H S Skinner has been an avid reader since she figured out those little squiggles on paper were the keys to magic portals leading to other worlds. She has since visited many worlds and experienced many diverse things.
In this world, she loves being outside, hiking, or exploring nature. Water is a big draw, whether it’s a creek or an ocean. Dogs and horses are in danger of being seriously spoiled if they come anywhere near, and so are kids. She loves baking, cooking, crafting, and creating. Sharing these loves with her family and friends is one of her greatest joys in life.
Q.1 Tell us something about yourself that not many people know?
A. Whew! That’s a hard one for me! I am pretty much an open book, but let’s go with… I am related to the Blue people of Kentucky, the Blue Fugates. Sadly, I am not blue.
Q.2 When should we expect your next book? What will it be about?
A. June and July of 2024. I have a two-book set finished and ready to publish. This set is a hawt romance. Having lost the loves of her life, Tally has dedicated her life to the foundation she started to aid Wounded Warriors in memory of her - as far as she knows - deceased love.
Q.3 When did you decide to write The Dragonsisters trilogy?
A. About twelve years ago. As with most of my stories, Renny pretty much “appeared” in my head, demanding I write her story down. She dragged some friends of hers along, and before I knew it, I had three books written!
Q.4 What challenges did you face while writing this series?
A. Like most authors, I have to have a “real” job to support my habit. So, time. At the same time, we were also helping our daughter raise her two toddler boys while she worked full-time and went to school. Time to write has always been my greatest challenge.
Q.5 How many books have you written? Which one is your favorite?
A. I have 14 published, and probably twice that many in progress, anywhere from 99% finished to just a couple paragraphs written down so I won’t forget something the characters said or did.
Q.6 Which character(s) in this series or any other book(s) spoke to you the most?
A. Jennilee, Renny, and Maggie. I love strong women who just do what they have to and manage to live their lives to the fullest while doing it.
Q.7 Why did you choose to write under two different names and two different genres?
A. Ah. That one’s easy-peasy! While I don’t care what anyone reads, some of my adult books published under H S Skinner can get very…spicy! I needed a division between my adult and YA, so YA was published under Heidi Skinner.
Q.8 What is the best piece of advice you have received as a writer to date?
A. If you want to be a writer, be a reader! Read stuff you love, read stuff you hate, read mediocre stuff, and learn from all of it! What do you like about the writing? What do you hate? What could you phrase differently so it made more sense and was more appealing? And always, always pay attention to spelling, grammar, and punctuation until it becomes second nature to catch mistakes!
Q.9 Can you tell us about the process of developing the intricate dynamics between Dragonriders, Dragonhaters, and the Dragons themselves?
A. To have a good heroine - Renny and her dragons - you have to have a horrible adversary - the dragonhaters - and a conflict. In Renny’s case, long before she knows she’s the Last Dragonhealer, she is compelled to try and save dragons. When she finds out some of the dying dragons have been tortured… That’s when it gets interesting, and Renny truly begins to shine.
Q.10 The blurb for book one mentions a protagonist named Renny. What inspired their character, and how do they fit into the larger narrative?
A. Renny and her dragon pretty much popped into my head fully formed, and I just fleshed out her story from there. Without Renny, there wouldn’t be a story! Everything revolves around Renny's ability to save the dragons.
Q.11 Book two introduces two strong, determined women from different worlds. What challenges do they face in working together, and how do they complement each other?
A. Qilla and Kelly have no idea the other exists until Kelly’s wizard knocks Qilla’s dragon out of the sky with a misplaced spell. Becoming instant friends despite their foolish significant others, both women must untangle centuries-old curses and cross space and time to save the wizard and dragon.
Q.12 The third book focuses on Kelly's dilemma in a wizard's tower. What themes or messages did you aim to explore through her character and situation?
A. No situation is as hopeless as it seems, and friends and family are always a great part of the solution.
Q.13 Tell us about your writing process while you’re working?
A. Let the dog- we have an extremely demanding Blue Heeler - out. Type, type, type. Let the dog in. Type, type, type. Let the dog out. Type… Oh, now she needs a treat. Type… Go to work, think about my characters, and scribble down scenes and dialogue.
A. Whew! That’s a hard one for me! I am pretty much an open book, but let’s go with… I am related to the Blue people of Kentucky, the Blue Fugates. Sadly, I am not blue.
Q.2 When should we expect your next book? What will it be about?
A. June and July of 2024. I have a two-book set finished and ready to publish. This set is a hawt romance. Having lost the loves of her life, Tally has dedicated her life to the foundation she started to aid Wounded Warriors in memory of her - as far as she knows - deceased love.
Q.3 When did you decide to write The Dragonsisters trilogy?
A. About twelve years ago. As with most of my stories, Renny pretty much “appeared” in my head, demanding I write her story down. She dragged some friends of hers along, and before I knew it, I had three books written!
Q.4 What challenges did you face while writing this series?
A. Like most authors, I have to have a “real” job to support my habit. So, time. At the same time, we were also helping our daughter raise her two toddler boys while she worked full-time and went to school. Time to write has always been my greatest challenge.
Q.5 How many books have you written? Which one is your favorite?
A. I have 14 published, and probably twice that many in progress, anywhere from 99% finished to just a couple paragraphs written down so I won’t forget something the characters said or did.
Q.6 Which character(s) in this series or any other book(s) spoke to you the most?
A. Jennilee, Renny, and Maggie. I love strong women who just do what they have to and manage to live their lives to the fullest while doing it.
Q.7 Why did you choose to write under two different names and two different genres?
