Exclusive Interview with
A.R. Vagnetti
When did you start writing?
I never even thought about writing until I was in my early 20's. It was not something I enjoyed in school, preferring to be outside playing sports.
What makes writing your passion?
I absolutely love creating my characters. To me, they are living, breathing beings in my head with solid, detailed lives. Their wants, desires, and needs speak to me and I have no choice but to help them come alive on paper so they will shut the hell up. LOL
How long have you been writing?
I 've been writing seriously for about five years now, and I absolutely love every aspect of it except marketing. I hate marketing. LOL
What was the feeling when you published your first book?
Oh wow! Honestly, I couldn't believe it. Deep in my heart, I never believed my writing was good enough. I wrote for my own enjoyment and just for shits and giggles, I decided to submit Forgotten Storm. I was shocked when several publishers were interested right away, but I so happy with my decision to go with Kyanite Publishing. They are amazing!
What’s the story behind your choice of characters?
After I discovered my love of romance books, I delved further into the genre and absolutely fell in love with paranormal romance, especially vampires. I devoured book after book. After a while, the evolution of the vampire changed, and I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but for me, I adored the strengths and weaknesses of the vampire of old, and out of that desire, Logan from Forgotten Storm was born.
I also had a desire to represent the ever-emerging strong female, but I didn't want her to be this perfect rendition. I needed her to be damaged, fierce, able to defend herself, but barely coping. She needed to go on an emotional journey to discover how to trust, love, and lean on others.
I have many characters in my Storm Series, but Nicole from Forgotten Storm holds a special place in my heart as she took pieces of me and brought it out into the light of day.
What annoys you the most in pursuing a writing career?
That's easy, marketing. In a perfect world, I would just write and my stories would magically wind up in the hands of readers. Unfortunately, that' s not the case. The whole social media, Amazon, and all the other marketing outlets were a huge learning curve for me, one I pursue daily and continue to learn from.
How do you get over the “writer’s block”?
It depends. If the block is in the story's plot, I will walk away from it for a few days, either work on other writing projects or head outside for some fun activities with my husband.
We all know the writer’s path is never easy, what makes you keep going? What advice would you give to new authors?
That is so true. I never imagined in my wildest dreams how difficult this process would be, but at the end of the day, I'm still doing what I love; writing, creating characters, worlds, and stories. My advice to aspiring writers is to keep at it. Keep writing what you're passionate about, constantly learn from others, and strive to polish your craft every day.
If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you say?
Ignore boys, concentrate on school, and take more creative writing classes. Love and family will come with time.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with the bad ones?
I absolutely read them! Every single one touches me in some way, even the negative ones. Although thankfully, I haven't had too many of those, but I'm sure I will at some point. Not everyone will connect with my story or the characters, and that's okay. I just have to remind myself of that when reading them.
What is the feeling when you get a good review?
SQUEEEEEEE!!!!!!!
I think, wow, someone really liked what I wrote! It's such an awesome feeling of validation.
Have you ever incorporated something that happened to you in real life into your novels?
Since my novels are all paranormal, and vampires, shifters, and werewolves don't really exist, unfortunately, I would have to say, no. I've never been on the run from a malevolent, abusive father. I've never fought fantastical creatures or had a romantic involvement with a vampire. *sighs longingly*
Which of your characters you can compare yourself with? Did you base that character on you?
That's a tough question to answer without revealing too much about myself. And since I'm a very private individual, I will just say that every character is a small part of who I am although Nicole has the biggest percentage.
What do you think, the book cover is as important as the story?
The book cover is your first impression. It's what makes them take a second look at the book, so I believe it should be high quality and really represent the theme of your story.
Do you connect with your readers? Do you mind having a chat with them or you prefer to express yourself through your writing?
I connect with my readers every day through social media. It thrills me to read their comments. Whether they are excited about a un upcoming book, or they loved a certain expert, every nuance they care about is important to me.
How do you feel when people appreciate your work or recognize you in public?
Thrilled. Overjoyed. Beyond ecstatic. Humbled and grateful.
Who is your favorite author? Why?
It's so hard to choose one, but since you're twisting my arm, I'd have to say, J.R. Ward. The Blackdagger Brotherhood Series is what hooked me into the paranormal realm. Her world building skills are phenomenal. The male characters are dominant Alpha males, with soft hearts, and the females are resilient, strong women who will sacrifice anything for their mates.
I've lost count on how many books are in the series, but you never get tired of them and that says a lot about J.R.'s writing skill to keep readers captivated for so long on one series.
What’s the dream? Whom would you like to be as big as?
The dream? Short term; keep writing, doing what I love. Long term? Make enough money to support my passion. LOL
Would you rewrite any of your books? Why?
Yes. I would love to rewrite my very first novel. The romantic suspense I mentioned earlier. And I still might once the Storm Series is completed.
If you could switch places with any author – who would that be?
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What would you say to the “trolls” on the internet? We all know them – people who like to write awful reviews to books they’ve never read or didn’t like that much, just to annoy the author.
I'll let Nicole answer this one.
"You know what, I don't give a dead moose's last shit."
What would you say to your readers?
That I love and appreciate you all! Without you, my stories would just rot in my hard drive never to see the light of day, and that would be a real tragedy.
Authors need readers. Readers need authors. It's that simple.
Share a bit about yourself – where do you live, are you married, do you have kids?
I'm a desert rat, born and raised in the Tucson heat. I assumed I would spend the rest of my days wilting away under the sun's intense heat until I met my wonderful husband. He's originally from Michigan. When he took me back there, I fell in love with the beautiful greenery. I was flabbergasted by Lake Michigan and Lake Huron and would've sworn they were oceans.
We are now blessed to spend our winters in Tucson, which are absolutely perfect, and our summers in the U.P. of Michigan.
I have one beautiful daughter and a precious granddaughter with special needs.
What is your day job if you have one?
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What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time?
My husband and I love to camp, anywhere we can get off-grid, not organized campgrounds. I'm not a "glamping" girl.
We also enjoy ATVs, fishing, hiking, traveling, road trips are the ultimate. We also dive and ski, but not as much as we used to.
Did you have a happy childhood?
I had a great childhood with wonderful, caring, strict parents who taught me valuable lessons about life, how to survive it, to work hard for what I want, and to love and respect others. They also instilled in me a love for God with a strong spiritual base.
Is there a particular experience that made you start writing?
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Do you have unpublished books? What are they about?
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What do you think should be improved in the education of our children? What do we lack?
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If you were allowed 3 wishes – what would they be?
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What is your favorite music?
My taste in music is very diverse. From smooth jazz to country music, to pop. It all just depends on my mood.
Share a secret with us 🙂
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