Hello, everyone!

Today, I have a special treat for you.

The driving reason for my Transparency in Self-Publishing Series over the past four weeks was to share a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the self-publishing process. Much of the information contained in those posts came from my curiosity along my journey and an absence of detailed information elsewhere.

Have you ever had a peek into the minds of beta readers?

No?

Me either.

I’m not sure anyone has ever interviewed their beta readers before, let alone posted the fodder for public consumption. So here is the first ever beta interview! {grins} I hope you enjoy!

First, let me introduce you to my beta readers, beloved friends of mine who love me, and luckily for me, also love to read:

City Beta (Heather) is an avid reader, and she’s also my critique partner. A huge paranormal fan, her favorite books involve those with a bite. 😉 We met through a common love of books at a Romance Writers of America function. When I shared the rough story idea of Forged in Dreams and Magick with her at a conference in 2010, she’s the one who said, “That’s the story you need to write.”

Swamp Beta (Misty) is an occasional reader, loving wife, and mother, who is a huge Twilight fan and talented photographer. We “met” online in 2011, and although we’ve never met in person, she’s become one of my closest friends and a fervent supporter of my writing. She beams with pride of being born, raised, and living in the boondocks of the South.

Alpha Beta (Stone) is my real-life alpha. Before reading my stories, he’d never read a romance novel. As you’ll find out below, he’s an action-adventure fan, Clive Cussler being his poison of choice. Since his trial by fire with me, he’s read and enjoyed Gabriel’s Inferno and Gabriel’s Rapture by Sylvain Reynard, Tangled by Emma Chase, and Wallbanger by Alice Clayton. {grins}

What is your favorite genre of Books?

City Beta: My favorite genre of books is paranormal, but I’m an avid reader of all genres. As long as there’s romance, I’ll read it.
Swamp Beta: ~laughs~ Normally I read Christian books like The Shack! But any book that makes me feel better is definitely worth my time!
Alpha Beta: Action-adventure with a bit of romance intertwined…

What was your favorite book as a child?

City Beta: My favorite book as a child was Where the Wild Things Are.
Swamp Beta: Hands down…Return of the Black Stallion. I rented it so much from the library as a child that the librarian finally gave it to me. It was a very old, green colored, hard bound edition!
Alpha Beta: Anything with “Marmaduke” or “Family Circus”…HeHeHe…

Before Forged in Dreams and Magick, had you ever read a Highlander romance? A time-travel romance? What are your thoughts about Forged in Dreams and Magick?

City Beta: Yes, I’ve read many Highlander romances.
Time travel is one of my favorite possibilities in a story, though it is hard to find one written so well.
I loved Forged in Dreams and Magick from the very moment Kat brought up the idea to me.
Swamp Beta: Nope. Guys in skirts never did anything for me. But that was before Forged in Dreams and Magick.
Nope. Time travel normally confuses me so I stay away from them typically.
Well that’s a loaded question. I think I now love guys in kilts, plaid, Highlanders, time travel, and…Cupcakes!
Alpha Beta: Highlander? Um, Nope…
Time-travel romance? Nope. Though I never read the book connected with a time-travel movie I saw decades ago, “Somewhere in Time”, it really moved me then and I remember the depth of the romance today…
What are my thoughts about Forged in Dreams and Magick? Love the story, the way it flows and the depth of characters and how they deeply care for the others within their sphere…

What were your thoughts when Kat asked you to Beta for her?

City Beta: Um, yes. I couldn’t say no to Kat. And besides, fair is fair. I read hers, she reads mine. *grin*
Swamp Beta: Honored doesn’t even begin to cover it. I know how long she has worked on this book. I know how protective she is of this story and how much she wants everyone to enjoy it. I know it was hard for Kat to entrust people to read her raw emotions in this book and be open to feedback. Isn’t that hard for every writer? To bare your soul and pray people love it? So yeah…honored will never cover it but it’s the best the English language can do.
Alpha Beta: Honored!…

What was your favorite scene? Chapter? Sentence?

