Interview with CM Stunich
What is it you do when not writing?
You mean it's possible to spend time doing something other than writing!? Just kidding, just kidding. I read, of course. It's pretty much a part of the job description. No author gets good at writing without a whole lot of reading. I'm a slave to my cats, and as most cat owners know that can sometimes feel like a full time job, too. I like to bellydance, tribal style mostly, and watch terrible movies on Netflix, things called Santa Baby that deserve less than a one star rating. I'm also an anime and manga geek with an insatiable hunger for anything labeled yaoi. If you don't know what that is, I'm not telling. Go look it up!
Do you have a day job as well?
When did you start writing and when did you finish your first book?
I've been writing my whole life (as most authors will tell you!), but I didn't really buckle down and start to put together a cohesive story until I was in college. I was living in Santa Cruz, CA at the time and was supposed to be writing a paper when this phrase popped into my head. Administrative assistant. I don't know where it came from or why, but I got started thinking about how really, that's just a fancy word for secretary and all of a sudden, there I am, writing about a secretary demon who reads romance novels. Thus, Hell Inc. took its first breathe in 2007, but was limited to a few, paltry pages that I carried around to my creative writing classes. Strangely enough, those first few pages remain the least edited part of the whole story. Besides grammar edits, I pretty much left that part as is. I abandoned that project after awhile and didn't get back to it until 2009 and it wasn't until 2011 that I actually finished it.
How did you choose the genre?
Good question! Well, for my first book, I honestly had no idea what I was doing. I knew what I liked to read (urban fantasy, straight up!), and that I absolutely one hundred percent had to have demons it it, but really, that's about it. My first book, Hell Inc., ended up being a hodgepodge of different genres at first. I think a lot of first time authors make the same mistake. What I had to realize was that there would be more books; there had to be! I just couldn't get out all that I wanted to get out in one book. Even now, sometimes I have to switch between projects because certain feelings might come into my writing that don't fit the book I'm working on currently. In most cases, I'd have to say that the genre chooses you more than you choose it. (P.S. I ironed out the kinks and Hell Inc. is now a tried and true comedic paranormal romance in the vein of Stephanie Rowe. ;) )
Do you ever experience writer’s block?
All the time! Although I don't completely believe in the traditional view of writer's block. Honestly, at least in my case, most of the time it has more to do with a problem that I'm having outside of my writing. For example, if I'm stressed about something or distracted or if I'm just being lazy, I won't be able to get out a word. I've learned recently though that the best thing for me to do is get up, take care of the problem, whatever it may be, and take a deep breath. Writing is supposed to be fun. I'm not saying that every scene will be a blast or that you'll giggle when you're doing grammar edits, but for the most part, creating the story should be exciting. When it stops being something you look forward to doing and starts seeming like a burden, that's when you've got to step back and try to figure out what's happening. Maybe you need to go read your favorite book for inspiration? Maybe you need to get away from reading/writing entirely and go take the dog for a walk? Every person is different and there is no one “right answer” for curing writer's block. As they say, It's all in your head!
Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published?
Heck no! ;) This isn't me being arrogant. This is just a perk of the self publishing revolution. If you put your heart and soul into your work and you know that it's ready to get out there and find reader love, you can do it. Nobody is stopping you anymore! I can't tell you how many indie books I've read lately that I know would never have made it past a publishing company's gates, and that's a real shame. If you love your work, put it out there. What's the worst that could happen?
Can you tell us about your upcoming book?
Absolutely! Well, can I tell you about my upcoming books? *Wink, wink* I, along with rest of the world it seems, am in a New Adult craze, that genre that straddles the line between YA and romance novels. I think it's a fabulous place to be, full of heartfelt stories and situations you never hear about elsewhere. I've got quite a few books planned (two of them being the sequels to Tasting Never, of course!), and although I can't say anything now (it's a secret!), I can promise that you're going to love 'em!
Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?
Some of it is real and much of it is imagination. I mean, if I could date a hot fae man for awhile to enhance the realism of my writing, trust me, I'd be all over that! A lot of what I write is whimsy and fantasy and of course there is no real basis for that other than dreams and desires, but I do like to spice up the fantasy with strange bits of reality. For example, Caleb's band in The Seven Wicked series is named after the band of a friend of mine. It's also nice to make sure that you balance all of that otherworldliness with a dose of truth. That way, it makes the whole story seem more believable. And when it comes to stories like Tasting Never that are not fantasy based, I draw my inspiration from deep down. I don't always know where it comes from, but it's always there, waiting for that perfect moment to leap from my heart and settle onto the page.
Tasting Never Review
WOW!! I didn't expect to experience such an emotional response to Tasting Never.
C.M Stunich has written such a fabulous story that touched my heart and dug deep into my soul. I picked this book up thinking I would read a couple of chapters at a time, but I was so wrong. I couldn't put it down. I stayed up late because I just had to finish it. I am still trying to register all the different feelings that have surfaced since diving into Never and Ty's story. I honestly am having trouble putting into words how deeply moved I am with the journey these characters took me on. If you have ever experienced a time when you didn't know how to love or be loved, then you aren't alone. Never and Ty are both damaged and unable to feel a connection with someone of the opposite sex except for a series of unsatisfying flings. Never cries herself to sleep every night, feeling alone and empty. When Never and Ty meet, sparks fly and not in a good way. Fate steps in and throws them into a life changing situation. They form a difficult friendship that brings all their pain and struggles to the surface. Can they heal and learn to trust again?
"Sometimes, the only way to go forward, is to take a few, careful steps back."
I highly recommend Tasting Never. Be prepared to have your heart tugged at and your life altered. I am awaiting the sequel to continue on this emotionally charged journey through pain, anger, love, hate and maybe a bit of healing. Thank you C.M. Stunich for writing a story that reaches into the darkest parts of my soul and allows a bit more healing to take place.
C.M Stunich has written such a fabulous story that touched my heart and dug deep into my soul. I picked this book up thinking I would read a couple of chapters at a time, but I was so wrong. I couldn't put it down. I stayed up late because I just had to finish it. I am still trying to register all the different feelings that have surfaced since diving into Never and Ty's story. I honestly am having trouble putting into words how deeply moved I am with the journey these characters took me on. If you have ever experienced a time when you didn't know how to love or be loved, then you aren't alone. Never and Ty are both damaged and unable to feel a connection with someone of the opposite sex except for a series of unsatisfying flings. Never cries herself to sleep every night, feeling alone and empty. When Never and Ty meet, sparks fly and not in a good way. Fate steps in and throws them into a life changing situation. They form a difficult friendship that brings all their pain and struggles to the surface. Can they heal and learn to trust again?
"Sometimes, the only way to go forward, is to take a few, careful steps back."
I highly recommend Tasting Never. Be prepared to have your heart tugged at and your life altered. I am awaiting the sequel to continue on this emotionally charged journey through pain, anger, love, hate and maybe a bit of healing. Thank you C.M. Stunich for writing a story that reaches into the darkest parts of my soul and allows a bit more healing to take place.
Reviewed by Tina Donnelly
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