Author Wednesday – Alicia Love

Welcome to Author Wednesday. Today I welcome Alicia J. Love, author of young adult science fiction. She’s a self-published author of The Seven Uniters Series, the short story collection The Seven Uniters: The Originals, as well as a paranormal novella. She is currently working on the third installment in The Seven Uniters Series, Redemption, which will be released this fall.

I’m so glad you could stop by for an interview today, Alicia. Do you recall when you first called yourself either a “writer” or “author?”

I have been writing all my life, but the transition between being able to write and becoming an author was astoundingly simple. I began writing my first book, Reincarnation, in the fall of 2012 and finished it in February of this year. And then, all of a sudden, I was an author. It was such an empowering realization, and it was so easy. That is one of the things I love about being an author: it is a title I can take, a career I can choose, all on my own. It is an amazing feeling.

I agree. It really clicked for me when I went the Indie Author route, as you have. What messages or themes do you try to convey to your readers?

My books all seem to center around one theme. The Seven Uniters Series is about a teenage girl who is abused and alone. She is essentially the underdog, until she discovers that she is so much more. My books are about finding your strengths, your weaknesses, and asserting yourself in the world. The story is about Hailey finding herself and finding out that she is so much more than she ever could have imagined.

Those are such important messages to get out to everyone, but most decidedly to teens. Good for you. What are you working on right now?

I have written two books, two short stories, and a novella. My books are the first two in The Seven Uniters Series, Reincarnation and Revolution, following Hailey, a girl who is reincarnated from the legendary Seven Uniters, a group of beings gifted with powers in order to maintain balance in the universe. My short stories are the first two in the collection The Seven Uniters: The Originals and each installment will be a story of each of the original Seven Uniters. I also decided to test my skills in the world of paranormal romance and wrote a 100-page novella called Esther’s Progeny about a Vampire discovering the last of the Seer, and trying to turn her to make her into a hybrid. Of course, it goes wrong, and the story is about them trying to fix what they ended up breaking.

Do you have a favorite character that you created?

Hailey is definitely my favorite character. There is so much of me in her. She was abused, and down on herself, and has so many issues. But, with each turn of the page, she gets a little bit stronger. I know that as a reader you will be rooting for her from day one, and you will grow with her as the series continues.

She sounds like a survivor who can provide inspiration for others. Will you continue writing in this same genre?

The Seven Uniters Series is mainly young adult science fiction, and I will write it until it is finished. But I do want to write in other genres. I have always loved fantasy, witches, and magic, and would love to write a book or three about them. I am always coming up with new ideas for different stories in all different genres. When I have finished with Hailey’s story, we’ll see what I end up writing next. It could be anything!

What’s the best thing said about one of your books by a reviewer?

During a radio interview with Tom Riddell and The Writer’s Lounge, my first book, Reincarnation, was applauded, but my second book, Revolution, was complimented in ways I had never expected. Tom said not only that he would give Revolution thirteen out of five stars, but also said it was written better than a book he was reading by a bestselling author. It was absolutely amazing to hear that from a professional reviewer.

That is certainly high praise. Congratulations. What are you working on at this moment?

I am currently working on the third installment in The Seven Uniters Series, Redemption. Hailey’s adventure continues on another planet. Quite a few things are different in this book than the other two. I have tried to incorporate more elements of fantasy, as well as bringing religion into the picture. You will simply have to read it to know more.

How did you choose the title?

I love how the title of Redemption worked out. Since Reincarnation and Revolution both begin with the letter R, it became a theme. But I couldn’t figure out what to name the third book for the longest time. I had my outline, and I knew the main point of the story, but I couldn’t find a word. Then, I stumbled upon the word Redemption, and a whole new story seemed to flourish within me. The name brought the religious aspect into play, which actually brought the story full circle, completing it.

That’s a great feeling when that happens as an author. Thank you for giving us a little insight into your books and your writing life. I wish you much success in all your future endeavors.

About Alicia Love by Alicia: I was born in the magnificent metallic city of Seattle, WA. I was raised in a nice neighborhood in West Seattle, and went to a few different schools. When I was at the ripe young age of eleven, my mother whisked me off to live in the beautiful state of Hawaii, smack dab in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Although it was exotic, gorgeous, and a wonderful and enriching experience, it turned out to be short-lived. After two years of paying $8 for a gallon of milk, we finally moved back to the rainy Pacific Northwest, otherwise known as home. We moved a little south, though, so I once again made new friends. I moved out at the age of seventeen, and now live across the state, only a hop, skip and a jump from Idaho, and also only a few miles from Canada, with my fiance and our two cats.