Guest: Interview with Megan Derr.
Today, my guest is the lovely Megan Derr, author and co-owner/founder of Less Than Three Press. Please make her welcome.
~****~
1. How did Less Than Three Press come to be?
Samantha suggested the idea to me. We wanted to see more books that put the story and the characters first, not the sex. Sammie suggested that instead of talking about it, we do something. I said okay. Later, we dragged Sasha into it.
2. How did you know you wanted to be an author?
I always wanted to be, from the time I was little. Books have always been my greatest love. I didn't figure out I actually could write until college, but I always wanted to.
3. Who or what inspired you to write your first novel? What was it about?
My first novel was a very silly, very awful book called Rainbow. It was about a rich boy exiled to a small town for something he did wrong in his fancy boarding school. He falls in love with a kid in that small town. Like I said, it was pretty awful.
4. What genre do you most enjoy writing?
I am a fantasy junkie. I'm always a sucker for dragons, elves, magic, fairies, etc. It's also a lot more fun to build my world from scratch and see what I can do, than it is to stick to the real world and play by rules somebody else picked.
5. What is your favorite quote, by whom, and why?
My favorite quote is a line from a song: I don't need what you ain't got. It's from Big Machine by the Goo Goo Dolls. It's always really struck me. When someone is worth sticking with, what they might 'lack' doesn't matter. I need and want my loved ones as they are. The rest doesn't matter.
6. What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your life?
Definitely LT3. I started out a very scared writer pecking out a story in the computer labs at college and have become one third of a small but successful press that publishes the kind of stories I've always loved best. I have two awesome business partners, and we have the best support and readers in the world. I don't think I could be happier or prouder.
7. What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general?
Sticking with it. There are days where you're tired of sitting still, tired of fighting with the words, where you want to watch TV or go shopping or screw around and you can't because there's work to do first. Days where you're sick of the bad reviews and people demanding to know where Story Y is when you've spent an hour writing a blogpost about Story X. Where you're tired of the in-fighting and just want to throw your hands up and walk away. But you stick with it because the story is what matters, and there's no greater rush than finishing a story and going 'I wrote that.'
8. If you were approached to have one of your novels turned into a film, which would you choose and why? Who would you want to play the main characters?
::laugh:: Oh, god. I'd probably pass out. I think I'd love to see something like Prisoner brought to life that way, but the Dance-verse stories would probably convert better. And I wouldn't want to pick, honestly. I'm always happier leaving decisions like that to other people and being surprised.
9. What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?
Just being a writer is dream come true enough for me. It's pretty awesome that all the stories I used to tell myself I can now put on paper to share with others. I like being able to say I'm author, and it's really cool when other people say 'she's an author'.
10. What are your current projects and plans for the rest of 2012?
I am currently finishing up the last two books in the Lost Gods series, Poison and Chaos, and a serial story about a drummer for a rockband and the lawyer he loves. Then I'm moving on to another fantasy story, Black Magic, about a necromancer. After that, I'm not sure yet. I have a long list of possibilities, but have not really settled on one. Probably short stories for a bit, though. I could use the break from novels.
11. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in writing your books?
Honestly, as stupid as it probably sounds, discovering I had fans was the biggest surprise. I started writing because I'd always wanted to be a writer, and I finally realized there was no law saying I couldn't try. I still remember some of the first comments I got on Rainbow. Some of those early commenters are still with me all these years later. It blows me away that I have such faithful readers, and I don't think it will ever stop surprising me.
12. Do you ever research real events, legends, or myths to get inspiration?
Rarely on purpose. If I'm reading something, it's usually with a different purpose in mind-research for a story I'm already working on, just for the hell of it, or to help a friend out. But reading is one of my greatest sources of inspiration, especially my collections of fairytales and my medieval books.
13. Is there a snack or drink that you 'mainline' (like coffee for instance) during the writing process?
Coffee, because I am that predictable and uncreative. I make a pot in the morning for my roomies and I, and in the afternoon one of us usually runs out for lattes. On the really busy days, I make another pot in the evening. If I don't do that, we switch to alcohol (usually beer for me, but sometimes wine).
