Starla Huchton released her first novel, The Dreamer's Thread, as a full cast podcast production beginning in August 2009. Her first foray went on to become a double-nominee and finalist for the 2010 Parsec Awards. Since her debut, Starla's voice has appeared in other podcasts including The Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine, The Drabblecast, and Erotica a la Carte. She is also a voice talent for Darkfire Productions, and narrated several of their projects, including three books in The Emperor's Edge series, This Path We Share, and others. Her writing has appeared in the Erotica a la Carte podcast, a short story for The Gearheart (earning her a third Parsec finalist badge), and an episode of the Tales from the Archives podcast (the companion to Tee Morris and Philippa Balantine's Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series), which garnered her a second finalist badge from the 2012 Parsec Awards. Her second novel, a Steampunk adventure entitled Master of Myth, was the first place winner in the Fantasy/Science Fiction category of The Sandy Writing Contest held annually by the Crested Butte Writers Conference. Maven was her third completed novel and the first in a planned series of four, being released under the name S. A. Huchton. Nemesis is the second in the Endure series.
How can we find you?
Website
Facebook Author Page
Goodreads Author Page
Tell us about your writing - What genre do you prefer to write? What books, stories, other publications that you've written are your personal favorites? Anything new coming up?
Speculative fiction is where my heart lies as far as writing goes. I'm not sure I could write anything Contemporary or literary if I tried. My brain likes to go places I haven't been before; alternate timelines, magical realities, a future living under the ocean… anywhere but the here and now. Really, it's hard for me to pick a favorite thing I've written, as that changes depending on whatever I'm working on at the moment. I'm currently writing a New Adult Superhero Romance (I'm so obsessed with this idea it's ridiculous!), so that's my favorite right now.
What people will see from me in the very near future are more books in my Endure series, however. This is New Adult Science Fiction Romance set about 40 years from now on an underwater UN research station/military outpost. The first in this series, Maven, was released June 3rd, with the second, Nemesis, going live on August 26th. The third will drop in November, and the final installment hits virtual shelves in February 2014. It's a rapid fire series, but don't confuse that with being rushed. I had three books written before I the first ever went live. :)
What about you as a person? What do you do to relax? Favorite movies or tv shows? Hobbies?
When I'm not chasing after my 3 kids or black lab, which is not often given my deployed husband, I design book covers, freelance. I was doing some audiobook and podcast narration, but life is pushing me in other directions so I'm stepping away from doing much of that anymore. Really, my favorite thing in the world is writing, and there's little else I'd rather be doing. Movies and TV are really far down on my list of activities, as I have so many other things going on, but I'm a big Doctor Who and Game of Thrones fan. With all of the creative projects I'm already involved in, there isn't much room for hobbies. I figure, if you're not doing what you love, find a way to do that instead. I'm lucky in that my husband's job provides well for us, and allows me the freedom to pursue my goals. There's nothing more valuable to a writer than a supportive spouse and family!
What gets your creative juices going? Do you write to a music, and do you want to share your playlist?
I find inspiration everywhere, really. Driving in the car seems to be my big idea place these days. I think it's because when I'm driving I can tune out the noise of the all the other stuff in life and the ideas have room to breathe. This is helped a great deal when I put on my Pandora stations where the songs remind me of scenes or conjure new ones in whatever I'm working on. Every song tells a story, and it's incredibly easy for me to take the ideas presented in the music and incorporate them into my own written work.
I used to write with music, primarily movie scores and video game soundtracks, as anything with lyrics distracts me from my own words. Really, I prefer silence, but when I have to cover up the sounds around me I'll put on Helen Jane Long, Cirque du Soleil's Varekai, or one of the video game soundtracks (Minecraft has been especially prevalent in my writing playlist of late, as has Contingency, Braid, and Skyrim). If I'm stuck in a scene, I try to find something that enhances the mood I'm trying to create, otherwise I keep it fairly ambient and neutral.
What organizations do you recommend for those wanting to become writers? Any advice you'd like to share about writing?"Becoming" a writer is the wrong word here, I think. A person either writes or they don't. The best way to get started in almost anything is to do it. I feel the same way about the term "aspiring author", you either write or you don't. Some disagree with me, but that's my personal opinion.
If you're talking about where you go once you've begun, well, that's a bit different. If you're just starting out, I think it's better to find a group of other writers you can ask questions of or get advice from or bounce ideas off of. In the digital age, it's easier than ever to find like-minded folks. National Novel Writing Month is a great program for those who need that extra push to get going. It's what finally got me doing what I'd wanted to do since I was about eight years old: write books. NaNoWriMo is a month-long challenge where your "competition" is also your cheering section. With the forums on the website and their Facebook page and twitter account, it's super easy to connect with others in the same boat as you. Not only will it introduce you to other writers, but you can get yourself into the habit of writing every day, which is really the best advice I can give anyone. Write. Every day, if you can, allowing for life. Even if it's only for 15 minutes, grab it.
What color would you wear if you had only one choice?
Red. Always red. I love red. A world without red is a world I don't want to live in.
Describe your dream writing spot.
One without children in it. LOL. I don't really require much. Given my proclivity towards bathroom writing on my phone… yeah. I'm not picky.
Thanks for stopping by, Starla! Good luck with your new release. For my readers, Starla cautions that these romance books are intended for ages 18+.
Maven (The Endure series, book 1)
"How far would you go for love?
Since losing her parents at 14, young prodigy Dr. Lydia Ashley has focused on one thing: an appointment on the Deep Water Research Command Endure. Now 21, she’s about to realize that dream, but nothing is how she imagined it would be. Her transitional sponsor forgets her, her new lab is in complete chaos, and, as if that weren’t enough, she’s about to discover something so horrific it could potentially destroy all life on the planet.
Daniel Brewer, a noted playboy and genius in his own right, may be exactly what she needs… Or he may make everything worse.
Has she finally found a puzzle she can’t solve?"
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17883119-maven
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00D5JOC8O
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/322158
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/maven-s-a-huchton/1115464747?ean=9781484985632
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/maven/id672127359?mt=11
Nemesis (The Endure series, book 2)
"Tech genius Daniel Brewer isn't the only one with a romantic history. Already weighed down with the impossible problem of the Maven Initiative's plans for world domination and disaster, Dr. Lydia Ashley is finding it more and more difficult to keep things in balance. With an old flame reappearing and the schemes of a vindictive new rival thrown into the mix, her hopes for a life with Daniel may be on the brink of annihilation.
When Lydia's past is brought to light, one big secret could destroy everything."
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18240242-nemesis
Thanks so much for having me on the blog! :)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Starla. Good luck with the release!
ReplyDeleteI can never get new songs on Pandora! I listen to it so I can, and I seem to not find anything new.
ReplyDeleteWonderful interview here!