Interview with Charlene Perry

Charlene Perry, author of the Wings of Fate trilogy, is launching her new book, Whisper in the Dark on April 10th. In her conversation with me, she shares about her book, what her process looks like, and what she loves about being an author.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and Whisper in the Dark.

Hello! My name is Charlene, and I live in rural Nova Scotia, Canada with my husband and four kids. We are avid gamers, and we enjoy the freedom of working and learning from home.

I’m an indie author. That means I manage every aspect of publishing my books from the first spark of an idea, to the finished product in my reader’s hands. I love every part of the publishing process; writing, editing, formatting, cover design… it’s all fascinating to me.

Whisper in the Dark is my upcoming fantasy romance novel, set to release on Amazon on April 10th. Whisper is an Agent fighting to get to the top of her male-dominated profession. Her partner, a genetically enhanced panther Shifter, risks his own life when he takes human form to save her. Their affection for each other takes on new meaning, as she finds herself torn between the career she always wanted and the love she never knew she needed.

What’s your creative process like? How do you get your ideas?

I’ve always been a daydreamer, happy to get lost in the worlds inside my head. I also love reading, the written word, and the art of story. It took me a long time to consider combining all those things, but once I did, and I saw my first story published, I was hooked! Ideas come easy. If I could write 24/7 I still couldn’t catch up to all the worlds and people I want to write about. It usually starts with an image, or a ‘what if’ scenario, and then I just close my eyes and watch what happens.

How do you organize your writing/working day?

I attempt to organize it, but with a house full of kids it can be a challenge! I try to wake up before the earliest riser, to carve out an hour of undistracted time. I also aim to take a few hours in the afternoon to focus without interruption, when my hubby is available to take over with the kiddos. Other than that, it’s a matter of grabbing the moments as they come! My laptop is always open nearby so I can write down the next sentence while I’m in the midst of my everyday tasks.

Tell us about your approach to editing and beta reading.

I love to edit almost as much as I love to write, but self-editing can only get you so far. I do a few thorough editing passes on my own, then hand it off to my growing team of beta readers. I’m fortunate to have found readers, mostly through BetaBooks, who enjoy editing in their spare time.

Last year you published your Wings trilogy — congratulations! What, if anything, are you doing differently this time around?

Thanks! I really enjoyed writing those stories. Those characters had been floating around in my head for many years, and it was a real treat to see them come alive on paper.

This time around, with a fresh series and new world, I’m writing for a more mature audience. Whisper is most definitely intended for adult readers. It’s also written in first person, present tense, which is new for me. I love the freedom it gives me to write more naturally, with a more in-the-moment feel.

When and where can readers find Whisper in the Dark?

Whisper will be launching on Amazon on April 10th. I’ll be making it available for Kindle Unlimited readers for three months only, and then pulling it off for wider distribution.

Lastly, what is your favorite thing about being an author? Has anything surprised you?

I love every aspect of being a writer and an author. I’m constantly amazed by the amount of support and resources available, and the sense of community among indies. As much as I appreciate the wisdom of authors who are ahead of me on this path, I also enjoy helping aspiring authors as they work through that first book and all the emotions that come with publishing for the first time.

I love talking to readers and writers! You can find me mainly on Instagram and Facebook, or directly through my website at www.charleneperry.ca