- Please tell us a little about yourself.
I’m Natalie! I grew up a military brat, sort of ending up in Nebraska. I love animals of all kinds. Growing up, I raised and showed sheep all across the Midwest. Now, I’m finishing my teaching certification and preparing to teach high school English. I’m married and have two kids who have made me start dying my hair now. The grey is coming!
- What do you write (genre, length)?
Uh, unfortunately I write everything. I am currently querying a science fiction fantasy piece that is titled Drunk and Disorderly. I am thinking of sending it off to a friend who is an agent and editor for her editorial services. I want to succeed with it so badly.
- What is/are your current project/s? Please give us some details.
I’m writing a few things, but focused on three. One is a sequel to Rise of the Loitador, which I published under my dead name. It continues the journey of our heroes on an alien planet, and, now that they have escaped, they are trying to find freedom.
I am re-writing a novel I had completed and hated it. It’s about a demon named Saiph, who has been kicked out of hell for repenting. Now she is stuck on Earth trying to make the best of her existence when she impulsively saves the life of a human. Saiph hates humans normally. Now she has a new responsibility while an old flame is after her happiness.
And then there is my Robin Hood retelling. It is a YA dystopian novel with lots of queerness. Robyn is a young woman who hasn’t got a family, but has a rich friend in Tuck. When Tuck’s dad leaves, the Sheriff seizes power and makes the locals’ lives miserable. Robyn does what she does best in creating trouble.
- Who (author or otherwise) or what book inspired you to write?
Honestly, I give a lot of credit to Harry Potter. (Not J.K. Rowling as she has lost the right to claim any credit in my inspiration). In college, I was inspired by Christopher Paolini and attempted to write a novel, but it was a massive failure. Then, a few later, tragedy struck. A friend was killed in a motorcycle accident and that was the inspiration for my debut novel, Unfinished. I thought, what would a young person do as a ghost and the novel came to be.
- What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
I could say write, which is excellent advice, but network! Make friends within the writing community because they are going to build you up when you need it most. They make excellent critique partners and beta readers and are just amazing. I didn’t know true friendship until I started networking with other passionate writers.
- What do you do for a living?
Currently, nothing. I am student teaching which pays no bills, lol. But soon I will be a full-fledged teacher and I intend to show off my nerdiness too.
- Who is/are your favorite author(s)?
My favorites are pretty diverse. I love Michael Crichton who did things like Jurassic Park and Timeline. Jurassic Park was one of the first books I truly loved. I admire and love reading C.L. Ogilvie, who does romantic comedies, but her new book which comes out in February, I believe, is a big change and so fantastic! Ashley Shuttleworth is someone else I whole heartedly enjoyed reading and her novel, A Dark and Hollow Star, which I have a whole year to wait on to read the final draft of, is amazing! Leigh Bardugo and her world building is incredible. And finally, Veronica Rossi, who is so incredibly nice, is also someone I love.
- What is/are your favorite book(s)?
Harry Potter is a cliché, but truth. I do love Six of Crows! And Riders! And I can’t rave enough about Human Oddities by C.L. Ogilvie!
- What’s the best compliment someone can give you as an author?
Honestly, when someone says I inspired them. I love getting someone else’s imagination going. A close second, and it hasn’t happened yet, would be someone doing fan art of my characters! I look forward to that day!
- What is the most difficult part of writing for you? Why?
The most difficult part of writing is that I underwrite badly. I am hoping that the new medication I am on for my OCD helps me, but I get so stuck on the word count that I make the story just reach parameters. That creates a massive problem for me later as I have to fill in a ton of back story.
- What is your favorite genre to read? Why?
I love reading fantasy because it takes me out of my head. I want things that make the real world disappear. Reading about places I can build as my own, that’s what I love.
- What are some little known facts about you? Hobbies, talents, anything?
I can apparently sing, but I don’t like to anymore because it doesn’t sound how I want to sound. I love animals and working with them. I’m not the best trainer, I just have a lot of patience with them and am able to relax around most any creature. I loved teaching lambs how to nurse. I still enjoy it with dogs, but I miss my lambs. If you pay attention to my novels, former and current pet names enter in.
- Do you like physical books, ebooks, or audiobooks better? Why?
I love physical books! It’s all about the smell for me, but there is also something about the texture of the page that I find very appealing.
Find Natalie at the links below!
Twitter: @natornatalie
YouTube: In The Closet
S.L. Baron 