Krystal Shannan Features - Lindsay Avalon

Please help me welcome the fabulous Lindsay Avalon 

to the blog today!

Tell us a little about yourself. 

I am a wife, a programmer, and now an author. I have an adorable mini Schnauzer and more books than I have room for. I love reading romance because no matter what may be happening in my life, I can always count on my books to end happily ever after. The day I met my husband was the day I truly began believing in happily ever after. After hearing me complain a few too many times that I had “nothing” to read despite the hundreds of paperbacks scattered around the house, my husband began suggesting I write my own stories. When I finally took his advice I discovered that although I enjoy my day job as a software engineer, my true calling is to be an author. 

My sister drilled into me an appreciation for fantasy and mythology, something I try to bring to my books. My debut novel, Breaking the Nexus started as a book written for NaNoWriMo and has grown to so much more. It was the conduit that introduced me to a fantastic group of independent authors who have changed my life in unimaginable ways. 

When I’m not writing, I’ve found a passion for blogging and interviewing fellow authors. I also love reading (of course!), baking, crochet, sewing sock monkeys, playing video games, and all sorts of random crafts. I have an incurable love of rubber duckies and stuffed animals, and I believe nobody should have to grow up if they don’t want.

Did you always want to be an author? What made you choose to write romance?

I actually never knew I wanted to be an author growing up. I hated writing assignments for class and didn't think I had the patience to write a novel until I agreed to do NaNoWriMo with my sister. As for romance, I love most kinds of romance books and especially romantic suspense and paranormal romance. After my initial attempt at writing a book was an abysmal failure (it was supposed to be an epic fantasy), my husband suggested I write what I know. Breaking the Nexus was born from his advice :)

What is your favorite part of being a writer/author?

The ability to finally put on paper the daydreams I've always had and share them with the world. I also love the freedom of writing what I want and the rush of having someone tell me they love my book. As corny as it sounds, before I started writing it felt like something was missing from my life. Now I feel complete in a way I never knew was possible.

Tell us a little about your book. What inspired you to write it?

I've always had daydreams and loved myths, legends, and fairy tales. The underlying story behind Breaking the Nexus just sort of came to me. I sat down and all of these ideas started floating around in my brain and I knew I had to write them down.

Throughout history, myths and legends of extraordinary creatures have been told and retold. Fantastic tales of demons and banshees, gryphons and dragons, and of course, magic. Stories that every child grows to learn are nothing more than fantasy…or are they?

Beyond the world you see lies a hidden realm, the Mythrian Realm, inhabited by all of the creatures you’ve been told are mere fiction. Only one thing lies between humans and the truth: the Nexus. A magical barrier erected millennia ago to separate the two realms, it has stood the test of time. Until now.

For Mythrian Sha Phoenix, magic is nothing new. But when she stumbles upon a portal on the verge of collapse, her fate will forever change. Pulled through the portal into the Human Realm, she lands in the middle of Detective Connor Flynn’s brutal murder scene. Soon it is obvious someone is using blood magic to try to bring down the Nexus. Together, Connor and Sha must work to unravel the secrets before the barrier falls and the realms collide. 

The Nexus is breaking and all hell is about to unleash…literally.

Do you plot and outline or do you just write?  Plotter or Pantser?

Without a doubt, I'm a pantser. I have tried to plot things out before and I never stick to the outline. When I sit down at the computer, the words magically flow from my fingers and appear on the screen in a relatively coherent structure :) Sometimes I'll have a vague idea of where I want a scene or the overall story to go, but mostly I just let it flow.

Can you tell us about the process of getting your first book published?

It has been so much more complicated than I ever thought and I love it. I never thought I'd love promoting myself and networking as much as I do. I also love the control that comes with self-publishing my book. I've had complete freedom over who designs my cover, what it looks like, who edits my book, how my book is promoted, and even the fact that I decided to write a trilogy a month before my intended release date. Trying to mainstream publish scares me a little, but I hope to try that soon.

What advice would you give new authors?  What have you learned about the business?

Never give up. This is not a way to get rich quick; it takes work, blood, sweat, and tears. Ok, hopefully not literally blood, but you get my point. You'll have your work scrutinized and criticized, you'll have to work your ass off to spread the word, and you'll have to deal with the disappointment when it doesn't magically become an overnight best-seller. Ask people for advice and listen to their advice. Above all else, remember to write because you love to write and have a story to tell, not because you want to make loads of money doing it.

Do you have another book in the works?

I do! The next book in the trilogy, Waking the Phoenix will hopefully be out this spring :) It picks up directly after the end of Breaking the Nexus.

What do you like to do in your free time, besides read and write of course?

I love spending time with my husband and mini schnauzer, Simi, baking, crocheting, making sock monkeys, playing video games, and doing whatever craft has currently captured my interest.

Where do you dream of going on vacation?

It's now a tie between Ireland and Disney World. Ireland is winning out in terms of a dream vacation, but that's only because I already know I'm going to Disney World again next year :) If I could somehow transport Disney to Ireland I'd be in heaven.

Boxers or Briefs? Boxers

Cookies or cake? Cake

Pizza or hamburger? Pizza

Beer, Wine, or mixed drink? Mixed drink

(Hero/Heroine Character Questions)

What were your first impressions of each other?

Connor: I thought she was beautiful, intriguing, and a smart ass.

Sha: You forgot the part where you thought I was a murderer or at the very least high on drugs. I'll forgive you though. I thought he was sexy, handsome, and intelligent. Did I mention sexy?

What’s your favorite characteristic of each other?

Sha: I love how he knows when to temper his protective streak toward me. I may be tiny, but I can annihilate a banshee better than anyone I know. I'm the first to admit I'm impulsive and don't always think before I dive into a situation, so it's not easy for him. But he tries and that's what matters.

Connor: I think my favorite characteristic would be how levelheaded she is in a crisis and how even in the midst of a battle, she can make me want to laugh and kiss her. She's also showing me not everything can be logical or easily explained.

What are your plans for the near future?  

Sha: Oh, you know, saving the world from destruction. The usual :)

The blog tour runs from Dec 1-31 and there are over 40 blogs participating! Join us on each stop as she shares exclusive snippets from the book, answers interview questions, or guest posts, and leave a comment to enter for your chance to win prizes!  Don’t forget to enter the rafflecopter grand prize giveaway while you’re at it! Prizes include Breaking the Nexus swag, ebooks, custom jewelry, and more!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For a complete list of blogs participating, dates of special giveaways, the grand prize rafflecopter, and a list of the amazing authors generously donating books and swag, check out the special page on Lindsay Avalon’s blog: http://lindsayavalon.blogspot.com/p/breaking-nexus-blog-tour.html

Where to find you @

Websites, Blogs, Twitter, FaceBook, etc.

Blog: http://lindsayavalon.blogspot.com

Amazon Author: http://amazon.com/author/lindsayavalon

Facebook Author: http://www.facebook.com/author.lindsay.avalon

Twitter: @LindsayAvalon