In today's Authors in the Spotlight, we have authors Natalina Reis and N. M. Scuri!
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Name: Natalina Reis
How long have you been published? I was published for the first time in January 2016.
What's the worst part about being published? The pressure to top yourself and (in my case) the possible criticism of others (even though criticism is not necessarily bad but it is nerve racking)
What's the best part about being published? Sharing my stories with the world and seeing my words in book form. It’s a kind of an otherworldly experience to go to a library and see your book on the shelf or have someone come and tell you how much they liked it.
Are you self published or did you go through a publishing company? I’m traditionally published with two small publishers, one based in Hawaii and another based in Australia. Because of my time limitations, self-publication was not an option for me at the time. Even though the business of writing is still a 24-hour job even going through a publisher, I don’t have to worry about hiring cover artists or worry about the business of actually formatting and dealing with the retailers for example. It takes some of the load from the author. On the other hand, the author has a bit less freedom with choices such as covers, in some cases even titles. However, I have been very fortunate with my current publisher who has been not only super supportive in every area but also an amazing cheerleader.
What is the name of your book(s)? I have three out right now. My first is called We Will Always Have the Closet (romantic suspense/contemporary), Desert Jewel (romantic fantasy/paranormal), and Loved You Always (romantic comedy/suspense/contemporary).
Was it/were they an easy write for you? Yes and no. They all came pretty easy in terms of characters and plot, but there is nothing easy about writing a book. The editing and revising process can be truly grueling. I’m rather obsessive about my writing, so anytime that I’m in the zone (which is almost always) it throws everything else in my life for a loop; grocery shopping, everyday house cleaning, laundry, TV, movies, shopping, you name it.
What's the hardest part about writing a book? It’s when you hit a “dry” spot. I’m going through one as I write this. I am bringing back a pretty popular character from one of my other books and I think I’m almost scared of ruining the character, so the writing has been extremely slow for my liking. And like I said the editing, revising process can be taxing as well.
What's the easiest part about writing a book? I’m not sure there is anything really easy about writing a book. Don’t misunderstand me. If it is your passion—like it is mine—it’s fun no matter how much work you put into it but easy…no, can’t think of one thing. Maybe writing The End at the end, lol?
Where can interested readers purchase their copy of your book(s)? My first book is found in the Kindle store (and it is also a Kindle Unlimited book) and in paperback format anywhere books are sold. My other two are pretty much everywhere; From my publisher’s web store, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, IBooks and many other retailers in the US and abroad. Here are the links:
We Will Always Have the Closet: US, UK, AU, CA
Do you have any future projects in the works? I have one manuscript with the publisher right now (romance with sci-fi elements), one with the editor (M/M paranormal romance), and one in progress (romcom). At the time of this writing I still have no tentative dates for any of them.
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Name: N. M. Scuri
How long have you been published? I've been writing since I was small. My first piece of fiction was published when I was in college, when I was 17-18.
What's the worst part about being published? There's not really a “worst” part, however, there is the realization that getting published doesn't magically make you a best-selling author. There's promotion, there's still the day job, and there's the next book. Please get back to me about this when I'm rich and famous.
What's the best part about being published? Holding a print book with your name on the front and your story on the inside never gets old.
Are you self published or did you go through a publishing company? I've done, and will continue, to do both. Done properly, I think both paths complement each other.
*What are the highs, if any? Other than holding that book in your hand? Meeting someone who has been affected by your work. You spend a lot of time in your own head as a writer, and it's gratifying to see your story go out into the world and touch someone you would never have known otherwise.
*What are the lows, if any? Sometimes I'll have a vision in my head, and it just won't come out, or it comes out a complete mess. It can be frustrating, but no one gets it 100% of the time. That's how life goes.
What is the name of your book(s)? My current titles include collaborations with artist Byron Rempel: Thirteen Stories and Paintings, One Bite at a Time vol I, and Gathering Dark (exclusively on Patreon). My short story “It's All Good News” can be found in the anthology Sins of the Past. More illustrated short stories I've written in collaboration with Byron can be found on Patreon as well.
Was it/were they an easy write for you? What's the hardest part about writing a book? “Easy” and “hard” are relative terms. Writing is as easy as running a marathon. Some days are go, others not so much. A writer just has to keep going. Over time, I like to think I've transitioned from a “hobby” writer to a more professional path. Don't get me wrong, one is not necessarily better than the other. Writing is writing, after all. The motivations are different, and the expectations need to be different as well. In my mind the hobby writer picks up a pen/goes to the computer occasionally, as a reaction to something that's happening in the person's life. He or she uses writing as catharsis, works the feelings out, and goes back to regular programming. Again, there's nothing wrong with that, but it's not too terribly realistic for this type of writer to expect book sales like Stephen King and J. K. Rowling. They got where they are because they sit down and grind every day. The motivation is different as one moves from writing for catharsis, where the story serves the writer, to writing because the writer feels the obligation to tell the story. I'm working on a book on the craft of writing and it includes this topic. To sum up, the writer needs to accept the hard days and enjoy the times when the story wants to come out.
What's the easiest part about writing a book? The part where you announce “Hey! I'm writing a book!” The only part that's easier is where you announce “Hey! I wrote a book, and I have a juicy publishing contract....” I'm not 100% sure about the last part. I'm looking forward to finding out first hand.
Where can interested readers purchase their copy of your book(s)? My books are available on Amazon or as part of Patreon.
Do you have any future projects in the works? *Is there a tentative release date? As a matter of fact...
I have a short story out in a new arts magazine, Raven Word is scheduled to be published in the first issue this spring. It's titled “Jane Doe Number Six,” and it continues the stories in Gathering Dark and Thirteen Stories and Paintings. My book for writers, Learning to Write, will be out this summer. The next volume of One Bite at a Time is in production. It's a great collaboration I have with Byron Rempel. I write two sentence horror stories and he illustrates them. We have another book coming out, Twenty Five Ways to Die, which is scheduled for the fall.
Do you have any social media sites that you would like to share with my readers? In addition to Patreon, you can find us here:www.nmscuri.com, www.twosentencehorrors.com, www.facebook.com/nmscuri/, www.facebook.com/nmscurieditor/, https://www.facebook.com/twosentencehorrors, https://www.google.com/+TwoSentenceHorrors, https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NMScuri, https://twitter.com/twohorrors, https://twitter.com/nmscuri, https://instagram.com/twosentencehorrors/, https://instagram.com/nmscuri
If your readers sign up for my newsletter, I will send them a free e-book of "One Bite at a Time vol I": http://eepurl.com/brh_ur
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Join me on Thursday as I bring you authors Justin Lambe and Claire Tsamados!
