Harmony Kent Guest

Hello Readers!

Please help me welcome Harmony Kent on The Road to a Dream today. Harmony is a multi-genre author from the United Kingdom.

 

Ava: Is there one person/group/thing that inspires and/or encourages you more than anything else?

Harmony: Yes, that would have to be the Rave Reviews Book Club! They are so supportive. I’ve not yet found anyone else like them online. My sales and exposure have definitely increased since I joined them back in March this year. I now volunteer on the governing board, which is hard work, but so worth it. Writing can be a lonely occupation, but RRBC provides plenty of company and support.

Ava: Describe your writing zone. Have you built a place in your home that is your “Author Cave?”

Harmony: I have a writing cave! It is a little nook between the front door and the lounge, where I have my computer set up. Everyone once in a while, I can look out the window at the fields opposite. It’s great.

Ava: Are you a Plotter or a Pantser or a combination of the two?

Harmony: Most definitely a Pantser! I hate making plans, and only resort to that if I absolutely have to, LOL.

Ava: Do your characters ever “take the wheel” and lead you in an unplanned direction?

Harmony: Oh, my characters are surely in charge! I tell you, most of the time I have no idea what’s going to happen next. It’s more like reading than writing! Sometimes, I end up somewhere and look around, and it’s like … NOW how am I gonna get out of this??!!

Ava: What is one thing you must have at hand when you write?

Harmony: Music (soundtracks, not vocals) and a glass of wine!

Ava: What is your favorite part of being a writer?

Harmony: Giving free rein to my imagination. J

Ava: What is your least favorite part of being a writer?

Harmony: The bits that come “after” … you know … the promotion and all that!

Ava: Do you prefer to work under a deadline?

Harmony: Nope. No way. I don’t do pressure very well! I much prefer my own pace.

Ava: What is your favorite quote? Who said it? What do you like most about it?

Harmony: “Sometimes you’ve got to be able to listen to yourself and be okay with no one else understanding.” … by Christopher Barzak.

I like this so much, because it says something important: we can’t always rely on those around us to give us the wisdom we need … we have to be able to listen to ourselves, too. And, at its most basic, if we can’t love and trust ourselves, we cannot love or trust anyone else. Not really.

Ava: Describe your next writing project.

Harmony: I am just finishing up my first non-fiction book: POLISH YOUR PROSE: Essential Editing Tips for Authors. It is available on pre-order now, and will be released on November 29^th. I have read some books that could have been great, if only for a little editing and proofreading. Most Indies can’t afford a full edit, and this book is one way to offer some of that knowledge for very little money. It also avoids a lot of the jargon you would usually find within grammarly circles. I hate jargon, with a vengeance! This is my fourth book. I have also written three fiction books: The Battle for Brisingamen (my first book, and fantasy fiction), The Glade (my second book, and mystery/thriller fiction), and Elemental Earth (my third book, and my first go at Young Adult fiction. This was another fantasy fiction offering, and is the first in what will be a series). Once I have finished with POLISH YOUR PROSE, I will move onto the second book in The Mysteries series, which will follow on from Elemental Earth.

Ava: Is there anything you would say to other Indie authors?

Harmony: Write for yourself. Write because you love it. Try not to expect too much. And, lastly, we’re not in competition with our fellow authors. It is in helping one another that we can achieve the most.

ABOUT YOUR BOOK

Ava: Is there a story behind how you came up with the idea for your book, “The Glade?” If so, can you share it?

Harmony: The idea was already nipping at my heels as I finished writing “Brisingamen”. It had to be the Forest of Dean, as I wanted it to be in the UK, and this is the only large(ish) forest remaining in Britain, sadly enough. The Black Forest is the next biggest (within Europe).  I hadn’t intended to write about ley lines or the stone, but on researching the forest I came across an article on the Standing Stone, and separate information about ley lines crossing. Of course, my imagination was piqued, and I took large artistic license in bringing them all together! In reality, the stone is right by a busy road … but for the purposes of my spooky tale, it needed to be remote … and so the lie was born! LOL (Only a LITTLE one though!)

Ava: As a multi-genre writer, do you prefer one genre over the other?

Harmony: I don’t. It really depends on how the mood takes me at any one time. I have a few “books” in a just begun, or partially finished state, and will often swap from one to the other. Having said that, sometimes an idea really gets me and doesn’t let go: it was this way with my first two books. While I was writing Elemental Earth, I had another book on the side (kind of like a “mistress” … or whatever the male equivalent of that would be! LOL) that I could go to when I was in the mood for writing something a little grittier than the YA book would allow! I’ll have that finished one day, too. But, for now, I owe it to readers of Elemental to get the 2^nd in the series out without too much delay.

Ava: What is one thing about your latest Main Character that you hope your readers connect with?

Harmony: Not only is Sarah attempting to deal with the usual identity crisis a lot of mid-teens encounter, but she is also having to deal with betrayal, manipulation, and loss. Not to mention her whole world being something completely “other” than she has believed her whole life. This character carries deep inadequacy within her, and throughout the series she will grow and develop. This is as much a story of personal triumph (or tragedy—no spoilers allowed here!) as it is about magic. I would love for my readers to connect with Sarah on this inner and outer journey. Will she learn to listen to herself? To trust? Only time will tell.

AUTHOR BIO 

Indie Author Harmony Kent has written a number of books. The Battle for Brisingamen, her first novel, is a work of fantasy fiction and was approved by Awesome Indies within weeks of its release. Her second book, The Glade shows her equally at home in the realms of mystery, suspense and thriller – with a dash of magical realism. This book has also been approved for the Awesome Indies List. The Glade was awarded the IndieBRAG Medallion in July 2014. Harmony’s third book (Elemental Earth) is Young Adult Fantasy Fiction, and was published 31st July 2014…. {~~Please check out her full bio online!~~}
www.harmonykent.co.uk
twitter: @harmony_kent
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HarmonyKentOnline
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/HarmonyK
Amazon Author Pages: UK US

A HUGE thank you to Ava Louise, for inviting me to her blog today! I am so thrilled to be here! Thank to all of you who have stopped by today. Hugs and love to you all.

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Thank you so much, Harmony! Please feel free to leave any comments or questions! All commenters will be entered in the November drawing for a prize!

Until next time…be kind to each other…and to yourselves!