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Welcome to the Mythic Mike Podcast, where myths, magic, and legendary stories come to life.
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Join your hosts, Bethany Amanda and Sarah Santillon, passionate authors, book collectors, and lovers of all things fantasy and romanticy.
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As they dive into epic worlds, enchanting tropes, and the books that leave us breathless.
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The Mythic Mic is your getaway to the magic of fantasy fiction.
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So grab your favorite bookish beverage.
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Settle in, and let's step into the extraordinary.
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Now, here are your hosts.
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Hey everyone.
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Welcome to this episode of the Mythic Mic podcast.
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I am so excited to be joined by the incredible Courtney L.
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Wynn, who is the author of Vesselist.
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Welcome, Courtney.
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Hi guys! Joining me for the interview today is also my co-host Teresa.
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Hey Teresa.
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Hi, everyone.
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All right, well, this book has taken the book community by storm.
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I have to say, not only have I seen it everywhere, I have read it and I love it, and I am trying to get my hands on every edition that exists of this book.
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So talking to Courtney today, I am so excited to dive into the conversation.
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Courtney, before we talk about your book though, tell us a little bit about yourself, where you grew up, what you love doing, how hot it might be where you are right now outside.
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Yeah, so I am a Utah native.
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Half of my personality is Diet Coke.
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I drink way too much of it.
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Um, some of my other hobbies besides books is like drawing and like hiking, running, that kind of thing.
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So yeah, that's me.
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That's awesome.
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Um, can you tell us a little bit about what some of your favorite books were to read growing up and how did they inspire you to this day?
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Yeah, so I was totally a Twilight fan hardcore.
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Team Edward, for anyone who cares.
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Um, until the movies came out, and then I was confused.
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That's fair.
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Uh I loved The Ugblies, if you remember that series at all.
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Oh, yeah, that was a good one.
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Yeah, I thought I loved that one.
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And then Aragon, that was another one of my top ones growing up.
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Oh my gosh, so many good choices there.
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And you know, Dystopia in particular is having a comeback right now, so I'm excited to see people getting back into it.
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And then, of course, seeing, you know, kind of the the children, right, who were watching these sh movies, right, or reading these books, coming in and writing their own stories now.
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It's been really, really fun to see that, I have to say.
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So, right, you were a book lover.
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What then made you decide to finally take the leap into writing and become an author?
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Okay, so I was like sitting in my day job and thinking about how I didn't have like a really passionate hobby that I loved, you know.
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Everyone in Utah, they're just really big ATV people, and I I'm I'm not really.
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But so I was like, I want to find like where my heart's at, you know, like whether it's whatever it is.
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So I made a bucket list of things to try.
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Like, on it was become a wedding cake artist, and I did that for a long time.
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Um, I still have my listing on Google actually.
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Photography was on there, learning different language, all these things.
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And I put write a book on there.
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So like I Googled how many words does it take to write a book?
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And Google said 80,000.
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So I was like, hey, that's my goal.
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And I just started writing this.
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I I mean it's it's never seen the light of day, uh, this book.
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And I just fell in love like hard, very hard.
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And I that's that's where I found my passion.
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So that's it.
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And then I ditched the rest of the list.
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So I did cake decorating for a while, gosh, for for many years.
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Not not at the level of a wedding cake professional decorator, but anyway.
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But I had I had all of the little cake decorating materials, right?
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The fondant that you make, uh, you know, the little cactus sheets for the roses.
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So I fully, fully love meeting somebody else who did that.
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That is so you're a kindred spirit, is what you're saying.
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Exactly.
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I tried all hobbies for about two years, and then I like I go full out.
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Like jewelry making was one of them.
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And then by about the end of two years, I lose interest, and now I have all of this stuff.
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And I'm like, oh, not touching that again.
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I I relate so hard.
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Yeah, books is actually just the one that finally stuck because, like you said, I would get like dive in hard and then I'd burn myself out.
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Yes, and then I'd move to the next one.
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And books is the only one that it it has not, it will not burn out.
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As of now, we're still going.
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So I feel the same way.
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I've been in the bookstagram community.
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I think I'm coming up on close to two years now, so but it has not faded.
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Well, don't go anywhere.
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We like you.
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Don't go.
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Exactly.
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No, I'm I'm working on my debut now as well.
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And so, you know, kind of like you, it was you know, the story that stuck with me that you know just can't seem to leave your head that you kind of fall in love with.
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And so, so now I'm, you know, entering the the fun query trenches and all of that coming up.
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But no, it's congratulations.
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It's been an exciting journey.
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And so it's yeah, I I think like you, this is gonna be the one that sticks for me.
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That's good.
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We like having you here in this community.
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Thank you.
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Absolutely.
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Um, so Courtney, do you feel like having the last name win was a sign for your debut novel's incredible success?
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What has it been like seeing all the amazing responses of the book?
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Um, did it happen overnight or did it build steadily over time?
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It's it's crazy seeing responses because it it's your like a book is almost like your internal thoughts, and being out there in the wild for anyone to to pick up and and read is is really crazy.
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It I don't know how to answer it.
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It was like really fast and really slow at the same time.
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So there's a whole long story to my launch, but I'll I'll save you like the long story.
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I had to publish to Kindle Unlimited like right away because I thought my book was being pirated.
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So I like no no preparation, I just hit publish to Kindle Unlimited.
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And within the time that I hit publish, it was like seven months.
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I I got I got my Harper Voyager deal.
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And and physical copies had still not come out yet.
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And they didn't come out again until another year.
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So like it was slow and fast at the same time.
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Yeah, that's that's such an interesting journey.
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It was wild.
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Wow.
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So so Courtney, it sounds like you self-published first, and then how did you get the Harper Voyager deal?
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Did that you did you have to get an agent?
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Did they come to you because they loved reading the book?
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What was that like?
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That was it, just I have so many gray hairs from this this story this story.
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So long, I'm gonna condense this this long story.
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I had an agent like my post on TikTok and email me, and she's like, I love your manuscript, send it to me.
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So I did.
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I was so excited because I was in the query trenches, you know, and they are rough.
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So I just emailed her and come to find out, I was like, I ended up thinking that she was a fraud because her ex-employer was like, I don't know who that is.
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So that's why I hit publish on Kindle Unlimited, and it just performed really well.
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Like through the months of the summer, there was just really high reader months, and in it was a foreign publisher kind of caught wind of it and emailed me asking for me to send the manuscript in for consideration.
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And I was like, I don't have an agent to help me with this.
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So I sent a couple queries saying, like, hey, I have foreign interests, and and that's how I got my agent.
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And then we took it to Harper Voyager.
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And it's kind of a catch-22 because if I didn't have that high performance on Kindle Unlimited, I don't think I would have got my Harper Voyager deal.
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Does that make sense?
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Like they're like, oh, this is this is doing well, let's let's snag it.
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Yeah.
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I've seen it happen with a lot of indie authors recently where they have, you know, like the one million Kindle pages read, um, and then they start attracting kind of that agent interest.
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Um, you know, and then of course, you know, the the main publishers want to pick it up because it's something that readers have already shown that they're interested in and the authors have an established base.
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Um, I've really seen that part of the market tick up in publishing in a way that it really hasn't in the past few years.
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So that's been exciting to watch.
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Yeah, it's it's been crazy.
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Like I went to a conference and uh it was I was just in the audience and the panel was talking about trad publishing.
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And someone in the audience asked, like, if I'm indie published, do I have any chance of of going trad with that book?
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And all of the panelists said no.
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And I'm like sitting here in the audience, like, I'm not gonna comment.
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But like I feel like this industry is changing so much.
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Like, I yeah, I think indie authors are are paving the way for sure.
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I agree, and you know, a lot of the big major deals and seven-figure deals I've seen have come out of indie authors to the point where we've even talked to some, you know, really well-known traditionally published authors on this show.
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And they're they're basically kind of like, these indie authors are getting better deals than we are.
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And you know, like I think we're gonna see some some changes on what they push for in their contracts going forward based on the standards you all are setting.
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Yeah, well, yeah, because uh the publishers kind of have to like beat what you're making, you know.
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So, like if you're already making X amount from indie publishing, then they have to kind of incentivize, you know, like match it.
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So But if you're just like a debut author that hasn't published anything and they don't have anything to match.
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So yeah, I have like friends that have gone both routes and the the indies have been getting, I mean, every situation's different, but I've noticed like what you said.
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It's really awesome.
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So also, we're so excited to be teaming up with the Moonlight Book Box for a special edition of Vesilis giveaway.
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We'll share more details on that soon.
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But since we're on the topic of special editions, you've actually worked with quite a few companies recently.
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How do those deals usually happen?
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Do you reach out to them or are they pitching to you?
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Or, you know, how has that kind of come about?
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Yeah, so like with Moonlight, which I love Moonlight.
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Same.
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Yeah.
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I love all of them.
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Like I've I've messaged and worked with all of them.
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They're all amazing.
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But Moonlight was extra special because I they accepted me before I got my trad deal.
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They were the first book box to like pick me up and and say, like, let's do this.
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And they had they were like one of the last to actually release their editions, just because that's how the timing worked and everything.
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But other than Moonlight, all of the other book boxes go through my publisher.
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And so I believe, don't quote me on this, I believe my publisher pitches it to the book box companies, and then if they're interested, then they they sign a contract.
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So now I'd I just say, okay, tell me where we're going.
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Do you have all of the editions that get published?
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All the different ones?
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Yes.
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I have one indie copy left.
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Like they cleared me out of my indie copies, and now I all I have is the hardback indie copy that was, you know, Ingram Spark spark.
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So like indie authors will publish on in uh Ingram.
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And this, the edition that I have is the the proof of what I was going to publish indie.
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So there's only one, one of those, and that's the only one I have left.
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That is amazing.
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Wow.
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No, and the moonlight edition is gorgeous.
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Oh my goodness.
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We we are so lucky to be teaming up with the gosh, I mean it's stunning.
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I mean, I love I love the moonlight edition, but even I did not anticipate the like level of feral that people have gone over this edition.
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Like people are texting me like saying that they want that cover tattooed on them.
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Like multiple people, and I'm like, Well, yeah, it's gorgeous.
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I mean, I wouldn't I wouldn't say no to a tattoo like that either, but and it's by far like so for my launch of Merciless, and if I'm talking too much, you guys can tell me to shut up.
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Now you're for my launch of Merciless, I reached out to the book boxes and asked them if they had any like extra copies that I could do giveaways with.
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And every one of them sent me like you know five to eight copies of the editions.
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Moonlight was like, we have none, none left.
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So like I only have I have two extra moonlight editions aside from the one that I'm keeping, and that's that's all I have left.
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That is amazing.
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We we've been so lucky to get a copy for the giveaway as well, because I mean those those things on resale are insane.
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Someone someone sent like told me that because I had no idea, and I was I was floored.
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And it's it definitely has everything to do with Helena because her art is just gorgeous.
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So kudos to her, she's amazing.
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Yeah, I I saw it online first.
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I I still like to be surprised what what box is going to come, like, what is it gonna be when I open it?
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And so sometimes I'll see it from everyone else.
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All the other books to grammers are posting what they've gotten, and I'm like, wow, did I get that book?
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Is it on my way?
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Is it coming to me too?
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It's like immediately got it the next day, and I opened it and I was like, I got it, I have it.
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False alarm, we're good.
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And it's right there, right there in your background, Teresa.
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Yeah, it's so pretty.
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Well, your whole shelf is gorgeous.
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It's it's a problem, but a really good problem.
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But yes, I like that problem.
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I can get behind that problem.
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We do have um some aspiring authors who listen in on the show.
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And I'm so curious, right, looking back at everything that's happened to you and your journey, do you have any advice for them or things you might do differently or tell them to do?
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Okay, a lot.
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Uh the biggest one is consistency.
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Like, like if you really want to make this career path work, you have to be looking at your manuscript every single day.
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Even if it's just 15 minutes a day, you open the manuscript and you put your eyeballs on it because yeah, it's a ton of a ton of drops in the bucket to make the bucket full, if that makes sense, to get a finished manuscript.
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And the other one is like you will have so much doubt.
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You have to be like your number one biggest believer and supporter, otherwise you're you're flattening your tires before you even go on your journeys.
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And and the last one is you have to become comfortable with being uncomfortable all the time.
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So, like at first, it was writing.
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Uh, I joined a writer's group back in 2019, and we would do swaps, you know, like to help critique each other's work.
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And getting that feedback for the first time in my life ever was so hard.
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Like saying this doesn't work and I don't understand this.
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And you know, they're picking apart like your manuscript, and that was uncomfortable.
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And then it went into like reading uh craft books on the writing craft, like and just researching, and that was kind of uncomfortable.
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Like the query trenches were uncomfortable.
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Social media marketing was uncomfortable, and then now, like writing a second book in a series, which I've never done before now, that was its own, its own challenge.
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So it's just like a constant growth, and you have to just be ready to tackle that that next challenge each time it comes.
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Yes.
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No, I I fully agree with everything that you said.
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Um, you know, we've had some authors on the show who have visually said, you know, we asked them, you know, what do you attribute your success to?
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And they're like, I was delusional.
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And I would not have done it without that level of delusion that I could now that I know how hard it is.
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And so I just love that you said, right, that being your own biggest supporter is a thousand percent what you have to be in order to succeed in this industry.
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Because I I think that's a thousand percent right.
00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:25.519
There um, yeah, I like started so when I started writing like seriously, I was a full-time student, I was still doing wedding cakes.
00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:28.240
I also was a full-time mom with like a newborn.
00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:37.440
So, like, in order to have time to write, I have I had to start waking up at four in the morning and writing until you know my littles woke up.
00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:42.320
And a lot of the times I was writing as I was rocking my my son on my phone.
00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:45.759
So it's like if it's important to you, yeah, you have to be delusional.
00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:49.679
Otherwise, I don't know what else I would have done if I was delusional.
00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:50.720
And I agree, right?
00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:55.120
It's it's so hard to hear that feedback on your manuscript because it's almost like another baby, right?
00:15:55.200 --> 00:16:00.159
Like you've poured so much of yourself into it, and then right, you think it's perfect and you get that feedback.
00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:12.159
And I will tell you, the the first time I got feedback from an editor on my draft, it it knocked me down a bit because I realized how much I had to change, and I was so grateful for that feedback because it made the manuscript better.
00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:19.039
But at the same time, I'm like, oh my gosh, I thought I was at the end of this journey, and then here's this whole other Mount Everest that I have to go climb again.
00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:24.399
Yeah, well, and like you never know everything, like it is a continual growth.
