Authors

Nancy Savage | Author Interview

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About The Author
Nancy Savage is lives with her partner of twenty years and is the mother to six children and two cats. Her debut novel, ‘The Couple in Cabin 14‘, was published by Bloodhound Books. The story follows a couple whose romantic getaway turns dark when the wife begins to suspect that the couple in the cabin next door is hiding something.
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What was the initial spark or idea that led you to create the plot for The Couple in Cabin 14? Did it start with the characters, the setting, or a specific scene?

Honestly, it was a combination! It started from this idea I had of a couple meeting their neighbors on vacation and there just being something really, really off about them that only the wife could see. I also wanted there to be a real sense of isolation, but in a beautiful setting! So I kind of started with those elements and then built characters that felt genuine and flawed, which helped me push the story further.

The setting of a secluded lakeside resort adds a layer of isolation and suspense to the story. How did you decide on this particular setting, and how do you think it influences the mood of the novel?

Spring River is kind of an amalgamation of quite a few places, both that I’ve been to and of ones I could only ever dream of visiting! It felt like the perfect backdrop for secrets and tension—it’s beautiful but can feel eerie when you’re alone. Who doesn’t love a good nature getaway… until it turns creepy!

As a debut author, what was the most challenging aspect of writing The Couple in Cabin 14? How did you overcome it?

Honestly, with six kids running around, it was definitely trying to find the time to actually sit down and get the words from my head and onto paper. I quickly learned that I wasn’t going to be able to have any long and focused writing sessions, so I figured out how to adapt to writing in chunks of time here and there when I could.

Without giving too much away, were there any particular scenes or twists in The Couple in Cabin 14 that you found especially challenging or rewarding to write?

Oh, definitely! There’s a twist near the climax that took me a very long time to nail down. There is a section of dialogue that, at a guess, I’d say I reworked about a hundred times before it finally clicked. No exaggeration.

Do you have any writing rituals or habits that help you get into the creative zone, especially when crafting suspenseful scenes?

A good cup of tea and a comfortable seat is about all I need. There is no such thing as quiet time in our house, and sometimes I kind of feel like a bit of chaos in the background as I write adds a little something!

What drew you to the thriller genre specifically? Was there a particular book or author that inspired you to write suspenseful stories?

I’ve been a thriller lover for life. I blame R. L. Stine, creator of Goosebumps, for starting my addiction. But generally I just love to spend a whole novel going “what the heck is going on?” and to get that big pay off when you hit a great twist.

Did writing The Couple in Cabin 14 teach you anything about yourself or your writing style that you didn’t know before?

I definitely learned that as much as you can pre-determine how your story will go, you can’t anticipate how your characters will react in a situation until you reach it. They kind of begin to take on a life of their own! But that’s fun, because it takes you on twists and turns that you didn’t expect.

What’s one piece of advice you would give to aspiring authors who are working on their own debut novels?

Embrace the messy process! It’s okay if your first draft is just a wild jumble of thoughts. Just get the words down – you can fix it up later.

Do you have any other books or projects in the works? Can you give us a hint about what we might expect next from you?

Right now I’m working on my next thriller set in a small town. Think secrets, lies, and hidden pasts!

Finally, what do you hope readers take away from The Couple in Cabin 14? Are there any particular emotions or thoughts you want to linger with them after they finish the last page?

I hope they get a good thrill from seeing the story play out through Amber’s eyes, and to take it as little reminder to always question what is presented online as real – because the truth is usually lurking just below the surface.

I am very grateful to Nancy for giving me the opportunity to interview her and read her debut thriller. In the comments, let me know if you’ve read or plan to read Nancy’s debut thriller, The Couple in Cabin 14. The book is available in paperback, audiobook, and on Kindle Unlimited. If you’re curious about my thoughts on the book, you can check out my review [here]. Also, if you’re an author interested in being interviewed for the blog, don’t hesitate to reach out! For more information, visit my contact page. Before you go, don’t forget to hit the follow button!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Authors I’ll Love // Female Authors

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Hi Friends,
On March 8th, it was International Women’s Day, so I thought that it would be awesome to talk about some female authors. I wanted to share five female authors that I have not yet read, but that I think I will love. Discovering new favorite authors is one of my favorite things, so I cannot wait to see whether these authors live up to the hype in my head.

Abby Jimenez
Truth be told, I have not heard many great things about this author’s backlist titles, but her ‘Part Of Your World‘ interconnected standalone romance series intrigues me. The first book in the series, ‘Part Of Your World’, reminds me so much of the TV show ‘Hart Of Dixie,’ which I enjoyed a lot. Something about this book and it’s companion novel makes me believe that I’m going to truly enjoy her books.

Hannah Grace
I am shocked that I have not picked up any of the authors’ books. I know that she writes new adult, college-aged, romance novels. I own both ‘Icebreaker‘ and ‘Wildfire, ’ both of which are very popular. Although I have never read a hockey romance, something tells me that ‘Icebreaker’ is going to be one that I adore. In addition, I hear that the spicy is done very well.

