MY INTERVIEW WITH MELISSA SERCIA

MY INTERVIEW WITH MELISSA SERCIA

What’s your name and what genre would you consider your books to be?

Hi! I’m Melissa Sercia and my book series, Blood and Darkness is considered dark Urban Fantasy.

Tell me about your book. How did you come up with that (story, angle, idea)?

I have always been a fan of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal books, movies, and tv shows. One night, an idea came to me while I was enjoying a glass of wine on my porch and I asked myself, what if it was all real? What if there was a supernatural world that existed that we just couldn’t see? Not long after that, my main character, Gray, formed in my mind, seemingly out of thin air. I started researching paranormal phenomena and the pieces of my plot just started to come together.

How did you get interested in writing this particular genre (historical novels, mysteries, sci-fi, children’s books, etc.)?

As a fan of the Urban Fantasy genre, I knew I always wanted to write it. I started reading Anne Rice when I was sixteen years old, and my obsession with vampires, witches, and New Orleans began. I have always been fascinated with Gothic settings and darker storylines.

What kind of research did you do for this book?

I researched everything from magic, witchcraft, Greek mythology, and cults. I also consulted tarot cards, studied atlases for geographical accuracy, and watched some documentaries.

Can you tell me about your Series?

My series is called Blood and Darkness. It is a trilogy that tells the story of one woman’s quest for revenge against the ones who made her. She is a four hundred year old Dhampir who needs blood to survive, but she struggles with her humanity. Each book in the series is one act, so to speak. Gray’s journey is a dark one, and she has to come to terms with her own demons along the way. Blood and Magic introduces the world and the characters, Flesh and Bone adds new threats and enemies, and Gods and Demons concludes her journey with some shocking revelations and events.

Do you have a favorite book out of this series?

I really do love all my books equally the same, but I will always have a soft spot for Blood and Magic. It was the first book I wrote and it lived with me for five years before I was able to share it with the world. I learned a lot about myself in writing it.

Where did you get the inspiration/idea for your series?

One event that inspired me and sent me on a million different paths was the story of the witch trials on Pendle Hill in Lancashire England. I started wondering, what if some of the women were actually witches? What if they didn’t actually die because they were immortal? These questions led to the early development of my plot.

Was it always meant to become a series?

Yes. I knew from the moment I started writing Blood and Magic that it was going to be a trilogy. I also knew the titles of all three books, and how Gods and Demons would end. There were some character and plot surprises along the way, but I always knew how Gray’s journey would start and how it would end.

What’s a typical working day like for you? When and where do you write? Do you set a daily writing goal?

A typical writing day is making a cup of tea and sitting down at my desk to write, even when I’m feeling uninspired. If the words aren’t coming, I will do research or make a character playlist or storyboard. Once my outline is done, I set a daily word count goal depending on the date I want to be finished with the first draft. It can be anywhere from 2000-5000 words a day.

Do you have a new book in the making and if so, what’s the name of your upcoming book?

Book 2, Flesh and Bone, releases on October 16^th, and book 3, Gods and Demons, releases on November 13^th. I am also currently plotting and outlining a spinoff series that will take place approximately ten years after the events of Gods and Demons. There will be a new main character, but it is set in the Blood and Darkness world, and you will see some familiar faces. I never divulge the titles of my books until I at least have the first draft written (one of my writer quirks).

How important are character names to you in your books? Is there a special meaning to any of the names?

Character names are everything to me. I spend a lot of time researching name meanings and I have been known to change a character’s name several times if I feel it isn’t working.

Where do your ideas come from?

I’m not sure. That is the age old question, isn’t it? I actually just watched a TED talk on this recently. I’m definitely inspired by the books and movies I grew up watching, but I like to tread my own path. I like to bring fresh perspectives to old tropes. I have a very vivid and wild imagination, but who knows where ideas really come from. Maybe we have a muse whispering in our ears, or maybe it comes from deep within. That’s my philosophy lesson for the day.

Is there a genre that you’ve been wanting to experiment with?

I really want to experiment with the steampunk genre. I actually outlined a YA novel that takes place in the Dust Bowl era that has steampunk elements. Once I have written my spinoff series, I will tackle that project.

