Tell us a little about yourself.
I grew up in Michigan. I
have always been creative, be it art, theatre, film – anything but singing –
Trust me, you don’t want to hear that! I earned my bachelor’s degree in Theatre
and Military Science from Eastern Michigan University where I spent my free time
either on stage, rappelling down buildings, or working. After college I moved
to Los Angeles, like so many other want-to-be actors, in pursuit of my dreams.
I worked to pay the bills… but my love was acting and I was actually somewhat
successful, mostly in commercials and independent films and I had a great time
doing it.
When did you start
writing?
I started writing poetry
and short stories when I was younger but went for years without writing. Then
out in Los Angeles I got inspired to write again. I started with poetry and
wrote what eventually became my first book Private
Words Unspoken, a compilation of poetry. After poetry I moved to screenplays.
After getting married, my husband and I left California and started our family
down south. Needing an artistic way to express myself I joined a number of the
local theatre groups. I also started writing again and in 2012 I published my
first novel, Awaken.
How would you
describe your writing process?
Every writer is different, I don’t outline my stories like a
lot of authors do, at least not on paper. I tend to let me characters lead me
and the story more than I lead them. I have been completely shocked, more than
once, by where my stories have taken me. But, it just proves my point that
stories can evolve on their own. Characters take on a life of their own, even
if just in my head. In my second novel, one of my favorite characters died, I
hadn’t planned it and I was heartbroken when it happened. Although I may not
have wanted to see that character die, unfortunately that was just what had to
happen.
How did you start
writing about vampires?
Growing up, my dad and I would spend late nights watching
horror films. From a very young age I loved all the classics; The Changeling,
Nosferatu, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, King Kong, Godzilla, It Came
From Outer Space, House of Wax, Frankenstein, The Fly, Night of the Living
Dead, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Thing, Psycho, The Wolf Man, Dracula,
and so many others. I didn’t even care how well made they were or how
realistic. I remember watching The Blob and laughing so hard. I loved it. I
guess with my love of those types of movies it was inevitable that my writing
would move in the same direction.
Tell us a little
about your latest project.
The Hunted is the
second book in the SECTOR C Series. The series is set in a futuristic dystopian
society governed by a council of vampires and lycanthropes.
From THE HUNTED:
"In
the future, most of the world is governed by a council of vampires and
lycanthropes. Sector residents are offered the freedom to live
as they desire provided they stay and abide by the laws handed down. After being jolted awake by
the blaring screech of the sector alarm, Zelina is dragged from her bed,
gagged, and tied to a chair. Confronted with the brutal murder of one of her
former classmates, she realizes that all eyes are on her as the primary
suspect. Whether she was involved or not doesn’t matter. In the eyes of most sector
residents, and most Council Members, Zelina is already a pariah—feared for the
powers she will certainly come to possess. For she is the first human known to
have both vampire and lycanthrope blood flowing through her veins.
Zelina
will find herself on a gripping adventure that will take her beyond the borders
she’s known all her life in an attempt to save those she loves—and herself from
becoming The Hunted."
Can you tell us about
your main Character?
Zelina is described as having long dark brown hair with
bronze/brown eyes. I envision actress Adelaide Kane when I write her, but I’d
love to know who my readers envision. She is strong, loyal, and very
determined. She is willing to put herself at risk to protect others or stand up
for what she believes in.
Do you have any other
books that aren’t part of the SECTOR C Series?
My first three books, Awaken,
Beginnings, and Revenge were part of another series The Blood Angel Series.
What kind of vampires
can readers expect from your books?
While I love the traditional vampire myths – death before
rising sleeping in coffins, not visible in mirrors, sensitivity to garlic,
being burned by the sight and touch of a cross, death by driving a stake
through their heart, my personal favorite bursting into flames when exposed to
sunlight, and so many others, my books don’t really follow those same
guidelines for vampires. I write YA (young adult) and NA (new adult) novels, so
although I limit the sexuality and gore, it is still in there.In both the Blood Angel Series and the SECTOR C Series I
introduce the idea that vampirism is a virus. The host doesn’t have to die, as
in traditional myth, but transforms in such a way that they evolve beyond their
human abilities or rather limitations.I believe that vampires can be sexy and scary, good and
evil, menacing and still intoxicating. I’ve been told that my books give a
fresh new look to an old concept and breathe new life into what it means to be
a vampire.
Do you have a favorite place in which to write?
I can write anywhere, I use a laptop, but I guess if I had to pick a
favorite place I would say either at my desk in my home office, cuddled up in
blankets and pillows on my bed, or sitting drinking coffee at the local
Starbucks. I know the author at the coffee shop sounds cliche but it really is
a very relaxing, creative environment.
What is your next favorite thing to do besides writing?
Writing takes second seat to spending time with my kids, but other than writing I love acting. I went to college for theatre and that has always been my first calling. I do a lot of community theatre and used to do a good deal of film when I lived in Los Angeles.
What is your most memorable moment while writing?
I love answering this questions because in the four years
I’ve been published my answer has never changed. I actually have two moments
that are equally special to me. The first was when I was sent a photo of a
school project a young girl did. It was a book report, with photos and character
descriptions for Awaken, book one in
the Blood Angel Series. The fact that she had enjoyed the book that much, and
that she could so easily visualize the characters in the story really made me
happy. It proved to me that what I had written wasn’t just a story I enjoyed,
but that it was a story others could enjoy as well. The second moment was when
the first shipment of books showed up on my front porch. I opened the box and
there it was, a paperback copy of the novel I wrote. It was like a dream come true.
I still get excited every time a box of my books arrive. Maybe it’s silly but
even going through the whole process, concept to publishing, it never feels
fully real until you hold that book in your hands.
What can your readers
expect from you next?
Well, I haven’t started my next book yet, but I’ve been
asked by a number of readers to do another book in the Blood Angel Series. So,
I will be writing a novella all about Phoebe, one of the supporting characters
in books 2 and 3. I’m excited to find out what happened to her after the end of
Revenge and where her life has taken her.
Other than that, I will be appearing at the Rocket City Nerd
Con, October 23-25.
Event Details
When: Fri., Oct. 23 through Sun., Oct. 25
Where: Huntsville-Madison County Public Library-Downtown
Branch, 915 Monroe St SW, Huntsville, AL 35801
Price: $15 for day pass, $35 for weekend pass (children 10 and
under free with adult ticket)
- BLOG: http://ninasoden.wordpress.com
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/BloodAngelSeries
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/Nina_Soden
- Twitter: @Nina_Soden
- Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Nina-Soden/e/B00ITHSXC8
- Awaken (book 1): http://amzn.com/B008Q8ZPE4
- Beginnings (Book 2): http://amzn.com/B00D3G7RWM
- Revenge (Book 3): http://amzn.com/B00MUT6XQY
- The Chosen (book 1 ~ SECTOR C): http://amzn.com/B00VUK6SQY
- The Hunted (book 2 ~ SECTOR C): Coming soon to Amazon.
