Venturing to Other Worlds

Welcome, Tricia! Today you’re wrapping up a successful blog tour with a Facebook party and a  giveaway. Whoohoo! So, let’s jump right in and add a few more party-goers to the list. Who does your intended audience include? Believers and nonbelievers? In what ways do you believe your story reaches each?

My intended audience is believers, since I think most unbelievers when they pick up this book might find it too Christian. But if an unbeliever did read it and was touched by it, I would be thrilled. In this book, a believer gets a look at how things work together for good and how amazing salvation is. An unbeliever will see the hope of redemption even for those who seem to be hopeless.

Certainly, we all seek the hope of redemption—and I speak from both sides. How long did it take you to write Dare?

Three months. Sort of. I wrote the first draft in three months, but I spent another nine months editing it. Since I wrote it so quickly, I had to go back and add tons of scenes. At least 50% of the book is either new or changed since that first draft. Probably more than that.

Tell me a bit about your main characters. Who did you have the most fun creating? Why?

Leith Torren is a Blade, an assassin-spy working for King Respen. Renna Faythe is a Christian whose life is in danger if her secrets are ever reported to the king. While Leith is my favorite character, Renna’s little sister Brandi was the most fun to write. She explodes into a scene and kind of takes over. Half the time, even I wasn’t sure what she’d say next.

Characters like Brandi are the most fun to write. I’ve found the hardest to write are my favorite characters (ahem, Zander Costigan). What do you consider the most impactful: the beginning or end of your book? Why?

Can I cheat and say both? When I got the idea for the book, I right away knew the first couple scenes and most of the ending, and I had to fill in the middle from there. I think neither the beginning nor the ending has quite as much impact without the other, and they form a sort of parallel with similar scenes, but very different choices on the parts of the characters.

What did you learn from the editing and publishing process of this book?

Indie publishing is a lot of work! I knew that going into it, and thanks to all the research I did before hand, I was mostly prepared for it. I had a few hiccups on the launch date (my timing on the ebook and the print book did not coincide at all). Hopefully the second time around goes a little bit more smoothly! I also learned writers are a great bunch of people. A number of authors, including you, volunteered for this blog tour before you’d even read the book. That’s pretty amazing to me!

Agreed. Many of my author friends are so much fun, I forget we are also a business. And Indie Publishing can be tough, but once you set the ground work…well, it’s lots of fun. As to releasing the ebook and paperback at the same time, I believe it takes its own sort of magic. I just decided not to worry about it the second time around, especially when comparing ebook sales to paperback sales. Now, are you planning a sequel?

The first draft for the sequel Deny has already been written, and now that Dare has launched, I can buckle down to editing that book. Deny picks up right where Dare ends, and the main characters’ faith is tested even more than it is in Dare. Of the three books in the series, Deny was the hardest to write and so far has been the hardest to edit. Some tough things happen in that book.

That’s exactly how I felt about Of the Coldblooded! But, you’re wise to have written drafts prior to releasing the first book. I wish I had been as wise. [grin] Let’s close with writing advice…what is the best piece of writing advice you’ve received? The worst?

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve received is that characters develop through relationships. Since characters are one of my struggle points, this really helped me see a way to develop my characters more deeply. One of the worst was I was told I was “too good” for Kindle publishing. In other words, I shouldn’t pursue indie publishing because my writing “deserved” better. Instead, I pursued indie publishing anyways, found an awesome editor, and have been really happy with the results. Indie publishing isn’t an inferior way of publishing. It’s just a different route.

And now…Dare!

Courage could cost him everything.

Third Blade Leith Torren never questions his orders or his loyalty to King Respen until an arrow wound and a prairie blizzard drive him to the doorstep of the girls whose family he once destroyed.

Their forbidden faith and ties to the Resistance could devastate their family a second time.

Survival depends on obedience, but freedom beckons. How far does he dare go to resist the king and his Blades?

No matter what Leith chooses, one thing is certain.

Someone will die.

Tricia Mingerink is a twenty-something, book-loving, horse-riding country girl. She lives in Michigan with her family and their pack of pets. When she isn’t writing, she can be found pursing backwoods adventures across the country.

You can connect with her on Facebook, Pinterest, Goodreads, and her blog.

And don’t forget to join the {Dare Book Launch Facebook Party}! Tonight! 8:00pm to 11:00pm EDT. It’s come-and-go, so don’t miss it! Oh, and the giveaway winner will be announced.

*Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway to win a Grand Prize giveaway to celebrate the release of Dare! Prize includes an autographed paperback of Dare, a necklace like the one Renna has in the book with a sterling silver cross pendant, a medieval dagger (not sharp) like the one Leith carries, and Dare-themed bookmarks! (Due to the difficulties in shipping weapons across international borders, this giveaway is open to US residents only). The winner of the giveaway will be announced at the end of the Facebook party on June 10.