Rachel Lynn Solomon
Every time I read the synopsis of her books, I automatically added it to my TBR. I have so many five-star predictions from this author, which is probably why I still have not yet read anything by her. Honestly, ‘Weather Girl‘ is a book that speaks to me, because I am a little obsessed with the weather. I feel that her books will give me the same feeling as Lynn Painter’s books, so basically romance with some witty banter and a great storyline.

Katherine Center
This is an author that I’m nervous about, because I could see myself either loving or hating her books. Her stories sound very interesting, and I have heard good things about her books. However, I believe that she writes relatively closed-door romances. Now, if you know me, I do not mind spicy, and I prefer open-door or even cracked-door romance. Fade to black romance books just are not my thing these days. Still, I do think that I will enjoy her writing, and could find her books to be a nice change compared to other authors I read.

Meghan Quinn
I do not know a ton about this author’s books, except for the one that I own, ‘A Not So Meet Cute,’ which is a fake dating romance. Need I say more? I believe that she used to be an indie author, but her books are now being traditionally published. Her books are rated fairly high on GoodReads, and I think her plots sound original. I mean ‘Kiss and Don’t Tell’ is a steamy hockey romance where the main character falls for her ex-boyfriends half-brothers. Tell me why that gives me Payton and Lucas from One Tree Hill vibes.

If you have read books by any of these authors, please leave a comment letting me know. In the comments, share some more female authors that you think I should read. Be sure to check Everand to see if they have any of these authors’ audiobooks or eBooks in their library. Do not forget to hit the follow button so that you never miss a post.

Maria Kuzniar // Author Interview

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About The Author
Maria Kuzniar spent six years living in Spain, teaching English and traveling the world, which inspired her debut novel ‘The Ship of Shadows’.. Now she lives in Nottingham with her husband, where she reads and writes as much as she can, and bookstagrams at @cosyreads. She is always planning her next adventure.
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Books By This Author:

Hi, and thank you so much for doing this interview with me! In 2021, you released two books – first, the second installment of ‘The Ships Of Shadows’ book series. And, in October of 2021, ‘Midnight In Everwood’ came out.

In your own words, could you summarize ‘Midnight in Everwood’?

Hi, thank you for having me! Midnight in Everwood is a magical retelling of The Nutcracker, set between Edwardian Nottingham and a fantasy world inspired by the Land of Sweets. We follow Marietta, a young woman in her early twenties, who is desperate to pursue a career in dancing ballet, although her family has other plans for us. Things take a very strange and magical turn, and she soon finds herself in a land of snow and sweets with a frozen sugar palace, moose-drawn sleighs, and gingerbread galas. . .

What inspired you to write such a compelling story?

I’ve always been drawn to fairy tales and retellings, and since I absolutely adore both ballet and all things wintry, The Nutcracker felt like the perfect choice to tackle for my first retelling.

Being that ‘Midnight in Everwood’ is a retelling, can you talk about any research you did prior to writing it?

I’ve always loved the ballet and The Nutcracker is the very first one I saw. I also attend adult beginner ballet classes—though I am quite happily terrible at it!—so a lot of my research into ballet comes from my hobbies and speaking to my ballet teachers. I also read E.T.A Hoffman’s The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, which is the original, surprisingly much darker, story that Alexandre Dumas rewrote in a more family-friendly style in his The Nutcracker, which is the version Tchaikovsky looked to in composing the ballet.

What is the biggest difference, for you, when it comes to writing a Middle Grade fantasy, as opposed to writing an adult historical fantasy?

I think the biggest difference is that with Middle-Grade you have a much younger audience, so you need to keep things fast moving and action-packed or you run the risk of losing them to something more interesting! Of course, the word count is much tighter with Middle-Grade, so I do enjoy being able to take my time with my books for adults and flesh them out more, especially the descriptions, but then they do take longer to write as a result of being longer. . . Both age ranges present their own challenges but I get something very different from each of them and I really enjoy writing for both.

What was it like finding out that your book had become a Sunday Times Bestseller?

It was one of the best moments ever. A lifelong dream achieved! I still get teary when I think about it, months later.

How has your writing process changed, compared to when you first started writing?

It hasn’t really, I still approach writing the same way and though I’ve tried experimenting with things, I always end up going back to what works best for me! I do try and develop my writing though and am always pushing myself to improve.

What are you currently working on?

I’m currently editing my second book for adults which I’m very excited about – it’s like Swan Lake meets The Great Gatsby and it’s my oldest book idea so it’s been challenging yet amazing to put it down on paper at last! I’m also working on a few secret projects but I can’t talk about those yet. . .

What would your advice be to aspiring authors?

That there’s no one right way to do things. Everybody works differently and finds different things useful. So whatever way you find that helps you get words written, that’s the best way for you. And it’s not necessary to spend lots of time and money on expensive writing courses or creative writing degrees or books on how to write, lots of published authors haven’t done any of that! Reading and practicing writing taught me everything I’ve learnt so far.

What is one book that you didn’t write, that you wish you had?

Oh, so many! But my all-time favorite childhood book is Northern Lights by Philip Pullman and each time I reread it, I notice something new. It has layers upon layers and is very clever yet so readable and fun!

In the comments, let me know if you have read any of Maria Kuzniar books. Also, if you are an author interested in being interview for the blog don’t hesitate to reach out for more information visit my contact page. As always hit the follow button before you leave!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny