Book Shop Chats:
Welcome to Book Shop Chats, your go to podcast for indie authors and learning insight into what it takes to write a book (HINT: You can do it too!!)
Join authors as they share their personal journeys, successes, and challenges, providing you with unique insights into the writing process. The discussions explore into various aspects of storytelling, from character development to plot structuring, ensuring you have a well-rounded understanding of the craft.
Whether you're just starting out or have published multiple works, this podcast is your companion in the pursuit of storytelling excellence. Tune in, gather inspiration, and let your passion for writing flourish alongside a community that celebrates the art of the written word.
Book Shop Chats:
Dragon Riders and Western Romance: Maggie Hoopis's Universe
Victoria Jane welcomes Maggie Hoopis to discuss her debut novel "Grace of Dragons," a genre-blending Western romantasy featuring dragons instead of horses and a strong female lead who knows exactly who she is.
• "Grace of Dragons" combines Western elements with fantasy and romance
• Maggie created the book as a "palette cleanser" between heavier reads
• Writing process influenced by Rebecca Ross's Writer's Conservatory class
• Character-driven plotting and improv techniques shape Maggie's storytelling approach
• Balancing motherhood and writing requires flexibility rather than rigid routines
• "Quilting" approach to writing - working on different parts as inspiration strikes
• Working with a PA helps manage the marketing side of indie publishing
• Community support crucial for navigating imposter syndrome
• Second book coming fall 2024 - an interconnected standalone following side characters
• Independent publishing allows quicker response to reader interests than traditional route
Find Grace of Dragons on Amazon, Kindle Unlimited, or through Ingram Spark retailers. Connect with Maggie on Instagram @maggiehoopis.author or visit maggiehoopis.com for signed copies and merchandise.
Book Blurb: Grace of Dragons
A blizzard is blowing into the Old West. Are you fierce enough to brave the storm?
Grace of Dragons is an Adult Western Romantasy full of adventure, snark, spice, tenderness, a brazen FMC, and dragons! In this captivating tale of self-discovery, empowerment, and sweeping romance, Grace will be pushed to her limits as she grapples with the transformative powers of loss, grief, and love.
Author bio: Maggie grew up with a strong love of reading. Her dream of writing has been fueled by the support and inspiration of fellow beta readers. She co-founded the Indie Romantasy Reads Book of the Month Club, which focuses on championing indie literature and fostering a deeper connection between readers and writers. She lives in Illinois with her husband, daughter, and Duck Tolling Retriever, who lovingly support her in her endeavors.
LINKS:
Instagram: @maggiehoopis.author
Author Website: https://www.maggiehoopis.com/
About Victoria:
Hey there, I’m Victoria! As a writer and developmental editor, I specialize in helping busy writers bring their publishing dreams to life without the overwhelm. Editing doesn’t have to feel like pulling teeth—it's the magic that transforms your story from “meh” to masterpiece!
Here’s how I can help:
📖 FREE Manuscript Prep Workbook: Take the stress out of editing with simple steps to organize your revisions.
Grab it HERE
📝 Developmental Editing: Get expert feedback that elevates your manuscript, strengthens your story, and polishes your characters.
✍️ 1:1 monthly support Writer's Haven: Revitalize your creativity, map out your novel, and unleash your authentic voice.
Your story deserves to shine, and I’m here to make it happen. Let’s turn your writing dreams into a reality!
📱 IG: @editsbyvictoria
🌐 Website: https://www.victoriajaneeditorial.com/links
Oh, hey, it's Victoria from Victoria Jane Editorial and your host of Bookshop Chats. This podcast is all about authors, writing and the magic that goes into storytelling. We cover all of the things that go into writing a book, from the creative process, from taking your idea to a first draft, creating and cultivating community within the author space, marketing all of the fun things. If you are a reader, a wannabe writer or an author, you will find tips and tricks that suit whatever level you are at. So I hope that you enjoy and you are unfortunately, or fortunately, going to find many more books to add to your tbr, so I will invite you to sit back and listen to the episode, back to a bookshop chats.
