) and Fallon Raynes (author)! *Applause*
Rachal Davis: Can you tell us about yourself and what inspired you to become a writer?
Fallon Raynes: The stories and characters are always in my head. They show me scenes and I write them down. I don’t think it was until I saw Author Marie Force and read that she had self-published after being rejected by traditional publishers that I ever thought I would publish a story. After I read that The Applicant came to mind. I started working on that story about 19 years ago (maybe 20). It’s taken me a long time to flesh that story out. I would work on it and then life would happen, then I would work on it some more. After talking to my editor after she read through it (about a year or so ago) and hearing her input I realized what I had been missing. I have edits ready to go on that I just need to weave them in. 😊
Rachal Davis: What genre(s) do you typically write in, and what draws you to those genres?
Fallon Raynes: Thriller, mystery, and horror. I think I’m drawn to them because that’s how the stories are presented to me in my head. I go where the story takes me. I will not rule out writing other genres. 😊
Rachal Davis: Do you have any rituals or routines that you follow when writing?
Fallon Raynes: No. I write when the characters are willing to talk to me. When I need to get a story written and done for a submission, I will work on it when I take breaks from the day job or at night. If I force a story the words won’t come to me.
Rachal Davis: Are any of your characters based on real people or inspired by events in your own life?
Fallon Raynes: Sort of. There are things I take from my life or have seen and my brain will take me on a journey with those events to outlandish places. 😊 The characters have a life of their own. Something might grab my attention but I always think “What if _____” and insert anything for what might happen.
Rachal Davis: What inspired the plot of your latest book?
Fallon Raynes: A random thought. Most of my stories happen to me while doing anything; watching tv, listening to a song, working, talking to someone. I will take those and make notes, or record a paragraph on my voice app on my phone. Or if I’m at work, I’ll start an email to myself and let the movie take shape in my mind. I see things in pictures/movies, and I have to stop to record it. I wish I could plug directly into my brain and download the scene in my head because I cannot type or write fast enough. 😊
Rachal Davis: Do you outline your stories before writing, or do you prefer to let the story unfold as you write?
Fallon Raynes: Outlining is the HARDEST thing in the world for me to do. I dreaded every single time my English teacher or professor asked me to outline as part of the homework; especially before we could move on to writing. “I don’t know where the story is going how can I outline it?” That was what I always asked them. It was frustrating. My stories come to me in pieces. Sometimes I have a beginning or an end, sometimes the middle, sometimes the beginning and the end and no middle. It all seems to come together once I start working on it. 😊
Rachal Davis: What do you hope readers will take away from your work?
Fallon Raynes: I hope a sense of feeling. I realize not every story I write will touch the reader because they may not be at that place in their life, or have never gone through what my characters are experiencing and that’s okay. I know I don’t like every story that and author I love writes. It’s just the nature of the world. It’s okay. If we were all the same, we’d be robots! 😊
Rachal Davis: What role does research play in your writing process, particularly for books set in specific time periods or locations?
Fallon Raynes: Research is a humungous Rabbit Hole!! Ha-ha! I know all of us authors face this. We can research the heck out of things but that usually ends up with us getting no words on the page and more stories to write! I will say this. I have spent over an hour researching something just to put ONE sentence on the page! One! LOL It’s crazy! But, if you don’t get it right readers notice. And, I don’t know about you, but when I watch a romance movie and I see a mechanic pouring water on his head to cool off I want to SCREAM! I’m married to a retired mechanic. They are already dripping wet with sweat after standing over a hot motor in a hot shop. They do NOT add to it by pouring water on their head. Research is KEY! 😊
Rachal Davis: What advice would you give to authors who are considering self-publishing?
Fallon Raynes: Write the story!! Don’t worry about how it looks (grammar, storyline, etc) just put it on the page. Then, read it. Make notes as you read so you can fix things, and maybe if a character isn’t fully functional you can fix them. But write the story. Many authors have told me you cannot edit a blank page. And, get an editor. One who is not a proofreader but edits all things. They are worth their weight! 😊
Rachal Davis: How do you market and promote your books?
