As seen in the January issue of Uncaged Book Reviews.
Uncaged: How did you make the leap to author from the fashion and marketing world? What inspired your writing?
I always loved writing, I even wrote a screenplay that was performed at my junior high or Gymnasium as we say in Austria. However, I grew up in the nineties in Austria and saying you wanted to be an author was akin to saying you wanted to be a unicorn back then. In my mid-twenties, I realized that the corporate world simply wasn’t for me, and that I missed being creative and having autonomy. These reasons led to me writing again. Amazon and the opportunities it provides for indies, finally allowed me to make the leap into self-publishing.
As for what inspires my writing—everything. I know that’s such a cliché, but I really do get ideas while walking, taking a shower, watching people, as well as from other books, movies, and TV shows.
Uncaged: Fluidis Rising is your debut novel, is that correct? It’s the first book of The Ardere Series, can you tell me how many books are planned for the series?
Yes, it is my debut novel. Five books are planned in the series. Fluidus Rising is already available on Amazon, the second book Mirror Sacrifice will be published in February. The complete series will become available in 2018.
Uncaged: Can you give readers more information about the book?
Absolutely. Sierra Reeves thought her whole life that she was a normal girl, but on her eighteenth birthday she’s thrown into the supernatural world. She must learn in a short time a lot about this secret society and how to control her growing telekinetic powers. To stay safe from those that want to harm her, she teams up with Gavin, who is as stubborn as he is handsome.
Sparks fly, and tension rises, especially when a serial killer targets Savannah.
Uncaged: As a reviewer, I’m always curious as to what authors can take away from the reviews, do you read them and what do you take away from the reviews?
Yes, I do, every single one. Reviews are great. Writing is such a solitary experience, you can go for weeks creating something without any feedback. Then you get betas who might be great writers, but not necessary your target audience. When the reviews start to trickle in, you really get some feedback regarding whether you achieved what you wanted to, and if readers are connecting with your characters and the world you created.
Uncaged: Can you tell us what you have coming up next?
Mirror Sacrifice is coming out in February. This is the second book, and Sierra has to tackle her elemental abilities as well as the snobbish elite in London. She and Gavin drift apart, and there’s a new leading man in her life.
Uncaged: How long on average does it take you to write a full book? What is your writing process?
Two weeks to outline. Two months to write and edit. Then it goes to my betas. This is followed by a rewrite and sending it to my editor.
My writing process starts with the question: where do I want the story to go? Once I know the ending, I do a chapter by chapter outline. And then it’s time to sit down and type word after word in my Word Document.
Uncaged: What is your favorite parts about being an author? What have you found to be the least favorite?
Favorite is to create characters and a universe and writing high-stakes, tension-filled scenes.
Editing can be hard. You feel like you’re that close to the finish line, but it always takes five times longer than you expected it to.
Uncaged: What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?
Traveling and exploring the world. I went to Cuba recently and hope to see Asia in the next few years.
Uncaged: What is the hardest part of a book to write? What is the easiest?
The hardest part are the transitioning scenes, which are necessary but have low tension and can be boring to write.
The easiest for me is dialogue. It’s like a ping pong match that escalates with every hit.
Uncaged: What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?
Thank you so much for your support! Without you I wouldn’t be able to live out my dream.
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[symple_box color=”black” fade_in=”false” float=”center” text_align=”left” width=””]Margo Ryerkerk is the author of The Ardere Series, a YA paranormal series about magic, love, coming of age, and friendships. After completing a BS in Psychology, a MS in Marketing, and a two-years stint in the fashion world, she became a full-time author and can’t believe she gets to spend her days creating stories. When she’s not writing, she loves to read, travel, and dance to pop anthems. Raised in Austria, Margo now lives in the USA with her husband and her Pomeranian.[/symple_box]
