My name is Sophronia Belle Lyon. I'm the author of the Alexander Legacy series, so far including A Dodge, a Twist, and a Tobacconist and The ‘Pprentices, the Puppets, and the Pirates.
I travel widely, read 1800s classics voraciously, shoot handguns when I can, and grew up sketching and exploring in the Catskill Mountains of New York State. I dressed up and acted out scenes with friends much like Louisa May Alcott's beloved "Little Women," and got to be a cauldron spirit in Macbeth in fourth grade. I traveled to Italy by way of Iceland and Luxembourg. I have taken apart my share of clocks and vented more than one steam valve. Hundreds of cat friends informed me about Bagheera's attitudes and manners. Oliver Twist's oblivious, eccentric habits came from the Science-absorbed men in my life, and my love for weapons translated into the well-armed members of the Alexander Legacy Company. I collect swords and knives. I enjoy tea, hot or iced, but cannot get the knack of the cream or sweetening obsession, being, after all, thoroughly American.
Which writer inspires you? Charles Dickens in the past, and Richard Adams in the present. Have you written other books? If so, what are the titles? Our publishing imprint, Findley Family Video, has nonfiction, homeschool curriculum, scifi, and historical fiction. Over a dozen full-length titles, plus excerpts, short stories, and serial versions. How much research, if any, do you do when writing a book? Usually a lot, especially for nonfiction or historical. The steampunk series is mostly a product of my classics reading from years past, but I still had to go back and get the characters right. Plus, steampunk gadgetry and themes vary a lot, but there are certain expectations that have to be checked out. Why do you write? I want to communicate God’s truth and His love. Where do you get your ideas from? Things I read and sometimes what I see around me. For example, one of the motels we stayed at had some luggage carriers with big, thick brass frames, and I found myself imagining a spy novel where the protagonist used one to skate down a hall using those thick poles as a shield from the people shooting at him. Do you use an outline, plot, or just see where the story takes you? I have a general idea of where the story will go, but it doesn’t always end up like I expect. The Dodge story was the only one I really tried to make an outline and full summary for before I wrote it. And if Archie Campbell had died, and Kera had stayed a Geisha, and Zambo hadn’t replaced George Rouncewell, and the Bronze Cascade hotel had remained a rusting freighter … well … things would have turned out very differently. Do you prefer to read ebooks, paperback, or hardback? Ebooks. We travel constantly and any kind of print books get shaken to pieces in the truck. What are you currently working on? The Alexander Legacy Book Three is tentatively tiled “The Gattler, the Gunboat, and the Gee-gaw” and features Sluefoot Sue as the narrator. Some of her backstory may work its way in there, but the main storyline deals with the way technology can be used for evil or to fight evil. How important are book covers in the buying process? So many people just browse through books until a cover strikes them. You can’t overstate the importance of finding a cover that grabs the reader and makes him want to take a closer look. How do you market your book? I spend time on Twitter and Facebook sharing links and cross-promoting with other authors. We have all the books on Goodreads, our blog, Pinterest, and Library Thing, as well as Amazon and many other ebook retailers. Do you use social media? If so, what is you favorite site? Facebook has such a variety of groups and I’ve met so many great authors and readers there. I also love Pinterest, since I can make direct links for all our books, as well as have boards with fun images related to my writing. What's your favorite Bible verse? Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. Do you write a blog? If so where can we find it at? http://elkjerkyforthesoul.wordpress.com Where can readers find your books? A Dodge, a Twist, and a Tobacconist US Ebook http://www.amazon.com/Dodge-Tobacconist-Alexander-Legacy-ebook/dp/B009NV1DMG UK Ebook http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dodge-Tobacconist-Alexander-Legacy-ebook/dp/B009NV1DMG Illustrated US ebook http://www.amazon.com/Illustrated-Tobacconist-Alexander-Legacy-ebook/dp/B009SG3WXO UK ebook http://www.amazon.co.uk/Illustrated-Tobacconist-Alexander-Legacy-ebook/dp/B009SG3WXO Createspace store https://www.createspace.com/4336280 Amazon UK print http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dodge-Twist-Tobacconist-Steampunk-Adventure/dp/0615840280/ Amazon links for The ‘Pprentices, the Puppets, and the Pirates US ebook http://www.amazon.com/Pprentices-Puppets-Pirates-Alexander-ebook/dp/B00CM1N4I0/ UK ebook http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pprentices-Puppets-Pirates-Alexander-ebook/dp/B00CM1N4I0/ http://elkjerkyforthesoul.wordpress.com |