If you had a choice to live anywhere in the world, where would be?
Tuscany, Italy. My dream vacation is Rome, Italy, because of its culture, history and architecture. I’ve not yet fulfilled that dream, but it’s definitely on my bucket list. Rome is too large of a city for me to live. I love the beauty, small village, neighborly appearance of Tuscany, where you either walk or ride bikes to your local destinations. That laid-back way of life really appeals to me.
What is your writing process?
The stories I have planned for, The Sons of Sivadia Series, are always in the back of my mind. No matter what I’m doing, ideas or a piece of dialogue will pop into my head, and if I don’t write them down, they can leave as fast as they came. I keep small notebooks throughout the house and there’s always one in my purse. I need a more organized way to keep up with these, but it just hasn’t happened yet. I spend way to much time searching for that piece of info when I need it. I usually write around six hours a day, five days a week. Early mornings and evenings are spent marketing, because I can do that with my husband and the TV interrupting me.
Describe your journey as a writer.
I’ve always loved to write. I played around with a few short stories through the years. But as a full-time nurse and raising a family, my quiet times were usually spent sleeping. I admire writers who can do it all…I’ve just never been one of them. Once my life slowed down, I set out to write a short story, which eventually turned into a 101,000 word novel, The Sacrifice.
How do you stay motivated?
I read books by other authors, books on the craft of writing, or take a writing class. Afterward, I’m always ready to get back to my story. But nothing motivates me like going to a conference. I can’t wait to get home and apply some of the writing techniques I learned while there. Being with other authors is an invaluable part of that. They’re the only people who know exactly what you’re going through with a story, and most are willing to lend you their expertise. It’s a connection you can’t find with other people.
What has been your biggest obstacle while writing, and how have you overcome it?
That’s easy. Self-doubt. Most authors I talk to are stricken by it. It’s a constant battle, and reminds me of what you’ve seen on TV, where a small angel sits on one shoulder and the devil sits on the other. I’ll write a scene, the whole time telling myself what a stroke of genius it is. The next day, I’ll read that scene and think it’s total crap. I’ve overcome a lot of this by writing straight through. The first time I participated in National Novels Writers Month, and didn’t have time to go back and edit, was a the best thing I’ve ever done for my writing.
Why did you write this book?
The idea for this book came from watching an Ancient Aliens marathon on the history channel. Like I said earlier, it started as a short story, but that show gave me more story ideas than I could use. I thought what if a race, who needs blood to survive, was forced to leave their planet and settled on Earth? And what if a war divides that race between those who feed from humans and those who don’t, leaving the future of mankind hanging in the balance…depending on which side wins? I became fascinated by that original concept and it grew from there.
What do you hope readers will take away from this book?
I hope readers will see that a sacrifice made out of love is not a sacrifice at all. It is the ability to love someone more than yourself.
How long did it take you to write this book?
Three years. I was about halfway through when I realized I knew very little about story structure. I joined Romance Writers of America and started taking classes. I bought a lot of craft books on things I knew were my weakness, but wasn’t sure how to fix. It took around a year for me to feel confident enough to finish the book. And a lot of editing before I felt comfortable enough to let a critique partner read it. I learned more hands on stuff from them than everything else combined. Just the process of critiquing someone else work help me learn what to watch out for.
What’s next for you?
I have plans for three more books in The Sons of Sivadia series. I’m currently editing the next book, Crucify My Heart. It should be ready to release late September, or early October of this year. There’s a preview at the end of The Sacrifice.
What genres do you read?
My favorite genre is romance, paranormal, fantasy, and SciFi. And I love a good suspense novel. I guess that’s why my series has a little of them all incorporated into each book.
Title: The Sacrifice by Mia McKimmy
Genre: Paranormal Romance / Fantasy
Synopsis
Will their love survive the sacrifices that must be made? 
Almost three hundred years ago, a race of immortals fled the planet of Sivadia and came to Earth. When a war divided their race, each side was led by twin sons of the Sivadian king.
From the moment Riana Martin meets Cy, the dangerously sexy Sivadian Protector, she knows it will be hard to resist him. From the first touch, Cy sets off a firestorm inside her heart and soul.
Cy knows Riana is his destiny, but since their father named him successor to the throne, his twin has been determined to destroy him.
Can Cy protect Riana from his brother…one of the most evil beings to ever walk this planet?
About Mia McKimmy
Mia McKimmy writes paranormal romance novels reflecting her belief that everyone has one great love, and when you find them, there’s no denying you have met your destiny.
Mia counts herself lucky to be married to her one true love. She is Mom to two grown daughters, and Nana to four grandkids who have her wrapped around their fingers.
She is a former hairdresser, and has a degree as a Registered Nurse from Georgia Highlands College. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, and Georgia Romance Writers.
If you’d like sneak peeks of future books and new release dates, please visit her website at: www.miamckimmy.com
She’d love to hear from you. You can find her at:
https://www.facebook.com/MiaMckimmy
https://www.goodreadscommia_mckimmy
