Hello! Today with us we have Megan Jerome (reader) and Liz Cain (author)! *Applause*
Megan: Tell us about yourself.
Liz Cain: I live in the UK in East Yorkshire with my parents and two sisters. We lived in a hamlet with a population of fifteen (that’s right 1 5) and we were 5 of them! The nearest bus stop was a 20 minute walk so I didn’t get out much. That meant so much time for reading!! Which was awesome.
Megan: What has inspired you to follow your dream to become an author?
Liz Cain: I used to beta read for my coauthor Anne K. Whelan and she sent me a book that she had paid a ghostwriter to write for her because she was struggling with the writing side of things. It was (and I mean this in the nicest way) terrible. I figured I could do better so I wrote the first four chapters. Anne loved them and asked me to cowrite so that we split the royalties. 5 books later Anne wanted to move away from publishing so I’m starting my own series this year.
Anne didn’t really like the writing side and I love it, so most of our books Anne sends ideas and I write them, adding in my own twists and turns.
Megan: Are there downfalls of being an author?
Liz Cain: Lack of time. I work a 40 hour week plus a 2 hour commute each day. I make sure to write every day or I end up not writing at all. I would love to write full time (which is the goal) but right now it can be a challenge.
Megan: What would you say to someone who wants to become an author but is too scared?
Liz Cain: Just write. Have faith in yourself and make sure to build a team of beta readers, get a great editor and start an ARC team. This is what will make your story amazing.
Megan: Do you have a favorite character you have written?
Liz Cain: Morgan. She really does have a life of her own. You’ve heard authors say things like “my character wouldn’t let me do that”? Well Morgan does what she wants. I try to write down one path but she drags me down another.
Megan: How do you get through writer’s block?
Liz Cain: Honestly, I don’t really get it. I am a pantser, which means I don’t plot. I start a book and have no idea where I will go or what will happen. I have always managed to finish every book I’ve started so I have faith the ideas will come and I’ll get through it.
Megan: Is there a favorite author of yours that made you want to write?
Liz Cain: K F Breene and Maria V Snyder. Breene introduced me to the world of indie writers. I love her stories and badass characters. Snyder is trad and more YA, but her books got me out of a huge reading slump!
Megan: Do you outline your books before you start writing?
Liz Cain: Nope! I sit down and start typing. I let my characters lead the way.
Megan: What genre do you enjoy writing the most? Why that specific genre?
Liz Cain: Urban Fantasy. Anne liked the romance side of things but I prefer writing behind closed doors romance. The dark fairytale series was all my idea and I will probably write more in that genre but I prefer the action and adventure with romance as a background story arc.
Megan: Are any of your characters based on people in real life?
Liz Cain: Radford Crawley(Dealer’s Choice book 2). She was hatched from a conversation with a friend about someone in her life…I won’t say any more!
There’s also Chicken Legs and Genevieve (Dealer’s Halloween) who were inspired by close family one night in a pub after a few pints.
Megan: Now I know you co-write with other authors. What would they say about your world building to these stories?
Liz Cain: My cowriting journey is rather strange. Anne is a plotter, usually sending me pages and pages of world and research. I’m a pantser who always wanders away from the planning side of things. World building comes naturally to me though and whatever feels right at the time will go into the book.
Megan: Is there a message you are hoping readers take from your work?
Liz Cain: Reading was an escape for me, especially during hard times when I struggled with my mental health. I hope to build worlds and tell stories that help others do the same. I hope my characters show that even when you’re strong and powerful you can have moments of weakness. It’s okay to feel sorry for yourself and even if you think you don’t, you DO have the strength to pick yourself back up.
Megan: What is the biggest misconception of becoming an author?
Liz Cain: You’re not a writer unless you’re published.
As soon as you type that first word then you are a writer/author.
Thank you for both for participating in Support An Author event!!!
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