Pump Up Your Book Chats with LL Reaper

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L.L. Reaper is two multi-published, award-winning authors who decided to write under a pen name for their dangerously sexy suspense series, Black Widow and the Sandman. You can visit their website at www.llreaper.com or connect with them at Twitter at www.twitter.com/llreaper and Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuthorLLReaper.

Q:Thank you for this interview, LL. Can you tell us why you wrote your book, Black Widow and the Sandman?

My now writing partner and I were creating characters one night (yep, we do this for fun) when we came up with a genius who isn’t the stereotypical nerdy social outcast and a mercenary who is more than an ex-sniper for the military. Next thing you know we were putting together a rough plot outline and both wanted to write the series. So we teamed up and wrote Black Widow and the Sandman together and came up with our snazzy pseudonym: L. L. Reaper. By the way, both of our middle initial is L.

Q: Which part of the book was the hardest to write?

We wrote this book twice. The first time, the editors tore it up so bad that it had to have a closed casket funeral. I think it didn’t work that first go around because my writing partner and I had never written with someone else before and couldn’t get a good rhythm until we were near the end of the book. By then we were tired and turned it in where it was slaughtered. But it’s all good. We both had felt there’d be a problem. Then the second go around, we both were comfortable and had the flow going. So it was smooth sailing. The developmental editor was shocked it was the same concept.

Q: Do you remember when the writing bug hit?

I am a read-a-holic from way back. I had read several bad books in a row and found myself in the bookstore complaining about the quality of books and how it seemed publishing houses were relying on formulas too much. My sister turned to me and said I should stop complaining and write to become published. So I started writing with publishing in mind.

Q: Besides books, what else do you write? Do you write for publications?

I’m a copy writer for my nine-to-five and I’m also a freelance developmental editor, so I write workshops from time to time.

Q: Do you have a writing tip you’d like to share?

Don’t cheat yourself by making excuses not to learn the craft.

Q: What do you do to get away from it all?

Writing is one way to get away from it all. I create worlds, plots, characters. I also read and am dropped into worlds that others create.

Q: How do you think book promotion has changed over the years?

I started working in the publishing industry as a developmental editor for an independent publishing house and have seen a complete change. The Internet has made the world a much smaller place. Not too long ago, if a bookclub wanted to host an author from a different state or country, someone would be out a lot of money, but now we have Skype and other ways to connect with readers. The many ways authors can stay connected with their readers is amazing.

Q: What is the most rewarding?

This will sound cliché, but hearing from the readers. Authors are literary voyeurs and the readers are our audience. We crave readers’ response to our work and there are many ways readers respond. Some positive, some negative.

Q: How do you think book publishing has changed over the years?

When I started working in the publishing industry a decade ago, self-publishing was taboo. Now it’s the in thing. Traditional publishing house haven’t figured out how to navigate in this new world. This will be interesting to watch.

Q: If you had one wish, what would that be?

Outside of world peace and all that good stuff, I have absolutely no idea. Oh I’ve got one. I want Black Widow and the Sandman to become a hit cable series and then movie franchise. Yeah, that’s the ticket. LOL.

Q: If you could be anywhere in the world other than where you are right now, where would that place be?

Spain. I’m saving to go.

Q: Thank you so much for this interview, L. L. Do you have any final words?

Thank you for allowing me to introduce myself and Black Widow and the Sandman.

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Karen-Anne Stewart, ASH TO STEELE

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Question of the Day

How do you make sales happen for you?

A lot of hard work! I sponsor a lot of on line parties, festivals and contests. Book sales don’t magically happen, believe me. An author has to work hard to earn her readers. And then she has to work hard to keep them by giving them something they’ll enjoy reading. I try hard to make my books worth a reader’s time.

-- Sheila Roberts, Author of Winter at the Beach