Brandy Isaac’s last book That Which is Lost was published in May. Our next author is having another job to live with, but she is still producing excellent peace of writings. Enjoy our next Q&A.

– What is your last book That Which is Lost about?
– I like to call it “a ghost story…with complications.” Talia is haunted by a lot of things–not the least of which is herself.
– How you decide to write the story?
– It was actually inspired by a dream that a friend had. In the dream she was a part of a group of ghost hunters and they resorted to some pretty extreme measures and it grew from there. The end result, That Which Is Lost, didn’t turn out how I expected it too–but I never try force anything I write. I find that when a story is working it starts writing itself–and you have to go with it.

– What was the biggest challenge during the write up process?
– Figuring out what Talia was trying to tell me. I really expected her story to go somewhere else and in the process I was finding I didn’t like Talia very much as a person. But as the story progressed I realized all the qualities that I didn’t like about her were actually the qualities she needed to grow as a person…I mean as a character 🙂
– Tell us something more about your main character? Is it close to someone from your real life?
– I think Talia shares a lot of qualities with myself and a few friends. She’s going through a stage that most of us have to go through at some point in our lives.
– How much time you need to finish the story and to publish it?
– It took six months to a year to totally finish it. As usual there is some overlap between the books I’m writing. I can’t seem to stop writing so as I finish one and send it on to my beta readers I have to start the next.
– What may you say to us about The Devil Series?
– The Devil Series really started in response to a lot of the stories I had been reading and had gotten tired of reading. No matter how well written, and how much I enjoyed them, I was getting tired of reading the same story. I wanted something different. I wanted to read a heroine that was strong despite the fact that she was still learning. I wanted to read a female lead that didn’t rely on a male character to save her or teach her who she was. Eventually, I said…well…why not write that? I’m in no way trying to “soft slap” any other writer. I 100% support anyone who is legitimately sharing their passion with the world. I just decided that if I had this image of a kick-ass, female in my head I might as well put her in other people’s heads too.
– Who are you?
– I am Batman. Sorry. Kidding. That was the first thing that popped into my head. I think I am just someone who works hard at what they love. That’s not just writing. I work full time for a nonprofit and I love it. I want the world to be a better place. And I believe that anything worth doing deserves your full effort.
– What are your writing habits?
– Since I do work full time (and sometimes work a second job) I don’t get to write a lot during the week. So most of my writing happens on the weekends. I need to leave the distraction of my house so I usually end up at a coffee shop, enjoying a delicious latte, zoned out, blocking everything out with music and transcribing whatever my characters are going through at the moment.
– Are you satisfied by the sales of the book and do you plan another one?
– I think every writing would agree that more sales would be great. I think I’m surprised by how well my books have done. Mainly surprised that people who are not friends and family have bought my books. And I don’t plan on ever stopping writing. I’m currently editing the 3rd Devil Series installment and writing a 5th (and unrelated novel).
– What are you doing to promote by the best possible way your book?
– I try to post on Facebook, Twitter, etc. I like to participate in blogs and Goodread discussion groups as well. I haven’t done a lot of paid advertising as I am the quintessential starving artist, but I’m always looking for more opportunities to get involved in networking and such.
– When you stop to believe in existence of witches and wizards?
– I believe in the possibility of anything.
– Kentucky is known worldwide with horses and fried chickens. In your opinion what is special in this part of the planet?
– Ha! I love that you either knew this or researched and found this out. I think…I think I consider Kentucky kind of an underdog. In the States Kentucky is usually known as “redneck” or full of backwoods, hillbilly people. But we have the best horses (this is my totally biased opinion) and the best basketball team (a bias that annoys me that I have), we also make the best bourbon and have longest cave system in the world. The scenery is beautiful and the people and friendly. It’s not perfect–no place is. But I think people are surprised that it is more than its reputation.
– You’ve got many positive reviews about your first book Devil Inside and just a few critics. What are you learning from the feedback that you receive?
– That everyone has their own tastes and expectations. I’ve yet to get a really bad review and I know it will happen one day. I’m trying to prepare myself for it. But I don’t think anything can truly prepare you for it. One of the best things that I ever did though (after I received my first less than 4-star review) was go to Amazon and search for Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Stephanie Meyer, Charlaine Harris and other authors who are beloved and have made millions and had millions of sales and read their negative reviews. EVERYONE gets bad reviews at some point. No one is immune. The even the Greats. So I think I have just learned to read it, consider what I could have done differently and why I didn’t. If I should have done something different I’ll keep that in mind with the next book. If it was something I believe that should have been written the way it was I brush it off as a difference of taste/opinion and move on. That’s not saying I won’t fall to the floor in snotty tears when I get my first scathing review–but I won’t stay there for long.

Check out more about Brandy at her Facebook page

Take a look at her books
That Which Is Lost
Devil Inside (The Devil Series Book 1)
Ride To The Devil (The Devil Series Book 2)