00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:29.840
There's no rider that is at the peak that knows the craft like to the to the ultimate amount.
00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:33.919
There's always room for growth, no matter who you are as an author.
00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:34.720
Absolutely.
00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:37.440
Wow, this has been so, so exciting.
00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:40.000
Teresa, I I want to talk about Vasilis.
00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:40.799
So are you ready?
00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:41.600
I'm ready.
00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:42.799
I go for it.
00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:47.200
So for listeners just discovering Vessilis, can you give us the elevator pitch?
00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:48.559
Yes, spicy Casper.
00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:49.840
The best, the best.
00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:52.879
As soon as I saw that on TikTok, I was like, wait, say less.
00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:53.759
I'm intrigued.
00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:57.360
Like, like that moment when the girl is like, Can I keep you?
00:16:57.440 --> 00:16:59.919
You know, and he's that that's Vessilis.
00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:01.200
Oh my gosh.
00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:02.960
There's no better way to sum up that point.
00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:04.079
Oh my gosh.
00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:08.559
Okay, Courtney, give us a little bit more for our listeners who are like, oh yeah, I'm interested in this.
00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:10.079
What am I signing up for now?
00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:10.880
Okay, okay.
00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:22.319
So uh our main character Nazara, she's heiress to the throne that her father like usurped, usurped, killed the king, took his throne, and now she's heiress to that that throne.
00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:25.119
And she can see and hear spirits.
00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:30.400
The magic system is like you bond with a spirit, and then together you have magic.
00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:37.680
And so when this dark spirit comes around, she can hear it, hear him and and see the kind of his outline.
00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:48.480
And little does she know that he is the king that her father killed, and he is there to steal her soul in exchange for his freedom from the underworld and he too.
00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:50.799
Yeah, this is the best of my power.
00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:52.559
So good.
00:17:52.880 --> 00:17:55.119
How did you come up with the concept for this series?
00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:58.559
So I am I am like a I'm mostly a panther.
00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:08.799
So I'll get like into a manuscript and like an idea will strike like strike me, and I'll rewrite the whole manuscript, and I just keep doing that until like I wove in my my story.
00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:14.640
Um but what what first sparked like the the first idea of it was Serpent and Dove.
00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:18.000
It's like a witchy, enemies to lovers, there's magic.
00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:31.839
That was the first book I read, and I was like, I want to do something with magic that's fantasy, enemies to lovers, and then and then like I was you know how in Fourth Wing, like you bond a dragon and that's where your power comes from.
00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:36.880
I was like, what if the creature that you bonded with was the love interest?
00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:48.480
And so then I was trying to think through different creatures, and I landed on ghost because zombies were a little more morbid, and I wanted to do something different, so we went with ghosts.
00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:49.359
That is so cool.
00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:51.759
I can tell you zombies are definitely a bit morbid.
00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:56.319
I played a zombie in The Walking Dead, so I you know, as a self-proclaimed zombie or here, yes.
00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:59.839
I mean, I feel like an author could do it and make it good.
00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:01.279
Like I'm sure it's possible.
00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:04.079
I feel like wasn't confident enough.
00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:07.759
No, and and ghosts are so original here.
00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:09.599
Um, you know, because in fantasy, right?
00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:11.279
Like use that right, it's dragons, right?
00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:13.359
It's usually creatures that we're bonding to.
00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:16.240
Ghost was a new one for me whenever I was reading your book.
00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:18.000
And I was like, this is this is different.
00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:21.200
This is setting itself apart in the fantasy romantic genre.
00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:22.960
So kudos to you on your comment.
00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:23.920
Thank you.
00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:28.400
I think that's the number one comment I get is like, this was so different.
00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:29.599
And I'm like, thank you.
00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:32.000
In a good way, definitely in a good way.
00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:33.039
Oh my goodness.
00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:40.720
I was so curious, is there was there like a specific scene or character or moment that you enjoyed writing the most for Vessalus?
00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:46.720
Ending to ending like I so I I I planned the whole series based on that one scene.
00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:48.720
So that was the only scene that really didn't change.
00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:56.079
I wanted well, I don't want to spoil it, but that sacrifice was the the one piece that I needed to be in the book.
00:19:56.240 --> 00:20:00.720
So wow, that's so cool to craft an entire book kind of around one scene.
00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:11.119
I I've I'm similar, but in that like I know what the very end scene is for my trilogy, and so you know, I'm kind of working backwards from that, but to have that, you know, craft your whole first book around is so powerful.
00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:11.680
Thanks.
00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.400
I I agree.
00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:15.039
Um, I know Brandon Sanderson does the same thing.
00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:25.599
I've listened to his podcast, and he he says that most most of the time he's panther, but he always knows where the story will end and where it's going, is what he's said in the past.
00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:32.720
So and I find it helpful because if I if I try to plot, it's so dry and so flat.
00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:36.319
Like and it wastes a lot of time, honestly.
00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:44.079
So I'm a huge plotter, and I I've plotted this book 20 different times, and every time it keeps changing because a character will do something they're not supposed to do.
00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:45.279
And I'm like, well, thank you.
00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:50.319
Now I have to go change this entire outline, or a new character will come, and I'm like, you're not even in this book.
00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:53.839
Here goes the outline that I have spent months and months crafting.
00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:56.720
So I am see the way of the dancer here.
00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:59.119
Well, yeah, I will I agree.
00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:01.359
Like my best ideas come like as I'm writing.
00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:07.759
Like, if so, I know you might not have read Merciless yet because it's still it's not out yet, but it's a in net galley.
00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:15.039
But so the skeeves that are in book one, I like I didn't the plot line for the skeeves in book two.
00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:16.880
You'll get there and you'll be like, oh, okay.
00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:19.039
That came like right in the first scene.
00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:20.160
I had like an idea.
00:21:20.319 --> 00:21:25.039
I would not have found that idea if I wouldn't have been panting my my heart out.
00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:25.920
That is so cool.
00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:28.079
No, I'm dying to read Merciless.
00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:29.200
Oh my goodness.
00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:31.119
I hope you like it.
00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:34.400
I know I will, but just with how vessel is ended.
00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:36.079
Oh my gosh, I've been like tearing my hair out.
00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:37.440
You talk about gray hairs, right?
00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:38.559
I'm losing my hair over this book.
00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:40.240
Well, do you have a net galley account?
00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:41.119
I do, I do.
00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:42.079
You can read it.
00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:43.519
I think I'm gonna have to.
00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:46.000
I'm just gonna have to go in and put put in for it.
00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:48.960
Okay, let me let me know your comments as you go.
00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:53.680
So tell us a little bit about Dagan.
00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:57.839
You know, since his uh condition, does it affect his life stage?
00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:59.680
Would you, you know, define their role?
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.519
romance as an age gap.
00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:04.400
What can readers kind of expect from this romantic art?
00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:07.599
I don't I don't know if I would consider it an age gap.
00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:16.160
Like because he so he died ten years ago, but he died only six he's six years older than Nazara, seven.
00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:17.279
Six, no six.
00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:23.680
And uh so I guess there's that age gap, but technically he lived 10 years before when the book is set.
00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:25.839
Like is is playing, is going.
00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:28.880
So yeah uh his I don't know would you consider it an age gap?
00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:31.519
I mean I definitely don't think it would be a significant age gap.
00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:36.640
It's not like a 500 year age gap you know and even then we're fine with that.
00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:42.240
Well it's funny because I'm like 500 years that's not an age gap.