City Beta: My favorite scene would have to be where Isobel is first transported to Iain.
My favorite chapter is fourteen. Where Isobel meets Velloc, her second soul mate.
My favorite sentence is: “But in the pulse of a heartbeat, the rogue wave of a new paradigm crashed upon the rocky outcropping of my life, scattering accepted principles into a million effervescent bubbles, each one bursting with every thought I’d known to be true.”
Swamp Beta: There is a blanket picnic scene to die for. Alpha Male…letting his alpha-ness (If that’s a word. If not…we just damn well made it one) down and showing the soft and thoughtful side that no one gets to see but the lucky lady! I’m a SUCKER for Alpha Males being brought to their knees!
Alpha Beta:
Favorite Scene = Several!…
Favorite Chapter = Many!…
Favorite Sentence = Lots!…

In one word and one word only, describe Forged in Dreams and Magick. Explain your word, if you’d like.

City Beta: Transcendental.
This book takes you on a journey of faith, love and self-discovery. You cannot ask for anything more in a story.
Swamp Beta: ~mumbles about how impossible this actually is~ Life-Changing (and yes I can use life and changing as one word because I put a “-” in there connecting the two! It’s like duct tape to a Southerner!!!)
Explain? Oh hell yes! Take a seat! You know those love stories that shape our culture and our views of what love -should- or -shouldn’t- look like? Stories like Romeo and Juliet, Pretty Woman, Sleepless in Seattle, and even Sleeping with the Enemy (showed us what it shouldn’t look like) all those come to mind. Not to mention The Notebook ~swoons~ All those movies and books leave us wanting for a love like that in our lives. They challenge us to stretch beyond our stereotypes and grow as individuals. Well…that’s what Forged in Dreams and Magick is going to do for those who “allow” it! It is going to challenge the old thinking of having only one soul mate. It’s gonna make you proud to be a woman and pull for a woman who is thrown into a heartbreaking life being torn from those she loves. You’re gonna root for Isobel. Be mad at Isobel at times, but even when you’re mad at her…you’re still proud she didn’t lie down and just give up! In the end…she’s gonna challenge you to be open and love who you are and who you’re with! See? Life…changing!
Alpha Beta: “A-Must-Read!”… Um, is that a word?…

What three words describe your favorite character?

City Beta: Alpha, sensual and leader.
Swamp Beta: Dominant. Feisty (as fuck…and no those don’t count towards my three word limit cause they are in parenthesis… LMAO.) CAPTIVATING. (as in will leave you BEGGING for more of him…UGH!)
Alpha Beta: Don’t have one favorite…

Do you have a clear, favorite character?

City Beta: Yes, but like most books I fall in love with each character will always have a special place in my heart.
Swamp Beta: ~laughs and points to my answer above~ Uh…yeahhhhh
Alpha Beta: Um, Nope…Connected to various characters for their depth…

Who is your favorite character and why?

City Beta: Velloc is my favorite character. I think he meant so much to me because he was the underdog. I always root for the least likely to win the race.
Swamp Beta: I will say this…I have a new found yearning for Cupcakes! Damn! ~fans myself~
Alpha Beta: Um, a favorite in various categories would be easier for me to answer:
Perseverance = Isa
Leadership = Iain
Sacrifice = Velloc
Friendship = Brigid
Calmness = Orion
Primal = Skorpius

What themes run through the story that resonated with you?

City Beta: That love transcends both place and time.
Swamp Beta: Well alpha males ooze out of every scene…almost every page. But the thing I am most “proud” of is the strong, independent females that are a refreshing sight! It’s not your typical “damsel in distress” book. While the damsel is certainly distressed….she can handle herself quite well and it’s in -that- where we watch the Alphas cringe and learn to ~clears my throat~ UP…their…uh…game! ~winks~
Alpha Beta: Love, Fortitude, Destiny, Redemption…

What was the most memorable comment about the book that you made to Kat?

