Balancing Book Series
1) Starting with the most obvious question. What is your Author name; use your Pen name if you have one.
Seth Collins
2) What inspired you to become a writer?
I’ve always been obsessed with crafting my own stories and bring emotions out of people. It started with a desire to write music or movies, but evolved into writing and self-publishing my own books.
3) Which character of yours was the most challenging to write and why?
Honestly, one of the most difficult characters for me to write was Corvo from my Dark Fantasy series, the Blood and Bone Trilogy. They are monotonous, mysterious, and stoic. They typically don’t use a lot of emotion, but I do. It was hard for me, at first, to turn my brain off and try to write someone who lets their actions speak for them.
4) What is your favorite way to connect with readers? (Social media, newsletters or something else)
Social media. I love making fancy edits, like movie trailers, for my books to draw people in. I love the creativity that goes into that and it keeps me motivated.
5) What is the hardest challenge in being a writer?
The hardest challenge for me being a neurodivergent writer in particular is staying focused and on task. I have Autism, and often times it can be particularly difficult for me to remain focused on one project at a time. My brain likes to bounce around to different projects all the time.
6) What is your favorite part about being a writer?
Crafting worlds, for sure. I absolutely love the world building aspect. Writing the history of an entire world, when it comes to Fantasy in particular, is so much fun for me that I often get lost in it.
7) How many books do you try to read each year?
That varies. I try to read anything as much as possible. Books, comic books, movie scripts, anything that piques my interest, keeps me motivated, and gives me ideas.
8) What is you preferred method of reading a book? (Audio, paperback, hardcover, or eBook)
Definitely paperback. Occasionally, I’ll read an eBook or listen to an audiobook, but I love having a physical copy in my hand. Plus, I love collecting things so having physical copies of an entire series makes my heart feel happy.
9) What was your favorite childhood book?
My mom and I would sit together every night and read the Magic Tree House series. I have always been a bit of a history buff, so I loved seeing different periods in time in the context of the books.
10) If you could live in any “book world” what would that be?
I’m a huge Neil Gaiman fan, so I would have to stay that I would live in the world of Stardust by Neil Gaiman. It’s a very magical, beautiful world. It’s all super lighthearted and you just know things are going to work out well in the end.
11) Villain, hero or “show steeling” side character? Which would you be?
I definitely find myself to be more of the hero type. I love helping other people in anyway that I can. I don’t know if I’m cool enough to be the show stealing side character!
12) What is your best book memory?
I remember reading a book called Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom when I was younger. I had just lost a family member who was very important to me, and that beautiful book helped me a lot with the grieving process.
13) What is the name of your book/series? Tell me a little bit about them.
I have two series currently both in the works simultaneously. First is the Blood and Bone Trilogy. The first book, The Wrath of Blood and Bone is currently available. The second book, The War of Blood and Bone, is available for pre-order and releases on December 6th. It’s about a group of hunters who are trying to stop mysterious monsters from murdering the people of their city in the dead of night. But a murder within the group itself tears them apart, and they have to manage to stop a coming threat while battling each other.
My second series is a little different. It’s a Young Adult series called The Kids from Yesterday. The first book is out now, and the second book is in the works. It’s about a group of outcasts struggling through high school while also struggling to be superheroes! It’s a mix between the movie The Breakfast Club and the X-Men. The series deals with personal trauma, how we overcome it, and learnin