Author Q&A with Beka Westrup
Author Q&A with Beka Westrup
Hey! Nice to meet you!! My name is Beka and I’m a 25 year-old author from the Pacific Northwest. When I’m not reading or writing, I’m dancing to Taylor Swift in my favorite coffee shop drive-through.
1. Tells us about your writing/ published book(s)
My debut indie novel is being published with Lake Country Press in December 2022. It’s a paranormal romance about a vampire that runs a hotel in the Arctic, where Polar Night liberated him three months a year.
2. Where’s your favourite place to write?
At my desk, with a candle burning and my twinkle lights on, OR weirdly, in the shower, because apparently showers make creative miracles.
3. How do you approach starting a new book?
I approach new books a lot like how one might approach buying something expensive. I try to focus on my regular life/current little projects until I literally can’t get the idea out of my head. Once the plot starts fully forming, I know I need to start drafting.
4. What’s your favourite genre to read?
Fantasy Romance.
5. Have you always wanted to write?
Yes, I’ve always written. It started with silly little ideas and sloppy notebook pages when I was a kid and now it’s snowballed into basically my entire personality (just kidding, sorta).
6. What do you do when you have writer’s block?
That is usually a sign that the project isn’t working and I need to readjust something about it, OR that I need an honest-to-god BREAK.
7. Do you like reading the same books you write?
I absolutely do. I truly believed reading in your same genre can spark a ton of ideas for your own work (noticing places where the author disappointed you and fill in that gap in your own writing, or by emulating the same attention to your own books in places where you felt that author did really well—learning the craft through reading is my favorite way to improve).
8. How do you choose your book’s title(s)?
Book titles tend to happen naturally for me. One day, in the middle of drafting usually, I’ll decide that I’m sick of the placeholder name and do some brainstorming. Sometimes it takes hours, sometimes it takes so deep dive Pinteresting. I have a lot of fun brainstorming titles.
9. What advice would you give to someone wanting to write their first book?
Get it done. Don’t read back until you finish. It’s okay if it’s really bad, that’s what editing is for. And be proud of yourself! You’re doing it! YOU’RE WRITING A BOOK! YOU’RE AN AUTHOR.
10. How do you approach ‘world building’?
I love, love world building. This is also something I love to spend time on. Often this process can be summed up in a couple questions. Say you have this magic you want to include in your WIP. First ask yourself HOW it works. Then, WHY is it there? I’ve found a lot of luck with just these two questions, because it often leads me to think about the lore of that part of my world, the origins, and that seeps into my actual story and plot.
11. How do you handle criticism?
With time. Once you have a CP you love and trust, the criticism doesn’t seem so harsh, because you know they want what’s best for your story. In the beginning though, it’s rough. Just take a deep breath, walk away for a minute if you need to, and then come back when you are ready to look at the feedback with a growth mindset (to see where you can improve your craft). Also keep in mind that you are your story’s best advocate, so you often ride that line between “changing for the better” and “knowing what is right for YOUR story”.
12. Tell me about your current work
Right now, I’m drafting the first book of a fantasy trilogy featuring seraphim and creepy merfolk. Think From Blood and Ash meets Throne of Glass, with a tough, red-headed MC investigating a trail of dismembered bodies washing up on shore.
This or That
Short books or Long books
Long Books.
Romance or Fantasy
UGH, I really don’t want to choose between Fantasy and Romance, but if I have to then Romance.
Bright book covers or Muted book covers
Bright book covers.
Ebooks, Paperbacks or Audiobooks
Paperbacks.
Writing in the Morning or Evening
Writing in the morning.
Character Driven or Plot Driven
Character Driven.
Finally, what’s the best piece of advice someone has given you about writing, marketing, or just generally about life?
The best advice I’ve ever gotten was actually a personal encouragement, but I think it applies to more than just me. Your voice is very special, no one in the world has the same stories to tell as you do, and don’t allow anything to tear you down or make you think that you can’t blaze a trail to your goals. Don’t give up, don’t wallow in discouragement. Get better through every disappointment and know that your time will come.
Where can you find Beka?
Where can you purchase Beka’s debut?
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