Speaker 1:In today's episode, I am chatting with maggie hopus, hoppus. I think I kind of got close. Hoopus, okay, we did it, uh it. I always repeat it in my head and then I get so and then you know I butcher it sometimes on the live part, but I'm so glad that we get to chat today. I am very excited to hear all about your book, so I'm just going to like give you the floor to introduce yourself and share all about your book that is out in the world right now.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I'm Maggie Hoopis. Like you said, this is my first book. It's my debut, though I have been kind of writing throughout my life. It's the first one that I actually finished and I'm excited about and put out there to the world. It is a Western romanticy world, um, it is a Western romanticist Um.
Speaker 2:So it really does combine the Western genre um which I've actually I wrote a paper on like back in college with the romanticist genre Um and focuses a bit more on a strong female as opposed to like the lone cowboy. It's a lone cowgirl, right, um, and instead of horses we have dragons. So naturally like yeah, and you know there's still, there's still some shoot them up moments. There's like the unhingedness of like how some of the cow cowboys talk to each other. That's still in there, but it's a bit more female.
Speaker 2:I think people are kind of taken aback by how females actually some of like when you're with your close female friends, you actually do kind of have very unhinged talks um to the point where it's like girls are okay with guy talk. I think like more than guys they'll be like oh, we have to cover your ears. Like oh, it's nothing that we haven't said or hurt ourselves um 100, so it's got. It's got a bit of that. The female main character is over 30, so she's got her life. She knows very much who she is, um, and then it's got a little bit of romance, um. But yeah, so I'm really excited about Grace of Dragons.
Speaker 2:That is so fun, it's standalone and I'm heavily in the Bookstagram community, so I co-founded the Indie Romanacy Reads Book of the Month Club with three other lovely, lovely women and they were used to we're very much in the community, we're used to we're we're very much in the community.
Speaker 2:So, um, we're very much like used to reading like long 400 page books, like world building, you know, and then you get to the end of like some really heavy books and you're just stuck with a book hanger over. So I really was looking for something to be more of a book, like a palette cleanser in between those, something they could just pick up and just kind of had a little bit of everything in it to wipe the slate clean.
Speaker 1:I love that.
Speaker 2:I think, that's so.
Speaker 1:that's that's. One thing I love about books is that there's there's something for everyone, and like each book is so important, like it fulfills its its Right, and I think having those light beach reads or light fantasy, like those are great, like I need a book that I don't have to think, I don't have to remember the worlds or any of that sort of stuff.
Speaker 2:Oh gosh, yes, I mean, I do. I love a good book that I'm just like, just let me fall into this. And I'm a quick reader, so I'm like, let me just fall into this for the, for the night, for a couple of hours, and then I don't know, I almost live harder in that, that two and a half hours, than I would like in a longer book.
Speaker 1:But if I'm in the mood a hundred percent, Well, I would right, I, I, yeah, I definitely am a mood reader. And then I have the problem of needing to like finish the book once I start it so it just doesn't really jive well with the life I lead.
Speaker 1:As much as I'd love to just do nothing and read for like a day and a half, but yeah, then the children need food and snacks and yeah, that it's just not it. But yeah, I definitely love, I love. I love books, obviously, right, that's what we're here for. A hundred percent. A hundred percent. I would love to hear how you got started on um, like writing or like what made you decide that you wanted to actually write a book.
Speaker 2:I started writing a book in high school and then I put it down and then I started writing another book. Well, I wrote a children's book in college that I want to shop around, I think, but I can't find where I put it. And then, um, I wrote a book in like my twenties and I've got, I got like two going and I would just always get to the spot where I just couldn't get past into a conflict or into like what is taking this further? Um, and I was doing a lot of beta reading for various authors and alpha reading and they kind of were like you should write, and I was like, okay, like I'll get, maybe I'll get back into this now. And, um, I was.
Speaker 2:I knew I needed a little more support because I knew I always kind of hit a hit a spot and honestly, I didn't know if it was just like my ADD or if it was like I actually had writerly issues.
Speaker 2:So I took the writer's conservatory class with Rebecca Ross, who I love her writing. So I was like, well, this will be really good. She drew on a lot of her writing as examples and like had some worksheets like this is what you do with a character once you create it and how how it really drives like into the plot a bit more and I'm really into character driven plot. I actually took improv classes and, like I'm really big on creating characters, so getting them into a room and then seeing what happens with them Really just kind of fires me up. So to be able to have like a bit more of a plan behind it and then how those the various pieces of wants, needs, um, secrets, all drive into how you can put this story together and reveal things and how those themselves create the conflict, um really fascinated me and really kept me going on this book a bit more. So I I once I started, I was done with my draft in two months.
