Nicole Kauffman-Eglinger American Author born in 1972 in Steubenville, Ohio. When I was seven moved with my family to Florida where I currently reside with my husband of 24 years. Have 4 grown sons and 3 cats. A published author loves reading and writing. Won Best Poems & Poet of 2012 and 2013. Was published in 3 compilations put out by Noble House.

Author Interview

What question do you wish that someone would ask about your book(s), but nobody has? Write it out here, and then answer it.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer and why? I knew I wanted to be when I was in about fourth grade. I wanted to be a writer because I have stories to tell and love to share them with the world.

What is your writing process? Do you follow a regular routine or do you have any weird, funny, or unusual habits while writing and what are they?

I turn on Native American flutes/ Zen type music. It allows my mind to open and relax which helps me to write.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?

Yes, sometimes what I have to do is walk away from my laptop and do something and come back after a while maybe even the next day and start writing again.

What is the single most important piece of advice for aspiring authors?

Never give up writing even if someone says you shouldn’t or even after a bad review.

What are your current/future projects?

Currently working on Book Three of my Popstar Lover Series. Also working on a new historical romance novel (The Storm Through The Highlands).

Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre? If you write more than one, how do you balance them?

The genre I choose to write is erotic romance. I like writing because my romance novels don’t exactly fit into the innocent category.

What do you think is the future for independent authors and do you think it will continue to be easy for anyone to be a published author?

I think the future for indie authors is in it’s golden era of sorts. I think it’s fantastic because think of all the amazing stories that don’t fit per say in the perfect box agents or publishers wants.

Are you traditional or self-published, and what process did you go through to get your book published?

Actually, I have been published before traditionally. I rather be self published you actually make more money being self published. The process for self is pretty easy mostly you can upload your writing into a program and they distribute it to the retailers.

Have you ever changed a title, book cover, or even the content of your book after it was published? What was that process like?

No, I have not done any of the above.

What opportunities have being an author presented you with and share those memories? (i.e. travel, friends, events, speaking, etc..)

The kindness of my fellow authors. Many of them are willing to help you with reviews and also retweets. I have met the most incredible people and fellow authors becoming a self- published author. I would love to go to events and or speaking engagements. I’m available if anyone needs me!!

What are your marketing, advertising, promotion strategies and which one(s) have worked the best for you? If you had to share your most valuable promotion tip, what would that be?

The best promotions I have used was Mary Sage Nguyen’s media package she does promoting Authors very professional and her creativity is amazing. You can find her on www.fiverr.com along with many other creative people that does promotions and also book reviews, book trailers at very cheap prices you can find everything you need their.

If you are a self-published author, which platform do you prefer? (Amazon, Smashwords, Lulu, Author House, or something not mentioned), and why?

I think out of all platforms that are the easiest to use is amazon and createspace also nook press is extremely easy to use that are free. Also draft to digital is easy. Book baby actually charges for their service.

What do you do if inspiration strikes in an inconvenient place like (car, restaurant, bathroom/shower, etc..) and how do you capture that moment before it gets away from you?

Actually what I do if that happens is either use your recorder on most smartphones or write down the ideals on note taker app like scribbler!! I know a singer that actually calls himself and leave a message on their voicemail. Your smartphone can be an amazing tool if used properly.

Do you have a target amount of words/pages for each of your books or do you just know when enough is enough?

No, I don’t have an exact amount of words or pages. I stop writing when the story stops.

How do you think you have evolved as a person/author because of your writing and do you believe your writing has helped others, how/why?

I actually have become more confident as a writer and have definitely learned a lot about the writing process. I hope my writing has made people happy if only for a minute or two after the story ends.

How much influence do you believe a title, cover, content, page numbers have in purchasing decisions of potential buyers/readers?

I believe the most important thing is your cover design and your title. Most people judges a book by it’s cover.

Do you believe there is value in a Press Release, have you used any press release service, and what have your experiences been?

No I have not but plan to in the future.

Do you believe there is value in a review? Do you believe they are under rated, over rated, or don’t matter at all?

Yes, I believe reviews are extremely important.

