Raven Coyne: Is a trained historian and writer. A Denver Colorado native, when encountered Raven can be found spending time writing, racing bicycles too fast everywhere, and catering to Ares the Cat!
Describe yourself in five words:
Curious, Quiet, Funny (I hope), Determined (read stubborn), Observant.
What fact about yourself would really surprise people?
I’ve lived around the world, including Ireland, Turkey, and Germany.
How do you work through self-doubts and fear?
That’s the writers natural state of existence I think. Doubting your talents. The only cure is to write and keep putting yourself out there.
What scares you the most?
Being alone I think is the worst fate anyone can bear. We are social creatures and telling people about you is a basic need in humans.
What makes you happiest?
Writing. I know, I know, I’m supposed to say that. But it’s true. I write at night and the ideas flow the story unfolds as it should. That’s a natural high that cannot be beat.
Why do you write?
Writers are natural spies. They see the world then scuttle home and form what they see into a new reality. That’s why I write I think to make sense of all that is around me.
Have you always enjoyed writing?
No, when I was younger I wrote very little. I never seemed able to finish anything. Only later was I able to realize what a pure act of creation writing is.
What motivates you to write?
What I see, what goes on around and within me. I live mostly in my head, so what is inside there just has to come out.
What writing are you most proud of?
Anything I finish? LOLOL There are times when what I write is better than myself. Those plots, dialog, or clever scenes I cherish. I can’t make them happen. Only the muses can grant you that perfect moment.
What books did you love growing up?
The Foundation Trilogy by Issac Asimov, The Memorial War Book (American Civil War written in 1882), There are more but those two always come to mind.
What do you hope your obituary will say about you?
I did my best and lived my life to its fullest using every moment.
Location and life experiences can really influence writing, tell us where you grew up and where you now live?
I grew up here in Colorado in the mountains. I live in Denver both those environments play a big part in my staging of some stories. I don’t use Colorado per se but I use the environment.
How did you develop your writing?
I sat down and started writing and I never gave up. I write every day.
What is hardest – getting published, writing or marketing?
I’d say getting known in a sea of faces. That’s hard. You have to have something worth shouting about, and then you have to shout the right way to attract attention. There are so many options and many of them are useless. So, it’s hunt and peck until you find what works.
What marketing works for you?
My books. The best marketing you can do is to write and publish write and publish until the can no longer ignore you.
Do you find it hard to share your work?
No, I know I’m going to get knocked. Hey, it happens. I wear my one stars proudly, usually I earned them. I also earned all my five stars as well.
Is your family supportive? Do your friends support you?
I have few friends and most do not know I write. My family can take it or leave it. Mostly they think I’m crazy. Of course they’d think I’m crazy even if I didn’t write. But there are times when I release a book that does well and I get atta-boys. Those are wonderful.
What else do you do, other than write?
I race bikes, climb, travel, and run my businesses outside of writing.
What other jobs have you had in your life?
I was a soldier in the US Army, a dishwasher, cleaned houses, fix computers. I’m easily bored so I like to do lots of things. LOLOL
If you could study any subject at a university what would you pick?
My focus was on History and I would still pick that. If you want to make sense of the world learn what happened before you.
If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
Colorado and I’m lucky I am there.
Tell us about your family?
My folks are deceased now. But my family was a crazy collection of misanthropes and individualists. I like people so I really was the odd man out. But I got good parents who encouraged my every ambition.
How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk?
Desktop and at a desk. When it’s time to work I work.
How much sleep do you need to be your best?
Ummmm about six hours I think. I love mornings to get things done in so I am up early.
Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge and thank for their support?
Lea and Diane who both believed I could write and encouraged me to sit down write, finish, and publish dammit.
Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you?
Pay my bills with my writing. Bottom line that is a successful writer when you don’t have to moonlight. But it’s not given to very many writers. I dream about the day when someone asks me “what do you do?” And I answer “I’m a writer.” Instead of something like “I clean houses but what I really want is to be a writer.
It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your writing, tell us about your marketing campaign?
I use many Fiverr gigs, but also I advertise on Amazon and Apple. I write to specific subjects several books so I keep coming up on the searches.
Tell us about your new book? Why did you write it?
Vampire of Paris, I thought that gay Paris in the 1890 would make a great setting for a Vampire accused of murder.
If you could have a dinner party and invite anyone dead or alive, who would you ask?
Shelby Foote, Robert Heinlein, Einstein, U.S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, Abraham Lincoln and Queen Elizabeth the first. What a line up huh? There’s others but I’m out of room around the table. LOLOLOLOL
When you are not writing, how do you like to relax?
I like to read and ride my bike to places I’ve never seen.
What do you hope people will take away from your writing? How will your words make them feel?
I want them to have enjoyed the story, to let go of their cares and just immerse themselves in the world I’ve written. That’s what good writing does for you.
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/ravencoyne
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