Speaker 1:That's amazing. That's like that is the power of ADHD right there. In a nutshell, I feel like I feel that like the hyper-focus is like we're, that's it, that's all we're doing.
Speaker 2:Right, I think we know too, like if you wait too long, like the idea is going to die and you're not going to get back to it.
Speaker 1:Yes, that also, I think, is another thing. And sometimes to the story I feel like, just as like it, it is, it's time it has to get out now. Yes, you're like yeah, we are Okay, this is what's happening, okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and my daughter asked me to write a tell her a story about the planets, and so I started just kind of thinking, okay, well, you know, and she's very much like you know, pluto is no longer a planet mom, and very into the dwarf planets, and I was like, well, what if Pluto were actually like really angry that he got kicked out of the solar system? Um, and I kind of like personified the planets in this book and then like was like, well, how do I, how are the planets getting from place to place? Like I was like well, they're humans and they're going to be riding dragons from place to place, and so most of the characters are all based off of the planets that is so fascinating to me.
Speaker 2:I find that yeah, that's so.
Speaker 1:um, yeah, I feel like, especially for fantasy or alternate universe or whatever, like any of those books I just find so fascinating of just the, yeah, the creativity and world. Even if it's not a heavy world building book, there's still this level of magic that is so different than what you would see in a romance. Obviously, I love those as well, but I always find it really fascinating for authors who, yeah, just create those worlds and I'd love to hear, like, what pulled you to write like fantasy?
Speaker 2:I love fantasy and I love I mean I read a lot of romantasy. I read a lot of romance. I mean I grew up reading a lot of classics. I'm a classic girl, um, but I really, I I'm really into romance lately because the female characters I feel like are very well rounded out and very it's time for a strong female and being put in different positions and you're seeing them like you'll see one as an assassin maybe, like you just don't see them like just in the oh I'm a marketing girl or oh, I'm like a pharmaceutical rep or oh I'm a teacher, like in these stereotypical roles that you might see the like females written in, and and I kind of, like you know, testing the female to see like cool, where, what do we do? Like we we're not always given that opportunity or it's not always publicized, but really we do kind of run the world yeah, I feel that I love that.
Speaker 1:I think that's one thing that I really love about, especially with self-publishing being such a big industry now, like I feel like it's just blown up obviously in the last like I feel, probably five years, but I mean I know it was big but like, just with, like you know, tiktok Bookstagram, like all of that sort of stuff, has just like created this huge market of readers and I love the, the representation that is coming from that. Now I think it's such a like you can see readers want that and to see these characters that are, like you know, relatable or like strong, like female leads, especially like growing up in the 90s we grew up with like sad Disney princesses that are just like they didn really do, like they just didn't do anything, um. So I think having that like those characters is is always fun and I love, I love to see that uh become like more common, I think now and, I think, right.
Speaker 2:The great thing about the indie community, like, is writers are more in touch with what directly, what readers want to read. I would say at any given moment which is one of the reasons I decided to go indie I was like there's nothing out there like this book right now. This is what people are kind of clamoring, like people were always. I feel like if you're reading indie books, you're always looking for something new, something a little bit unique, a new spin on maybe an old story or just I mean, genre blending is really coming to the forefront.
Speaker 2:I feel like, and I think you know, if I were to traditionally publish this book, it might not see the light of day for three years and by that point this genre could be dead, it could have lived its life, it could have gone nowhere, it could have gone completely everywhere and be blown up and be saturating the market. So they're, from a market standpoint, like it's suited it and from giving readers what they're looking for. It seems like I wanted to. I really wanted to do that, for, like, a lot of my friends and a lot of people that I know that read and are looking for something like what I wrote.
Speaker 1:A hundred percent. I think it's such a great. Yeah, I feel like now, like self-publishing, indie publish or indie publishing and traditionally published, like it's. It's really a matter of like what the book is suited for. I think that's what it comes down to, of like what and what your yeah, what you feel like you want to do with it, and I think that it's lovely that we have that option. Um, and yeah, you're true, like I didn't realize the timeline of, um, how long it is from when a book is like actually picked up by like the agent, by the publishing house, to when it's actually out in the world it's. It's wild, the timeframe, and I had I had no idea that it, like you said, it could take up like three years, which is crazy to me. That it, but I mean it makes sense right, like it's, there's so many things that go into it and marketing and it is such a big business, right.
