INTERVIEW: Nicole Fanning – The Power of Cellphone Writing

Nicole Fanning is an author, copywriter, wife, and super proud dog mom to three rambunctious rescue dogs.

She considers herself an old-school romantic, with a proclivity for a little mischief.

With a background in marketing and Human Resources, she’s found that the human element is by far the most colorful, complex, and interesting in the world.

As I child, she says she devoured every book she could find and spent her free time writing fictional short stories to share with friends.

Was that the reason she decided to write her first novel?

Q: You’ve got two novels out, ‘Catalyst,’ and ‘Ignite,” with a third ‘Flash Point’ coming out this year. Your ‘Heart of the Inferno’ Series.’ And you’ve said there would be 14 novels in the series. How do you know this far ahead of time, or have you plotted out all of them already?

Before I allowed myself to write a single sentence of Catalyst, I mapped out the entire plot for all fourteen books in what I call my “Plot Skeleton.” These fourteen books will make up our Mafiaverse, and they will cover the four main books in the Heart of the Inferno Series, as well as prequels, sequels, and a handful of smaller novellas!

Q: You describe yourself as obsessed with Mafia-like scenarios and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. And your current series seems to be along the lines of a Mafia romance? Is this correct, and what draws you to that genre?

I would call it a Mafia Thriller-Romance as my goal was to make it both a thriller and a romance. While the two main characters are drawn together out of love,  I cover their spine-tingling romance, and they are caught in a much bigger “game afoot” with shadowy figures determined to seize power…whatever the cost.

Q: Do you write using your cell phone? Why a cell phone versus a tablet or other instrument, and do you dictate or type into the phone? Could you tell us some more about your process for writing?

I constantly write wherever I am. So, whether I’m sitting at the dentist’s, on a plane, or riding as a passenger on a long car ride, writing on my phone allows me the flexibility to write wherever I am. I generally put together the plot skeleton for the individual chapter I’m working on, as well as any specific dialogue I want the characters to have. 

Later, I transfer the rough draft to my computer in my home office when I get home. There, I can flush out the ideas I jotted down, work on the dialogue, and really create the fluidity with the surrounding chapters. 

Q: Your background was in marketing and Human Resources. When did you decide to leave that career, and what prompted the move?

I believe the human element is by far the most interesting. I believe each of us has been blessed with a gift or a passion and that the world will continue to be a beautiful place if we put those gifts and passions to good use through the art we create. 

I had already been writing casually before the Pandemic forced us all into our houses, and once it became apparent that it would be the norm for a while, my writing became my lifeline and escape from the anxiety of the unknown. Once I had a good chunk of chapters done, I sent the rough draft of the first book to a friend of mine, just for fun. I was shocked when she told me she couldn’t put it down, and that’s when I decided to leap full time into writing, and I have never been happier!

Q: What’s the worst part of the writing process for you, and how do you overcome it?

Setting a writing habit. I learned early on that writers in motion stay in motion, and writers at rest, stay at rest. I needed the structure of having a dedicated portion of every day set aside expressly for writing, or I would get too far behind on schedule. Writing up the general chapter notes on my phone allows me to keep to that commitment no matter where I am. 

Q: What has been the best moment for you in this journey?

The fans. I know every writer thinks they have the best fans, and none of us are wrong. But my HOTI fans are downright incredible. The Heart of the Inferno Discord was born out of fans’ minds, and from there, a beautiful and supportive community has blossomed. Their encouragement has pushed me forward and made HOTI into what it is today, and I will never be able to thank them enough.

Q: Anything else that you wish to share with our readers?

Only that Jaxon Pace is ready to be your next “Book Boyfriend!”

Find Nicole Fanning at:

Amazon:  https://amzn.to/3wJgJOM

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.fanning.1

Website: nherownwords.com


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