00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:49.359
But if it's a like contemporary romance and there's a 20 or 30 year age gap I'm like that is an age gap.
00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:49.519
Yeah.
00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:55.279
You know six years does not seem yeah no no plus once you're dead right time time kind of stops.
00:22:55.359 --> 00:22:58.480
So I feel I feel like I feel like we're very closely matched here.
00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:08.559
Well in in the the way I've written it is like he he stops like you when you die your your spirit is stuck with the same desires that you died with.
00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:12.799
So like everything that he is is exactly from when he he died.
00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:16.160
So I don't know six year age yeah I'll say that I love it.
00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:16.799
Oh my gosh.
00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:28.559
Okay what can you tease us about book two for those of our listeners who have read Vassilis um and if you haven't read Vassilis yet you might want to skip this question but kind of what can you tease us about where we're going next in book two?
00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:29.119
Okay.
00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:35.440
I don't know give me like a direction what like what are you feeling like what kind of teaser are you thinking?
00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:41.440
Anything that you want to you know kind of where where are our stories picking up you know is there a time jump?
00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:52.240
Are we diving right back in where we've left off what what new stakes might there be for our characters or new kind of journeys or emotional you know traumas that they're gonna go on.
00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:52.799
Okay.
00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:57.200
So yeah it picks up right from the second we leave off in Vesilis.
00:23:57.359 --> 00:24:04.400
I was tagged in a in a reviewer and she said it was one of the most seamless transitions from book one to book two she's seen.
00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:08.160
So hopefully if you guys like that then then that's what you're in for.
00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:11.759
Um it is a lot darker than than Vesilis.
00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:18.799
Everyone that I know that has read it and has come and talked to me about it after bald crack.
00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:20.880
We're gonna get the teaching ready.
00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:26.640
Mm-hmm yes then there was another thing I was oh the whole book is a plot twist.
00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:39.200
Oh okay like you'll have to go look at my reposts there is a girl who uh reviewed it recently she's she's like I've read a lot of books I thought I know where this was going I did not know where this was going.
00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:42.240
So that's what she said and I was giggling so hard.
00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:46.799
And she's just she's the sweetest so yeah there you go there's my teasers.
00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:52.400
Do you do you feel like these reactions to you got a little sneak peek you know um is it what you expected?
00:24:52.559 --> 00:25:23.759
I was so nervous after you read it you'll know exactly why I was so nervous so you'll have to let me know what you think because yes I'll leave it at that we will definitely we will definitely be DMing you Courtney as we read this it's gonna be great can you tease us anything about what you're working on next now that book two will be coming out soon not yet well at least at least we know you might be working on something so but I'm always working on something I'm always working on something.
00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:24.559
I love it.
00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:27.359
All right Teresa I'm gonna let you lead us through the rapid fire.
00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:47.279
Sure sure okay so rapid fire questions if you got a quote from this book as a tattoo what would you choose from Vesalist fix your face there we go I'll put fix your face someone got a fix your face tattoo I love that it was like one of those awkward moments where I'm like what okay do you believe in ghosts?
00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:49.920
I try not to they scare me I respect that answer.
00:25:50.079 --> 00:25:55.119
Okay everyone is praising the banter in this book how good are you at banter in real life?
00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:59.119
Not good because it takes me 30 minutes to be like that's what I should have said.
00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:00.960
That is what I should have said.
00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:11.279
But if I have time yeah if I have time and there and I'm behind a keyboard or a text message I can I can banter but not in real life in real person.
00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:11.839
Okay.
00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:21.119
What's your favorite book andor movie that has a ghost or spirit in it ghost the movie ghost you know where yeah that's a really good movie.
00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:24.079
That one that one was was I liked that one.
00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:25.039
That is awesome.
00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:32.319
Oh my gosh Courtney this has been so much fun um we have just had a blast talking to you about Vesselus and Merciless.
00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:51.440
Can't wait to read book two can't wait to see all the sneaky things that you're up to behind the scenes when they get announced that will be exciting and our listeners as we teased we are going to be doing a giveaway with Moonlight Book Box for our favorite special edition of Vessel is so keep an eye out on the Mythic Mike social media accounts for that.
00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:59.839
You're not gonna want to miss it as we've discussed that book is so hard to get so keep an eye out and Courtney just again thank you for coming on the show.
00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:01.039
Thank you for having me.
00:27:01.119 --> 00:27:02.640
It's been awesome talking to you guys.
00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:09.279
It has been so much fun to all of our listeners out there thank you for tuning in today we hope to see you at our next episode.
00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:17.839
Bye everyone That's it for this chapter of the Mythic Mike podcast but the adventure doesn't end here.
00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:25.759
Subscribe leave a review and follow us on social media at Mythic Mike Pod for updates, giveaways and all the bookish and writing fun.
00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:26.799
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00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:33.519
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00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:36.400
Until next time, stay mythical
00:00:01.840 --> 00:00:07.919
Welcome to the Mythic Mike Podcast, where myths, magic, and legendary stories come to life.
00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:15.919
Join your hosts, Bethany Amanda and Sarah Santillon, passionate authors, book collectors, and lovers of all things fantasy and romanticy.
00:00:16.160 --> 00:00:21.440
As they dive into epic worlds, enchanting tropes, and the books that leave us breathless.
00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:25.280
The Mythic Mic is your getaway to the magic of fantasy fiction.
00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:27.519
So grab your favorite bookish beverage.
00:00:27.679 --> 00:00:30.800
Settle in, and let's step into the extraordinary.
00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:32.479
Now, here are your hosts.
00:00:32.719 --> 00:00:33.439
Hey everyone.
00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:36.479
Welcome to this episode of the Mythic Mic podcast.
00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:39.840
I am so excited to be joined by the incredible Courtney L.
00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:41.920
Wynn, who is the author of Vesselist.
00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:42.640
Welcome, Courtney.
00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:46.479
Hi guys! Joining me for the interview today is also my co-host Teresa.
00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:47.200
Hey Teresa.
00:00:47.359 --> 00:00:47.920
Hi, everyone.
00:00:48.079 --> 00:00:52.320
All right, well, this book has taken the book community by storm.
00:00:52.479 --> 00:00:59.359
I have to say, not only have I seen it everywhere, I have read it and I love it, and I am trying to get my hands on every edition that exists of this book.
00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:03.759
So talking to Courtney today, I am so excited to dive into the conversation.
00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:12.560
Courtney, before we talk about your book though, tell us a little bit about yourself, where you grew up, what you love doing, how hot it might be where you are right now outside.
00:01:12.879 --> 00:01:14.799
Yeah, so I am a Utah native.
00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:17.519
Half of my personality is Diet Coke.
00:01:17.599 --> 00:01:19.920
I drink way too much of it.
00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:27.280
Um, some of my other hobbies besides books is like drawing and like hiking, running, that kind of thing.
00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:28.400
So yeah, that's me.
00:01:28.560 --> 00:01:29.200
That's awesome.
00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:36.239
Um, can you tell us a little bit about what some of your favorite books were to read growing up and how did they inspire you to this day?
00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:40.959
Yeah, so I was totally a Twilight fan hardcore.
00:01:41.519 --> 00:01:43.760
Team Edward, for anyone who cares.
00:01:43.920 --> 00:01:47.359
Um, until the movies came out, and then I was confused.
00:01:47.519 --> 00:01:47.920
That's fair.
