Featured Writer: Holly Haviland - Inked

Follow Holly!! IG: pink_swoon           YouTube Link

How did you find your passion for writing? I've always enjoyed writing, I took creative writing classes. There's something therapeutic about writing down your feelings. I enjoy poetry and short stories. The book is based on a short story.

What inspired Inked? (I highly suggest, btw. It's was a great read.) I had a freaky dream and a dream scene in the book is based on that. I wrote it down & then had dreams about the characters. I wanted to base the dream on something more romantic instead of scary. I'm a huge reader of paranormal romance and I was literally searching for this book & I couldn't find it, so I figured why not create it? My husband has always been supportive of my writing.

Who is your biggest inspiration? That's a hard question, I'm inspired so much. I'm an avid reader & always enjoyed the stories I've read. I just decided to create my own.

When it comes to writing a book, just do it.

The book left promise for a sequel, when should we expect to see that? I'm not sure how long this sequel to write. I'm pulled in different directions creativity wise. I am anticipating a year or two. I wanted to focus more on the angel Marcel in the next book. I wanted to put more focus on the angelic side, where Inked focused on the Demon side.

How long did it take you to write the first book? Over five years, I had a pregnancy and it was more of a hobby. My method of writing, start in middle, go to end, then start back at the start, then go through to the end again.

What's in store for Violet in the future? She will be part of the sequel, not as a main character, but a role. She will be a supporting role for the main character, supporting through trauma.

I know you enjoy paranormal, but what other interests or hobbies do you have?  Makeup, youtube channel, makeup art, Instagram, art related, creating art in all different forms, paper mache, with makeup you get better as you go. just practice (winged eye)

Do you have any literary works you plan to release in the future? Another book, murder mystery, has a little paranormal. Timeframe couple years realistically

How long have you been writing? My whole life, but high school is when I got into poetry.

What made you realize that you have a talent for writing? I had a creative writing teacher that was so mean that it motivated me even more. it inspired me to prove him wrong. Writing and creating a different world is stress realieving and and escape. The more short stories I wrote the more I liked creating beginning, middle, end and a whole world, the fantasy of that world.

What does your writing process look like? I like to create outlines, there was a part where there was a lot were this book was scrambled. An outline really helped me having something in my head that I wanted to happen and it helped fill in things as I went. Creating chapters was hard for me because I wanted it flow right. I would daydream a lot about these characters and I would think about what they would say. I would write the idea down and have a visual to develop the characters more.

Aside from buying your book, (link above) what's the best way to help support you? Follow me on IG, I post on there a lot, & spread the word about my book. I interact with people more on IG.

As I was reading, I thought that this would make a great movie. Have you ever thought of turning it into one? I would LOVE that, that would make me so happy. If someone took that on, that would be a dream come true.

I was going to a publisher, but afraid of rejection. I just wanted it out there, it's great if it gets popular.

Darius "I didn't like" at first. I did that on purpose & I wanted to make you like him over time. I think that in the beginning he's entitled and Violet has changed him in a lot of ways.

What's the best part about writing your own book and having it published? I can be like I wrote this! (She then pulled up her own copy of the book!) I like the aspect of a physical copy.

What's the most challenging? Making sure everything was cohesive, definite beginning and end, it was all a whole, nobody was out of character, traditional romance novels have a specific flow, I wanted to make my story more exciting. I wanted to do something different. there's self discovery, there's so much I put in to it, I want it to be all one piece, everything fit in tiny little box. It was challenging to keep going and stay motivated, IDK what I'm doing, what am I doing? so many moments thinking to stop or give up, but it was so rewarding to stick with it. Grateful for friends and family that were supportive. Life gets in the way, get distracted.

Do you have any tips for fellow or newbie writers? Yeah, map out characters really well at first. Have a list of characters you want to focus on, make sure everything is consistent, keep the characters true to themselves, obviously they're going to change. Create a good foundation for your characters, know who they are and where they will go. OUTLINE! It helps you figure the heart of your story what you're trying to convey, keep it at the forefront.

When I released the book it was right before the pandemic, I wasn't able to book signings or other events to promote the book, but I do want to in the future.

My favorite part was she is a badass.

What made you interested in being featured on Beautiful Disaster Lit? You're an awesome person, I love your posts, you're uplifting, I like how honest you are, really easy to connect with you, your vibe.

Thank you for reading my interview with the beautiful Holly, please go show her some love!

🖤💋💨