Author Bio:
Stephanie Van Orman began writing novels when she was 13 and has always had a very strong passion for young adult novels. She lives in the forests of Vancouver Island on a permanent writing retreat. Overlooking cedars and pines, she plans her novels, exploring the very best ways to carry her readers to new heights of suspense, magic, and romance.
What inspires you to write?
I never wanted to listen to a story as much as I wanted to tell one. As a child, I would let my mom tell me an opening for a story before she put me to bed and half-way through, I’d ask her to stop. She could go to bed. I’d think of the rest of the fairy tale myself.
Tell us about your writing process.
Each chapter I write is a building block. There’s a star in the sky I’m trying to reach and each chapter is a step in the staircase that will lead me to that distant star. All this means that I have a goal, but I let each chapter surprise me. I do create character sketches as I am often writing more than one book at once I require the notes. I’m always forgetting my characters’ last names. It’s difficult to explain how stories come to be, or where a story begins in my mind. I think my novels were always there and I just had to find them.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I sit down and tell my characters what I want from them and they tell me what they can and cannot do. It’s a little like directing actors in my head.
Who are your favorite authors?
D.M. Cornish is one of the greatest minds of our time. I’m always encouraging people to go read ‘Monster Blood Tattoo’.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I have worked with publishing companies and I have self-published. I prefer to self-publish, as I like to have complete control over my editing and cover. However, I think I’ll eventually hit a ceiling as to what I can accomplish on my own and again I’ll agree to work with a publisher. Many distributors really only take authors who publish with the backing of a publishing company seriously, so they bring something serious to the table.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
It’s both dismal and bright. It’s dismal because the entertainment industry is so flashy and fun. It’s hard to compete with Youtube and Netflix for attention. It’s bright because authors have so many options for sharing our creations. I have had readers enjoy my books all over the world, and have had so much generous feedback. It has been amazing. No one even needed to buy a stamp.
What genres do you write?
Romance
What formats are your books in?
eBook, Print
Website(s)
Stephanie Van Orman Home Page Link
Follow Stephanie Van Orman On Amazon
Link to Author Page on Smashwords
Author’s Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
All information is provided by the author and is presented as it was submitted so you the reader get to hear the author’s own “voice” in their interview.