By way of introduction, here is Anca Antoci’s bio:
Anca Antoci started out as a fanfiction writer and then moved on to write her own story. Thus her debut novel, Forget Me Not, got published in January 2020.
Her fanfiction stories are still available on her blog. Living in Romania, Anca speaks English as a second language.
Because she’s a passionate reader, Anca started a blog where she reviews fantasy books called Summon Fantasy.
When she’s not reading or writing, Anca loves cooking and watching movies with her daughter while eating nachos.
Hello, Anca, welcome to Angel Kiss Publications. Thank you for agreeing to do this interview.
Thank you for having me.
When did the writing bug ensnare you?
It’s hard to tell. I think I’ve always made up stories in my mind but didn’t put them on paper. My earliest attempt at writing fiction was in fifth grade when I wrote a story titled Nina’s Cat.
I don’t remember much about it, but at that time I was watching Lassie (for those too young to have seen the show, it was about a boy and his dog). My story was about a girl and her cat. Was it a spin-off, a fanfiction, who knows? It was a lifetime ago!
Is writing your full-time profession?
No, it’s more of a hobby. I love making stories up, but that doesn’t pay the bills. My husband and I have a small IT consulting business.
Some days are busier than others. I schedule my writing whenever I have free time.
How long have you been writing?
On and off for eleven years. I started writing fanfiction in 2009 when Blood Ties (a Canadian tv-show) got canceled in the second season and the fans were left high and dry.
I needed closure, so I wrote Until We Meet Again, a fanfiction to offer a better-suited closure to the story. I started working on my debut novel (I didn’t know it was going to be a novel, it was just something I was writing for fun) in 2012.
How many published books have you written?
So far, only one. Forget Me Not is the first part of the Chimera Trilogy. The second part is almost ready and will come out in December 2020.
Which genre do you write?
For the moment I’ll stick with Fantasy, which is the same genre I read most days.
What do you find most challenging writing for this genre?
It’s pretty challenging coming up with a magic system that works and remaining consistent throughout the story.
What are you working on now?
The sequel to Forget Me Not. I haven’t decided on a title yet, but I’ve been toying with the words Web of Lies because there’s a lot of deception going on.
Nothing is what you think it is. I still have a couple more chapters to write before I finish my first draft.
Where do you find inspiration for your characters?
To be honest, I don’t think much about it. An idea just pops into my mind and then I just go with the flow. The same with the character names. There’s no hidden meaning behind them.
What has been your most rewarding experience since publishing your work?
Seeing that people are enjoying my book. So far, I’ve got pretty good feedback (way better than I expected) and mostly positive reviews.
I’m still waiting for that dreaded one-star review that every author gets at one point, but I’m relieved that it hasn’t come yet.
I know I still have room to grow, and that’s a good thing but nothing boosts your morale like being appreciated.
What advice would you give to authors just starting out?
Don’t overthink it. You won’t start your career with a masterpiece, nobody does. Do your best, have your friends read it and give you feedback, get a couple of beta readers if you can, and polish it the best you can.
Then release it into the world and start working on your next project. Learn from the mistakes you made on your first book and do better on your next one. And so on. Practice makes perfect. Don’t stop writing!
Is there anything else you’d like your readers to know about you?
That I cherish every feedback I get and that I try to make more time for writing whenever that is possible.
What message are you sharing in your books?
The message is that whenever you’re going through tough times, you need to find the power to move forward within yourself. Sometimes it takes an extreme situation to find your inner strength.
What are your favorite books?
Ah, there are too many to count. It’s like asking a mother to name her favorite child.
If you could create an author’s group with writers from any time period, who would you invite?
I read mostly contemporary fiction, so I would probably invite Anna Mocikat, Elle Lewis, Jen Pretty, Gretchen Galway…that’s just off the top of my head.
Who has influenced your writing the most?
I don’t know if there’s an author in particular that has influenced my writing. Perhaps Anne Bishop, a little bit. Her books are widely appreciated, yet when I read I often notice the lack of story structure or character arc.
But at the same time, I can’t stop reading. It’s not the story, but the storytelling that draws me in. In a similar manner, I’ve had people tell me “I couldn’t put it down!” even though I wasn’t happy with the structure I created for the story. But I’m trying to learn from that and plot better.
When you’re not writing where can we find you?
Well, my day job keeps me behind a computer, so…I’ll be in my office, working.
A movie producer wants to turn your book into a movie and you get to make a cameo. What would you do in the movie?
Oh, I’d be Gloria, the cashier at the grocery store.
An elf named 12-25 approaches you. He’s sneezing, wheezing, coughing and there’s a strange tattoo of a snoring dog on his cheek. What do you do?
I chant a protection spell against Covid-19.
What are your most effective marketing strategies?
I’ll let you know as soon as I find out. I spent most of my free time writing.
I’ll have to study that more after I release my second book. I assumed no one would want to take a chance on a first-time author.
So I needed to prove that my first book wasn’t an accident of a whim, that I’m consistent.
Do you have a website/Facebook page, etc?
Yes. Actually, I have two pages: one is my author page and the other is for my blog.
Instagram: https://instagram.com/summon_fantasy?igshid=13bmisx3nptj1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19891304.Anca_Antoci
Twitter: Https://www.twitter.com/ancaantoci
Blog: https://www.summonfantasy.com/
Where can we find your books?
I published on Amazon, but there are a few other stores where people can find my book.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3jr5Nfs
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forget-me-not-anca-antoci/1136304829?ean=9781653138951
Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Forget-Me-Not-Anca-Antoci/9781653138951
Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Chimera-Forget-Me-Not-Paperback-9781653138951/734867512
Thank you, Anca, for spending time with us and sharing your story. We wish you continued success and lots of luck!
Anca’s Featured Book
Summary:
Deceiving the vampire that saved her could get her killed, but it’s a risk she’s willing to take. When tragedy strikes, Rae makes a terrible choice and struggles with the aftermath.
In the wilderness of the Tongass rainforest, she finds herself hunted by creatures of hell, monsters she never dreamed could be real.
A hidden world, an ancient race, and a secret she discovers by accident give a new meaning to her life, but only if she can escape and return to civilization.
If she is to survive, Rae must comply with Ari, her reluctant hero, and allow him to wipe away any memory of this realm. Knowledge is power, but is it worth dying for?
When push comes to shove, that’s when real strength emerges. What would it take to discover what you’re made of.
Book links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083G3SBSK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_l1CDFbH33XCSX
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50283836-forget-me-not?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=VvcRjyCE8Z&rank=1