A. Ah. That one’s easy-peasy! While I don’t care what anyone reads, some of my adult books published under H S Skinner can get very…spicy! I needed a division between my adult and YA, so YA was published under Heidi Skinner.
Q.8 What is the best piece of advice you have received as a writer to date?
A. If you want to be a writer, be a reader! Read stuff you love, read stuff you hate, read mediocre stuff, and learn from all of it! What do you like about the writing? What do you hate? What could you phrase differently so it made more sense and was more appealing? And always, always pay attention to spelling, grammar, and punctuation until it becomes second nature to catch mistakes!
Q.9 Can you tell us about the process of developing the intricate dynamics between Dragonriders, Dragonhaters, and the Dragons themselves?
A. To have a good heroine - Renny and her dragons - you have to have a horrible adversary - the dragonhaters - and a conflict. In Renny’s case, long before she knows she’s the Last Dragonhealer, she is compelled to try and save dragons. When she finds out some of the dying dragons have been tortured… That’s when it gets interesting, and Renny truly begins to shine.
Q.10 The blurb for book one mentions a protagonist named Renny. What inspired their character, and how do they fit into the larger narrative?
A. Renny and her dragon pretty much popped into my head fully formed, and I just fleshed out her story from there. Without Renny, there wouldn’t be a story! Everything revolves around Renny's ability to save the dragons.
Q.11 Book two introduces two strong, determined women from different worlds. What challenges do they face in working together, and how do they complement each other?
A. Qilla and Kelly have no idea the other exists until Kelly’s wizard knocks Qilla’s dragon out of the sky with a misplaced spell. Becoming instant friends despite their foolish significant others, both women must untangle centuries-old curses and cross space and time to save the wizard and dragon.
Q.12 The third book focuses on Kelly's dilemma in a wizard's tower. What themes or messages did you aim to explore through her character and situation?
A. No situation is as hopeless as it seems, and friends and family are always a great part of the solution.
Q.13 Tell us about your writing process while you’re working?
A. Let the dog- we have an extremely demanding Blue Heeler - out. Type, type, type. Let the dog in. Type, type, type. Let the dog out. Type… Oh, now she needs a treat. Type… Go to work, think about my characters, and scribble down scenes and dialogue.
Come home and play frisbee with the dog. Type out all the scribbles. Cook supper. Type. Craft something. Type. Play the remote-controlled car with the dog. Type. Text the grandkids - I have ten! - type a bit. It’s a pure wonder if I ever get a book finished! BWAHAHA!
Q.14 How do you approach writing fantasy romance, balancing the fantastical elements with the romantic plot lines?
A. Balancing fantasy and romance is not a problem for me! Every world revolves around love!
Q.15 How do your family/friends feel about your books or writing ventures in general?
A. Very proud of me! Being a certified introvert, they know how hard it is for me to put myself out there in the spotlight!
Q.16 What do you hope readers will take away from your books, especially in terms of themes like loyalty, friendship, and overcoming adversity?
A. Don’t give up! There’s always hope! Use your strengths to overcome adversity; nothing learned is ever wasted except algebra. Every lesson has a purpose, even if you don’t understand right away what that purpose is. Friends and family are the best, and their value should not be taken lightly!
Q.17 Who designed your book covers? How do you select him/her?
A. I design my own covers! Sometimes, with photos I took and stock images, if I don’t have anything on my camera roll, that will work. Hard to get pictures of dragons. Those suckers are fast!
Q.18 Which famous person, living or dead, would you like to meet and why?
A. Merlin. I have questions…
Q.19 Are there any particular authors or works that have influenced your writing style or the creation of your fantasy world?
A. Definitely Anne McCaffery and Andre Norton. Those are two of the top ones that come to mind, but there are scores of others.
Q.20 Share the experience of your writing journey so far?
A. I love it! I absolutely love introducing my imaginary friends to my real friends and family!
Share your social account links -
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063438985572
Website - https://hsskinner.com/
Q.14 How do you approach writing fantasy romance, balancing the fantastical elements with the romantic plot lines?
A. Balancing fantasy and romance is not a problem for me! Every world revolves around love!
Q.15 How do your family/friends feel about your books or writing ventures in general?
A. Very proud of me! Being a certified introvert, they know how hard it is for me to put myself out there in the spotlight!
Q.16 What do you hope readers will take away from your books, especially in terms of themes like loyalty, friendship, and overcoming adversity?
A. Don’t give up! There’s always hope! Use your strengths to overcome adversity; nothing learned is ever wasted except algebra. Every lesson has a purpose, even if you don’t understand right away what that purpose is. Friends and family are the best, and their value should not be taken lightly!
Q.17 Who designed your book covers? How do you select him/her?
A. I design my own covers! Sometimes, with photos I took and stock images, if I don’t have anything on my camera roll, that will work. Hard to get pictures of dragons. Those suckers are fast!
Q.18 Which famous person, living or dead, would you like to meet and why?
A. Merlin. I have questions…
Q.19 Are there any particular authors or works that have influenced your writing style or the creation of your fantasy world?
A. Definitely Anne McCaffery and Andre Norton. Those are two of the top ones that come to mind, but there are scores of others.
Q.20 Share the experience of your writing journey so far?
A. I love it! I absolutely love introducing my imaginary friends to my real friends and family!
Share your social account links -
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063438985572
Website - https://hsskinner.com/
This is so you, my dearest
ReplyDeleteHeidi. I am so proud of all you have accomplished. It never surprises me how much you do, and you do it all so well..