Author Interview: Stacy Eaton

Please welcome to Feed My Need, the lovely author, Stacy Eaton!


When and why did you begin writing?

In October of 2010, a story came to my mind. Other than being in school and writing essays and such, I had never written anything in my life that didn’t need to be written.

I got an idea one night while I was driving around at work, and the story just grew until it took over my mind. I came home, sat down and wrote 5 chapters immediately. When my husband asked what I was doing, I told him I was writing a book, he raised his eyebrows and said, Okay.

Nine weeks later, the story was done and the creative juices of my mind were on fire with other stories!


What was the hardest part of writing your book? What is the easiest?

“Whether I’ll Live or Die” is a very intense novel dealing with domestic violence. There were times when I would write scenes and have to get up after a paragraph and walk away from the computer. The emotions were raw at times, and anger or pain would well up in me and I would need a break.

I also wanted to make sure that I showed the emotions and the pain as authentically as I could. It was important that I portray Amanda (the young victim) in the correct light and show the strength that Nicole (the Police Officer) has to have in order to deal with everything that happens.

The easiest part of the whole story was the plot line. It came to me in about thirty minutes while I was driving. When I got home, I sat down and wrote the first two chapters and then the last. I knew exactly where I wanted this story to go, it was putting the words to the emotions that was the hard part.


What music do you listen to while you write?

It depends on what I am writing. If the scene is dark, painful, mysterious, intriguing then I listen to bands like Within Temptation, We are the Fallen and Evanescence. If it is fun scene, I switch up to some other upbeat music.

I have playlists for my moods, so when I get to a scene, I pull up the playlist and let the music relax my mind and move me forward.


What inspires you?

Life. Plain and simple. If you open your eyes and look around you there are so many things that can inspire you. There are things that can inspire you to write or things that can inspire you to be a better person, you just need to open your eyes and look around.

Sometimes a picture can inspire me, sometimes a feeling. My first book was born on a feeling and something I sensed one night at work. I used the feelings to let the story flourish in my mind.


Do you have any hidden talents?

Lol… I am a type A person and if you know anyone like that, then you know they do everything and try to excel at even more. I have always been up for a challenge, and do the best that I can at everything I do. Some things I do much better than others, and when I suck at something, I will be the first one to admit it.

I guess maybe one thing a lot of people don’t know is that I love photography. I love looking at life through the lens and take photographs of animals and landscapes whenever I can.


What are your current projects?

Now that “Whether I’ll Live or Die” is now finished, I am working on book 3 of the My Blood Runs Blue series. There will be one more book for this series when this is done to tie up all the lose ends.

I have a contemporary romance that has been sitting idle for almost a year that is about two-thirds done that I would like to dust back off and finish, plus a novel on Guardian Angels that I just started.

I also have another paranormal novel that I am toying with and have a few chapters done to work the plot line.


What book are you reading now?

This changes daily. I read fast, really fast. If I am not feeling well, I will climb in bed and read. I can read 1-2 books in a day – so my kindle has a ton of books on it and I go through them quickly.

I will rotate between romance, crime, drama and my favorite paranormal depending on my mood.


Quick: Vampires or Shapeshifter? Why?

Vampires…. No doubt. I am a night person… I love the night… love the mystery… love the dark. Good thing since I work a lot of night shifts at my police job!


Do you have any advice for other writers?

Professional Editing. Yep – I said it. I know it can cost a small arm and maybe a leg depending on the type of editing that you do, but it is worth it to not have readers comment on the horrible writing and grammar issues.

In the My Blood Runs Blue series, I had the books copy edited by Outskirts Press, Inc. the self-publishing company I was using. With Whether I’ll Live or Die, I started working with a professional editor, not only on copy editing, but on content editing. She pointed things out that I had no clue I was doing, and showed me how to write something with more action and less words.

It was a stressful process at first having someone tell me what to change and how to change it, but I listened to her and with each round of changes, I watched my story grow to something I could have never imagine possible. I was originally worried that she would try to change my writing, but she made a point to keep my voice and just enhance it!

Worth every PENNY and then some!


Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

First I’d like to thank you! Thank you for the opportunity to visit with your readers and for helping me to get this new story out to others.

Second, I’d like to thank your readers for stopping by and taking the time to read this interview! I love doing them because I always get to meet so many great people! Lastly, I’d like to make sure readers know that Domestic Violence is a real problem in our society and there are many people who do not know how to find the help they need. If you are one of those people, or you know someone who is, get help! I will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.