Interview with Brenda
Pandos
What would you be doing right now if you were not an author?
If
I wasn’t an author, I’d most likely be working in some managerial capacity as a
Computer Information Systems Analyst for the State of California, which is what
I was doing prior to writing. I’d needed to quit in order to take care of my
son with special needs, and shortly thereafter my writing career took off.
5
years ago: what were you doing?
Five
years ago, I’d published my first book in March and was gearing up for my
second release of, The Sapphire Talisman, in December. This was the original
cover of my first book. I had a 1-year-old and a child in therapy 40-hrs a
week, and I ate way too many cookies.
Do
you have a certain writing ritual?
In
order for me to start writing, I have to have something to drink in front of
me, preferably wine ice tea or passion tea, and then some lip balm, and
my outline book map (we don’t say that ugly word, ‘cause my inner rebel
doesn’t like to be reined in).
What
has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author?
My
toughest criticism in the beginning was “mean girl” reviews. I don’t mind
constructive criticism because I’m always looking to grow in my writing. It’s
the, “I’m glad this was free,” “I want the last 4-hours of my life back,” “simply
awful,” “everyone else who gushed over this book is an idiot,” rants. A reader
once wrote a 4K+ word review (with typos mind you) that included homemade
meme’s making fun of my story. I had to realize that unhappy trolls are
everywhere, and their need to feel better about themselves stretches far and
wide, including author’s work that I love. So I read said author’s bad reviews,
laugh at how ridiculous they are, and it makes it all better, because in the
end, I love my characters and so do my fans. And they’re the ones who matter.
#booknerdsrock
Ever
fangirled over another author? Who was it?
Absolutely!
My “fangirling” is clamping my mouth shut and staring awkwardly, for the most
part, while I nudge my friend and say, “Is that…?” I’ve totally fangirled Jennifer
Armentrout, Abbi Glines, Rachelle Mead, Veronica Roth, Jacinda Wilder, Hugh
Howey, Denise Grover Swank, Maggie Stiefvater, Nancy Holder (Buffy the Vampire
Slayer writer)… the list goes on. It’s fun to get all verklempt, act like a
nerd, then realize they’re real people, too, and hopefully relax.
Is
there an author you'd like to meet?
I
would love to meet Stephenie Meyer as Twilight was the catalyst that inspired me
to write The Emerald Talisman, which has changed my life.
Biggest
writing pet peeve?
My
biggest writing peeve is when I get my book in print, and I find a mistake.
Ugh! It always feels like my book is truly ever finished.
Do
you read other's reviews of your books?
Yes,
I do. When a book releases, reviews help me gauge if I’m resonating with my
fans, and I love seeing my work through another person’s eyes… well, not the
mean girl ones, but we’ve already been there. (I digress)
Thanks
for taking the time to learn about me! And when it’s time to vote, don’t send
#teamvampire off the island. Oh, wait… you’re relic hunting. Did I mention I
was blonde?
After narrowly escaping annihilation, eighteen-year-old Julia
Parker and her vampire friends are on the hunt for their next big thrill.
When a blood-penned riddle triggers Julia's thirst, the vamps fear they're being lured into a trap. And when the note's 'ink' drives Julia into a rage/frenzy, her friends are left with no choice but to destroy it.
Though Julia returns to her normal self, the threat isn’t over. The letter warns that a sacrifice is required in order for them to keep their immortality. As each minute passes, the group starts becoming weaker. Unsure how to satisfy the letter’s author, they go to New Orleans anyway, but this is no ordinary trip. Evil lurks in the shadows, feeding off Julia's bloodlust and preparing to stake her and her friends at the first opportunity. And with the moon coming into position, they’re running out of time. If outside forces don't bring the coven down, Julia herself may be their undoing. Because fulfilling the riddle will cost Julia one of two things: a treasure she holds dear or her own immortal life.
Failure is not an option.
November 9, 2015
THE VAMPIRE, Supernatural Chronicles
She avoids cooking and housework by writing
fast-paced stories about kissing, hot mermen, bad boy vampires, and
occasionally zombies--not all in the same stories... #issues. When she's not
writing, or wrangling her kids, she's sleeping... or making up crazy #hashtags,
failing at her latest Pinterest replication #lamechef or delivering a really
bad pun.
More than anything she loves to hear from
readers. Feel free to email brendapandos@gmail.com or write on her facebook
wall.
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