Meet Erin Danzer

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Thank you for joining me for part two of my interview with Nicole Ireland. Don't forget to comment to enter to win her ebook, A Second Chance!

Who inspires you?

   In everyday life, it’s my parents, brother and children. I’m also inspired by the successes of fellow authors.

Favorite things to eat and/or drink while writing?

   I use to eat a lot of junk when writing, mainly salty foods. I’ve made huge changes in my diet over the past few months, though, so I mostly snack on carrots, radishes, yogurt, pretzels, crackers, almonds…stuff like that. Drinkwise: flavored coffee, spiced apple cider, soy milk and ginger ale.

   But believe me, there are days that I want nothing more than to either sit down with a bag of hot fries or Goods potato chips dipped in homemade onion dip. YUM!

When you're not writing, what can you be found doing?

   If I’m not writing, I’m usually hanging out at my parent’s house. We live next door, so I’m up there almost every day. My mom has been going through some medical issues, so I’m there to help her out and make her life a bit easier.

   When not taking care of family obligations, I can also be found engrossed in a book or spending time outdoors. During the fall, I love going to the local fairs, especially the one in Fryeburg, Maine. I also love taking walks, hiking and spending time in the White Mountains. I’d love to move there one day.

What made you decide to self publish instead of going the traditional route?

   Well, I tried going the traditional route back about five years or so ago, but I was very green and had no idea what I was doing. So as you can imagine, it didn’t go well. Since then I’ve continued to hone my craft with the intention that I would one day try again.

   When I saw the success that my close friends were having with self-publishing, while still maintaining control over their own work and not having to compromise their stories, I realized that it was the best choice for me.

   I don’t have to change my stories to suit what an editor wants. That’s not to say my editor doesn’t give me suggestions because she does. But she knows me, and she knows what I’m trying to accomplish, so her suggestions are always ones that incorporate what I want and not just what will sell more copies.

   Also, I love the creative freedom and instant gratification that comes with self-publishing. The wait between finishing a story and publishing is vastly different than traditional publishing, which is great.

   I also love that I chose the price at which to sell. I think some of the eBook versions of traditionally published stories are grossly overpriced, and I don’t want that for my stories. I know what it’s like to pinch a penny. I know what it’s like to struggle, so I don’t want to overcharge for my work. Obviously, I want to make money at this and eventually do it full-time, but at the same time I want my stories to be affordable to my readers so I can touch as many lives as possible.

   Time will tell if I made the right decision. Right now, though, I feel like I did.

Any inspiring words for authors just starting out or struggling with their writing journey?

   Write every day! That’s one of my important pieces of advice I’ve been given over the years. It’s not always easy to follow, though, and I know that firsthand. I work from home. I take care of two kids. I help my mom out since she’s going through some medical problems. I take care of my own house. In other words, I’m really busy, but I try and make time as often as possible to write something, anything, because if I don’t, I feel lost.

   I also end up feeling like I’m not using my talent to its full potential. I can’t get to where I want to be without working for it. And I can’t get better without putting in the time to hone my craft, so writing every day to stretch that muscle between my ears is very important to me.

   Also, make friends with likeminded people. I can’t express enough how important that is. During the moments of self-doubt when I wonder if it’s all worth it, it’s my friends that lift me up and help carry me through. There are many times I would have failed had I not had author friends supporting me. They’ve played a huge part in where I’ve ended up, and I cannot thank them enough for all they’ve done for me.

Thank you, Nicole for doing this interview with me! I really appreciate the time you took to do it.  

Now, the GIVEAWAY!

Just comment below and you are entered to win a copy of Nicole's ebook, A Second Chance. It is an amazing, very powerful novella about HOPE that I believe everyone should read. Even if you don't win, pick it up!

Happy Writing!
EM