This is the first of a series of Indie Author interviews concerning books that might be of interest to our regular readers or their families. I met Misty on Goodreads.com and she was kind enough to provide me with a copy of her book in .pdf format to critique.
‘Walking Among Them: Reap’ by Misty Watts
First and foremost I liked this book overall. Misty Watts writes well and knows how to tell a story. The problem with me reviewing this story is that it is Young Adult ‘Chick-Lit’ and as a fifty year old man I am pretty ill-qualified to judge how it’s intended audience will receive it. ON the other hand despite this the book captured and held my attention and I enjoyed it overall, and think that I would have enjoyed it in my early teens; it seems comparable to many of the books that enjoyed at that time in my life. The main character is interesting and the story is well-paced and enjoyable. I would recommend this book for young teens.
That’s the good news. In common with many indie books the editing was sub-standard. Misty is correcting this however, and it was never enough of a problem to put me off reading the book. Personally I would like to have seen a bit more development in the secondary characters, and I found the ending less satisfactory than I hoped. Still, I plan to read the sequels, and that should tell you something!
RATING: Kill or die to read this**Seriously, read this**Highly recommended** Recommended **Worth reading**Meh…**Don’t… trust me!**Be Afraid**Kill it with fire
So Misty, tell us a little about yourself?
I’m originally from Cayce, Ky., and will be moving back there very soon. Right now, my husband, John, (who is a voice over artist… www.wattsvoice.com) and I live in Union City, Tn., with our three daughters. I’m a graduate of University of Tennessee at Martin with a degree in Communications. I would say I have always been a writer. I thoroughly enjoyed any and all writing assignments in high school and college. I can remember as a little girl, stapling pages together and writing my own books after learning to read.
I’ve read your first book, ‘Walking Among Them: Reap’ and enjoyed it. Can you tell us a bit about this book?
Reap is the first book in the series Walking Among Them, a paranormal/supernatural series for young adults. The story focuses on Sophie, a teenager who tended to see things from a different perspective than other kids her age.
A quaint little river town in Kentucky seemed a little boring to Sophie. When her father got transferred, she was less than excited to be pulled from a school and home she loved, to start all over… again. It turns out, however, that this small town is anything but boring. Sophie finds herself in the midst of a supernatural stomping ground that would rival her wildest dreams.
Reap is the first book in the Walking Among Them series, which I hope to be a fresh look at popular young adult paranormal and fantasy books. With a new look at the way the universe works in regards to immortal beings, time, reincarnation, signs of the zodiac, loss and friendship, this series aims to bring an exciting new twist to this genre.
What inspired you to write this book?
I was inspired to write this book merely because I needed an outlet to the amount thoughts and “what if’s” that constantly spiraled in my mind. The book is based in Hickman, Ky., which is where I attended high school. I thought it would be neat to take this small town that many teenagers deem “boring” and add a secret world, making it far more interesting than they realized. It was ridiculously entertaining to me to create these characters and write this book. At first, the book was just for me. I wrote it over 2 years ago. But, a few months ago, I pulled it out and decided I would see what others thought too.
I understand this book is the first in a series. What are the other books in this series, and what are they about?
Book two in the Walking Among Them series, Harvest, will be out this summer. It continues with the story of the teenagers in Hickman and how they come to understand the workings of a universe they had never questioned. Book three, Yield, is scheduled to be out December 2013.
Where can readers buy these books?
Reap is available on Amazon and Kindle. Copies can also be purchased on createspace.com.
http://www.amazon.com/Reap-Walking-Among-Them-ebook/dp/B00BOAED6W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367178476&sr=8-1&keywords=reap+by+misty+watts
For updated release dates, check my Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/mistywattsauthor?ref=hl
What made you decide to write for the Young Adult market?
I decided to write for the YA market because it’s generally what I read. Being a young adult is fantastic. You are hopeful, full of confidence, the sky is the limit and most aren’t yet jaded by the real world.
What sort of books do you like to read?
Young adult paranormal and fiction is basically the bulk of what I read. In the last few months, I have been reading the Silver series by Cheree Alsop. I love these books and have to make myself put them down. I loved Primitive Instincts by Lauree Waldrop. I also really enjoyed The Guardian Trilogy by Liz Schulte. In the last year, I have read over 50 books by Indie authors and have really enjoyed them. I wish I could name them all.
What author or author’s do you feel have been your greatest inspiration and have had the most influence on your work?
As cliche as it may be, I’m going to have to say Stephen King. Although I have only written young adult fiction, I remember reading King as a teenager and thinking, “this man could make a supernatural extension cord seem scary.” I love his work.
Misty, you have elected to publish your works as an Independent. What made you decide to go that route, and how is that working out for you?
Since I have published Reap, I would say that the Indie authors I have befriended have had a wonderful influence on me. They truly don’t receive enough credit. Everyone is supportive of each other and always willing to give feedback. It’s a fierce little community of creative genius and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.
If you could give a single piece of advice to aspiring writers what would it be?
Feedback from fans and other authors is important. Put some thought into their advice and thoughts, especially those who have more experience than you do. Don’t take criticism to heart. It’s the only way you will improve your writing.
Given the chance what would you say to your readers?
Thanks for your support and for giving me the opportunity to entertain you. Stay tuned, there’s more to come. 🙂