For all that is good and holy in the world, what possessed you to become an author?
As if any of us have a choice…
How did you conceive the idea for your latest novel?
My paranormal mystery novel GHOSTS OF WITCHES PAST was inspired by a mansion that I stumbled upon while taking a walk in Dobbs Ferry, NY. I’d lived there for years and was surprised to find a sprawling, gorgeous estate in the middle of this hilly, wooded village on the Hudson River. The mansion is called Estherwood, and it was built in the 1890s. It looks to me like a quiet old mansion where a family of witches would definitely live in secrecy. That’s all it took. I imagined the magical McClintock family as the founders of the town, which I called Tower Hill. The actual town of Dobbs Ferry is located on the river not far from the famous village of Sleepy Hollow. It felt like a natural progression to invent a witchy legend surrounding the town, from which the story took on a life of its own.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I am a reformed plotter. After pantsing for ages, I suffered with rambling stories that meandered and had no shape. Plotting is now a requirement for me. I plot with various levels of detail depending on what it is I am plotting. The series arc is simpler detail-wise, and each book is more detailed than that, and then each chapter has more detail continuing down to the scenes. I allow myself just enough detail to give me direction while also leaving space for things to change. I usually outline several iterations over the course of the drafting process. It’s a balance for sure, but this is what works for me.
If you were a taco or a pizza, what kind of taco or pizza would you be?
OMG I would totally be a pepperoni and prosciutto pizza!
If you could describe your entire catalog of books in a single sentence, what would that sentence say?
Buckle up, this collection of fantasy and mystery stories is going to take you for an exciting ride!
If you had to start your career over again from scratch, what would you do differently?
If I could start over, I would start sooner. It took me a long time to accept the fact that I could be indie. When I started looking to writing as a career, I was very aware of the stigma attached to self publishing and so I resisted the idea for myself. Meanwhile, many writers were taking the plunge, publishing on their own, and finding readers. I watched them explore new ways to buck the trends and try new things. As the independent publishing model grew, I knew it was the path for me. As a serial entrepreneur, I have always been drawn to the DIY side of the world, and as soon as the publishing freelancers moved into indie publishing land and I had access to the same editors, cover artists, and interior formatters, it was only a matter of time. Now, there is an entire population of successful indie writers supported by book production professionals. Now, we are not just writers, we are publishers and we are changing the way books find readers. It’s an exciting time to be an author, and I feel so fortunate to be involved in this community as a loud-and-proud indie author-publisher.
What is your favorite thing about RMFW?
When I think of RMFW the organization, I think of all the people I have met since becoming a member. From the first conference to the most recent class I attended, RMFW means writer friends, professional support, and lots and lots of fun.
Corinne O’Flynn is a USA Today bestselling author of The Expatriates fantasy-adventure series featuring SONG OF THE SENDING and PROMISE OF THE SCHOLAR, the Witches of Tower Hill paranormal suspense series featuring the award-winning GHOSTS OF WITCHES PAST, the Aumahnee Prophecy urban fantasy series which she co-writes with RMFW member Lisa Manifold, and the Half Moon Girls murder-mystery series. She is also a publisher with Wicked Ink Books, whose titles include the award-winning anthologies TICK TOCK: Seven Tales of Time and OFF BEAT: Nine Spins on Song. Look for a new anthology from Wicked Ink Books in the Fall 2018, and the final installment of The Expatriates series, SOUL OF THE SWORD, this summer.
Corinne is a native New Yorker living in Colorado who wouldn’t trade life in the Rockies for anything. She considers RMFW her writing home. She got involved in RMFW after attending her first conference and has served on the RMFW board since as Technology Co-Chair, Conference Chair, and Retreat Chair, as well as helping out in various roles over the years.
Corinne is the founder and executive director of Rowan Tree Foundation, a local non-profit dedicated to providing support to bereaved families after the death of a child. She is a self-proclaimed scone aficionado and professional napper, and she has an entire section of her kitchen devoted to tea. When not working on her author business, she can be found hanging with her husband and their four kids, playing board games, attending live music and stage performances, knitting, reading, or binge watching some fabulous shows—all while sipping tea!