Tell our readers briefly about yourself.
Hi, I'm Claudia. I have a day job, a couple of kids, a hubby, but my real passion is writing sci-fi and fantasy books! I'm really bad about just picking one genre per book - the people in my head don't work that way. But I swear the genre-mixing makes my books super interesting!
What books do you have available?
If you like sci fi I have the Relic Trilogy completed. Time is coming apart at the seams, and a tech-savvy teenage orphan is the only one who can save the past and the future…
If you like Fantasy, then I have the Merged Series set in a world where the human world and the world of myth were put in a blender and set to crush ice.
If you like a more urban fantasy, feel I have the supernatural detective agency set in northern Minnesota
Can you tell us about your most recent release?
I have an upcoming release on the Renegades Rising which is the prequel series for the Relic Trilogy and all about Ravenne.
Do you stay in one genre when you write, or do you find yourself veering toward others?
I veer. I love fantasy and science elements.
Are you a panster, planner, or someone in between?
Mostly pantser. I use mostly the flashlight method, where I have the gist, but write just ahead to the next point in the story.
What is your writing routine like?
I used to be a writer at night, but the new school the kids go to starts an hour earlier. Who knew an hour could cause such a writing shake up? I've struggled to find my groove since.
Tell me about your favorite character that you’ve created?
Ravenne. She is a mother who lost her seven-year old and blames herself - and the company she worked for at the time. She does some terrible things in the pursuit to fix that. Here's a chapter ending that I think encompasses her:
Her daughter was not dead.
All Ravenne had to do was invent time travel to save her.
Where do you get your ideas for world building?
I've read a lot of sci-fi, fantasy and played D&D. It all kinds mixes in my head and then something will fascinate me.
Do you add romance to your writing?
Yes! I am a romantic at heart.
What was your favorite scene to create?
I love when a scene surprises me. I wrote one recently where I went in expecting one thing and the characters that the POV character was interacting with did something unexpected.
Where do you get character inspiration?
They tell me things as I write about them that surprise me.
What genre do you prefer to read?
Romance. I will read pretty much any trope or subtype of romance.
Do you have any specific authors you follow and try to craft your work after?
There are too many to name. I love old school sci fi and fantasy.
Do you have any recurring themes in your book?
Secrets, love, sacrifice
What does your editing process look like?
A chaotic mess is refined through many, many layers of editing.
Do you have a preferred drink or snack that you eat/drink while writing?
I LOVE iced tea. I drink a lot of it.
When is your favorite time of day to write and why?
It was night time after the kids went to bed. Hubby works overnight shifts, so it was easier to find some time then.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
One of my favorite vacations was BWCA. This was before kids. We did a 7 or 8 day canoe trip. There were no cell phones, and it was camping. We did a route.
Marvel or DC? Do you have a favorite character?
Can I just say yes? Each character has their own appeal.
What hobbies do you have?
I play D&D with hubby and friends. We play a 3.5/3.0 home brew (meaning we have custom rules not found in the manuals or ignore certain rules because it slows down game play). I still dabble in jewelry making, mostly beading.
What defines success for you as an author?
I had an email from a reader the other day saying how much they liked a particular book.
What is your work space like?
Still not unpacked. I fear it will be years and I will still be saying, just a few more boxes left. I did get my books unpacked *cough* all 20 boxes *cough*
Do you have a selfcare routine that you follow?
I walk my dog. I really like sitting in silence or singing. I am not a great singer, but I have songs that I play while doing chores around the house.
What advice would you share with new or aspiring authors?
Keep writing. Keep trying.
Where can our readers find you?
About:
Claudia Blood’s love of epic fantasies led her from life as a research scientist right into that of an award-winning author. With works such as the Relic trilogy, Merged series, and the Supernatural Detective Agency, Claudia Blood’s work cover a wide range of genres and themes that have captivated many.
Juggling her roles as a wife, mom, and pet-wrangler doesn’t leave much free time, but what time Claudia has is filled to the brim with creating sci-fi and fantasy novels set in some worlds that are slightly familiar and some that are totally unique and new. Taking inspiration from all kinds of media, from Dungeons & Dragons to the Dresden Files as well as Alan Dean Foster and so much more, Claudia Blood crafts stories that entice readers and keep them wondering what will happen next.
Today Claudia Blood is working on a new series called Renegades Rising. To keep up to date with all of Claudia Bloods’ sci-fi and fantasy novel adventures feel free to sign up for Claudia Blood’s Newsletter by sending in your email through my contact page!