Welcome to the Literary Library Lounge where I interview fellow authors. Today, I am chatting with Nicole C. Luttrell from Butler, Pennsylvania.
Hi, Nicole. Welcome. Please tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Nicole C. Luttrell. The C stands for Christine. I was named for the Stephen King book. Here’s the fun thing, my maiden name was Ford. If you never saw the movie, Christine, you know she was a Ford Mustang. My parents thought themselves witty. I live in Butler, Pennsylvania. It’s an old steel town that’s slowly coming back to life. We have our very first Starbucks now.
Interesting. Also please tell us about your writing.
I’m a speculative fiction writer. I write Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror. Broken Patterns is my very first traditionally published book. It’s my baby. This series has pretty much encompassed my whole life for almost four years now. It just came out in December, which just made my year. I’ve also self published two other books. The first was a collection of short stories called Days and Other Stories. The second, and the one I’m most excited about, is a science fiction novella called Seeming. It’s the first in a series called Station 86. I’m planning on releasing at least two more Station 86 books this year.I’m hoping that this is going to be a big year for my books. Broken Patterns is the first book in a trilogy. The second book, titled Starting Chains, is done and I’m planning to submit it shortly. I’m currently working on book three, titled Missing Stitches.
I’ll be posting the second Station 86 book, titled ‘You Can’t Trust the AI’, on my website starting on February 15th.
Very nice. What other plans do you have for your writing in the future?
Over the next few years, I intend to finish the Woven trilogy. Once that’s done, I have plans for a two book collection connected to the trilogy. It will be in the same universe, but with a whole new cast of characters.
I also intend to write at least ten Station 86 novellas over the next three to four years.
I admire authors with so many projects in the works. I have several myself. I just wish I had more time to accomplish them.
Can you tell us about your ideal reader, Nicole?
I often picture my ideal reader as a young adult or new adult. I’d hope that my books can reach a wide age demographic. You’re never too old or young for a good story.
Vert true.
What advice would you give to writers trying to break into publishing?
The best advice I can give to an unpublished writer is this; Understand you’re a writer right now. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never been published, you’re a writer if you write.
Keep writing. Keep sending your work out to publishers and agents and fiction magazines. When you get a rejection letter, and you will get rejection letters, send your work out again. And again and again.
Absolutely. A writer has to be persistent. There’s a lot of competition out there, but also a lot of markets. It takes time to find the right one.
Can you tell us about the struggles you faced before becoming published?
I have to say, the biggest struggle I faced in getting published was finding the time to write and submit. I work a full-time job and have two kids. I had to learn to get by on seven hours of sleep, write before the kids get up and get real serious about time management. I had to give up some hobbies and scale some others way back. But it’s worth it.
I can sympathize. I also work full-time and have a daughter. I do most of my writing at 5 am before I go to work and my daughter leaves for school. I’m a morning person, so that seems to work for me, but that’s still not enough time to get the myriad activities an author needs to do, as you mention. I have to sneak extra time in on the weekends when I can.
Have you taken any writing classes or courses?
I’ve never taken any creative writing classes, but I did study Journalism in high school. I was on my school paper for three years.
I was on my college paper for several years myself, Nicole. I didn’t study journalism but got experience from that. I was an English major and then I studied library science later to become a librarian. I’ve worked at a public library for 25 years.
Can you tell me about your hobbies?
When I’m not writing, I’m usually reading. I also crochet, knit, play video games and watch way too many cartoons.
lol. I’m sure the cartoons are a great way to relieve stress.
What do you like most and least about writing?
The thing I love most about being a writer is sharing my stories with other people. I love knowing that someone else read one of my stories and enjoyed it. I’ve spent most of my life loving stories, so I’m glad to give that to someone else.
The worst thing, I think, about any form of art, is having someone misinterpret it. Think of what happened with Catcher on The Rye, or all of the drug insinuations over Alice in Wonderland. That’s my fear.
I think it’s important for authors to write what they believe in and feel in their hearts. I know that it’s hard not to wonder about the reaction of your words on readers, but you can’t worry about that. There will be people who love your writing, those that hate it, and many others in between.
Thanks so much for the great interview, Nicole, and best wishes on your future books. Please list your social media links, so people can connect with you.
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/nicolecluttrell86/
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