HVDB BOOK LIFE

H.C. Newell (Debut Author Spotlight June 2021)

AUTHOR BIO

My name is H.C. Newell. I’m 28 years old and live with my husband in Nashville, TN. I’ve been working on this series for seven years, and have just recently decided to publish after completing half of my series.

I have no formal training in writing, no awards, and no friends of friends of Steven King or J.K. Rowling. (Wouldn’t that be cool?) I am just a person with a passion for writing, a love of creativity, and a soul full of imagination. I have put my entire heart into the Fallen Light series, and I hope that you find as much joy, wonder, sorrow, and light while reading this series as I have writing it.

QUICK INTERVIEW

Where are you from?
“Nashville, TN”

What is your favorite genre to read/write?
“I love to read and write fantasy.”

What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
“Contrary to popular belief, not all authors have to be readers, and I am one of those authors. There are only a select few books I’ve read in full in my lifetime. My inspiration came mostly from video games. Skyrim, Final Fantasy, and Witcher were big inspirations for my novel series.”

Who/What inspired you to write Curse of the Fallen?
“My husband. I was stuck in a writer’s block for many years as I was struggling to find my voice and a compelling story to write. He introduced me to a world of fantasy, and it really inspired me to create a story of my own.”

What were the key challenges you faced when writing Curse of the Fallen?
“World-building and plot creation. I spent at least 5 years creating the world of Erolith. That includes all the races, factions, beliefs, cultures, geography, magic, laws, etc. I then had to incorporate that world into compelling plots and adventures with enough lore, characters, and history to keep it exciting and realistic.”

Tell us about the process for coming up with the cover.
“The cover was quite easy for me as it’s a scene from the book. The tree is majorly important to the world, so when I described to my artist my vision, she exceeded my expectations with her design. I hired my artist, Thea, through reedsy.”

If your book was made into a movie, who are the celebrities that would star in it?
“I would prefer to have lesser-known actors so that viewers could get better immersed into the story. I also would reject a movie deal. There is too much lore, and the plot is too massive for a movie to ever make right. I’d take a tv show deal.”

Is there any new release we can expect in 2021 or in the future?
“I have a maximum release date for book two set for April 2022, however, if I am able to release early, I will do so depending on sales and demand. I am currently working on book 4 and a prequel. There are 6 novels in the main series and 3 corresponding novellas. They are all planned, and I had half the series written before even considering publishing. Quality is my number one priority, and I didn’t want to rush my later books or miss any foreshadowing by publishing too early.”

What do you think makes a great story?
“An immersive plot and compelling characters. Any story can be made great if these two things are well executed.”

What advice can you give to an unpublished author?
“Do your research and strive for quality. Even if you decide to go with traditional publishing you will need to understand the process, how to market, and how to properly contact agents for querying. If you self-publish it’s a full-time job to get your book out there. Do the research and be willing to work. It’s a small business and should be treated as one.”