14. How long does it take you to write and publish a novel? What are the steps you go through?
That varies wildly depending on the length and my deadlines. Usually a few months. The first step is usually an outline of some sort, especially if the story is complicated (like Lost Gods, where I have to keep track of what goes on in five books rather than just one). But calling them outlines is pretty generous, I mostly jot ideas down, sort out the order of characters (if I'm switching POVs), and any key points I might forget. I don't tend to outline hard b/c I prefer to figure out the bulk of the story as I go.
After I'm done writing it, I ignore it for a little while, anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Then I go back through it and start the second round. After that it goes to my betas, and there is more editing. After all of that it goes to Samantha, who either edits it or assigns a different editor.
When I get it back, I make the 5,000 changes the editor has ordered I make, and then it goes back to editing. After I make those changes, I read it through one last time. Then it gets all the finishing touches, copy edits, and goes up in the bookstore a short time later.
15. Finally, the question I ask everyone I interview - if you were a plant in the next life, what would you be, and why?
Venus fly trap. They're ominous and cute all at once. I love playing with those things whenever I go to zoos and gardens. I would totally dig being a Venus fly trap.
Always Masked
Once a highly regarded member of the Moon Clan, one of the secretive, notorious Masked, Naoki was afflicted by a terrible, incurable curse in the line of duty. Now, for the safety of the clan and all they protect, he spends his day exiled to a remote mountain region, far from the islands he once called home.
His misery is briefly lifted when he chances upon a man being attacked by bandits-a man who proves to be far more than he appears, who needs the unique skills Naoki can provide, and can offer far more than Naoki ever dared hope he could find.
Buy it: Here.
Megan is a long time resident of m/m fiction, and keeps herself busy reading, writing, and publishing it. She is often accused of fluff and nonsense. She loves to hear from readers, and can be found all around the internet.
maderr.com
maderr.livejournal.com
lessthanthreepress.com
@amasour
~****~
1. How did Less Than Three Press come to be?
Samantha suggested the idea to me. We wanted to see more books that put the story and the characters first, not the sex. Sammie suggested that instead of talking about it, we do something. I said okay. Later, we dragged Sasha into it.
2. How did you know you wanted to be an author?
I always wanted to be, from the time I was little. Books have always been my greatest love. I didn't figure out I actually could write until college, but I always wanted to.
3. Who or what inspired you to write your first novel? What was it about?
My first novel was a very silly, very awful book called Rainbow. It was about a rich boy exiled to a small town for something he did wrong in his fancy boarding school. He falls in love with a kid in that small town. Like I said, it was pretty awful.
4. What genre do you most enjoy writing?
I am a fantasy junkie. I'm always a sucker for dragons, elves, magic, fairies, etc. It's also a lot more fun to build my world from scratch and see what I can do, than it is to stick to the real world and play by rules somebody else picked.
5. What is your favorite quote, by whom, and why?
My favorite quote is a line from a song: I don't need what you ain't got. It's from Big Machine by the Goo Goo Dolls. It's always really struck me. When someone is worth sticking with, what they might 'lack' doesn't matter. I need and want my loved ones as they are. The rest doesn't matter.
6. What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your life?
Definitely LT3. I started out a very scared writer pecking out a story in the computer labs at college and have become one third of a small but successful press that publishes the kind of stories I've always loved best. I have two awesome business partners, and we have the best support and readers in the world. I don't think I could be happier or prouder.
7. What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general?
Sticking with it. There are days where you're tired of sitting still, tired of fighting with the words, where you want to watch TV or go shopping or screw around and you can't because there's work to do first. Days where you're sick of the bad reviews and people demanding to know where Story Y is when you've spent an hour writing a blogpost about Story X. Where you're tired of the in-fighting and just want to throw your hands up and walk away. But you stick with it because the story is what matters, and there's no greater rush than finishing a story and going 'I wrote that.'