What are your thoughts on authors doing review swaps, paying for reviews, or reviews that just don’t seem right for the book?

I think you should definitely do author swaps there is a great facebook page Books Go Social Review Page. I think there is nothing wrong with paying for reviews.

Do you believe there are competitors or general readers out to sabotage authors with bad reviews and what are your experiences with this?

I have only gotten one review that wasn’t very good. I believe this certain person review was in many ways petty.

Have you ever had an interesting, funny, or even bad experience during a live interview, reading, event, or autograph session?

Would love to do a live events would be a high note in my career.

What is your biggest fear about having a book published?

The fear that people wouldn’t like my stories. But I have been very lucky so far.

If you have multiple books published what do you feel is your greatest work, why?

I think my best work is Changing Lives Talent Agency Series #1. I totally love my main character love her spunkiness and how cheeky she can be.

What is the intended audience for you book?

My intended audience is adults age.

Give us a fun fact about your book(s)?

My male character is fashioned after a favorite Aussie singer I love.

If you had the chance to get one message out there to reach readers all over the world, what would that message be?

Don’t be afraid to fall in love hard and fast. Please read my books I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

What makes a good story, why?

Looks of twist and turns, to keep your readers guessing don’t let them figure out your story before your ready for them.

Do you read your reviews? Do you respond to them, good or bad? Do you have any advice on how to deal with the bad?

Yes, I love reading reviews and yes I do try to respond to good or bad ones. Don’t let bad reviews get you down learn from them and turn them into an advantage for you.

What is the easiest/hardest scene for you to write, why? (Love, action, fight, death, racy, controversial, etc…)

Actually, emotional scenes are the hardest for me to write I find it very draining. For me the easiest is sex scenes not a shy person.

What would you like to write about that you have never written about before?

I would love to write a children’s book for my first grandchild that will be born in September 2016.

Have you ever had a book idea or characters come to you in a dream? What did you do about it afterwards?

Oh yes all the time, most of the time it wakes me up and in order to sleep I have to wake up and write it down to get it out of my mind.

Do you have any characters you would like to introduce in other books or a combination of characters from multiple books you would like to write about in one book?

Not at this time maybe later.

Were your characters based off real life people/events or did you make it all up?

Some I made up and other I fashioned it after real life people.

What are the most important elements of good writing? According to you, what tools are must-haves for writers?

Most important tool is to have believable characters and most important is original characters.

What book(s), author(s), or significant life event(s) have had a positive or negative influence in your life that inspired you to begin writing?

Actually, growing up my family wasn’t the richest and I kept to myself which started me on writing stories basically to entertain myself. Books were always my favorite pastime.

What are your thoughts about eBooks vs. print books?

I think ebooks are more accessible with all the modern technology we have. Print books are my favorite but as a self-published author it’s more expensive.

Do you view writing as a career, labor of love, hobby, creative outlet, therapy, or something else?

Actually my writing for me are all of the above for me.

Were there any challenges (research, literary, psychological, or logistical) in bringing your book to life?

Actually, research is the hardest part of writing for me.

Do you proofread/edit your own books or do you send them off to an editor? If you send them off to an editor, who/what have you had the best experience with?

Yes, I proofread/edit my books myself.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of self or traditional publishing?

The advantages to being self-published is you make more money. Also I believe you have more access to more stories.

Traditional is very difficult to break into the mainstream and you make less money.

Do you have a subject/genre you would never write about, why?

Non-fiction really not that interested in that genre. I like making up stories from my own imagination.

What motivates you to write and where does your inspiration come from?

My inspiration can come from anywhere a piece of music an idea that pops in my head. Or actually just sitting in my local coffee shop just soaking up the energy around me or how a wave crashes against the seashore.

What makes your book stand out from the crowd?

I think what makes my book stand out in a crowd is originality.

Do you design your own cover? If not who does, why?

No, I purchase covers from a site that pre-makes them.

What is your most/least favorite part of the writing process, why?

Promoting is the most favorite of the process, I was never trained in promotion work. Most of my time is spent on promoting.