Happy Monday!
That's right, it's Monday again, and to start your week on the right foot I have another amazing author with me! Today we meet Lily Skyy. Lily Skyy has always had an overactive imagination. As a child, this resulted in telling tall tales that entertained her parents. They always knew she’d become a creator one day and fully supported her dream. Now, as a grown woman with a love of creating worlds, believable characters, and twisting storylines that keep readers guessing until the end, she’s finally able to live her dream.
Lily lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband and their dog, Raffle. She enjoys hikes—preferably to waterfalls—sleeping under the stars, spending time with family, board games, and seeing new places. She’s a nature lover, which pairs nicely with her love of creating believable worlds with depth. With any luck, she plans to write full time and help others escape the everyday, mundane, boring parts of life.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? I’ve loved reading for as long as I can remember, and I love stories. I remember as a child always looking deeper than what was in front of me. When I looked at a person, I would always wonder about their story. As a child with undiagnosed ADHD, I was an avid daydreamer in school and often found myself in the middle of a fantasy of my own creation. As I became older, I decided to put my stories down on paper before graduating to a computer.
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing? My work schedule is very hectic, and I literally have to force myself to take time off from writing to make sure I do self-care. Because of my ADHD, I have so many works in progress, and I’m working on several books at once. The one that catches my fancy at the time is the one I dedicate the most time to for that day.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing? When I’m not writing, I love to read. I’ll read just about anything fiction regardless of the genre. If I’m not reading, I love watching K-Dramas because it combines the best of both worlds— viewing and reading (because of the sub-titles).
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books? I realized how creative I actually was and that I had a lot to share.
How many books have you written? Which is your favourite? So far, I’ve written five books, but as of the date of this interview, only two have been published, with another publishing on May 11th. They each hold a special place in my heart, but right now, my favorite is The Hidden Prophecy Trilogy. I just love Kinza and Zaid. I love their interactions, challenges, and their world.
Do you have any suggestions to help someone become a better writer? If so, what are they? I have heard people say that writing a book is a good source of passive income. I beg to differ. There is nothing passive about the income you will receive from writing. As an author, you have to be prepared to put in the hard work of marketing and getting your name and book out there. Some days it will be daunting, and you will feel like giving up. Don’t do it, though. Nothing about writing for a living is easy for most authors. You really have to understand that this will be a difficult journey that you have to have the strength to endure. No matter what, keep writing, publishing, building your backlog, and building your audience.
What do you think makes a good story? I think having relatable characters makes a story good. When I read a book, I have to be able to empathize with the characters, or else I won’t be drawn into the story as much. This is why I make sure the characters in my stories are relatable. In real life, people are not perfect. We make stupid decisions that we end up regretting and we don’t know as much as we think we do. Book characters should reflect this as well.
Does a big ego help or hurt writers? I don’t know about a big ego, but I think it is imperative for writers to believe in themselves and their abilities. Even if it seems the world is against them, they should have their own back and be ready to push through. With all the difficulties writers face getting their stories out there, I think it’s important for them to have the “Failure is not an option” mentality.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want? I try to make my stories original with the hope that they will become what the reader wants. I mostly write clean urban fantasy books with a touch of romance. My stories are very much plot-driven. I like to write the type of books that I can’t find anywhere else. It’s harder to find a market for these types of books, but I’m hoping that once readers give them a try that they will love them.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you building a body of work with connections between each book? I like writing in a series of connections, because when I think of a story I see it from beginning to end. There is no way I can get the whole story out in one book.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have? At the time of this writing, unpublished 3 and unfinished 10. But they are almost there! I also have two Vella stories wherein I publish several episodes a week for each.
What’s the best way to market your books? I’m still trying to figure that one out!
What do you have coming next? On May 11th, the first book in the Unlikely Defenders series will be published. Book 1 is called The Unchosen Ones and is filled with action, humor, and fun. Take a look at my page to see my current offerings: https://smartpa.ge/lilyskyy
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