Fallon Raynes: Poorly. 🤣 I am not very good at it, but I sign up for social media book events/release parties/takeovers any chance I get. I have used ads when I run sales, and I’m lucky when others share their reviews after they’ve read them. I have tried a few things but ultimately it’s the reader that loved my story(ies) that makes someone else want to read it. Many people buy a book when it’s on sale and then it sits in the TBR forever. I’m also guilty of that, but, I know I supported that author and bought their book. I hope someday to get better at marketing. It’s on my list of things to do. 😊
Rachal Davis: Do you have a favorite character or book that you’ve written? If so, why?
Fallon Raynes: Someone asked me that recently. It’s like asking me to choose a favorite child. 😊 I do not have a favorite story or character. I’m not sure if I will, but Dangerous Ledges will always hold a special place in my heart because it was my first published book. 😊 Characters will fluctuate for me because they are fun to write, but no favorites yet.
Rachal Davis: How do you stay motivated and overcome challenges while writing?
Fallon Raynes: I try to exercise when I get in a funk. It’s hard to write when I’m overwhelmed, which is why I’m at a standstill right now. Sometimes a writing challenge helps get the brain juices flowing, or an anthology to submit to. Writing a short story for that can pick me back up. 😊
Rachal Davis: What do you enjoy most about being a writer?
Fallon Raynes: The ability to see the story play out in my mind like a movie. A close second is connecting with readers during takeovers which I enjoy doing! 😊
Rachal Davis: How do you decide on the titles for your books?
Fallon Raynes: I have book titles pop in my head often. I write them down. They may come with a story too and I’ll jot that down with the title. In the case of Dangerous Ledges I had a title for it, then it changed but then it didn’t fit. The one-day SMACK! Dangerous Ledges title slapped me upside the head. I loved the play on Ledge’s name and, well, you read the story. 😉
Rachal Davis: How do you unwind and recharge when you’re not writing?
Fallon Raynes: Lately, my brain is too full of all things, so I play a game on my phone while we watch TV at night. I also love to be outside when the weather is nice. Especially on a sunny day, which in Michigan seems to very few days a week the past few years. I love to read, but again, like writing, I cannot do it when I’m overwhelmed. I haven’t read much lately. Putting jigsaw puzzles together is relaxing for me too. 😊
Rachal Davis: How do you handle writer burnout or creative blocks?
Fallon Raynes: Probably not very well. I know things will come to me when it’s time. I usually have a bunch of story ideas that pop into my head and I make notes on all of those. But, when I finish a story and it’s ready to publish it’s like sending your kid off to college. You miss the characters and playing in their world. For me I need time in between to refocus. Working a full time job is also time filling so I take longer than some authors do to write. There is a 1 million words in a year challenge that authors do, and that’s on my list to try when I get closer to retirement. Which also makes me mention here for any reader reading this, Beware the authors that release a LOT of novels in one year on a constant basis. They’re probably pirating others’ stories; changing the title/character names/locations but the story and words are the same. That happens frequently so never feel you can’t reach out to an author if you ever feel you stumbled onto a stolen book.
Rachal Davis: How do you approach the pacing of your stories, and what techniques do you use to keep readers engaged?
Fallon Raynes: I have no clue. 🤣 The story unfolds in my mind and I write it down on the page. There’s a meme out there on social media that is something close to this “The characters do stupid things and I write up the incident report.” The pace is all on them. I have nothing to do with it. But, I will take credit for keeping as much “fluff” as I can out of the story. I think that helps readers feel compelled to keep reading. I will skim a book if an author gets too wordy in sections of the book just to reach a certain word count. “Fluff.” My books are not fluffy. 😁
Thank you so much! That was fun. 💕
Thank you for both for participating in Support An Author event!!!
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