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Featured Author - Kristina Circelli
Tell us about your book(s) “Out of nothing, we create something.”
Arianna has spent her entire life being called a dreamer, an artist who created a world no one else can see. And for her entire life, she has taken the medication that keeps that world – and the one who brought her there – at bay.
Now an adult, Arianna reawakens that part of herself kept locked away in the darkest corners of her mind. When she hides her medicine from her fiancé’s ever-watchful eye, he returns – the shadow in the night who collects her for an adventure known only in her fantasies.
But something is different about this world called The Never. It is no longer the cheerful place filled with light and laughter that she knew as a child. Now, the sea creatures drag their visitors into the depths of murky waters. The natives battle to the death against the tribe of children. And the pirates, led by the feared captain called The Hunter, seek out Arianna for their own sinister plans.
As Arianna goes deeper into The Never, she discovers just what her connection to the land means – and must choose between her life rooted in reality, and the world where anything is possible.
Where did the idea of your (latest) book come from? They say 
that in time, we all must grow up.
Put away your childish fantasies. Keep your feet on solid ground. Don’t dream too big. I heard them all from childhood to adulthood, during that transition when we are expected to leave behind the dreams we held dear and focus on the reality that is life.
Some may say that I listened to the voices of doubts, accepting that reality meant living in a world without magic or mermaids or secret portals into Narnia-esque landscapes. Others will claim I merely tucked those dreams away into the recesses of my mind, letting them build an imagination that doesn’t believe in the impossible.
To say that I grew up, would be the truth. To say that I stopped dreaming, would be a lie. Dreams are my escape, the magic I know exists somewhere, and they are where The Never found its birthing place.
It is no secret that one of the dreams that I hold dear is that of Neverland. The child who never grew up, the girl whisked away on an incredible adventure, the world where imagination is celebrated and understood. What better dream is there? But still, in the back of my mind, there was always that lingering question - what happens next?
And thus, The Never was born.
Surprisingly, the book that began as a fantasy of the boy all grown up transformed into an exploration of a woman’s self-journey. The Never tells the story of what happens when one woman casts aside the limitations of the so-called real world and instead embraces the imagination that helped her heal after the traumas of her childhood.
Writing The Never allowed me the rare opportunity to step back into a childhood that was all too short and be among the stories that keep my dreams alive. It was an adventure to write, as I eagerly followed the twists and turns the story took me on, and reveled in the surprising direction that led to a broken mind and the fantasy that healed so much hurt. I realized, in the creation of this world, that The Never itself is not just a place, but an ideal, a sanctuary for any mind searching for an escape from a shattered reality.
Perhaps one day I will find The Never. I must admit I never stop looking for the faeries in the forest, the sea creatures that keep my feet firmly planted on the shore, the shadow in the night waiting to whisk me away.
Who and what inspires you to write your books? Life itself inspires me, as does reading as much as possible. I love fantasy novels, and movies, and draw inspiration from the dreams these other worlds create.
Each author has their own fascinating journey. How did you begin writing? I don't have a particular starting point. I simply have always enjoyed writing. I began with poetry and short stories, eventually trying my hand at full-length fiction novels. It was in novels that I found my true calling.
I began my first book, The Helping Hands, at age 15. But, I soon realized I wasn't yet ready to take on such a task and so it took me until I was 17 to fully finish it. From that first publication, my style matured and my imagination exploded into brand-new stories. Some are fantasy, some action, others adventure. Still more are inspired by my family's history.
The past couple years have seen a true change in my writing career as I've learned more, met more authors, and become a stronger force in the industry. There is nowhere to go but up from here!
What has been the most pleasant surprise about being a writer? How about the most unexpected downside? Writing is very time consuming and requires a lot of discipline, which is fine but does take its toll on the mind at times. However, I love it and so any downsides I face (lost sleep, beginning stages of arthritis, dealing with bad reviews) are completely worth it. The biggest surprise personally was discovering my voice. Not my voice in writing, but literally. I never thought I'd be able to speak to large groups of people about writing, put myself out there at events, and be such a public figure. I've really learned a lot about myself in this process, especially my abilities that, until recently, had been hidden within me.
Do you have any particular writing routines or rituals? Not really. I write when the mood strikes, and never force the words. I don't like a strict schedule or to apply rules to me writing. It feels too much like work, and who wants to go to work?
I suppose the closest I have to a routine is not starting a story without a lot of daydreaming. I like to envision the story as a whole, picture the characters, hear their voices. Only then do I start to write.
Do you write in order? For the most part, yes. I try not to write the end first because if I do, it feels like the book has been written and I don't want to fill in the gaps later. That may be pure laziness, though. I almost always start from the beginning, though sometimes I will skip scenes and leave notes to go back and write this or that between sections. This usually happens when I want to get to the really good parts and am excited, and don't want to wait.
What is on your playlist when you write? Nada. I'm not a big music person, to be honest. Even when I drive, the radio is usually off. If I do have music on, I play soundtracks. My favorite at the moment is The Hobbit.
That being said, I always have the TV on. I have the TV or movies on in the background, as I need background noise when writing. And as I'm a movie junkie, that "noise" is the perfect muse.
Favorite writing snack? Doritos! Anyone who knows me will not be surprised by this, haha.
Where do you like to write? Anywhere there is a TV :).
Do you have any advice for authors wanting to publish? Do A LOT of research. Befriend other authors. And most importantly, don't rush. Writing takes time. You shouldn't be pumping out a book a month. Along those lines, be willing to spend the money for a good cover artist, editor, and formatter (if necessary).
If you skimp on this, your readers will know. Trust me, they will know.
Are you currently working on anything else? Oh, yes! I am always writing. Currently I have one book I am writing and at least 10 more in the works. I also edit for indie authors and am in the middle of editing four novels for other authors
Who is your favorite character and why? This is hard. I have two favorites, for similar yet different reasons.
Whisper, from The Whisper Legacy books - Whisper is a bad-ass and I want to be her. She is the powerful Cherokee woman I dream of being, one able to travel to different worlds and who bows down to no one.
Melanie O'Conner, from The Helping Hands series - Melanie too is a bad-ass, but in different ways. She is hard and cold, but also has a compassionate heart that drives her very being. I love her story, her friends, the way she carries herself. In a way, she is my best friend, the first character I ever created for my novels. For that reason, I hold her close to my heart.
Favorite book of all time? The Neverending Story by Michael Ende.
Breakfast says a lot about a person, what is your perfect breakfast? I don't generally eat breakfast. When I do, chances are, it's leftovers. Pizza, lasagna, burritos, you name it, I'll eat it.
If I had to pick a breakfast food, I'd say French toast and my husband's incredible potatoes/hashbrown
Please tell us in one sentence why we should read your book The Never is an excellent escape, allowing your imagination to run wild as you drink in the beautiful realm and embrace the adventure into a world known only in your dreams.
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Blog - An Awfully Big Adventure - http://anawfullybigadventure-kc.blogspot.com/
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