00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:51.920
Uh I loved The Ugblies, if you remember that series at all.
00:01:52.239 --> 00:01:54.159
Oh, yeah, that was a good one.
00:01:54.480 --> 00:01:56.079
Yeah, I thought I loved that one.
00:01:56.239 --> 00:02:00.400
And then Aragon, that was another one of my top ones growing up.
00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:02.159
Oh my gosh, so many good choices there.
00:02:02.239 --> 00:02:07.439
And you know, Dystopia in particular is having a comeback right now, so I'm excited to see people getting back into it.
00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:14.639
And then, of course, seeing, you know, kind of the the children, right, who were watching these sh movies, right, or reading these books, coming in and writing their own stories now.
00:02:14.719 --> 00:02:17.599
It's been really, really fun to see that, I have to say.
00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:19.199
So, right, you were a book lover.
00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:23.840
What then made you decide to finally take the leap into writing and become an author?
00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:33.360
Okay, so I was like sitting in my day job and thinking about how I didn't have like a really passionate hobby that I loved, you know.
00:02:33.520 --> 00:02:39.199
Everyone in Utah, they're just really big ATV people, and I I'm I'm not really.
00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:45.759
But so I was like, I want to find like where my heart's at, you know, like whether it's whatever it is.
00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:48.319
So I made a bucket list of things to try.
00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:52.960
Like, on it was become a wedding cake artist, and I did that for a long time.
00:02:53.039 --> 00:02:55.520
Um, I still have my listing on Google actually.
00:02:55.759 --> 00:02:59.680
Photography was on there, learning different language, all these things.
00:02:59.840 --> 00:03:02.240
And I put write a book on there.
00:03:02.319 --> 00:03:05.599
So like I Googled how many words does it take to write a book?
00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:07.599
And Google said 80,000.
00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:09.280
So I was like, hey, that's my goal.
00:03:09.439 --> 00:03:10.879
And I just started writing this.
00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:14.479
I I mean it's it's never seen the light of day, uh, this book.
00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:18.639
And I just fell in love like hard, very hard.
00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:21.439
And I that's that's where I found my passion.
00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:22.960
So that's it.
00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:25.120
And then I ditched the rest of the list.
00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:31.120
So I did cake decorating for a while, gosh, for for many years.
00:03:31.199 --> 00:03:34.319
Not not at the level of a wedding cake professional decorator, but anyway.
00:03:35.039 --> 00:03:38.000
But I had I had all of the little cake decorating materials, right?
00:03:38.080 --> 00:03:42.000
The fondant that you make, uh, you know, the little cactus sheets for the roses.
00:03:42.159 --> 00:03:44.960
So I fully, fully love meeting somebody else who did that.
00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:47.599
That is so you're a kindred spirit, is what you're saying.
00:03:48.479 --> 00:03:49.280
Exactly.
00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:53.280
I tried all hobbies for about two years, and then I like I go full out.
00:03:53.360 --> 00:03:54.639
Like jewelry making was one of them.
00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:58.639
And then by about the end of two years, I lose interest, and now I have all of this stuff.
00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:01.199
And I'm like, oh, not touching that again.
00:04:01.840 --> 00:04:03.360
I I relate so hard.
00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:11.919
Yeah, books is actually just the one that finally stuck because, like you said, I would get like dive in hard and then I'd burn myself out.
00:04:12.080 --> 00:04:14.000
Yes, and then I'd move to the next one.
00:04:14.159 --> 00:04:17.839
And books is the only one that it it has not, it will not burn out.
00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:19.199
As of now, we're still going.
00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:20.480
So I feel the same way.
00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:22.319
I've been in the bookstagram community.
00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:26.160
I think I'm coming up on close to two years now, so but it has not faded.
00:04:26.319 --> 00:04:27.360
Well, don't go anywhere.
00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:28.079
We like you.
00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:28.639
Don't go.
00:04:28.959 --> 00:04:29.279
Exactly.
00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:31.680
No, I'm I'm working on my debut now as well.
00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:38.000
And so, you know, kind of like you, it was you know, the story that stuck with me that you know just can't seem to leave your head that you kind of fall in love with.
00:04:38.079 --> 00:04:42.720
And so, so now I'm, you know, entering the the fun query trenches and all of that coming up.
00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:44.959
But no, it's congratulations.
00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:46.399
It's been an exciting journey.
00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:49.519
And so it's yeah, I I think like you, this is gonna be the one that sticks for me.
00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:50.079
That's good.
00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:52.240
We like having you here in this community.
00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:53.199
Thank you.
00:04:53.439 --> 00:04:54.000
Absolutely.
00:04:54.160 --> 00:05:01.279
Um, so Courtney, do you feel like having the last name win was a sign for your debut novel's incredible success?
00:05:01.519 --> 00:05:04.560
What has it been like seeing all the amazing responses of the book?
00:05:04.639 --> 00:05:07.680
Um, did it happen overnight or did it build steadily over time?
00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:21.439
It's it's crazy seeing responses because it it's your like a book is almost like your internal thoughts, and being out there in the wild for anyone to to pick up and and read is is really crazy.
00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:23.120
It I don't know how to answer it.
00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:26.399
It was like really fast and really slow at the same time.
00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:31.040
So there's a whole long story to my launch, but I'll I'll save you like the long story.
00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:36.480
I had to publish to Kindle Unlimited like right away because I thought my book was being pirated.
00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:41.759
So I like no no preparation, I just hit publish to Kindle Unlimited.
00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:45.759
And within the time that I hit publish, it was like seven months.
00:05:45.839 --> 00:05:49.759
I I got I got my Harper Voyager deal.
00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:52.879
And and physical copies had still not come out yet.
00:05:53.040 --> 00:05:55.360
And they didn't come out again until another year.
00:05:55.519 --> 00:05:58.560
So like it was slow and fast at the same time.
00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:01.040
Yeah, that's that's such an interesting journey.
00:06:01.439 --> 00:06:01.920
It was wild.
00:06:02.160 --> 00:06:02.319
Wow.
00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:07.519
So so Courtney, it sounds like you self-published first, and then how did you get the Harper Voyager deal?
00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:09.120
Did that you did you have to get an agent?
00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:11.199
Did they come to you because they loved reading the book?
00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:12.000
What was that like?
00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:16.399
That was it, just I have so many gray hairs from this this story this story.
00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:20.319
So long, I'm gonna condense this this long story.
00:06:20.560 --> 00:06:26.720
I had an agent like my post on TikTok and email me, and she's like, I love your manuscript, send it to me.
00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:27.279
So I did.
00:06:27.360 --> 00:06:30.319
I was so excited because I was in the query trenches, you know, and they are rough.
00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:38.959
So I just emailed her and come to find out, I was like, I ended up thinking that she was a fraud because her ex-employer was like, I don't know who that is.
00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:44.079
So that's why I hit publish on Kindle Unlimited, and it just performed really well.
00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:58.240
Like through the months of the summer, there was just really high reader months, and in it was a foreign publisher kind of caught wind of it and emailed me asking for me to send the manuscript in for consideration.
00:06:58.959 --> 00:07:03.040
And I was like, I don't have an agent to help me with this.
00:07:03.279 --> 00:07:08.879
So I sent a couple queries saying, like, hey, I have foreign interests, and and that's how I got my agent.
00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:11.360
And then we took it to Harper Voyager.