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Time. I am a workaholic with always a million projects going on. This year has brought a lot of changes for me. Aside from promoting Blood and Darkness, I’m getting into freelance editing and taking a full semester of courses at my local community college. So finding the time to write lately has been difficult.

What do you think of book trailers? Do you have a trailer or do you intend to create one for your own book?

A Novel Connection is working on my book trailer right now! I have never had one before so I’m super excited to see what they put together for me.

What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?

That’s a tough one. I think I have had great accomplishments at various stages of my life. I will say that publishing Blood and Magic probably takes the cake though. It has been my dream since I was a little girl to become a published author. So yeah, dreams really do come true.

What’s the best thing about being an author?

There are so many great things. The best is being able to share these worlds and characters I’ve created with the rest of the world. I am a storyteller at heart, and I love knowing that I get to do that for a living. I also love connecting with readers.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Writing, exploring new genres, and expanding on the Blood and Darkness universe.

Have you always liked to write?

Yes. I started writing poetry at the age of nine years old. Throughout my childhood, I won awards for poetry and short stories. As I got older I delved into songwriting and I even wrote a screenplay for a short film. Writing is in my bones.

What writing advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Treat it like a job. Do the work every day. Set attainable goals and reward yourself when you reach them. Explore all the ways you can become published. Know your audience and know the industry. When I first started writing Blood and Magic, I joined some great writing groups on Twitter and I devoured every article on writing I could get my hands on. Practice your craft. Write. Just write. You can’t edit a blank page, so write that first draft.

If you didn’t like writing books, or weren’t any good at it, what would you like to do for a living?

I would probably be a chef. Food is another passion of mine. I’m half Sicilian, and cooking is a big part of my culture.

Do you read reviews of your book(s)? Do you respond to them, good or bad? How do you deal with the bad?

I do read reviews but I don’t respond to any of them. A fellow author friend of mine puts it best when she says that reviews are not for the author, they are for the readers. It’s hard not to get upset when you get a bad one, but I’m learning to not let it bother me. Art is subjective and everyone is entitled to their own opinions.

What is your least favorite part of the writing / publishing process?

Honestly, I like every aspect. I’m one of those weird authors who actually likes editing. I really have enjoyed every step of the process.

Can you give us a few tasty morsels from your work-in-progress?

Hmm… I really can’t without giving away any spoilers. As I mentioned, the new series takes place after the events of Gods and Demons so I don’t want to give too much away just yet. I will say that it will mostly focus on the witches this time and the main character has ties to a secret society that will once again put the world of Blood and Darkness at risk.

Where did your love of books come from?

I was a shy kid so books were my escape. I think Alice in Wonderland might have been one of the first books I read and I’ve been obsessed with books ever since. When I read Wuthering Heights as a teenager, I knew I wanted to write a novel, and when I read Interview With a Vampire, I knew I wanted to write dark fantasy.

Do you have any favorite authors or favorite books?

As I mentioned, I love Anne Rice. I also love Cassandra Claire, V.E. Schwab, Annette Marie, Stephen King, and Samantha Heuwagen. Outside of Urban Fantasy, I also love Kurt Vonnegut, Hunter S. Thompson, Dan Brown, and James Dashner.

Of all the characters you have created, which is your favorite and why?

Gray is my favorite because she is my heroine and the first character I created.

Does writing energize or exhaust you?

It can do both. It just depends on the day and what else I have going on. I think that not writing though, and feeling guilty about skipping writing days, exhausts me more.

What is your writing Kryptonite?

Noise. When I’m writing, I need complete silence or a specific song to get me in the zone. Background noise like leaf blowers, car alarms, and traffic sounds, really distract me.

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

I have to stay true to me. I believe there is a way to give readers what they want without compromising your own originality and uniqueness. If you think too much about what other people will think, you will not write authentically.

What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?

I have a ton of amazing author friends! Too many to mention. I will say that the Authors 18 community and my fellow authors at City Owl Press are my closest friends in the business. They are so supportive and encouraging. They give honest feedback and I am a better writer because of it.