Hello and welcome to my blog, Author Interviews. My name is Fiona Mcvie.

Let’s get you introduced to everyone, shall we? Tell us your name. What is your age?

Hello, I’m Serena Nova and I’m 29 years.

Fiona: Where are you from?

I’m from the Netherlands, I’m fully Dutch. I still live in the Netherlands, near The Hague.

Fiona: A little about your self (ie,  your education, family life, etc.).

I have done a few things in my life; I have two different degrees. I’m a graphic designer and a furniture maker/restaurateur. I’m currently engaged to my wonderful and amazing boyfriend (saying fiancé is still a little weird) and live with him and my two cats.
I’m as most authors an avid reader and I have been reading from the moment I could. Books were a way for me to escape life. I have ADHD and ASD, we’re still figuring out the last one on how far on the scale I am. Which is a whole new adventure.

I’m excited to be writing and soon writing full-time.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

I recently released Lost & Lucky, a whole new take on Reverse Harem. It has double the trouble and love. I’m also going to a signing event in New Orleans, in June 2020. Called the Court of Sin, there will be a big give away from me for the event.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I started writing around December 2018. After reading so much I decided to write and see if I could do it, if I could finish something for the first time in my life. I always had been trying to write, but then in Dutch, and I found it terrible. So, I started to read in English and loved it, then started to write in English and the words just flowed out of me. That’s when I started writing for real.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I think the moment I published my first book; I still have doubts about myself being an writer or let alone an author. It’s all still a little surreal for me, to be actually doing this, doing something I love.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

Maybe a little cliché, but mostly myself. I just started writing, because I wanted to. Nothing inspired me, to write Isadora and her story. I just write what comes to me, it’s almost as if I’m watching a movie.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

The book has been called Isadora for a long, long time. I came up with Protector when I noticed that it was a summary of the book. It was the perfect word for what I was telling.

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style? Is there anything about your style or genre that you find particularly challenging?

I have no clue if I have a specific writing style. I’m not trained in this and have no idea of technical terms. There are things I find challenging, only the are important too. Otherwise I would never learn. They make me want to improve every time I write.
I find planning the most challenging thing in my writing ‘style’. I’m an (as I call it) emotional writer. I hit the zone and write what comes to me. Sometimes it’s one series I focus on and other times I need to write other stories too. That makes it harder to have solid release dates. I’m learning to change that.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Most of the things are just based on myself, or how I want to be when I grow up. Other things are based on stuff I see around me, or what I have gone through. I got (if I say so) good doses of empathy and the emotion thesaurus which helps a lot.

Fiona: To craft your works, do you have to travel? Before or during the process?

I don’t have to travel, I love writing out of the house. Just to get a new surroundings and not feel locked up in the house. My fiancé (still funny to say) and I are planning on moving to another country if that’s in it for us with his work. Which would probably give me some new stories too. And I would love to travel more, to just see more from the world. Only that’s has been another dream of mine, not necessary a part of the whole writing process.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

I do that myself. I love using my graphic degree for something and it gives me some time to relax and not focusing on writing. Which is important too.

Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I just want to give people a place to escape for a few hours. That’s what reading means to me, and that’s what I want to give back to the world too. I can’t take away the pains, problems or bad things in this world. But if I can give someone these few hours, few pages to just escape it. Then I like to think that my goal is fulfilled, that I’m helping in some way.

Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?  Who is your favorite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you?

Favorite author, how can I answer that. I have a few I always go back to, such as – Auryn Hadley, K.F Breene, Kristen Banet, Sarah J Maas. I love their writing styles, how they build the world and make them real for the time you read the books.
There are a few new ones that I’m watching closely too, such as Regina J Robinson. I had the pleasure of reading her first book, before it’s going live. And it rocked my world! She has grown to be my favorite. As the same fore Erica Woods, her way with words amazes me every single time she allows me to sneak in and read what she already has written down. I would keep an eye out on those two, they will bring something new to the writing scene. If I may say so.

Fiona: Outside of family members, name one entity that supported your commitment to become a published author.

I’m sorry to say, I don’t have those. Not before I started writing. I got to knew a few amazing woman along the way, such as Natasja, Leanne, Bethina, Leanne (another one), Amanda and Tiffany. They stood by me when I decided to write, are crazy enough to read my jumbled thoughts and help me stay sane throughout this process.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

I would love too. It’s also what I’m working hard for to reach. It would allow me to do what I love and still makes it possible to support my family and surrounding people.

Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

I wouldn’t change anything in the book. I would change how I published it; I would have waited until I had the first drafts done of all the three books in the series. Only you have to fail to learn, so lesson learned. Next time I’ll do it differently.

Fiona: Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?

I’m currently working hard on the second book in the Full-Blood series, and I learned that I have been improving on my writing skills, that I have a better idea of what I’m doing and that helps a lot.

Fiona: If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

You have very good questions Fiona. I think scarlettJohansson, Gal Gadot or Emma stone. For the man in the book. Jason Momoa and Tom Ellis, I don’t have to think about those for long. Chris Hemsworth is one I would love to add too and Sam Heughan. I love me some redhead scot!

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

One other author a Dutch one, said to me just start writing and keep going. It’s something I live by. And another one told me that not everyone likes chocolate. And this she told me when I was reading my first reviews, mostly the not so good ones. She helped me a lot with that, understanding that not everyone will like what you write. It’s how the world works, and that’s okay. Not everyone likes chocolate.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Thank you for reading, thank you for picking up my books. And never ever stop searching for the thing you love, hard work and determination will get you there!

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

Currently, nothing. I’m waiting for Erica Woods her book to come out Hunted. And Regina J Robinson her book Echoes of the past. I also have Havoc from Auryn Hadley on my reading list as a few others form her. Only first I have to finish my own books, then I can read.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

I have read so many books, I think my first books were children books, I loved reading them. I still do for my nephews, can’t wait to read them for my own kids. Then I read Harry Potter, I think that was my first long book. Nothing could hold me back after that.

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

I cry easy, even sad parts in commercials can make me cry. I laugh easy too, I like funny video’s they mostly make me laugh, or just fun with my family, going out and having a good time.

Fiona: Is there one person, past or present, you would love to meet? Why?

I think I want to meet J.K Rowling and Sarah J Maas, they have been in my life forever. And I mostly want to thank them for writing, for picking up those pens and put the worlds in their minds on paper.

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

Except from writing, I do. I like to play computer games, mostly sims 4. I read and then watching movies with the fiancé. I’m going to pick-up stand-up paddle boarding next year, hopefully. Loved doing it when I’m at my mom’s.

Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?

I watch a lot, have Netflix. But I love the 100, I have watched the Outlander, not all seasons, kind of forgot where I was. I love Big Bang and How I Met Your Mother.

I watched the Killjoy’s and I always loved watching Charmed.

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors,  music?

I love purple and blue, I listen to almost all the music, depends on my mood. And food, I love Italian, a good steak, pancakes, ice cream, French fries, Mexicans, Vietnamese and so much more. I just love good food.

Fiona: Imagine a future where you no longer write. What would you do?

I would be in the publishing business, I always wanted that. It has been my one dream in live. Before I started writing. And I would take the step to go and work in that field.

Fiona: You only have 24 hours to live how would you spend that time?

 With my family, on a white sand beach with a clear blue sea in front of me. Just chilling there, talking and sharing the love I feel for them. While we watch the sun set and the day making place for the night sky, which would be filled with stars. There would be a fire, and good food. So much good food.

Fiona: What do you want written on your head stone?

Nothing. I don’t have words to say goodbye with. I don’t want to be remembered by a few words on a stone, that will weather throughout the years. I want to be remembered with memories, with laughter and joy. I want to be remembered with the words that my relatives want to remember me by.

Fiona: Do you have a blog or website readers can visit for updates, events and special offers?

Yes I do. First I’m going to New Orleans in June 2020, for the Court of Sin event. That’s my biggest event right now.

I have a –

Website:          https://www.serenanova.com/

Facebook group: http://bit.ly/SerenNovasWorld

Facebook page: http://bit.ly/SerenaNovaAuthor

Instagram:       http://bit.ly/SerenaNovaInstagram

Goodreads:     http://bit.ly/SerenaNovaGoodreads

Bookbub:        http://bit.ly/SerenaNovaBookBub

Amazon USA :           http://bit.ly/SerenaNovaAmazon

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Serena-Nova/e/B07P9151TB?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1567002118&sr=1-1

Twitter:           http://bit.ly/SerenNovaTwitter

And here are my book links.

Lost & Lucky (my latest book) – https://books2read.com/LostandLucky-SerenaNova

Protector (My first book) – https://books2read.com/Protector-serenanova

 

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