Last up is Antoinette Huston! A southern girl from the USA and gamer. Let’s get to know her style.

Hello nice to meet you! Tell us a bit about you where are you from and other than writing what else do you enjoy?

Hi! I’m a southern girl born in Texas raised in Georgia and I enjoy creating jewellery out of leather, cooking and rpg video games.

How did you start writing? What was your inspiration to create? I started writing when I was in Middle school.

My parents bought us a Brother’s Word Processor. Waaay back in the 1980’s. My inspiration? That had to be the comic books I from the stash Dad had hidden in the attic or my dad’s fantasy books I started reading one summer bored out of my head.

Who is your favourite author, is there anyone out there that inspires you?

Piers Anthony, Steven R. Boyett, Richard & Wendy Pini or Steve Perry are the authors that inspired me and continue to do so.

What genre do you enjoy reading?

I enjoy reading Fantasy and science fiction

How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?

It opened my eyes to the adventure of writing. My first book was a hot mess. I didn’t know anything about editing, beta readers, arcs or anything! I just put it out there. I learned really quick, like a week afterwards all the ‘no-no’s’ I did. I learned about social media, about scams, about organization. I’m still learning.

Kim: The first one is so bitter sweet, teaches you so much!

So you’ve published a series, what is the series about?

Honey Cantrell was a simple comic book geek when aliens or Celestials, introduced themselves to Earth. A captain was needed for the first Celestial to visit Earth, a sentient ship, and Honey was mistakenly chosen. After nearly killing her, Honey finds that the Orb that makes her Captain, has been tampered with. Besides the secrets held within her Orb, she has to deal with unexpected feelings for her Celestial partner, a revenge plot that shouldn’t include her and a dangerous alien mating ritual that she had no intentions of joining but was made a prize for the winner.

What was it like creating back to back stories that link?

I hadn’t planned on a series, but you cannot deny creativity.

Kim: Got that right.

Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre? If you could what genre would you like to dabble in?

When I first started writing, I simply thought what I wrote was fantasy or science fiction, the sub genres was a shock to me. Now I dabble in Fantasy, space opera, urban fantasy and I may not stop there.

Kim: Go girl.

What has been your most proud moment as an author?

Getting that first great review.

Kim: Aww 🙂

Was there ever a time you wanted to pick up your laptop, and then launch it out the window with frustration?

Often! Especially when characters get mouthy or scenes don’t come out on screen as they did in your head.

Are you a “plotter” or a fly by the seat of your pants “pantster” as a writer?

I am a proud ‘pantster’! I have never planned anything out, it comes to me and I write it as is, of course I’ll go back and rearrange it afterwards.

Kim: I had a feeling!

Am I the only one who gets hung up on commas? Do they make you go blah! when you’re writing?

I think I use more commas that anyone and semicolons, too!

Kim: *sighs* feel your pain.

Every writer has a word(s) that they always slip up on when they write, then slap their forehead when they notice their typo. For me it’s further and farther exit or exists-  but hey I’m over it now.  Do you have a word (s) that make you go blah! Go away not another damn typo.

There is usually a problem for me. I’m always switching the ‘I’ and the ‘e’ for some reason. As and about also gives me issues.

What three tips would you give any aspiring writer?

Research them before you agree ( publishers). Join a group of like minded writers and don’t give up.

Kim: great advice.

What are you working on now? What will you release next?

Well the plan was to publish my third and final book for my Urban Fantasy series, but I’ve brought my epic fantasy story to a close and it’s decided to become a series as well. Wonderlost is the next book to be published (when I get the money to get it edited) It’s ready to go.

Kim: Best of luck

So… where can we get your books?

Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Mostly-Human-Antoinette-Houston-ebook/dp/B00WVUXQ6C It’s available on a few other sites but this is the main sites. Signed copies are available through my author page and facebook fan page.

What are the most important magazines for writers to subscribe to?

That I couldn’t tell you, I’m not subscribed to any myself.

Kim: Writer’s Digest is good.

What does “success” look like to you? When would you say “damn, I’ve made it baby!”

When I hit 100 reviews on all my books, I know it’s small for some, but it’s the reviews that make the book.

Kim: I agree, I have read that every one in 100 downloads lands a review. That’s a steep hill to climb if that’s true.

Does a big ego help or hurt writers?

It hurts. I’ve never met an Author I admire in person, (yet). But I would be totally crushed to be greeted by an a-hole.

Kim: LOL

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

My research usually happens during the book. I’m pretty good at scanning the process or getting the giest of whatever I’m looking up to include it into my story(ies).

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

Of course. That’s the only way you can go back and correct the issues. I really enjoy reading the reviews, sure the bad ones hurt at first (later they sting) but as long as they give a why then I’m fine (eventually). It’s the ones that give no reason for being bad that really hurt. I don’t mind going back and fixing my work.

What was your hardest scene to write?

The sex scene!

Kim: HAHA! THAT’S THE BEST AND EASIEST BIT FOR ME *WIDE GRIN*

Do you Google yourself?

A lot!

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

It varies. My very first book took years to get polished and then published. The second book after that took six months. Mostly Human came out the next year. So I ‘m guessing about six or seven months.

What would you like readers to know?

I’m Human and I make mistakes. I have a tendency to totally veer off course and I love giving chars difficult attitudes. I don’t like monochromatic stories and I always make a group of characters.

What’s your favourite movie?

Grave of the Fireflies. The only Japanese animation that has ever made me cry. I mean boo-hoo tears! It’s a beautifully done movie about a brother and a sister trying to survive the last few months of WWII.

What’s your favourite book and why?

Ariel by Steve R. Boyett. It was my intro to urban fantasy. Besides, it’s got a smart-a** Unicorn that curses more than her Human counter-part.

What music do you like?

A lot. I listen to an eclectic array of music. From Sam Cooke and Chaka Khan to Public Enemy to Eminem, Yanni and Enya to Pentatonix, Lindsey Sterling and Nuttin’ but Stringz. On to The Cure and Vast to Metallica and Disturbed. I’m all over the map. It depends on the mood or the scene that pops in my head, but music plays a huge part in my writing.

Kim: great taste you have there.

Where would you like to travel to and why?

Ireland or Scotland. I don’t know why, I’ve just always wanted to go.

Kim: It’s chilly wrap up!

Tell us about how you develop your characters?

My characters have a lot of friends and myself in them or I dream them up.

Which one of your characters is your favourite and why?

Rita ‘Red’ James – From my first book: Red Summer. I grew up with her. She’s been with me since the 1980’s.

Do you need a lot of sexual experience to be a good erotica author?

No, if you have an imagination you can create whatever you want.

Kim: Good answer.

If you could do it all again would you change anything?

How I released my first book. Research first. A lot of wasted money that could have been put to better use.

 Pick one a one time “Bestselling author” or an author with longevity what would you rather?

An author with longevity of course. I want be relevant for a long time.

And that’s a wrap a very in depth interview here. I hope you enjoyed getting to know a new author. Connect with Antoinette and check out her work below.

AntoinetteHouston.com

@1975Okame on Twitter

https://www.facebook.com/RedSummerUF

https://www.instagram.com/antoinettes_originals/

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