Speaker 1:So it's, it's just, I had no idea. So I think that's something that I'm like. I I learned a lot like chatting to a few of the authors that have some books that are traditionally published and some that are self-published like it's just, it's cool that we have that option now oh, I love it like right and then you can get, like you said, get it in the hands of readers who um are ready for it yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2:I have nothing against traditional it, just it wasn't for this book.
Speaker 1:I love that. Yeah, I think that's that's a great thing. So I would love to hear a little bit more about, obviously you mentioned telling your daughter's stories about books. So like mom life and writing life, like how, how, how do we make this kind of like work, cause I I'm always fascinated to hear obviously my kids are older, so there is a little bit flexibility with that, but there's still a lot of like they still have to eat. I still have to drive them everywhere, so it's hard.
Speaker 2:No, it's, and she's an only child, so, and I love her to pieces. So I'm just always, I'm always with her. Yeah, she, I don't, I don't know, I, I just, I mean, that's pretty much it. There's, you don't? I don't I would love to say, oh, I wake up every morning at this time. I don't, because the reality of the situation is some nights you're up late with a kiddo and then you're not waking up the next morning on time because you're exhausted and you know.
Speaker 2:And some days, like I don't know, no-transcript, I get some downtime, um, like, or times when they're at extracurriculars, um, I, I am blessed, where I I'll pick up a babysitter here and there, uh, and if I need a solid chunk of time, I will be able to do that Um, which kind of just gives me, like you know, two solid hours, two to three solid hours of like, getting a solid list in, like, if I have a list created, I can just churn out everything, and then it leaves me free to pick up other times during the day to write, or um, or maybe flip-flop and do a chunk of writing If I know I'm getting into something heavier emotionally, and then do the little bits and bobs later. I find that I can't. Really, if I'm writing something a little heavier than I, I can't like just sit down and do it in 30 minutes, cause by the time you like spend five minutes at least to get into the mindset and then you've got, you know, 20 minutes to write. That's five more minutes that you have to get your brain back out of that emotional place so that you can go back to existing in the real world with whatever emotions are flying around your house. So, like you have to go back to, I am the receptive mother, um, rather than I am the, the creative dragon writer right now, um, so, so it's kind of like knowing what can I write?
Speaker 2:So for that reason, I'm kind of a quilter when I write, um, and I write, I'm a, you know I'm a mood writer. I'll, I'll write whatever is in the forefront of my mind, like I'm feeling like it, um. I tried to put a playlist together of like songs that I wanted for this next book that I was writing and it turned. It's been turning into just, oh no, these are the songs that are going with the mood that I'm in when I'm writing this right now. I love that.
Speaker 2:I can't dictate it.
Speaker 1:No, I think, yeah, and I feel like you bring up a lot of really important like points especially as somebody who has ADHD of just this feeling really frustrated sometimes that I can't stick to a consistent routine or I don't you know I don't get up every morning to write at 5 am or like, or I write like more of a mood writer or all of these things that I'm learning how to like disconnect from now.
Speaker 1:But I think sometimes people can feel like, oh, like I'm not doing it right, um, or this is taking so long. And I think that's sometimes just the reality of really learning how to work with your, your season of life, work with your brain as well, instead of fighting against it. And to that point that you make about the time of like writing, I'm totally the same way of like well, if I only have an hour of writing like it's, it's working backwards. I'm like, so I can't get into it. If I only have 20 minutes like this, just it's just not gonna work. Um, so then it's like sort of reframing that and doing some maybe lighter things where you're just sort of like roughly plotting a few chapters, like all of that stuff also, is gonna get you forward in your writing thing as well. So I think I love that. You kind of just do it your way and I feel like that's great, like that's, that's, that's what makes it fun, because you get to do it your way.