00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:20.639
And it's kind of a catch-22 because if I didn't have that high performance on Kindle Unlimited, I don't think I would have got my Harper Voyager deal.
00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:21.519
Does that make sense?
00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:26.000
Like they're like, oh, this is this is doing well, let's let's snag it.
00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:26.560
Yeah.
00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:36.160
I've seen it happen with a lot of indie authors recently where they have, you know, like the one million Kindle pages read, um, and then they start attracting kind of that agent interest.
00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:44.000
Um, you know, and then of course, you know, the the main publishers want to pick it up because it's something that readers have already shown that they're interested in and the authors have an established base.
00:07:44.079 --> 00:07:49.839
Um, I've really seen that part of the market tick up in publishing in a way that it really hasn't in the past few years.
00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:51.439
So that's been exciting to watch.
00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:53.120
Yeah, it's it's been crazy.
00:07:53.199 --> 00:08:00.720
Like I went to a conference and uh it was I was just in the audience and the panel was talking about trad publishing.
00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:07.360
And someone in the audience asked, like, if I'm indie published, do I have any chance of of going trad with that book?
00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:09.439
And all of the panelists said no.
00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:12.959
And I'm like sitting here in the audience, like, I'm not gonna comment.
00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:16.959
But like I feel like this industry is changing so much.
00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:22.800
Like, I yeah, I think indie authors are are paving the way for sure.
00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:36.159
I agree, and you know, a lot of the big major deals and seven-figure deals I've seen have come out of indie authors to the point where we've even talked to some, you know, really well-known traditionally published authors on this show.
00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:40.000
And they're they're basically kind of like, these indie authors are getting better deals than we are.
00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:47.279
And you know, like I think we're gonna see some some changes on what they push for in their contracts going forward based on the standards you all are setting.
00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:51.919
Yeah, well, yeah, because uh the publishers kind of have to like beat what you're making, you know.
00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:59.200
So, like if you're already making X amount from indie publishing, then they have to kind of incentivize, you know, like match it.
00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:06.159
So But if you're just like a debut author that hasn't published anything and they don't have anything to match.
00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:14.399
So yeah, I have like friends that have gone both routes and the the indies have been getting, I mean, every situation's different, but I've noticed like what you said.
00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:15.519
It's really awesome.
00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:22.480
So also, we're so excited to be teaming up with the Moonlight Book Box for a special edition of Vesilis giveaway.
00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:24.399
We'll share more details on that soon.
00:09:24.559 --> 00:09:29.759
But since we're on the topic of special editions, you've actually worked with quite a few companies recently.
00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:32.000
How do those deals usually happen?
00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:34.960
Do you reach out to them or are they pitching to you?
00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:36.960
Or, you know, how has that kind of come about?
00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:40.879
Yeah, so like with Moonlight, which I love Moonlight.
00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:41.440
Same.
00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:42.559
Yeah.
00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:44.559
I love all of them.
00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:47.440
Like I've I've messaged and worked with all of them.
00:09:47.519 --> 00:09:48.399
They're all amazing.
00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:55.600
But Moonlight was extra special because I they accepted me before I got my trad deal.
00:09:55.759 --> 00:10:01.039
They were the first book box to like pick me up and and say, like, let's do this.
00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:07.919
And they had they were like one of the last to actually release their editions, just because that's how the timing worked and everything.
00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:12.480
But other than Moonlight, all of the other book boxes go through my publisher.
00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:22.240
And so I believe, don't quote me on this, I believe my publisher pitches it to the book box companies, and then if they're interested, then they they sign a contract.
00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:25.759
So now I'd I just say, okay, tell me where we're going.
00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:29.200
Do you have all of the editions that get published?
00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:30.159
All the different ones?
00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:30.799
Yes.
00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:33.519
I have one indie copy left.
00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:41.759
Like they cleared me out of my indie copies, and now I all I have is the hardback indie copy that was, you know, Ingram Spark spark.
00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:45.279
So like indie authors will publish on in uh Ingram.
00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:52.159
And this, the edition that I have is the the proof of what I was going to publish indie.
00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:55.919
So there's only one, one of those, and that's the only one I have left.
00:10:57.519 --> 00:10:58.879
That is amazing.
00:10:59.120 --> 00:10:59.440
Wow.
00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:02.240
No, and the moonlight edition is gorgeous.
00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:03.200
Oh my goodness.
00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:07.919
We we are so lucky to be teaming up with the gosh, I mean it's stunning.
00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:17.600
I mean, I love I love the moonlight edition, but even I did not anticipate the like level of feral that people have gone over this edition.
00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:22.399
Like people are texting me like saying that they want that cover tattooed on them.
00:11:23.679 --> 00:11:27.200
Like multiple people, and I'm like, Well, yeah, it's gorgeous.
00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:39.360
I mean, I wouldn't I wouldn't say no to a tattoo like that either, but and it's by far like so for my launch of Merciless, and if I'm talking too much, you guys can tell me to shut up.
00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:49.360
Now you're for my launch of Merciless, I reached out to the book boxes and asked them if they had any like extra copies that I could do giveaways with.
00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:53.440
And every one of them sent me like you know five to eight copies of the editions.
00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:56.799
Moonlight was like, we have none, none left.
00:11:56.960 --> 00:12:04.320
So like I only have I have two extra moonlight editions aside from the one that I'm keeping, and that's that's all I have left.
00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:05.279
That is amazing.
00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:13.039
We we've been so lucky to get a copy for the giveaway as well, because I mean those those things on resale are insane.
00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:21.039
Someone someone sent like told me that because I had no idea, and I was I was floored.
00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:26.879
And it's it definitely has everything to do with Helena because her art is just gorgeous.
00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:29.360
So kudos to her, she's amazing.
00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:31.759
Yeah, I I saw it online first.
00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:36.960
I I still like to be surprised what what box is going to come, like, what is it gonna be when I open it?
00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:39.360
And so sometimes I'll see it from everyone else.
00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:43.519
All the other books to grammers are posting what they've gotten, and I'm like, wow, did I get that book?
00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:44.399
Is it on my way?
00:12:44.639 --> 00:12:45.600
Is it coming to me too?
00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:49.840
It's like immediately got it the next day, and I opened it and I was like, I got it, I have it.
00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:51.440
False alarm, we're good.
00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:54.879
And it's right there, right there in your background, Teresa.
00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:57.440
Yeah, it's so pretty.
00:12:57.600 --> 00:12:59.679
Well, your whole shelf is gorgeous.
00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:02.559
It's it's a problem, but a really good problem.
00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:05.519
But yes, I like that problem.
00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:07.039
I can get behind that problem.
00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:11.279
We do have um some aspiring authors who listen in on the show.
00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:18.879
And I'm so curious, right, looking back at everything that's happened to you and your journey, do you have any advice for them or things you might do differently or tell them to do?
00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:20.320
Okay, a lot.
00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:22.639
Uh the biggest one is consistency.
00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:31.440
Like, like if you really want to make this career path work, you have to be looking at your manuscript every single day.
00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:44.480
Even if it's just 15 minutes a day, you open the manuscript and you put your eyeballs on it because yeah, it's a ton of a ton of drops in the bucket to make the bucket full, if that makes sense, to get a finished manuscript.
00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:47.120
And the other one is like you will have so much doubt.
00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:55.919
You have to be like your number one biggest believer and supporter, otherwise you're you're flattening your tires before you even go on your journeys.
