Q1. Hello Ma’am, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
I’m Lanie Mores, author of the science fiction and fantasy book series, Father of Contention. I reside in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada with my husband and son. I have two little, feisty dogs, Petri and Batman, who are a constant source of entertainment and distraction. Besides writing, I also run my own personal training business in-home and online. My interests involve music, baking, watching movies and television shows, fitness, reading, and writing. I’m currently busy working on the fourth book in my series, Gatekeepers of Eden, which should be available this summer.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Father of Contention’ book?
Father of Contention was the first novel I wrote, and so I struggled with “imposter syndrome”. Feelings of doubt and inadequacy constantly led to procrastination, and I almost quit the process more than once. Not only was I faced with insecurity around my writing abilities, but I was a newbie to the entire publication process. Editing my manuscript, writing queries, synopses, back cover blurbs, creating social media pages…it was a steep learning curve, but worth it all in the end.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Margaret Atwood, and Stephenie Meyer have all influenced my writing. They inspired me to write in the science fiction, fantasy, horror, and paranormal genres, and their writing styles are much to be emulated. I’m impressed by their effective use of poetic description, the impact that their characters’ internal dialogue has on their readers to make them feel a part of the story, and the inclusion of tragic storylines that don’t always have a happy ending. Although I could never say that I write as well as them, they inspire me to keep improving my skills and aspire to be a better author.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
My all-time favourite spot to visit is the Indigo/Chapters bookstore in my hometown of Thunder Bay. It has a Starbucks attached, so it’s always filled with the glorious aroma of fresh brewed coffee. Coffee and books together…it’s my little slice of paradise! I worked there when I was in University, and more recently I got into the habit of dropping in every Sunday after church with my mom and son. It was the perfect escape, but we haven’t been able to go since Covid-19 hit, so I sorely miss our little dates.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?
As far as being a “Plotter or a Pantser”, I would say I’m more of a plotter. I always start with an idea or a group of concepts I want to write about, and then I research those concepts to death, literally burying myself in articles, books, periodicals…whatever I can get my hands on pertaining to the subject, until I feel like I’m an expert. Next, I create an outline of how my chapters and storyline will evolve; when different characters will be introduced and what they will be like, creating the scenery, developing bits of dialogue. During this process there are times I’m simply staring off into space, daydreaming, creating the scenes in my head before I write them down on paper. Finally, when I feel the story is mapped out from beginning to end, I start to write.
Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Sea of Forgetfulness’ book?
Sea of Forgetfulness took me approximately three years to write, from conception to completion, but I was working on other projects simultaneously. I began writing the first draft during NaNoWriMo 2016. Then I put it on the backburner until I finished it during NaNoWriMo 2019, followed by months of edits.
Q7. On what all platforms readers can find your books to buy?
My website http://www.laniemores.com has direct links to most of the platforms where my books are available. That being said, you can find them on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indigo/Chapters, Kindle, Kobo, Smashwords, and Goodreads.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the cover and the title of your books?
When I’m planning my covers, I picture in my mind what I would like the cover to look like, and then I search through hundreds of stock photos until I find the closest picture to match my vision. For my current book series, I wanted a character picture on both the front and back cover, so I needed to find the perfect fit for both. After I narrowed it down to a few choices, I had my friends vote on their favourites. The winners got sent off to Tellwell Talent’s book cover designers, who then created the final, polished graphics.
For title selection, my first book was easy since the devil serves as the books’ narrator, so I called it Father of Contention, which is one the devil’s many names. He also becomes the father of a new race of human, and so it was fitting. My second book, Guardian of Angel is a play on words. The main character’s nickname is Angel, and she gets linked to her guardian angel after a near-death-experience. Sea of Forgetfulness is taken from the Bible, a special place where people go that is somewhere between life and death…the main theme for that storyline. And the final book, Gatekeepers of Eden literally is about a selected group of individuals meant to protect the entrance to the Garden of Eden.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
There are times I ignore the rules of writing and go off on my own tangent. It’s a risk, and can go either way, by being effective or an epic failure. I’m pleased how it’s turned out so far. For example, in the Father of Contention series, I have the devil using free-style poetry to narrate the story during the opening, midway and closing of the story in each book. He speaks directly to his audience, to you as reader and as the humans he loathes. I feel this addition gives the story a unique feel.
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
There are a few secrets I can share from my latest book Sea of Forgetfulness that aren’t considered spoilers. For instance, Anthony and Ang, two of the main characters, get married in a quiet, understated affair. I also take the concept of “kill your darlings” a little too far by knocking off some major characters, while other characters thought to be dead and gone, resurface. Things aren’t always as they seem in my stories.
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