Don't Judge, Read: Tour Stop: SALT & VENO by Amy McNulty - Interview

Title: SALT & VENOM (Blood, Bloom, & Water #2)

Author: Amy McNulty

Pub. Date: October 16, 2018

Publisher: Snowy Wings Publishing

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 227

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon

An emboldened merman. The daring girl who agreed to be his champion. The upcoming battle that threatens to change everything they believe in.

Ivy Sheppard never wanted the ability to turn into a mermaid—though her wicked ice powers are nothing to sneeze at. Now her step-sister is her enemy, the fairy she once trusted may not be the ally she hoped for, and her new boyfriend wants her to transfer schools to avoid the vampires taking over Union High. Between dodging parents’ concerns, pretending she can stand to even look at the step-sister who sided with the bloodsuckers, and still aiming to end it all without violence, Ivy is in over her head. Unfortunately, these ancient enemies are itching to get the conflict started and Ivy may have no choice but to become the warrior the merfolk need her to be.

The second book in the Blood, Bloom, & Water series starts the war between fangs and fins in earnest as the merfolk plan their assault to bring down the unnatural undead vampires once and for all.

Title: FANGS & FINS A Paranormal Romance (Blood, Bloom, & Water Book 1)

Author: Amy McNulty

Pub. Date: May 1, 2018

Publisher: Snowy Wings Publishing

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 330

Find it: Amazon, Goodreads

A dapper vampire. A sullen merman. Two heirs to a great conflict—and each needs to claim a beloved to become his kindred’s champion.

High school senior Ember Goodwin never had a sister, but after her mom’s remarriage, she now has two. The eldest is no stranger to her—Ivy is a witty girl in her grade who’s almost never spoken to the shy bookworm before—but she’s surprised to find the popular girl quite amiable. Their burgeoning friendship is tested, however, when Dean Horne, a pale, besuited charmer, shows interest in them both and plans to reveal his appetite for blood to the one who’ll stand by his side.

Seventeen-year-old Ivy Sheppard is tired of splitting her time between her dad’s and her mom’s, particularly when her dad uproots their lives to move them in with his new wife and step-daughter. Used to rolling with her parents’ whims, she tries to make the best of it and befriend her nerdy new step-sister. Her hectic life grows more unwieldy when she catches the eye of junior Calder Poole, whom she swears she sees swap well-toned legs for a pair of fins during a dip in a lake. Now she’s fending off suitors left and right, all while trying to get to the bottom of the strange happenings in her town.

The first book in the Blood, Bloom, & Water series sets family against family and friend against friend as an epic, ancient war comes to a head in a supposedly sleepy suburb.

Let’s start with, how are you this fine day?

I’m doing well, thank you! Thanks for having me on the blog!

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

As far as information/research goes, I google anything I’m not sure about and generally draw upon my own well of knowledge. For ideas, I’m not sure. I write what I’m interested in and try to make the stories a little unique and offer my own spin on things. I always have 5+ books on my “to-write” list. I just can’t write fast enough to get it all out quicker!

When did you write your first book and how old were you?

I tried writing books probably at around age 20, though I also wrote short stories before then. However, I struggled to commit to finishing anything and would go months or sometimes years without bothering to write. I finished my first completed manuscript at age 28 and have been faster and faster about writing since then.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Watch TV shows, movies, and anime and read manga, comics, and books. I also play video and board games and like to get out of the house a few days a week. I’ve become an Escape Room fanatic this year.

What does your family think of your writing?

They’re all quite supportive! They know this is what I’ve always dreamed of doing. However, they can’t keep up with my releases as fast as I write them (and the one avid reader in the family just isn’t interested in all of the genres I write in), so no one but my editor and some very avid fans (and I, of course) has read every single one of my releases. I think even my editor has missed one because I used another editor that time! So maybe it’s just me who’s read them all.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

That the characters have wills of their own. You can write an outline ahead of time, but you’ll often find characters going off-outline as they react naturally to what obstacles you throw at them.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

I just finished number 13! (I have two pen names in addition to Amy McNulty.) I also have five abandoned part-finished manuscripts. My favorite is still Nobody’s Goddess, the first book I finished writing. It’s gone through the most revising and caused the most hand-wringing of all of my books, but it’s really representative of everything I love the most in fantastical fiction.

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

I have a Street Team, so there are a handful of readers that I hear from every time I post an update about my writing or editing progress. I also have received a couple of emails from other readers. I love hearing from readers! They’re all so amazing and make me blush. I think one of the things I notice the most is that a lot of them say they’re surprised by the twists and turns in my books. I’m quite proud about that.

Have you even been sent fan art?

Yes! Just once, but I’m still amazed it happened. A superfan named Desnica from Australia sent me fanart for The Never Veil Series and I hung it up on my wall! It’s so cute and detailed. It makes me happy every time I see it. I would loooooove to see more!

What do you think makes a good story?

My very favorite stories are unputdownable. That’s the number one quality for me, though there are quite a few stories I love that I read/watch more slowly. Overall, good characters and a fantastic, original plot make for the best stories out there.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

An author! I just didn’t think it’d be possible. I’m still aiming to make it my number one occupation, but for now, I have to do freelance writing and editing to make ends meet.

What is that one weird quirk about yourself, that no one else knows?

Well, I don’t know about no one knowing, but I broke my nose as a toddler (I don’t remember it) and the bridge is still a little misshapen.

If you had your time back what would you tell yourself about writing?

Don’t give up! You can do it. It is possible.

Last but not least,

What advice would you give aspiring writers?

The same thing! The most important thing to do is try. You’ll never be a writer if you’re never writing, but publishing books is possible if you keep practicing. (At the same time, don’t stress yourself and force yourself to write every day. Take breaks when need be.)

Thank you for answers my questions

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Amy McNulty is an editor and author of books that run the gamut from YA speculative fiction to contemporary romance. A lifelong fiction fanatic, she fangirls over books, anime, manga, comics, movies, games, and TV shows from her home state of Wisconsin. When not reviewing anime professionally or editing her clients’ novels, she’s busy fulfilling her dream by crafting fantastical worlds of her own.