Please let us a bit about yourself and your book.
I’m a 31 year old wife and mother. I am a nurse two days a week, and although I like nursing it was never my dream to be one. Writing has always been a passion and something that came easily for me. Blood Rites Book 2 in the Grey Wolves Series. It is the continuation and conclusion of Fane and Jacque’s story. In Blood Rites readers will also get a chance to get to know other characters better and to see other possible romances evolving.
Why did you choose to write in the YA genre?
It’s the genre I enjoy the most to read. I am still very young at heart and much to my husband’s chagrin act like a 17 year old girl. Seriously though it’s such a fun genre to be a part of and so exciting. There are so many possibilities when you are 17, the world is huge and your whole life is a head of you. I think it’s on e of the most exciting genres to write about!
What have you learned about writing an YA book? How do you identify with your readers?
I’ve learned that it is easier said than done! I’m learning that with YA books there is a balance and a fine line between the adult world and the YA world. You don’t want to write something so basic and “innocent” that it’s unrealistic or belittling but at the same time as an adult I have to remember that YA’s see the world differently than adults do. I think that’s a great thing. As adults we become jaded and see the glass as half empty more often than not. I think I identify with my readers by writing about things that actually happened to me…although I will never fess up to what parts of my books are true, sorry lol, I remember what it was like to be 17 and 18. I’m blessed enough to be married to a man that I am madly in love with after 12 years and so writing about being in love, deeply in love isn’t hard for me because I have that. I remember the first time I laid eyes on my husband and I remember how I felt. I use those emotions when I write. I think if I’m true to those emotions then readers will be able to feel what it is I’m trying to convey.
Who was your favorite character to write?
My favorite character has been Jen. What can I say, she is a character. Jen is the friend that every body loves and yet wants to duck tape her mouth closed most of the time. She is fiercely loyal, brutally honest and deep down very vulnerable.
Who was the most difficult?
In Blood Rites Jacque was the most difficult because as the heroine/damsel in distress it’s so easy to make the female lead either to wimpy or too butch. You want a heroine who is strong but vulnerable, out spoken but doesn’t come across as _itchy, and you don’t want her so weak that she isn’t redeemable. Jacque was a challenge because I wanted people to see her strength but also know that everyone has a limit as to what they can take and at some point in life everyone needs to be rescued.
Was there anything edited out that you really miss?
I can actually say that everything in Blood Rites is from the original version. Words may have been tweaked here or there but there was no major cutting.
Blood Rites
By Quinn Loftis
Genre: Paranormal YA
Quinn is a 31 year old wife, mother, nurse, and writer, not necessarily in that order. She lives in beautiful North West Arkansas with her husband, son and Nora their Doberman pinscher. She loves writing, reading, and crocheting. Her favorite holiday is Christmas, favorite book(s) is Pride and Prejudice, The Alpha and Omega Series by Patricia Briggs, and the Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling. She loves to be silly and have fun, loves music and thinks there is no greater sound than the sound in the world than that of her little boy’s laughter.
www.quinnloftisbooks.com
@quinnloftis (twitter)