Speaker 2:It's totally. I mean, yeah, I mean I listened to authors, some authors be like oh yeah, like you said, like the regiment, I wake up at 5.00 AM and I start my coffee and then I, that's my quiet time and I'm like that's, I've done that time. It is beautiful, I love it, I do. I wish I could do that every day, yes, but the reality is that's not my life, like that's not who I am, and I think that kind of coming through on figuring out that my process is whatever works for me at that time and I need to give myself some grace it makes in order to make the book writing enjoyable, because I really do love writing. I don't want it's not a chore for me when I'm doing it. Well, the words are flowing.
Speaker 1:Yes, I think that's such a great point of just like you get to do it your way, like there's no, like, yes, try, by all means, try those things and see if they work. And you know, great Like, if I can get up at five and write like it's, it's amazing. And maybe, if I'm lucky, I'll get four days in a row, but after that that's not going to happen, right, right, it's just not it. So I think that I love. Yeah, you really have to make it work for you. You really have to make it work for you. And especially, I feel like when you are indie publishing, because it's like you're doing it all yourself. So there is this element of like, how am I going to fit this stuff in? And it's got to, it's got to work for me. And I really am being mindful not to overwhelm my system, because then that you're just not creating If you're overwhelmed.
Speaker 2:No, then you're under stress, and then it's just not fun.
Speaker 1:That's just not. It's not it. I'm not here for that. We're we're disconnecting from stress.
Speaker 2:Yeah Right, um, the nice thing that I found about like being able to write whenever, though, is also, or like writing whenever I can, is, I mean, I realized there's always part of a story I can tell whenever I can tell it and, um, you know, and, like you said, with parenting, how does that work? I've realized I've made my child a lot more independent. I've been like you go, do this, do this. Like I'm sitting here right now and I'm I'll sit, like and watch her play, and like sit and type or something, um, and she'll know. But like also, she's getting to the point like you want a snack? Okay, snack snack areas over there. Go get one. Like you, you don't need like, how do I make this so that you can access it more and be the most independent you can be? Um, because we're at that, she's at that point where she needs it. So it's also like been really healthy for me to kind of separate.
Speaker 1:Yes, yeah, I feel like that makes such a difference too, and I and I think, too, you never know what your kids are absorbing, um, from you, like by you know taking the time to, from you, like by you know taking the time to, to follow that, like even my, my middle daughter is, she's 14, 15 now, and she wants to write a book too and I'm like, oh, it's so cool to see that and all of her friends, like, they're all obsessed with reading and all of this, like, so it's so cool to see that be the, the trend, like the thing that, like, the teenagers are into now.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, and like to have like that. I don't know. My daughter's like really into reading too, and she's like we have a library and she's like, oh, and we can put this in the library and this library and you know, teaching her, I never knew the different parts of the copyright page until like this year. Yeah, and now she'll be like this is who did my cover. I talked to that person on the phone. This is who did the editing. This is when that happens. Or the other day I caught her like pretend writing, and she was like I was like what are you doing? She's like I'm writing a book. I'm like what's it about? She goes, you'll find out, you'll just read it. And I was like, okay, and she goes. I need to finish this now, though, so I'm done talking to you because I need to get this to my editor by tomorrow. And she like used my editor's name and I told my editor and she was like, oh, let her know, she can have an extra day if she needs it.
Speaker 1:I love that. That's so funny. It's like that's the sweetest thing. I yeah, and I feel like it's just such a yeah, just to see kids like foster that no-transcript way that I thought was kind of hard to access. A hundred percent, a hundred percent. Well, I'd love to hear a little bit more about your like journey with the, you know, marketing side of things. Obviously, the book is out in the world. Um, how, how have you found that part of, uh, the indie publishing?
Speaker 2:Oh, I mean that's, that's a whole nother job to itself. Um, I um lucky enough that one of my very good friends, um, laura, she's um, she's also a PA, and so she and I actually made the decision together. Like well, she'll say I made the decision, which I kind of did, but um sat down and sat down and talked to her for like 30 minutes. I was like I think I'm going to do this. Do you think that we could make this work? And um, she's lovely, she's in the bookstagramming community, she's in like she, she knows what she's doing, she's creative, um, and she's got, she's got a great mind for business. Um, and she can see things that I don't always see. So it's not like I'm doing it alone. So I took her on and we've kind of just been going through this, this journey together and um, and and I'll be like I'll see something on social media and I'll be like, oh, I want to do this, or I'll get a creative idea and I'll say, oh, I want to do this, how would we do this? And she will just knock it out of the park and quicker, like she'll give me like a thousand options in a quicker amount of time than ever I could get it done. So, which really leaves room for me to A go back to reading and writing, which I believe as a writer, you should still be reading and, um, as a, as a mom, to have that time where it's not just like I am torn in three different directions, and you just need to, like I said she's independent but she doesn't just carry on with life right around. You just need to, like I said she's independent, but she doesn't just carry on with life right around. So, um, and you know, and I'm, I still love my husband, I love being with him and we have a good time and we still have family time and vacation. So, um, she has been integral to the marketing for me.
