Blog Tour: Natasha D. Lane, Author of "The Pariah Child and the Ever-Giving Stone".

Greetings, booknerds! I have a special treat for you today: I'm hosting another blog tour! This time it's for Ms. Natasha D. Lane, author of several books, but most recently, "The Pariah Child and the Ever-Giving Stone". I am currently reading the book right now, and will have my review ready on the 22nd, the day of the books official release. But until then, I have an interview for you from the author herself plus all the information you could ever want on the book. Be sure to add this one to your TBR pile!

About the book:
When Sarah was four, she promised her mother she would be a good girl -- a proper young lady in their small country town -- and that she would ignore the creatures who appeared to her and whispered in her ear of things unknown. But like all creatures of myth and legend, they won’t be ignored forever.
 
Now thirteen, Sarah is attacked by a wolf with poisonous black fur and strange, human-looking eyes. With the help of a few unexpected friends, she manages to survive the attack but soon discovers the creatures have returned. They want Sarah to find a powerful gemstone and bring it to them in Lyrica, their magical homeworld.
 
Her new friends urge caution, however. There may be more monsters like the black wolf. And the creatures themselves are frightening. Can Sarah trust them? Stuck between reality and imagination, her mother’s wishes and her own desires, Sarah faces an impossible choice – break her promise or do nothing to save a world in peril.

---

Interview with Natasha:

How do you start writing a story?

            Sometimes I start with an outline but, more often than not, I just start writing and see
            where the story takes me. This makes editing more of a pain but each story doesn’t come
            to me as clearly as others. I guess I’m more of a prancer than a plotter. However, I’ve
            noticed the older I’ve become the more plotting/outlining I’ve started doing. My favorite
            thing to do is combine the plotter and prancer sides of me. It’s an odd mix but it works for
            me.

What part of a story is the hardest for you to write?

            The middle! Definitely the middle. It’s the section of a story where so much happens, so it pulls a lot out of me as a writer. It kind of forces me out of the comfort zone I fall into when I’m writing the beginning. Additionally, the middle is usually where the main conflict starts to unfold. Not the easiest scenes to write I’d say.

How do you know when a story is finished?

            When every character is where they need to be and each conflict has been settled as best it can, I know a book/series is over. It’s also kind of a feeling. You know when you’ve written that last line because it just feels solid and complete.

If you had to describe your writing style, what words come to mind?

            Lengthy and descriptive. I love describing scenery and physical sensations. Sometimes
            this love can cause me to write long paragraphs whose portions get cut out in editing. I
            don’t necessarily think being long-winded is a bad thing but there’s a time and place. I
            also know it’s not necessary to describe everything, so I keep that in mind, too.

How many words do you aim to write in a day? Do you have specific writing days?

            Besides the weekend, every day is a writing day for me. I set my week up like that
            because you never know when life will happen and you miss a day. I prefer keeping
            it open for any sudden changes.

            In terms of word count, I aim for 2000 a day in the beginning of a story. Then, near the
            end when the story is wrapping up, I cut it down to 1000 a day.

Are you one of those writers who’s immune to writer’s block? If not, what do you do to combat it?

            Those people actually exist? I thought they were like unicorns and leprechauns. :)
           
            Like any writer, I get writer’s block. Usually, it’s because I’m stressed. The stress doesn’t
            even have to be about writing but I know “the block” is a sign I need to step back and
            relax. Once I get my mind cleared over a few days, I come back to the story feeling fresh.

Thanks for your time, Natasha! If you want to check out Natasha's work for yourself, be sure to check out her book on Amazon, follow her on Goodreads, or like her on Facebook. But in case you need more from this talented author right now, I've got her bio all ready for you!

Natasha Lane enjoys reading a wide variety of genres, but fantasy has always been dear to her heart. After a brief stint in romance, Natasha’s returned to fantasy and currently has two works in the making. She plans on releasing her first fantasy novel “The Pariah Child & the Ever-Giving Stone” March 22, 2018.
 
Natasha hopes one day to be a well known published author, whose writing informs as well as entertains her reader.
 
Besides being a bookworm, Natasha is a documentary junkie, rom-com addict, health advocate, entrepreneur, and chef (in her own way).
 
She currently resides in Baltimore, MD. Despite where life may take her, one thing is certain. Natasha will always keep writing.

---