Interview with Vega Edwards

Author of Battle for Namsos

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

I am originally from a small town in South Louisiana called Slidell. I lived there for a majority of my life but moved to Florida for about 3 years before moving back up to Louisiana.

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

I am currently in Ruston, Louisiana. Its another small town with Louisiana Tech University in the dead center. GEAUX DAWGS! I met my now husband in an into history class and the rest is history. Eight years later we are currently packing up our house and two furbabies and headed WAY north to Madison Wisconsin. It is definitely a change for this Southern Belle.

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

I had a full on mental break down in 2014 and I went to visit my other parents in Huntsville, Alabama. I was there for about 2 weeks and fell in love with the idea of space. Even with all the research that I’ve done for the book and for my own knowledge I still don’t know alot about it. Two of my friends passed away after a 23 year long battle with Muscular Dystrophy. I went to a therapist after that. He told me that one way to cope with loss and other forms of intense stress it to journal. So I did. I started journaling and it turned into just writing. It flowed into a different format when I started to watch the TV show VIKINGS off the History channel. You should watch it. Trust me and thank me later. I had a moment where I was sitting rewatching the show thinking “holy crap…. vikings plus space… epicccccc” *downs glass of wine reaching for notebook* So I started to reformat the work. I spent 2 years 6 month and 28 days from start to finish. I went to a book signing for one of my all time favorite authors and stayed with a good friend of mine from highschool that I haven’t talked to in 4+ years. It was him that told me that I just need to suck it up and click that submit button. He told me that it’s never going to be perfect, and to get my story out there. So when I drove back from Austin, Texas I submitted it that night. My husband was pleased that I finally listed to someone and stopped dragging my feet on it.

(GO SEE A THERAPIST!! IT IS NOT A SIGN OF WEAKNESS!! GET PROFESSIONAL HELP!!)

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

I would say that it’s a work of love, hate and passion. It’s a science fiction young adult novel with a strong traditional feminism ideals with Norse Mythology thrown in. The male and female characters are on equal grounds when it comes to 90% of the elements in the novel. It’s a fast passed read for those adults and teens who are reluctant readers. It starts off with the main character’s death on Earth she gets transported to Namsos. No longer human but a Deafling she has to decide the fate of the whole world. The undertone for the whole novel is “fight your fate” not to let anyone other than yourself make your decisions.

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

I think that teens who are struggling with self identity. There are a few characters that are coming to realize their own sexuality for the opposite sex and same sex. There is also a vast amount of characters that have prosthetic limbs, mental health problems and traumas. There is only one cinnamon roll character out of the 30ish. Tyr’s arm do I love that character. *sigh* I work with teens and tweens on a daily basis at my day job. They think that they are being sneaky talking about the problems that they are going through but the walls have ears and they talk loud. Why try to create drama and crazy when it is already happening? Some situation that are in the novel I have heard from the kids at work. I have taken the liberty to change them slightly to fit the story line.

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

FIND A GOOD EDITOR! It will make or break you. I learn that people suck and you shouldn’t listen to them. When it comes to the actual writing of the book I learned that the more research you do on a topic even if its a fiction book can really help the story flow.

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

This advice is for past self and really anyone who wants to write. They always say write for yourself. That’s a lie. Write the book that you wanted to read as a kid. Or the book that you want to read now. If you don’t like the book how do you expect anyone else to? Take your time but done obsess over it and never submit it.

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

I would love to reach as many people as possible. Let’s be honest, 90% of writers want their name known and on the tops lists in book stores.

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

Marketing. With the big move coming up it has been very difficult to really do anything with it.

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

Coming up with the original story was the easiest part! I loved two different things and put them in a blinder and poof a smoothie of goodness. Creating the characters was the most fun. When they got to a situation I didn’t know what they would do next I would use DnD guidelines. I rolled for it. I did death saving through for all the deaths and rolls for all the events that happened in the book. I was basically playing DnD with my self. I would call our DM or message him at the craziest hours asking technical question about what is in the handbook for different things.

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

The first draft is the draft I love! but I know that’s not the case for everyone. I wrote a vast majority of the first draft between 2-4 am. So I thought it was great! I would send it to my editor and she has been my best friend since birth. She would call me and say “what the hell is this?” I would than have to go back and we would decipher the ramblings of a sleep deprived author who has had a dangerous amount of caffeine. Talk to your doctor about the levels of caffeine that you take in a day, coffee, red bull and 5 hour energy drinks. Go talk to your doctor.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I am working on another book that has nothing to do with Battle for Namsos. the characters that are left need some time to get mental and physical help after what I put them through. Be on the look out for my next one! Its about a chaotic lawful assassin. They have their own code but no one really knows what it is. Oh did I mention it takes place in a biodome on another planet? I am also creating a kids picture book about the importance of diving and the ocean that is my world.

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

Its a hybrid publisher.