Lady N's Den : #IndieSpotlight of J.C. Mells @JCMells Author of The Pierced Series

Name:

J. C. Mells

The Title of Your Work or Group:

The Pierced Series

Where are you from? Does not have to be the name of the place exactly. You can say Hick-ville Florida, for example if you are more comfortable with that.

My accent pegs me as a Brit, but I’ve been living in the U. S. for over twenty years now! Currently in Las Vegas, NV.

In your own words, what is your book about? If you were not the author and trying to explain this awesome book you just read to a friend, what would you say about it?

The Pierced Series was supposed to be a Paranormal Romance (and it does become one by Book 3!) – it’s just that in Book 1, Pierced, there isn’t a lot of paranormal and little to no romance at all! ☺ Hard to describe the series to be honest. Kick ass female heroine (though definitely someone going through some social anxiety disorders) and moody, broody male lead (who has plenty of his own baggage!) – and all the other stuff you might expect in an Urban Fantasy/Para-Romance. Throw in an obsession with cooking and reality TV – and not to mention some classical cinema references, and you have it all in a nutshell. See, I told you it was hard to explain!

What is your favorite supernatural creature and why? Feel free to go into detail. Make us now proclaim that this is by far, our favorite supernatural creature.

I don’t think I have a favorite – sorry! I love reading about them all! ☺

If you could be any paranormal/supernatural being, what would it be and why? Is it the same answer as number 5. If not, why not?

I’d love an ability (or two). Move stuff by looking at it…or the ability to transport myself somewhere else. How much fun would that be!?

Tell me what the best current paranormal themed TV show is and why everyone who hasn't seen it absolutely needs to go and watch every single episode. Marathon style.

Does TheWalking Dead count as paranormal…probably not. Then a close second is definitely Game of Thrones. There are dragons in it. The End.
In my mind, The Walking Dead totally Counts! "Carl Papa."

What is your favorite Paranormal book? Why is this one your favorite?

Love, love, love Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels series. Love Kate and love Curran. The world (Atlanta) that they create is so cleverly imaginative; I can’t recommend it more highly.

As everyone knows (or should by now,) I am into Vampires. Who is your favorite fictional Vampire and why is this one your favorite?

Hendrick Segher. Because he is my creation, of course.

Who is your least favorite fictional Vampire?

Bill from True Blood.

Mine also!

Back to your writing:

What is your writing style? Do you follow all guides and rules? Synopsis, outline etc. or do you just sit down at the computer and type to see what happens.

Definitely type and see what happens. I hear some of it is even good! lol

Have you ever written anything and thought; "The world has got to see this!" ?

I’d just be happy if more of the world read my books!

Who is your favorite author. Not just someone that you read allot. I wanna know whose book you read that made you suddenly know that if you didn't do this for the rest of your life then you would never be happy.

Tarryn Fisher. Her Love Me With Lies trilogy blew my mind! Then her latest book, Mud Vein, left me needing to be resuscitated.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Where to start. This is no joke! It can take me months sometimes to think of where to start! ☺

Do you write your characters or do they write themselves through you?

Bit of both, methinks.

Do you ever write yourself into the characters?

There’s a little of me in every character I’ve written.

Is writing your full time job or are you "Keeping your day job"? So to speak.

I have a day job until such a time as I can afford to survive on writing alone!

If you could go back in time and meet one famous person or legend in history, who would it be?

Stanley Kubrick.

Now back to the fun stuff:

If you could have an hour alone with any fictional paranormal creature, who would it be and what would you be doing? Feel free to explain. ;P

I’d have to think about this one, lol.

Team Alcide or team Eric? (Screw Bill. He was a tool.)

ERIC FOR SURE!

#EricIsGod!

Are you completely opened minded about the paranormal or are you a skeptic?

Open minded.

Okay. Now that my morbid curiosity is satisfied, back to your books:

What made you write a paranormal themed book? Where did the idea come from?

I wanted to write a book about a kick-ass female who could wield a sword. And while my heroine is still learning the sword stuff, she can still kick some major ass! I knew I didn’t want to go Epic/Historical Fantasy – so female + sword HAS to be a Paranormal!

Do you only write paranormal books or do you write in other genres?

My latest book is a straight up Contemporary Romance – no weres or vamps in sight!! (recoils in horror)

Who did your book cover? Are you totally happy with it? Do you feel it correctly represents your book?

I did my own book cover – for all my books. Some I took the pics myself, and some are stock photos. I’m pretty happy with them.

There are millions of new books released every year. What in your mind makes yours stand out from all those millions in your genre?

The comment I get in fan mail the most often is “I don’t really read Paranormal Romance, but I tried yours and loved it.” In other words, my series is not the norm for the genre – which personally I find appealing.

In the world of Indie, marketing is very difficult, especially if you don't have the funds to pay for it. Have you found a great free way to market your work that you think other Indies will benefit from?

I use Twitter, Facebook and my website. I also have a wonderful group if women, fans of my books, who call themselves the Mells’ Belles. They are my street team and do a lot of much-appreciated work promoting me where ever they can!