8. If you were approached to have one of your novels turned into a film, which would you choose and why? Who would you want to play the main characters?
::laugh:: Oh, god. I'd probably pass out. I think I'd love to see something like Prisoner brought to life that way, but the Dance-verse stories would probably convert better. And I wouldn't want to pick, honestly. I'm always happier leaving decisions like that to other people and being surprised.
9. What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?
Just being a writer is dream come true enough for me. It's pretty awesome that all the stories I used to tell myself I can now put on paper to share with others. I like being able to say I'm author, and it's really cool when other people say 'she's an author'.
10. What are your current projects and plans for the rest of 2012?
I am currently finishing up the last two books in the Lost Gods series, Poison and Chaos, and a serial story about a drummer for a rockband and the lawyer he loves. Then I'm moving on to another fantasy story, Black Magic, about a necromancer. After that, I'm not sure yet. I have a long list of possibilities, but have not really settled on one. Probably short stories for a bit, though. I could use the break from novels.
11. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in writing your books?
Honestly, as stupid as it probably sounds, discovering I had fans was the biggest surprise. I started writing because I'd always wanted to be a writer, and I finally realized there was no law saying I couldn't try. I still remember some of the first comments I got on Rainbow. Some of those early commenters are still with me all these years later. It blows me away that I have such faithful readers, and I don't think it will ever stop surprising me.
12. Do you ever research real events, legends, or myths to get inspiration?
Rarely on purpose. If I'm reading something, it's usually with a different purpose in mind-research for a story I'm already working on, just for the hell of it, or to help a friend out. But reading is one of my greatest sources of inspiration, especially my collections of fairytales and my medieval books.
13. Is there a snack or drink that you 'mainline' (like coffee for instance) during the writing process?
Coffee, because I am that predictable and uncreative. I make a pot in the morning for my roomies and I, and in the afternoon one of us usually runs out for lattes. On the really busy days, I make another pot in the evening. If I don't do that, we switch to alcohol (usually beer for me, but sometimes wine).
14. How long does it take you to write and publish a novel? What are the steps you go through?
That varies wildly depending on the length and my deadlines. Usually a few months. The first step is usually an outline of some sort, especially if the story is complicated (like Lost Gods, where I have to keep track of what goes on in five books rather than just one). But calling them outlines is pretty generous, I mostly jot ideas down, sort out the order of characters (if I'm switching POVs), and any key points I might forget. I don't tend to outline hard b/c I prefer to figure out the bulk of the story as I go.
After I'm done writing it, I ignore it for a little while, anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Then I go back through it and start the second round. After that it goes to my betas, and there is more editing. After all of that it goes to Samantha, who either edits it or assigns a different editor.
When I get it back, I make the 5,000 changes the editor has ordered I make, and then it goes back to editing. After I make those changes, I read it through one last time. Then it gets all the finishing touches, copy edits, and goes up in the bookstore a short time later.
15. Finally, the question I ask everyone I interview - if you were a plant in the next life, what would you be, and why?
Venus fly trap. They're ominous and cute all at once. I love playing with those things whenever I go to zoos and gardens. I would totally dig being a Venus fly trap.
Always Masked
Once a highly regarded member of the Moon Clan, one of the secretive, notorious Masked, Naoki was afflicted by a terrible, incurable curse in the line of duty. Now, for the safety of the clan and all they protect, he spends his day exiled to a remote mountain region, far from the islands he once called home.
His misery is briefly lifted when he chances upon a man being attacked by bandits-a man who proves to be far more than he appears, who needs the unique skills Naoki can provide, and can offer far more than Naoki ever dared hope he could find.
Buy it: Here.
Megan is a long time resident of m/m fiction, and keeps herself busy reading, writing, and publishing it. She is often accused of fluff and nonsense. She loves to hear from readers, and can be found all around the internet.
maderr.com
maderr.livejournal.com
lessthanthreepress.com
@amasour