Melissa Sercia interview

Melissa Sercia interview 

Q1. Tell us about yourself. What are your favorite books to read?

A. Hi, my name is Melissa Sercia and I’m a fantasy author. My latest series is a dark, urban fantasy called Blood and Darkness, published by City Owl Press. When I’m not writing, I’m thinking about writing or reading. My book collection is extensive and my TBR list is out of control. My oldest and most cherished books are Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. I read it when I was 16 years old, and it made me want to become a writer. Currently, I’m enjoying reading Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin and The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer.

Q2. Where did the inspiration to write come from? 

A. 

The inspiration to write stems from a love of storytelling, a fascination with escapism and daydreams, and the quest for immortality. Stories live forever. They move and inspire people. I’ve always wanted to transport readers to fantastic and magical places through my stories, just as many authors have done for me.

Q3. How did you come up with the titles of your books? 

A. Coming up with book titles can be tricky. Sometimes they come to me right away, and other times I have to really brainstorm to find what works. With my first book, Blood and Magic, it was easy. One of the main pieces of the plot is literally about blood magic. I try to come up with titles that encapsulate the story and also intrigue the reader.

Q4. Anything you're currently working in 2019? 

A. I have a lot I’m working on in 2019! I just finished writing the first book of a Blood and Darkness spinoff series. Book 1 is called Smoke and Ritual. It takes place ten years after the events of my first series, and it focuses mostly on magic and witches. It will be at least three books, so I have my work cut out for me this year. I plan to write two more books for this series. I’m also working on a stand-alone YA fantasy book that I have been plotting for over a year. It is a very different type of fantasy tale for me so I’m really excited to delve into it!

Q5. How long have you been writing? 

A. I have been writing my whole life. I started writing poetry when I was just nine years old. Through the years, I’ve written songs, writing-related blog posts, and even a short screenplay. My passion for writing has always been there, but it was only until about six years ago that I really started to pursue writing as a career. I became a published author in September of 2017 and it has literally changed my life. Now I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Q6. What advice would you like to give to other authors?

A. 

The best advice I can give to other authors is to learn your craft and to write constantly. When I was first writing Blood and Magic, I had no idea what I was doing from a technical standpoint. I poured through every writing article and book I could find. I joined writer groups online and found free writing workshops through various bloggers in the writing community. I also highly recommend the Master Class. The Neil Gaiman class is amazing for fantasy writing. But as I said, you also have to write. I don’t buy into the whole idea that you have to write every day because the truth is, not everyone can. We have jobs, families, outside obligations, etc.… So don’t be hard on yourself if you can’t write every day. However, in order to be a writer, you do need to write. Another piece of advice that I always found helpful was just writing the damn thing. Don’t worry about how messy that first draft is. First drafts are supposed to be messy. You can always edit and revise it. You can’t edit a blank page. And lastly, just be true to yourself. Tell the story you want to tell and don’t worry about market trends. The trends are always changing anyway. 

Q7. Where can we connect with you online?

A. 

I’m very active on social media and have several places where you can connect with me. I love meeting readers and authors, so please don’t hesitate to check out my pages and say hi! 

https://facebook.com/melissasercia11

https://twitter.com/fluidghost

https://instagram.com/melissaserciawrites

https://melissasercia.com

Q8. Do you plan on writing any more books in the future? 

A. I absolutely plan on writing more books. As I mentioned before, I have a new spinoff series and a stand-alone book I’m working on this year. I also have a very long list of story ideas that I plan to develop in the coming years. When I finish writing a book, I immediately start writing another one. I hope to build a very long career with lots of titles for everyone to enjoy.

Q9.How many books have you written?

A.  In total so far, I have written 4 books. 

Q10.Did you go to college to be a writer?

A. I did not go to college to become a writer. Although, I do take classes at my local community college from time to time. I don’t think it is necessary to have a degree unless that is important to you. There are so many other avenues out there to study the craft of writing. However, I really enjoy school so when I have the time, I do take classes that interest me. For me, being a well-rounded writer means educating myself on many topics, not just literature. I study philosophy, politics, and psychology. I find that these subjects inspire stories and can even help with character development. 

Thank you so much for having me on your blog today, Angelika!