Author Interview and Marina's Tales Giveaway!!!

Hello Everyone!!!
Okay, so I must admit that I flew through this series! It was amazing!!! After reading the last book in just one day (a few hours really), I decided it was time to do my first author interview and giveaway!

We are very lucky to have Ms. Derrolyn Anderson, Author of the Marina’s Tales series with us today for an interview! (My first Interview!!! Wooo Hooo!!) For those of you who don’t know, Derrolyn Anderson is the self published author of the books I recently reviewed (Between The Land and The Sea, The Moon and The Tide, and The Fate of the Muse), and she also happens to be an AMAZING painter and sculptor.

Hey Derrolyn!!! I am sooo excited that you decided to let me review your books (which, by now I’m sure you know that I am in LOVE with) and then do an interview and a giveaway with us. Lets Begin!!! (for some reason I feel like I’m on a game show…hehe)

Okay, first things first, you’re a sculptor, painter, and self published writer. I can barely focus on work, school and reading. How on earth do you do it all?

"Occasional bouts of insomnia... But seriously, all three of my daughters are finally in high school, and my twins are driving now. Yay! My husband and I have a home based business, and that cuts down on stress and commute time. I try to slip away to write a little every night while he makes dinner for everyone. I’m a lucky woman – he cooks and he’s cute too!" 

(She is definitely lucky. I love me some cute men who can cook!)

Next question, What made you choose to self publish? Do you find that there are disadvantages to self publishing versus getting a publisher?

"After I finished my first book, I sent out query letters to a couple dozen literary agents and got one request for a partial that led nowhere. I couldn’t even get anyone to read it! The hubby (a visionary entrepreneur) urged me to self pub, but I was resistant, thinking I needed industry validation. When my kids came back from shopping to announce that Snooki had a book deal, (and a hardcover!) I threw up my hands and went solo.

"Disadvantages: I have to do all my own promotion, and I’m afraid I stink at it. I’m probably going to have to get with the program and get on Facebook, risking having my checkered past come back to haunt me. I also need to figure out how to make a non-stupid book trailer. UGH. So far, I’ve been querying blogs I like, and it’s been fantastic! BOOK BLOGGERS RULE!

"Advantages: I own all the rights for all eternity, giving me plenty of time to find an audience. Since my novels are e-books, I can change anything I want with the click of a mouse. I’m stubbornly independent, I’ve been self employed for many years, so I’m pretty much used to flying without a net anyway."

Yea we bloggers are amazing aren't we...*wink wink*. Oh and Snooki's book deal? BOOOOO! I saw the book in Barnes and Noble the other day and walked the other direction!!

I have found that authors seem to have a pretty tough skin to let people read their creations and form opinions and determine if it was good or bad. How can you do it? I mean, I will admit I’m a bit of a punk. I have been known to sulk on the inside when I hear that someone doesn’t like something I said or did and have no idea how to not feel bad. How do you respond to bad reviews from people who may not like your books?

"I do appreciate any constructive writing criticism I get; I’ve foolishly done my own editing and second opinions can be really helpful. As far as content criticism, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t care, but I’m old enough to know that you can’t please everyone, so you have to please yourself! That said, I don’t want to embarrass my kids, so for their sake, I’ll probably write some more, uhm... mature... stories in the future."

Ooooo...mature books? Count me in!

Now, to focus on your actual Books. The Marina’s Tales series takes regular mermaid myths and makes it so much more interesting. Why did you want to make your mermaids more creature than human?

"I thought about sea mammals like dolphins, otters and whales. I wanted my mermaids to be closer in nature to them – playful, carefree and wild. I liked the idea of them being innocent and unaware of the magic that they possessed."

"So some people think mermaids came by means of evolution, others think they were just created. How do you think mermaids came to be?"

"Supernatural magic I guess, or maybe divine intervention. I sort of explain them as being descended from the muses of ancient mythology, but I’m OK with it being a little nebulous."

I have seen multiple covers for some of your books, are you pleased with the current covers? How do you feel they relate to the story?

"I created my own covers using stock photography and Photoshop; I’m never satisfied so I keep messing around with them. The first cover features the real cement ship in the background, and the third cover is actually one of my daughters, photographed by her sister. I have no idea what I’ll put on the fourth cover!"

Where do you think Marina’s Tales is going from here? Are you writing a new book? (Title pretty, pretty, please?)

"I’m just getting going on book #4 - 'The Turning Tides'. I have a loose outline, but I’m a seat-of-the-pants writer, so I’m never quite sure where I’ll end up when I start."

Do mermaids exist? (You can tell us)

I’m actually taking votes on that... derrolyn's mermaid poll.

What snacks do you like to eat when you’re reading/writing?

"Chocolate, coffee and red wine. Not in any particular order."

What has been your best experience so far?

"As far as writing goes, getting my first good review from a total stranger. It’s one thing when your friend, mother or sister in law says it’s good, but a rave review from a blogger is definitely a thrill!"

Okay, we have reached the end of the interview. Any closing comments, secrets, or funny anecdotes you want to leave us with?

Not really, just a big THANK YOU for showcasing my books, and I hope you get lots and lots of entries for the giveaway!

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Website, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Kobo

That was fun wasn't it? Don't worry, I wont quit my day job and become a professional interviewer or anything. But, for your time enduring my horrible interviewing skills, we have a giveaway for you!! (Woo-Hoo)


One Lucky winner will have the option of winning The first 3 eBooks in the Marina's Tales series!!

First, The Rules:

1. You must follow via GFC. (New and Old followers are welcome! Old followers get 1 additional entry. Nothing against new followers, but I want to send a special thank you to my old ones)
2. This giveaway is open to ALL applicants. and will run until November 13, 2011 at 11:59p.m. est.
3. You must respond to the winning email within 48 hours in order to win, otherwise I will choose a different person.
4. Completing the Mermaid poll (see the interview section) gives you 5 additional entries
5. Commenting on one of the Marina's Tale's entries gives you 2 additional entries.
6. Commenting on this blog post gives you 1 additional entry.
7. There are a total of 10 possible entries into the giveaway!

That"s it!!!

What are you waiting for? Enter the giveaway!!!!