City Beta: “This book is the one. This book is the one you need to write.”
Swamp Beta: Oh Fuck. I have no clue. I imagine it’s something about Cupcakes! But if I know Kat like I do, she remembers and can tell you her favorite! Maybe she should tell you all her favorite quotes we all said! ~laughs~
***Interjection from Kat*** From my texts? Which one? {dies laughing}
“OMFGGGGGGGG! BEST. BOOK. EVER.” OR
“She had Sunshine at her beck and call LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!” OR
“OMFGGGGG I had tears in my eyes!” OR
“Your book…is the ULTIMATE ULTIMATE TEST…to let the woman you love go and be with another? No one has ever portrayed that more beautifully (if they’ve ever attempted at all.)
Alpha Beta: I am amazed I know somebody who can write with this skill, and I reminded her to never let anyone tell her she cannot write…

When, where, and how did you read the book? Like…how quick did we read and what were we doing at the time?

City Beta: This one I really can’t answer. I have read this book by email, by chapter from beginning to end and then back again. Each time the story came to life a little bit more. The characters became more compelling and every word gave the book its breath of life.
Swamp Beta: I was in my vehicle taking a 19 hour…ONE WAY…trip to pick up a Great Dane puppy! Let’s just say it was the best escape POSSIBLE for that trip!
Alpha Beta: Like….how quick did we read and what were we doing at the time? Late in the evenings while lying in bed with my Kindle glowing under the folded edge of the coverings…

What suggestions did you give Kat to improve the story?

City Beta: Show don’t tell! *laughs*
Swamp Beta: Honestly? As far as improving the story itself…I don’t think anything I suggested helped improve the story. Most of mine were mistypes or small places where I might have been confused. But being from the Swamp….that’s a constant state! Kat is accustomed to this! She has this story played out in her mind so beautifully that all my suggestions were mere grammatical.
Alpha Beta: Barely any comments other than a few word addition or changes…

Would you recommend it to others?

City Beta: I would and I have.
Swamp Beta: Yes! But I feel the need to add this small, tiny, itsy bitty, teenie, weenie disclaimer! Any and everything to do with cupcakes…I call DIBS! There…now that -that- is settled! Let’s continue! ~dies laughing~
Alpha Beta: Abso-freakin’-lutely!… Um, Abso-bloody-lutely!… Um, er, Yes!…

Who do you think would best enjoy Forged in Dreams and Magick?

City Beta: Anyone who believes love can conquer all.
Swamp Beta: Anyone who has had sex, who hasn’t had sex, who wants to have sex, who doesn’t wanna have sex (cause after this they will), Oh and…those who love Alpha males, who hate Alpha Males, who have Alpha Males, who wanna have Alpha Males. So basically, any woman who has a pulse. Read it then do all your female friends a favor…and give them Oozing Alpha Males for Christmas presents! ~whispers~ You can even probably find some ribbon in the “Brodie clan colors” and wrap it all nice and neat!!!!
Alpha Beta: Anybody with a heartbeat resonating in their chest who enjoys love, being in love, time-travel, adventure and the power of intertwined hearts accomplishing near-impossible tasks related to survival…

Who is your dream cast for the movie?

City Beta: Can I say Channing Tatum here…please. No, seriously I would love to see Chris Hemsworth as Iain. Jessica Alba for Isobel. As for Velloc…Orlando Bloom or Taylor Lautner.
Swamp Beta: Well Hollywood doesn’t have males like the ones in my mind. But I will volunteer to play the role of Brigid! And I will play that role for free. Just give me my Alpha! #ThatIsAll #LipsAreZipped ~grumbles and crosses my legs squirming~
Alpha Beta: Will have to actually look-up some names versus me saying “that guy/girl in that movie where that thing happened, remember?”…

Okay, my beloved betas, you’e been grilled enough for one interview. Do you have any questions for me?