Speaker 2:Um, I love reaching out and talking to people. So I I love hearing about, like you, I like hearing about what different people's processes are and and how those ideas go from like tiny little ants into an entire colony and like this cohesive anthill, if you will. And, um, so chatting with other authors about how they do it. I mean a couple of author groups who support each other very, very strongly and we're always kind of sharing like new things and new techniques on how what's working and what's not. I feel like the big word is algorithm and everyone trying to figure out the algorithm. I haven't quite. I have no idea what I'm doing in terms of the algorithm. I feel like it consistently changes. I'm just kind of out here doing my thing and and I know I found my people doing the same thing, so that you know you do your thing and you know people who enjoy that will follow along. So it's just getting the word out there that hey, this is a new, this is a new sub genre, this is a new way that we're going.
Speaker 1:If you're looking into something new, yes, I feel like that's such an amazing thing. Like, yes, I feel like having a PA would be like a dream come true of like help me with all of the things right. Like it's just, it's so much. And I think, like you make some great points of like just do what you find fun. Like that's how I approach it. I'm like if there's a fun trend that's going on, I'm like I think that's hilarious, I will definitely be doing that. If there's something else that I'm not into, I'm not like I'm not going to do it. So like you just gotta, you gotta do what you like, and I think that's what people appreciate of just like you're authentically you. And I don't think I don't think we will ever figure out the algorithm. Like it makes no sense.
Speaker 1:It's literally impossible and I feel like the more I disconnect from it, the better of a time I have creating content and social media stuff. Because, like I'm never gonna win, I don't know what it's doing, it just it's just floating in its ether and then eventually it something hits and you're like, okay, cool, this worked.
Speaker 2:I don't know, yeah, and then you go try to formula, do the formula the next day. It's like nope, that's not nope, no not, it not at all.
Speaker 1:So I figure like yeah, like you said, just really having fun with it and just um, and I think also that community aspect is a really important piece as well of just like finding a community that you can kind of network with and connect with, because yeah, it's, it's a lot when you're doing it all by yourself.
Speaker 2:Right, and I I think that's the great thing about well, I know, especially indie writing like writing right now is you can go and find a community of writers that like really like just help soothe your soul and and make, make it not so that it's just you and a computer screen.
Speaker 2:Like no, like I'm sitting here like contemplating my next book and going, oh man, okay, which one of my friends like okay, who would be like really good at talking me through a magic system, like I'm having some trouble with this right now and I really have to hammer it out, like where which one of my friends like who's writing a lot, who's like not writing a lot, who's like where are we at in our stages? Who's marketing more at this point? Like who has a little bit of time to give, but also like who really flourishes when it comes to that kind of creativity, versus like more like the character creativity, because I do feel like everybody does have a strength and you're working on all of your weaknesses and all your strengths at one time when you are writing a book. So, um, like having the community of people that you can rely upon to kind of just like say, oh hey, did you try it this way. Nope, never would have thought to thank you.
Speaker 1:Right, yeah, I feel like that's key and I think, yeah, right, and I think, at least for me. I find like creativity thrives in that sort of like a community connection and I sometimes need to talk out ideas and be like, oh duh, like this is so obvious, how did I not see this before? So to have somebody that they're just listening to me, like try and make sense of what's going on in my brain, that is chaotic, um, it's such a blessing, oh, it's so nice, it's so nice.
Speaker 2:And someone just to say, just stop, like you're overthinking like just take a break Like that's all. Go for a walk.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, a hundred percent. Good, it is hard and I feel like just having that person that's like, please don't delete your work, it is not bad. Go, like, turn your computer off and have a snack, like it is time for you to take a break.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's five o'clock. Sit at the glass of wine, have a little time. Come back to it tomorrow, please, right, especially when it comes to imposter syndrome which I think everybody kind of goes through once in their own way.