00:13:56.080 --> 00:14:02.559
And and the last one is you have to become comfortable with being uncomfortable all the time.
00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:04.879
So, like at first, it was writing.
00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:13.360
Uh, I joined a writer's group back in 2019, and we would do swaps, you know, like to help critique each other's work.
00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:18.399
And getting that feedback for the first time in my life ever was so hard.
00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:21.519
Like saying this doesn't work and I don't understand this.
00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:25.759
And you know, they're picking apart like your manuscript, and that was uncomfortable.
00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:35.120
And then it went into like reading uh craft books on the writing craft, like and just researching, and that was kind of uncomfortable.
00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:37.519
Like the query trenches were uncomfortable.
00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:47.039
Social media marketing was uncomfortable, and then now, like writing a second book in a series, which I've never done before now, that was its own, its own challenge.
00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:53.440
So it's just like a constant growth, and you have to just be ready to tackle that that next challenge each time it comes.
00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:53.919
Yes.
00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:56.559
No, I I fully agree with everything that you said.
00:14:56.720 --> 00:15:02.399
Um, you know, we've had some authors on the show who have visually said, you know, we asked them, you know, what do you attribute your success to?
00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:03.759
And they're like, I was delusional.
00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:08.000
And I would not have done it without that level of delusion that I could now that I know how hard it is.
00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:15.919
And so I just love that you said, right, that being your own biggest supporter is a thousand percent what you have to be in order to succeed in this industry.
00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:17.600
Because I I think that's a thousand percent right.
00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:25.519
There um, yeah, I like started so when I started writing like seriously, I was a full-time student, I was still doing wedding cakes.
00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:28.240
I also was a full-time mom with like a newborn.
00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:37.440
So, like, in order to have time to write, I have I had to start waking up at four in the morning and writing until you know my littles woke up.
00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:42.320
And a lot of the times I was writing as I was rocking my my son on my phone.
00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:45.759
So it's like if it's important to you, yeah, you have to be delusional.
00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:49.679
Otherwise, I don't know what else I would have done if I was delusional.
00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:50.720
And I agree, right?
00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:55.120
It's it's so hard to hear that feedback on your manuscript because it's almost like another baby, right?
00:15:55.200 --> 00:16:00.159
Like you've poured so much of yourself into it, and then right, you think it's perfect and you get that feedback.
00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:12.159
And I will tell you, the the first time I got feedback from an editor on my draft, it it knocked me down a bit because I realized how much I had to change, and I was so grateful for that feedback because it made the manuscript better.
00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:19.039
But at the same time, I'm like, oh my gosh, I thought I was at the end of this journey, and then here's this whole other Mount Everest that I have to go climb again.
00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:24.399
Yeah, well, and like you never know everything, like it is a continual growth.
00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:29.840
There's no rider that is at the peak that knows the craft like to the to the ultimate amount.
00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:33.919
There's always room for growth, no matter who you are as an author.
00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:34.720
Absolutely.
00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:37.440
Wow, this has been so, so exciting.
00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:40.000
Teresa, I I want to talk about Vasilis.
00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:40.799
So are you ready?
00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:41.600
I'm ready.
00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:42.799
I go for it.
00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:47.200
So for listeners just discovering Vessilis, can you give us the elevator pitch?
00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:48.559
Yes, spicy Casper.
00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:49.840
The best, the best.
00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:52.879
As soon as I saw that on TikTok, I was like, wait, say less.
00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:53.759
I'm intrigued.
00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:57.360
Like, like that moment when the girl is like, Can I keep you?
00:16:57.440 --> 00:16:59.919
You know, and he's that that's Vessilis.
00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:01.200
Oh my gosh.
00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:02.960
There's no better way to sum up that point.
00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:04.079
Oh my gosh.
00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:08.559
Okay, Courtney, give us a little bit more for our listeners who are like, oh yeah, I'm interested in this.
00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:10.079
What am I signing up for now?
00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:10.880
Okay, okay.
00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:22.319
So uh our main character Nazara, she's heiress to the throne that her father like usurped, usurped, killed the king, took his throne, and now she's heiress to that that throne.
00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:25.119
And she can see and hear spirits.
00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:30.400
The magic system is like you bond with a spirit, and then together you have magic.
00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:37.680
And so when this dark spirit comes around, she can hear it, hear him and and see the kind of his outline.
00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:48.480
And little does she know that he is the king that her father killed, and he is there to steal her soul in exchange for his freedom from the underworld and he too.
00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:50.799
Yeah, this is the best of my power.
00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:52.559
So good.
00:17:52.880 --> 00:17:55.119
How did you come up with the concept for this series?
00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:58.559
So I am I am like a I'm mostly a panther.
00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:08.799
So I'll get like into a manuscript and like an idea will strike like strike me, and I'll rewrite the whole manuscript, and I just keep doing that until like I wove in my my story.
00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:14.640
Um but what what first sparked like the the first idea of it was Serpent and Dove.
00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:18.000
It's like a witchy, enemies to lovers, there's magic.
00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:31.839
That was the first book I read, and I was like, I want to do something with magic that's fantasy, enemies to lovers, and then and then like I was you know how in Fourth Wing, like you bond a dragon and that's where your power comes from.
00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:36.880
I was like, what if the creature that you bonded with was the love interest?
00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:48.480
And so then I was trying to think through different creatures, and I landed on ghost because zombies were a little more morbid, and I wanted to do something different, so we went with ghosts.
00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:49.359
That is so cool.
00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:51.759
I can tell you zombies are definitely a bit morbid.
00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:56.319
I played a zombie in The Walking Dead, so I you know, as a self-proclaimed zombie or here, yes.
00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:59.839
I mean, I feel like an author could do it and make it good.
00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:01.279
Like I'm sure it's possible.
00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:04.079
I feel like wasn't confident enough.
00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:07.759
No, and and ghosts are so original here.
00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:09.599
Um, you know, because in fantasy, right?
00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:11.279
Like use that right, it's dragons, right?
00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:13.359
It's usually creatures that we're bonding to.
00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:16.240
Ghost was a new one for me whenever I was reading your book.
00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:18.000
And I was like, this is this is different.
00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:21.200
This is setting itself apart in the fantasy romantic genre.
00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:22.960
So kudos to you on your comment.
00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:23.920
Thank you.
00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:28.400
I think that's the number one comment I get is like, this was so different.
00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:29.599
And I'm like, thank you.
00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:32.000
In a good way, definitely in a good way.
00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:33.039
Oh my goodness.
00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:40.720
I was so curious, is there was there like a specific scene or character or moment that you enjoyed writing the most for Vessalus?
00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:46.720
Ending to ending like I so I I I planned the whole series based on that one scene.
00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:48.720
So that was the only scene that really didn't change.
00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:56.079
I wanted well, I don't want to spoil it, but that sacrifice was the the one piece that I needed to be in the book.
00:19:56.240 --> 00:20:00.720
So wow, that's so cool to craft an entire book kind of around one scene.
00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:11.119
I I've I'm similar, but in that like I know what the very end scene is for my trilogy, and so you know, I'm kind of working backwards from that, but to have that, you know, craft your whole first book around is so powerful.
00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:11.680
Thanks.
00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.400
I I agree.
00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:15.039
Um, I know Brandon Sanderson does the same thing.
00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:25.599
I've listened to his podcast, and he he says that most most of the time he's panther, but he always knows where the story will end and where it's going, is what he's said in the past.
