Linda Ling | Author
1. What inspired you to start writing/creating art, and how has that inspiration evolved over time?
My earliest inspiration for writing came from when I was a teenager, having been an avid reader as a kid and loving all things spooky. I especially enjoyed RL Stine, Christopher Pike, and then later, Anne Rice. As an adult now, though, I'm not very into spooky things but I do love a good fantasy or urban fantasy read and those are the types of books that continue to inspire me!
2. Can you share the story behind your latest work? What was your creative process like?
My latest book is A Chimeric Vampire's Tale, and is set to release on 12th November 2024! It's the second book in my genre-blending dark urban fantasy series, featuring a new take on vampires (and only vampires) and POC characters. This latest work was one of the toughest to whip into shape. A year ago, I'd thought the story was pretty much done and sent it out to beta readers. All my beta readers had the same thing to say, which is that one crucial character's perspective was missing. I spent weeks having to quickly work through it and incorporate it into the story to meet my editor's timelines. I can safely say that despite the stress of it, my story is way better because I did what my beta readers told me to do!
3. What themes or messages do you aim to convey through your work, and why are they important to you?
I'm a person of Chinese heritage, and to me, it was really important that my vampire stories (set in our contemporary world) reflected some of that. Growing up, I read so much fantasy literature, and my favorite TV shows were Buffy and Charmed. I found that I wasn't represented in these stories and began crafting the beginnings of my vampire books as a teen. That's why my FMC is Chinese, and that's why I've incorporated a little bit about Chinese history into my books, as well as sprinkles of the culture and language. I also have a background in science and mental health, and have tried to bring in some of that into my stories too.
4. What advice would you give to aspiring authors/artists who are just starting their journey?
My advice is this - write, write, write. But also, keep reading. Don't stop reading because that's where you learn the craft from someone else, and learning is something you never stop doing.
5. What have you learned from self-publishing? And a favorite piece of audience feedback?
I've learned so much about self-publishing. By now, I kinda know what I'm doing through the process of beta readers, revisions, to formatting and submitting my manuscript for publishing. The real BEAST comes from marketing, whether it's pre-release or post-release. It's been tough competing with so many other fantastic books, but what makes it worthwhile is reader feedback. One of my favorite types of comments is when readers say they stayed up reading my books. Notably, one of my fantasy books got a comment that said my book was "life-changing". That was awesome.
6. What’s next for you? Can you share any upcoming projects or future creative goals you’re excited about?
My vampire series is going to take a while to complete because I'm planning for it to be 4 novels and 1 novella. Meanwhile, I'm also working on a sequel series to my existing fantasy trilogy and I'm really excited for that because I've expanded the world and things have just grown more epic.
7. How has your personal life or experiences influenced your writing/art, and are there any particular moments that stand out?
As part of my work, I meet a lot of people and talk to them. They tell me their life stories, and through these stories and the emotions being expressed, I draw inspiration for my own stories and characters.
