Interview with N. L. Estrada, Author of Maiden Hills

by grant

in Author Interviews, Fantasy & Science Fiction, News

06 Oct 2020

What can you tell us about your new release, Maiden Hills?

Maiden Hills is a story about a queen who realizes she comes from people who have magical abilities and is destined to be their leader and protector. The book is one of three books and this first book deals with her acceptance of who she is and her responsibility to help her people regain their land and their powers, even if it goes against the laws of her kingdom and the desires of her husband, the king.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I loved Sidney Sheldon’s books and it was his books that made me love reading and inspired me to write.

What’s on your top 5 list for the best books you’ve ever read?

A mixture of the Sidney Sheldon books (Master of the Game being my favorite), The Harry Potter books, and Game of Thrones can be found among the top five.

Say you’re the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

I’m always curious to know what helps a writer during the creative process. I personally take walks or watch movies in my genre to get the creative juices flowing. My first guest would be J.K. Rowling and I would ask her what helps her come up with ideas for her stories.

What’s your favorite thing about writing?

It’s seeing the characters come to life. As a writer, you spend so much time with the characters in your head that putting it on paper and developing their story makes them real.

What is a typical day like for you?

I am retired so thankfully I can write full time. I devote nine hours a day to the craft, whether it’s writing, revising, researching, or reading. The hours from 8:30 to 5:30 are hours that I am in my office dedicated to all aspects of writing.

What scene from Maiden Hills was your favorite to write?

There’s a scene with the protagonist Juliana and her husband Edmund that was filled with a lot of tension and it was exciting to write.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

My son gave me a bookmark and it says “The best writers make the fewest words go the longest way.” (Anonymous). That is very true. I try to keep that in mind when writing and just write enough to tell the story.