00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:32.720
So and I find it helpful because if I if I try to plot, it's so dry and so flat.
00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:36.319
Like and it wastes a lot of time, honestly.
00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:44.079
So I'm a huge plotter, and I I've plotted this book 20 different times, and every time it keeps changing because a character will do something they're not supposed to do.
00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:45.279
And I'm like, well, thank you.
00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:50.319
Now I have to go change this entire outline, or a new character will come, and I'm like, you're not even in this book.
00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:53.839
Here goes the outline that I have spent months and months crafting.
00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:56.720
So I am see the way of the dancer here.
00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:59.119
Well, yeah, I will I agree.
00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:01.359
Like my best ideas come like as I'm writing.
00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:07.759
Like, if so, I know you might not have read Merciless yet because it's still it's not out yet, but it's a in net galley.
00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:15.039
But so the skeeves that are in book one, I like I didn't the plot line for the skeeves in book two.
00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:16.880
You'll get there and you'll be like, oh, okay.
00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:19.039
That came like right in the first scene.
00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:20.160
I had like an idea.
00:21:20.319 --> 00:21:25.039
I would not have found that idea if I wouldn't have been panting my my heart out.
00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:25.920
That is so cool.
00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:28.079
No, I'm dying to read Merciless.
00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:29.200
Oh my goodness.
00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:31.119
I hope you like it.
00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:34.400
I know I will, but just with how vessel is ended.
00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:36.079
Oh my gosh, I've been like tearing my hair out.
00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:37.440
You talk about gray hairs, right?
00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:38.559
I'm losing my hair over this book.
00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:40.240
Well, do you have a net galley account?
00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:41.119
I do, I do.
00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:42.079
You can read it.
00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:43.519
I think I'm gonna have to.
00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:46.000
I'm just gonna have to go in and put put in for it.
00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:48.960
Okay, let me let me know your comments as you go.
00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:53.680
So tell us a little bit about Dagan.
00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:57.839
You know, since his uh condition, does it affect his life stage?
00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:59.680
Would you, you know, define their role?
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.519
romance as an age gap.
00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:04.400
What can readers kind of expect from this romantic art?
00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:07.599
I don't I don't know if I would consider it an age gap.
00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:16.160
Like because he so he died ten years ago, but he died only six he's six years older than Nazara, seven.
00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:17.279
Six, no six.
00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:23.680
And uh so I guess there's that age gap, but technically he lived 10 years before when the book is set.
00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:25.839
Like is is playing, is going.
00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:28.880
So yeah uh his I don't know would you consider it an age gap?
00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:31.519
I mean I definitely don't think it would be a significant age gap.
00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:36.640
It's not like a 500 year age gap you know and even then we're fine with that.
00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:42.240
Well it's funny because I'm like 500 years that's not an age gap.
00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:49.359
But if it's a like contemporary romance and there's a 20 or 30 year age gap I'm like that is an age gap.
00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:49.519
Yeah.
00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:55.279
You know six years does not seem yeah no no plus once you're dead right time time kind of stops.
00:22:55.359 --> 00:22:58.480
So I feel I feel like I feel like we're very closely matched here.
00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:08.559
Well in in the the way I've written it is like he he stops like you when you die your your spirit is stuck with the same desires that you died with.
00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:12.799
So like everything that he is is exactly from when he he died.
00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:16.160
So I don't know six year age yeah I'll say that I love it.
00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:16.799
Oh my gosh.
00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:28.559
Okay what can you tease us about book two for those of our listeners who have read Vassilis um and if you haven't read Vassilis yet you might want to skip this question but kind of what can you tease us about where we're going next in book two?
00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:29.119
Okay.
00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:35.440
I don't know give me like a direction what like what are you feeling like what kind of teaser are you thinking?
00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:41.440
Anything that you want to you know kind of where where are our stories picking up you know is there a time jump?
00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:52.240
Are we diving right back in where we've left off what what new stakes might there be for our characters or new kind of journeys or emotional you know traumas that they're gonna go on.
00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:52.799
Okay.
00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:57.200
So yeah it picks up right from the second we leave off in Vesilis.
00:23:57.359 --> 00:24:04.400
I was tagged in a in a reviewer and she said it was one of the most seamless transitions from book one to book two she's seen.
00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:08.160
So hopefully if you guys like that then then that's what you're in for.
00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:11.759
Um it is a lot darker than than Vesilis.
00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:18.799
Everyone that I know that has read it and has come and talked to me about it after bald crack.
00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:20.880
We're gonna get the teaching ready.
00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:26.640
Mm-hmm yes then there was another thing I was oh the whole book is a plot twist.
00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:39.200
Oh okay like you'll have to go look at my reposts there is a girl who uh reviewed it recently she's she's like I've read a lot of books I thought I know where this was going I did not know where this was going.
00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:42.240
So that's what she said and I was giggling so hard.
00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:46.799
And she's just she's the sweetest so yeah there you go there's my teasers.
00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:52.400
Do you do you feel like these reactions to you got a little sneak peek you know um is it what you expected?
00:24:52.559 --> 00:25:23.759
I was so nervous after you read it you'll know exactly why I was so nervous so you'll have to let me know what you think because yes I'll leave it at that we will definitely we will definitely be DMing you Courtney as we read this it's gonna be great can you tease us anything about what you're working on next now that book two will be coming out soon not yet well at least at least we know you might be working on something so but I'm always working on something I'm always working on something.
00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:24.559
I love it.
00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:27.359
All right Teresa I'm gonna let you lead us through the rapid fire.
00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:47.279
Sure sure okay so rapid fire questions if you got a quote from this book as a tattoo what would you choose from Vesalist fix your face there we go I'll put fix your face someone got a fix your face tattoo I love that it was like one of those awkward moments where I'm like what okay do you believe in ghosts?
00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:49.920
I try not to they scare me I respect that answer.
00:25:50.079 --> 00:25:55.119
Okay everyone is praising the banter in this book how good are you at banter in real life?
00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:59.119
Not good because it takes me 30 minutes to be like that's what I should have said.
00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:00.960
That is what I should have said.
00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:11.279
But if I have time yeah if I have time and there and I'm behind a keyboard or a text message I can I can banter but not in real life in real person.
00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:11.839
Okay.
00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:21.119
What's your favorite book andor movie that has a ghost or spirit in it ghost the movie ghost you know where yeah that's a really good movie.
00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:24.079
That one that one was was I liked that one.
00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:25.039
That is awesome.
00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:32.319
Oh my gosh Courtney this has been so much fun um we have just had a blast talking to you about Vesselus and Merciless.
00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:51.440
Can't wait to read book two can't wait to see all the sneaky things that you're up to behind the scenes when they get announced that will be exciting and our listeners as we teased we are going to be doing a giveaway with Moonlight Book Box for our favorite special edition of Vessel is so keep an eye out on the Mythic Mike social media accounts for that.
00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:59.839
You're not gonna want to miss it as we've discussed that book is so hard to get so keep an eye out and Courtney just again thank you for coming on the show.
00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:01.039
Thank you for having me.
00:27:01.119 --> 00:27:02.640
It's been awesome talking to you guys.
00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:09.279
It has been so much fun to all of our listeners out there thank you for tuning in today we hope to see you at our next episode.
00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:17.839
Bye everyone That's it for this chapter of the Mythic Mike podcast but the adventure doesn't end here.
00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:25.759
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00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:26.799
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