Ask the Author: Amanda Hocking
Answered Questions (40)
Amanda Hocking
Hi David! I wrote an extensive blog detailing everything I did when I started self-publishing back in 2010, with lots of helpful links, and you can check it out here: http://www.hockingbooks.com/how-i-bec...
With all that said, I have no experience self-publishing in the Italian market, and I'm not sure what that's like at all.
Best of luck to you on your writing!
With all that said, I have no experience self-publishing in the Italian market, and I'm not sure what that's like at all.
Best of luck to you on your writing!
Amanda Hocking
My only real thoughts on it are that I hope that they use CGI and practical effects as opposed to real live tigers, because big cats don't do well with film making and shouldn't be subjected to that.
But I'm not the first person to feature lions and tigers as companions in books, and I'm especially not the first one to use an animal as unlikely friend in a post-apocalyptic or dystopian future (I can think of a dozen off the top of my head).
I also really doubt that the writers of The Walking Dead are mining my books for ideas for the comics and show. What I've found in life is that most ideas aren't as unique as I think they are, and coincidences happen a lot.
So, as long as the animals are treated humanely (and preferably replaced with CGI and practical effects entirely), then I saw more power to them.
But I'm not the first person to feature lions and tigers as companions in books, and I'm especially not the first one to use an animal as unlikely friend in a post-apocalyptic or dystopian future (I can think of a dozen off the top of my head).
I also really doubt that the writers of The Walking Dead are mining my books for ideas for the comics and show. What I've found in life is that most ideas aren't as unique as I think they are, and coincidences happen a lot.
So, as long as the animals are treated humanely (and preferably replaced with CGI and practical effects entirely), then I saw more power to them.
Amanda Hocking
No, it will be out in paperback around November 9th. I explain more in this post about why it's not available for preorder in paperback, and about the possibility of it being in audio book in the future: http://www.hockingbooks.com/swear-is-...
Amanda Hocking
Yes, of course! Swear - the final book in the My Blood Approves series - will be out November 9, 2016. After that, I have a stand alone novel called "Freeks" coming out January 3, 2017. I also have a YA paranormal romance duology, but we haven't decided on an official title or release date yet, but I think it will be out either late 2017 or early 2018.
Amanda Hocking
Yes, it will be out in November 9, 2016! I wrote a blog where I explain more in depth about the last book, why it took me so long to write, and preorder links. You can read that here: http://www.hockingbooks.com/swear-is-...
Amanda Hocking
Yes, I do! The final book in the My Blood Approves is called "Swear," and it will be out November 9, 2016. I wrote a long blog where I explain more about the book, why it took me so long to write, and I also include pre-order links. You can read that post here: http://www.hockingbooks.com/swear-is-...
Amanda Hocking
Yes, I finally just finished the the last book in the My Blood Approves series, and the last book "Swear" will be out November 9, 2016. I explain more about the book, why it took me so long to write, and I also include preorder links for it, in this post: http://www.hockingbooks.com/swear-is-...
Amanda Hocking
The final book in the My Blood Approves series is called "Swear" and it will be out November 9, 2016. It's currently available for preorder, and I wrote a blog explaining more in depth about the new book and why it took me so long to write. You can read more about that at http://www.hockingbooks.com/swear-is-...
Amanda Hocking
No, the Kanin Chronicles is finished. There are only three books in the trilogy: Frostfire, Ice Kissed, and Crystal Kingdom. :)
Amanda Hocking
I am! They're a great band! They actually tweeted me about it later, which was pretty cool. If you're a My Blood Approves fan also, you may be happy to hear that the final book in that series is coming out November 9, 2016. :) http://www.hockingbooks.com/swear-is-...
Amanda Hocking
It varies from series to series, but I usually try to base the terminology on the folklore that inspired it. For example, the Trylle and Kanin series were based on Scandinavian mythology, so I used a lot of Swedish terms. :)
Amanda Hocking
Yes! My next book coming out is "Swear," the final book in the My Blood Approves series, which will be out November 9, 2016. And after that, I have a brand new stand alone novel "Freeks" coming January 3, 2017. For the latest info on all my books, please check out my website, www.HockingBooks.com :)
Amanda Hocking
Thank you! The final book in the My Blood Approves series will be out November 9, 2016! http://www.hockingbooks.com/swear-is-...
Amanda Hocking
I never stopped wanting to finish it, and I thought about it constantly. But the good news is that I did finish it, and the final book will be out November 9, 2016!! I explain more in depth about the new book and the struggles I had with writing it in this post: http://www.hockingbooks.com/swear-is-...
Amanda Hocking
The book takes place in April of 2014.
Amanda Hocking
I start with the big events. Like what are the conflicts and major moments – mine are usually fights, discoveries, and kisses. If you don’t know what the big events are for your story, I suggest looking at a trick from Pixar’s Rules of Storytelling:
“Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___.”
Fill in the blanks, and that’s the skeleton of an outline. Connect them with smaller events that explain the big events and make them more impactful.
Here’s another tip from Pixar that might help:
“When you're stuck, make a list of what WOULDN'T happen next. Lots of times the material to get you unstuck will show up.”
Here’s a link to the whole list form Pixar, and it’s actually got a ton of great advice: http://io9.com/5916970/the-22-rules-o...
“Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___.”
Fill in the blanks, and that’s the skeleton of an outline. Connect them with smaller events that explain the big events and make them more impactful.
Here’s another tip from Pixar that might help:
“When you're stuck, make a list of what WOULDN'T happen next. Lots of times the material to get you unstuck will show up.”
Here’s a link to the whole list form Pixar, and it’s actually got a ton of great advice: http://io9.com/5916970/the-22-rules-o...
Amanda Hocking
Yes! Finn and his family are the most prominently featured characters from the Trylle series, but they are not the only ones in Crystal Kingdom. ;)
Amanda Hocking
Since the Kanin series takes place four years after the Trylle Trilogy, I would recommend reading the Trylle first, because there are a few spoilers in the Kanin series about what happens in the previous trilogy. :)
Amanda Hocking
Since the world of the Trylle and the Kanin is so large, and I've only focused on two of the five tribes, I definitely wouldn't rule out the potential of writing another spinoff series in the future. With that said, I don't have any immediate plans to write one. I consider Wendy's story closed, and Bryn's story closed, so I won't be returning to their stories directly if I do write another spinoff series in the future.
Amanda Hocking
Ice Kissed is the second book in a trilogy, the Kanin Chronicles. The first book is Frostfire, and it's out now, as is Ice Kissed. The final book in the trilogy is called Crystal Kingdom, and it will be out August 4, 2015. For more info about the Kanin Chronicles, please visit http://www.hockingbooks.com/amanda-ho...
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