City Beta: When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
The moment I finished my first 100,000 paranormal romance draft in June of 2010, with the unique exhilaration of having created a story flowing hot through my veins, I knew.

City Beta: What is it that draws you to having a Scottish Highlander for a hero?
Due to the rugged Scottish Highland terrain, clan disputes, and invasions over the course of their history, the warriors of their time are the quintessential romantic hero.

City Beta: How did you come up with the title of your book?
Upon several days of reflection, I settled on a rhythmic sounding title that captured the essence of the story. The longer name also enabled it to be unique among book titles, which is advantageous to an author.

City Beta: If you could offer one piece of advice to beginning writers, what would it be?
Relax and have fun with every part of the process. Creativity flows from most easily when we’re in our best frame of mind.

Swamp Beta: Who is your favorite character?
Oh, wow. Each of the characters holds a special place in my heart for different reasons. I love them all!

Swamp Beta: Is there anything you had to omit due to length restrictions that you wish you would have included?
My goal was to fit the enormous story into 100,000 words, while choosing the best words and scenes to reflect emotional depth of the characters and the key parts of the story. The pacing is intentionally kept fast and tight to be an edge-of-your-seat page turner. At the end of the novel, there are a few secrets remaining about our story world and Isobel’s exact role in the bigger scheme of things, but those will be revealed at the appropriate time in the other Highland Legends novels.

Swamp Beta: What was the hardest part of the journey for you? The best part?
The hardest part of the journey was receiving rejection letters from agents and publishers in the industry. I eventually took their passes in stride, because I understand the shift in the industry has compelled them to avoid risk. My novel is not your typical cookie-cutter home run, but instead has a unique edge with a story line never before written. Those rejections led to the best part: my decision to self publish, making the manuscript into The Best Book Possible, and having total control over the timing, marketing, and pricing decisions.

Swamp Beta: What’s the best piece of advice you got from each of your betas?
All three of you gave a similar piece of advice in specific different areas of the novel. You each highlighted sections of confusion, which was key in enabling me to tighten up those scenes. Oh, and City Beta’s mantra to show and not tell! And there was something about a car snorting… {dies laughing}

Alpha Beta: You keep your stories a secret from the betas while you draft and edit. Explain your rational behind the zipped lips.
I want you to enjoy the story as readers. If you don’t know any of the details, the twists and turns are a surprise to you, enabling your spontaneous reactions. Those uninformed responses are vital to me as an author to gauge how a reader would receive the story.

Alpha Beta: What’s next for us as betas and the readers? When will we get more Highland Legends to read?
After the promotion period for Forged in Dreams and Magick (releasing September 23, 2013) and the promotion for Bound by Wish and Mistletoe (releasing November 4, 2013), I’ll begin drafting Born of Mist and Legend. I will start writing in earnest in January, so expect to have a story to beta read around April-May of 2014. I intend to release that novel in the fall of 2014. The final novel will follow a similar schedule in 2015.

Alpha Beta: Who’s your book boyfriend? You can’t name your characters.
Hmmm . . . I don’t have book boyfriends. They all pale in comparison to my alpha. 🙂  However, primal characters with hidden depth are the most intriguing to me, such as Barrons and Ryoden from Karen Marie Moning’s Fever Series. I’ve also developed a fondness for the more refined, but oftentimes surly master-of-art-and-seduction, Professor Emerson.

~~~

That’s all for today. I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the minds of my closest friends and beta readers.

12 more days until Forged in Dreams and Magick releases! Mark your calendars for September 23, 2013!

You can add Forged in Dreams and Magick to your Goodreads to-read shelf here:

Be sure to follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, and friend me on Goodreads to catch all of the exciting events coming up with Forged in Dreams and Magick and Bound by Wish and Mistletoe!

Thank you for all your support, my friends. I cannot wait to share my exciting world of Highlanders and magick with you.

Until next time . . .

Your humble shoe,

~ Kat

© 2013 by Kat Bastion