An interview with Rebecca Loomis
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This week's indie author interview is with Rebecca Loomis! Please make sure to connect with Rebecca and check out the full interview on our website.
A little bit about you and your life, your hobbies, your interests, etc.
"My name is Rebecca Loomis (R. Loomis) and I'm an elementary music teacher who writes books in my free time. I love singing, playing ukulele, and of course reading everything I can get my hands on. I also love spending time with my dog, Treble."
Info about your latest book and/or the book you'd most like to promote
"Touch of Kindness is a Young Adult Fantasy book about a Texas teen who is transported to a magical world and told she's engaged to their handsome prince, whether she wants to be or not. It features mythical creatures, Princess Diaries vibes, and a slow-burn romance, but it is completely explicit free and is perfect for ages twelve and up. Touch of Kindness is available anywhere books are sold online, including my website, rloomisbooks.com. This book is the first of a trilogy and the second instalment, Taste of Bravery, releases on September 30."
Any details you'd like to share about what you're currently working on
"I'm currently editing the third book in the trilogy which is slated to be released next June. I also have a dystopian novel and a dark academia novel finished and am searching for an agent to represent them."
What inspired you to get into writing and what keeps you motivated?
"A literal dream. I've always enjoyed writing, but I never considered being an author until March 2021. I'd been reading a ton and one night I found myself without a book to read. My mind filled in the gaps and as I was laying in bed, a vision of a pale hand rising from a grave started playing in my head. After a couple hours of this, I decided to go write it down so I could go to sleep. Two weeks later, I had the first draft of Touch of Kindness and the rest is history. What keeps me motivated are the readers who loved my story and want more. It's for them that I keep going."
Your opinions on indie vs trad publishing and why you chose the route you did
"I started my writing journey being traditionally published by a small press. But last November, my publisher closed its doors and all rights were reverted to me. Considering I already had a book out and wanted to keep the story going, I decided to indie publish the rest of the trilogy. While the expenses of indie publishing are substantial, I absolutely love having total control from editing to the cover design. It's also amazing to be able to sell signed copies of books on my website and wrap each book up with bookish goodies for my readers."
What challenges have you faced during your writing and publishing journey?
"Well, having my publisher close was definitely a challenge. I had to learn how to self-publish, making tons of mistakes along the way, but also learning so much. It's been a struggle to keep my spirits up when sales are nonexistent and it seems like no one wants to read my book. But through it all, I've had wonderful family and friends who have been super supportive. I couldn't have done all this without them."
What advice would you give to someone beginning their writing journey?
"Write the story you want to write. If you don't want to fit the norms of what's popular, you don't have to. Your story has a place in this world and it will mean so much more if you stick with what you want. Only you can tell your story, so do it."
Name an author that inspired you to write and why
"V.E. Schwab is an author who has inspired me, mainly because every time I read something she's written I'm blown away by how epic it is. She doesn't shy away from telling her story, all the while creating beautiful prose and world building that is exceedingly memorable. I highly recommend her books."
Anything else you'd like to discuss in terms of being a writer, self-publishing, a fun fact about yourself, anything.
"A fun fact about me is I can see the book I'm writing in my head. It plays like a movie, but I can smell what my character smells, hear what they hear. It's like I'm there living the life of my character and that is a really cool feeling."