Interview with Vanessa Kelly

Author of The Vamp-Pures “ Unknown Ties”

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I’m from Mobile, Alabama and currently reside there.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

I started young writing poems, short stories and plays! My imagination was something I depended more in growing up because I had a hard childhood. I could see things that would trigger a brain cell and from that… came my next book or poem!

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

Different, adventurous, romantic, dramatic! There aren’t enough words to describe my books because they literally fall under multiple categories!

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

Young adults for sure! Also, adults who love fantasy!

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

I learned that writing the plot twist of your novel is the hardest thing to do! You began talking to yourself… asking yourself, “ How do I say that”, or “Which scene should I add first?”. It takes a lot of brainstorming to perform and perfect a twist! Surprisingly hard!

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

Take your time and plan accordingly! There’s no rush, so make sure everything is how you truly want it! Ask your fans for their advice and ask them what do they think about things. They are there to support you…so connect!

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

Millions!

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

Editing and promoting has been my struggles so far. I didn’t have much money to start with so I was limited to certain resources. So far, I’ve had six editors that I’ve paid over $100 to and my book still carries errors. Promoting my book was something I’ve been just winging it on. Social media post and advertising through videos from fans who purchased my book is as far as I’ve gotten when it comes to promoting. I try not to promote too much until I’ve saved up enough to hire a professional editor to help polish my book. It was very frustrating to have to keep hiring editors who were half doing the work. However, those who have bought my book have left great reviews… even with the errors! As shocking as it was, some people enjoyed the storyline just enough to over shadow the errors. That truly brought me joy!

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

I can make up a great story from basically anything! My imagination runs far and wide!

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

Time. I rarely have time to write as a mother of three kids and between two needy jobs! An author has to have time to spend in their novel or the brain may become rusty!

When do you think you will write your next book?

I’m currently in the process of writing 3! The next novel will be published around this late summer.

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

I’m a self published author!