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Nicholette Campbell
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Author Interview with Nicholette Campbell
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Nicholette Campell’s premise for her first novel Soul Chaser is one of the most original ideas that I have come across. Knowing where the inspiration to write it came from, makes her exploration of life in and out of the spiritual realm even more meaningful. The book has haunting elements of human drama and as well as an ending that is both sad and uplifting at the same time.What a treat to learn that she works as a Nutritionist where she spends time mapping out ways to nourish human bodies. It seems like a natural that she would write a story about nourishing a soul. I am looking forward to reading Raven’s adventures as she continues forward on her journey.
I had to chuckle at her answer to #4. Writers and those closest to them are familiar with the signs and symptoms; a faraway look focused somewhere other-worldly, sudden expletives like, “Ah yes! That’s right! Ohhh….that is sooo good!” followed by a frantic search for a piece of paper and where one scribbles furiously in order to catch an elusive piece of mental gold before it slips through the gray veil of forgetfulness. We should have a name for moments like that - when storytellers are caught-up in the throes of capturing ideas that fuel the craft - Author Psychosis? Or Writer-on-a-Roll?
Thank you so much Anna Erishkigal for giving us the opportunity to get to know Nicholette Campbell a little better!
Mod
Behind every story is an equally poignant story, and behind this month's group read about giving one life up so another can be saved, we have a real-life inspiration behind Nicholette Campbell's story of redemption, Soul Chaser Volume #1.
What would motivate someone to give up their life so another soul can be redeemed?
So now I'll step out of the way and let y'all find out! Be sure to ask questions in the comment thread below, and check out Soul Chaser in the BOTM thread to discuss the book with other members of the community.
Soul Chaser is HERE: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Be epic!
Anna Erishkigal
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Author Interview with Nicholette Campbell granted 2/5/2015
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1. What books have most influenced your life? Honestly I’ve read everything from Dr. Seuss to Jane Austen. Reading is a passion for me and an escape from the stresses of everyday life. I absolutely love Stephanie Meyer’s writing style and character development, the way the story flows from beginning to end captivated me. Of all her published works, I’d have to say that Eclipse was by far my favorite and after reading that book, I decided to push forward with my dream of becoming a writer.
2. How do you develop your plots and characters? I get asked this question all the time and I never know how to answer it. To be honest, I suppose they just come to me. I know that sounds odd but I never really think about the details of their lives, other than in the moment I’m writing their story. I knew the end of the book before I’d written the first word of the beginning. Raven, my main character had a story to tell, I just wrote it down.
3. Tell us about your Lovers of Paranormal book? Soul Chaser is a short story about a 16 year old girl who learns the meaning of sacrifice in a very unnatural way. Raven was orphaned at birth, bounced from one foster home to another without feeling love or compassion from anyone. At 16 years old she’s suddenly caught in a world she struggles with. Death becomes a new way of living for her but her desire to love and beloved jeopardizes her own body and soul.
4. We all need a hero! Tell us about your protagonist(s)? Was there a real-life inspiration behind him or her? Maybe I’m crazy or something but honest to goodness, I was sitting at work one afternoon and she just popped into my head and I could not stop thinking about her. For days, she talked to me, told me her story and I couldn’t shake it, so I wrote it down. I felt better but a few days later she started again and again and again. I would sit at my computer and write out the words she put in my head. She told me she was orphaned and no one had ever loved her but she found a way for her life to matter and so Soul Chaser (Raven’s Journey) Began. I think we all have fictional character within us; we just have to learn how to listen to me. (Strange Right) LOL.
5. A good villain is hard to write. How did you get in touch with your inner villain? Was there a real-life inspiration for him/her/it? Death is my villain; it’s a fear to some and a blessing to others but it’s something everyone has to do, however, the death of a child is beyond imaginable and I wanted to write a story about an alternative world for the most innocent.
6. What real-life inspirations did you draw from for the world building within your book? A dear friend of mine lost a child at a very young age and as you can imagine, she was completely devastated. No words offered any comfort to her unimaginable heartache and many times I heard her say “if I knew my child didn’t suffer, then maybe I’d be able to comes to terms with the death.” I started writing Soul Chaser with the hopes that it would somehow offer her a small amount of peace. She loved the book and found comfort in the possible alternative I created for her. So with that I decided to share it, with the hopes of doing the same thing for someone else.
7. What real-life science, pseudo-science, history, religion, or mythologies did you research for the paranormal aspect of your book? Religion, I wanted to write a book that touched on spirituality without isolating anyone. I talk a lot about “the heavens” but left it open to interpretation. What “heaven” is for some may not be what it is for all and I tried to write it that way.
8. What was the hardest part of writing this book? (view spoiler)[Killing off Summer, I felt a connection to her and her death was the hardest for me to write. (hide spoiler)]
9. What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why? (view spoiler)[Chapter 12 was my favorite to write because; in that chapter Raven finally realizes her life had meaning and she’d always matter to someone. She finds comfort and acceptance of her destiny and I felt pride writing her story. (hide spoiler)]
10. Did you learn anything from writing this book and what was it? I’ve hated horror for most of my life (scares me to death) but while writing this book, I discovered (FOR ME) the things that scares me the most also drives the most passion in my writing.
11. Is there a message in your novel that you hope readers will grasp? Selflessness!
12. What are your future project(s)? I’m currently working on Volume #2 of Soul Chaser. Raven’s story has barely begun and she has a lot more to say.
13. If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be? A Nutritionist (which I am)
14. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to the Lovers of Paranormal community members? I just want to say thank you for letting me share my dream with you. 10,000 people can read and hate this book and that’s ok however, if it helps just 1 person who struggles with the death of a child, then I’ve done what I hoped to accomplish.
Thank you for the Interview,
Nicholette Campbell