Everyone knows that the holiday season is about giving. With Saturday Spotlight I am able to give all year round. Help me support these lesser-known authors and get their novels into the hands of more readers! Take a chance on something new this holiday season.

Today I am happy to bring you Shaila Patel! I was first introduced to her when I participated in a cover reveal for one of her books. She is fantastic and I hope you all like her as much as I do.

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About the Author

Shaila Patel, a member of RWA and SCBWI, is a pharmacist by training, a medical office manager by day, and a writer by night. She is the author of the #ownvoices, award-winning, YA paranormal romance, SOULMATED, and FIGHTING FATE, released in April 2018.

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Shaila’s Novels

 

Soulmated

 

 

Fighting Fate

 

 

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Interview

 

Welcome to The Bibliophagist Shaila! I am happy to have you here. Thank you for participating in an interview for your beloved fans.

 

When did it really dawn on you that you were officially a published author? Was it the first review, the publication acceptance? Tell us a little bit about how that felt.

Reading the email offer from the publisher was probably the first “holy cow” moment, but I don’t think it was until I held my printed book in my hand for the first time did I really feel like an author. I hadn’t seen it until the American Library Association Mid-Winter conference, and I might have left my copy on the pillow beside me at the hotel that night! LOL!

That is funny but I have to say that when I am in your shoes, I would have done the same thing.

 

 

Many writers have a muse for different characters in their novels. Was that the case for you? Who inspired your characters, how did they come to be?

My characters come organically to me, so I don’t have muses for them exactly. But once I start “seeing” them in my head, I might cast them with celebrities like you often see on inspiration boards. My boards might even have several famous actors/models to represent one character. That helps me visualize different aspects or traits that I see in my hero or heroine—like a smile, a hairstyle, or even a flirtatious look.

I notice that even readers begin to visualize by casting characters from books they have read. Having multiple people, I agree, helps to see different characteristics.

 

 

Who is your favorite character from your novel Fighting Fate and why?

Lucky and Liam are always going to be my favorite characters, but I’d have to say writing Patrick (Liam’s dad) is always the most fun! He has a passionate heart, and whether he’s being silly (as he often does to get a laugh) or he’s having an argument with his son, it’s a blast to write a scene with him in it.

I have to say that Liam and Lucky were my favorites as well but I too loved Patrick. He always brought some humor to the story.

 

 

How did you come up with the premise for your book series?

In this case, I’d come up with the characters first, and when I was brainstorming the type of world I wanted to create for them, the idea of empaths intrigued me. It was my mom who actually inspired it. She always had a knack of knowing what we were all feeling when we were kids. I used to think she had a superpower when in actuality she was probably just reading our body language. If empaths existed, imagine how tough that level of communication would be among teenagers who were learning how to be in a relationship for the first time. The rest fell into place as soon as the scenes started writing themselves!

As a mom, I can say we just know. I am not sure how to explain it but when my kids are upset I can just feel it.

 

 

Typically, how many drafts does your novel go through prior to being published?

With every novel, there’s writing and there’s storytelling to work on. When you’ve had good editors who’ve taught you a thing or two, it’s easier to spot the writing mistakes sooner with each book you write. Storytelling is harder. For me, the faster I draft a manuscript, the worse my storytelling gets. I need several sets of eyes from critique partners to beta readers to point out where my story isn’t pulling its weight. For my debut, Soulmated (Book 1), I’d say I had about fifteen drafts. For Fighting Fate (Book 2), I had maybe half that. Book 3 is coming along nicely, and I expect about 5 drafts. I suspect this will change with every book—some will be worse, others better.

Writing a book is a lot more work than many think. I am excited to read book 3 when it is closer to release day! If you have not read this series yet…yes I am talking to you, the person reading this…go and read it now.

 

 

Have you ever taken advice from a negative review and incorporated it into your writing?

I have actually! As I learned more about storytelling, I knew there were deficiencies in my novel. Any author will tell you the same thing: you get better the more you write. Looking back at Book 1, I was called out on things I both agreed and disagreed with. When approaching Fighting Fate’s revisions, I kept a special eye on the areas I knew I wanted to improve. Constructively critical reviews can be a great way to learn how to improve your writing and grow a thick skin. It’s okay not to agree with a critic. You can’t please everyone.

I really think that reader feedback is a powerful tool for learning and growing as you continue to write. It is hard to read a negative review but I think the important thing to remember is that not everyone will love your book and that is ok.

 

 

Is there a sequel in the works…well you have already mentioned book 3 so… Can you tell us about it?

Yes! Book 3 is currently in the editing process. It’s the final installment in the Joining of Souls series, but leaves it open for a possible spinoff!

What a way to tease readers! I am looking forward to it.

 

 

Many say that books die when turned into a movie, what do you think?  Can you give an

example or a terrible and well-done book to movie adaptation?

In the last 5 years or so, I’ve been juggling a day job and writing, so I haven’t been keeping up with movies or television. The few I have seen were fine, but not worth mentioning. So my answers come from nothing recent: Eragon by Christopher Paolini and Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Eragon had a terrible film adaptation. I expect a movie might be different than a book for practical reasons, but to me, Eragon was jaw-droppingly (yes, I made up that word) awful. I expected the Life of Pi adaptation (a book I also loved) to be equally bad because of how literary and character-driven the story was, but I was extremely impressed. The best way I can describe it is to say, the artists behind the movie made it as visually beautiful as the author had made the written words in the book. It was faithful in its artistry.

I loved Life of Pi and the movie, I too think, was amazingly well done.

 

 

What is your favorite season to write in and why?

Easy. Fall. The colors are inspiring, and the weather just screams “cozy up with a book!”—or a laptop in my case!

I too love the fall! The colors are beautiful and it is perfect cuddle and read weather.

 

 

What advice would you give to a struggling first-time writer?

It would depend on what the writer is struggling with, but first and foremost, art is a mind game most days. So my advice is to believe in yourself!

Very well put!

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Giveaway

 

Shaila is willing to participate in a giveaway! The winner will be able to choose either Soulmated (book 1) or Fighting Fate (book 2) as their prize. This is open internationally. If the winner is international, they will receive an e-copy of one of the books where US residents would receive a physical copy. Be sure to get those entries in and tell your friends.

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