Self-Publisher’s Showcase: Today we are joined by Whitney Rines, author of Pearls of Time: Between Gods and Mortals. Welcome to the Showcase Lounge, Whitney.

WR: Hi, and thank you for the warm reception.

SPS: For any of our readers that haven’t come across your work previously, can you take a moment to tell us all a little about yourself and your work?

WR: Sure, I’ve been writing for quite a while and enjoy reading and writing anything that’s going to bring a fascinating journey. I’ve just started working on my writing as a full-time thing, but it feels right so I hope to continue doing it. As for who I am, I’m a former military brat so travel was always part of my life. I’m married and planted in Alaska for now but, I still like to travel and explore.

SPS:  What are your perfect writing conditions, and how often do you write?

WR:  Anywhere that has an outlet, decent “stuff” space, and where I can have my music in my ears. I write as often as inspired, so sometimes it’s every day for hours and sometimes it’s once in a while.

SPS: Can you put your finger on the moment where you decided that you wanted to publish your work?

WR: Not really. I’ve been writing for a long time and wrestled with the usual worries of whether I was ready to share it. I just decided to go for it, in the last year for the works I’m working on now.

SPS: Why do you think it is that you have found yourself writing in the style that you do?

WR: My charm and wit? If I had to say anything it would be my love for the classics and the effort I make to put everything in my stories in the time, place, and scenario as if it were a fact of history rather than a fantastical story. It also doesn’t hurt that I have an editor that understands this and helps keep me in line with what I want. He has eyes like a hawk when it comes to writing.

SPS: What would you say, if anything, best differentiates you from other authors?

WR: I could say style, flow, vocabulary or any number of things but I really believe that’s something more for the reader to decide. All writers are different in their own ways, and similar that’s really the only stance have on it.

SPS: Where does the inspiration for your work come from?

WR: Mythology, meditation, reading old folktales, out of nowhere sometimes too. Suffice to say, I don’t have one source of inspiration to adhere to just like I don’t have one genre to write in.

SPS: Have you received a favorite review of your work?

WR: Yes I have a favorite, not all of them have been written down. Some are just messaged to me,  but I love to hear feedback on my work and get the chance to improve and reach more readers with them.

SPS: What’s next on the self-publishing horizon for yourself?

WR: I’m working on new things all the time. New concepts for stories and such so I’ll be putting out new material both in story and article form, as well as work in other related arenas.

SPS: Was the Self-Published/Indie-Published route always your preferred route for your work?

WR: It was a good direction for me I believe, because it’s a different way of doing things and presents its own set of experiences and inspirations. I haven’t published in the traditional sense before but, I’m certain its got its own lesson to teach.

SPS: Has the experience so far been all that you thought it would be?

WR: More than even. It’s been fun, stressful, dramatic, and left me wanting to do more. The perfect challenge and fulfilling accomplishment.

SPS: If you could give one piece of advice for someone looking to get into writing, what would it be?

WR: Learn to enjoy a challenge as much as you enjoy your passion, if you don’t already.

SPS: Thank you for joining us today, and all the best for the future, Whitney.

WR: Thank you for having me, I enjoyed myself.

SPS: For more information on Whitney and her work, please do visit Whitney’s Author Page.