Speaker 2:Like just having someone who I don't, I don't know. I have one of my friends, I just call her. I'm like, so I'm feeling this way right now. I just need to let you know and she'll be like stop. And I'll be like okay, but like you have to have someone like willing to listen to, like, and you believe like cool, now we can move on. I just needed to get that out into the world and out of my body like someone's, just like a little poison that just kind of drips in my body, that I'm just like I just need to get this out of here and then I can't and I think it's so normal.
Speaker 1:I I feel like I hear like I'll see a lot of writers talking about like imposter, and I'm like to me it's just part of the process, like it'll pop up and it's just a reminder that I care about the work. Like I feel like that's what I view. That sort of stuff of like oh wow, like I really want this to land with readers. So obviously it makes sense that I would be scared, uh, and it's such a vulnerable process, uh, to write as well. So like it makes so much sense and I think every author struggles with like it doesn't matter how successful you are. I'm confident they probably deal with a whole level of imposter syndrome that we just aren't privy to, right right, absolutely.
Speaker 2:And I think well, and we're so as writers we're not used to it's us and maybe a computer screen or like, if you're doing it pen and paper, it's very easy. You're not getting immediate feedback. So, like you have to and you can't just be like, I mean, maybe you have an alpha. I mean I quilt, so it's really hard for me to have an alpha when I'm like skipping all over the book. But, um, or maybe you like, or until you get to your beta area, like you don't know what's hitting and what's not.
Speaker 2:And I mean I liken it to like how comedians, um, will go out and test stuff because they need to get reactions on what's working and what's not, so like they have to be ready to have how many jokes just flop in front of them before they put like their tour set together that they're no, like the ups and downs and like, okay, this hits at least half the room, this one's going to hit, this one will hit everybody. So I'm gonna put this at the end. But like to be able to get that feel for okay, I feel it's very similar to writing a book, like, okay, well, this works for in some way, but it gets us to the next point, and the next point really hit everybody when they were reading it in the fields. So, or it really hit me and that's what I want everybody to hit on, so like it's, it's a process.
Speaker 1:Yes, I feel that and I think that's so true, right like it is. It is hard when you're putting so much of you also in the story. I think I don't realize how much of that like, even if the story and the character, it's not really like anything that you would ever navigate in in your life there's still like those pieces of you, like all of that sort of stuff, get infused in the story. So it does feel like a very vulnerable like. Oh gosh, like are people gonna land? And I just, yeah, it's hard because you're you know you're gonna put it out in the world and somebody's not gonna like it, and that's like you can't avoid that, and I think that's kind of like a little scary. Uh, but then, like, who are you like? Are you really writing a good book if everybody loves it? Right like. I just don't think like. I think there's yeah, right it's.
Speaker 2:It's very valid, like art. Yeah, is it just? Is it a paper?
Speaker 1:right, yeah, like that's the and I think that there's something to yeah be said about that of it's. You are, yeah, you're writing a story, you're writing a piece of history. That was something that a fellow author, um, said to me and I was like, oh my gosh, that sticks so much, like wow, like, even if it's a fantasy or whatever, like uh, one that is, so it's still a piece of history which is so cool. And then you're putting it out into the world and people get to like experience that I, I'm.
Speaker 2:That's such a wild thing, and oh my gosh, you get a copyright and it's in the library of congress with like, with the what the declaration of independence, with like, all these other amazing works, like you've got f sc Fitzgerald, your book could be next to like who knows, right, that's wild.
Speaker 1:That is such a mind blowing thing, so fascinating to me. Well, I would love to hear how people can follow along with you on your writing journey and get their hands on your book and also your ones that are coming, because you know that's also important.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, okay, so currently, if grace of dragons is out, it's in the world. You can get it on Amazon, you can get it on a Kindle, you can get it for a KU, it's with Ingram spark, so you can get it Barnes and Noble, anywhere that you can order a book through Ingram. You can get assigned signed copies through me. I also have lovely merch Like. I have this gorgeous blanket of my, the map that was made, um, which has kind of like this Western feel to it. Um, and like, I've got these cute tote bags with some of my art, with some of the artwork that I have. Um, like quotes, shirts with like good quotes that people have told me are good quotes or ones that I really like. Um, my PA is always like coming up with something and I'm like, oh my gosh, like I have all of this. Um and or we'll like think of something new. Um, so, and you can see art, you can get stickers, all that fun stuff on Maggie hooperscom. Um, so, and you can see art, you can get stickers, all that fun stuff on Maggie hooperscom.
Speaker 2:Um, currently, well, and then, without, let's go, and then in April I will be at the flame and fantasy book market in Kansas city signing um on April 26th that's a Saturday um with a bunch of other authors and you can follow that I believe at. I think the Insta handler is at dark fantasy. Oh, also my Insta handles at Maggie hoop is dot author. That is where you can see all the day-to-day goodies um writing updates and just and fun clips and art and um, I think my Spotify playlist is linked on there for my book, which is also published in the book, which is actually full of bangers. Like if you like, if you, I'm not a huge like country fan, so like if you like the folksy, like Jim Croce, like traveling Wilburys, like some of the stuff that, like our parents really love or my parents really love, like it's a great playlist for that. I think Carol King's on there, but then I have like Doja Cat, so it's, it's all over the place. Um, it's, it's I think I listened to it all last summer.
Speaker 2:Um, I'm already working on book two, which is I haven't yet Well, I kind of have, but haven't completely announced the title. Um, some people have gotten sneak peeks, but it will be an interconnected standalone and it will follow many of the characters that were introduced in the last book but were more side characters, and it will be very female heavy, very um, stick it to the man, I want to say, um, just because the nature of those characters, and then it will also be sapphic. So I'm really excited to go down this route with these characters that I created and I was like you know what this kind of made. I kind of want to see what happens if you put the two of them together. Um, and it's kind of been lovely. So that should be out by in the fall of this year.
Speaker 2:Um, it took me a little bit longer to start it because I was also working on a paranormal romanticy, which I can kind of classify more as like a gas lamp, haunted piano situation. Oh, okay, then, completely different. Um, that one's on hiatus right now because this book, the book that I'm writing, was kind of begging to come out a bit more. So I had like a big conversation with my husband. I was like oh, I'm like I'm having trouble writing this. I don't know why the flow is not coming. He's like cause it doesn't sound like you're ready to write this book, like it sounds like you have this other book that you want to write more. He's like so go do that one. And I think but that will come out next year unless I come up with something else in the meantime. So amazing.
Speaker 1:I love it. Awesome. That's fantastic.
Speaker 2:And then I'll be, yeah, and then I'll be around a couple other conventions, as I'm going to be um another, my editor's PA for one convention, and then I will just be attending another convention, but, um, all those details are on my website. So, like, if you're looking for me, if you decide like, oh, hey, I have your book and I'm around, I'm happy to sign it for you and who knows what I'll have in my backpack that I'll be carrying around with me that day, that if you stop and say hi, what I'll, what I'll give you.
Speaker 1:I love it, you know. Just just lots of fun, so fun, awesome. Well, everything's linked in the show notes so it'll be super easy for people to find you and follow along. But it was lovely chatting and I am so fascinated by your yeah, your writing process and the stories. It just I love this stuff. I get so excited.
Speaker 2:Well, thanks for giving us the chance to share all of these authors that you've had on, and we'll continue to talk with about all the lovely worlds of uh of writing.
Speaker 1:I know it's amazing, except now I have a thousand books that I need to read. So yeah it's a bit of a pickle. It's a bit of a pickle. It's a bit of a pickle I mean, it's not the worst thing in the world. But also I need. I need like two months where I just go on a reading vacation.
Speaker 2:I actually did that with one of my best friends recently. We just took a like a weekend and we just brought all the books that we wanted to read and we just got two separate double beds and then we'd get up and like go get drinks, Then we'd come back and read.
Speaker 1:That is amazing. I need that in my life. Thanks so much for listening to today's episode. I would love if you would leave a review and also, if you loved the author that we chatted with, go find them on social media and hype them up, comment on their stuff, share their work, even if you can't buy the book. These kinds of things are great ways of supporting indie authors and getting their book in front of new readers. And if you are a writer or author in need of a developmental editor, please reach out. I would love to chat. Everything is linked in the show notes and it would be an absolute honor to be able to get eyes on your novel. So thanks again and listen to the next episode.
