1. What drew you to writing within the young adult fantasy genre?

There is something very exciting about being a young adult. It’s a very awkward time in a person’s life and it’s also the time when a person grows the most. I wanted my character, Kelsey, to be on the brink of womanhood and to have to make the toughest decisions of her life, not only because it’s dramatic, but because standing at a fork in the road speaks to all of us. I love fantasy in all its forms and I am especially crazy about fantasy films and books that have a hero’s journey. I’m something of a fantasy/Sci-Fi nerd (think girl version of The Simpson’s comic book guy-but with better hair) and I’m especially happy when a book or movie has swords, dragons, light sabers, phasers or a combination of those. As a result, I’ve put almost everything I love about books and movies into my series. (Still haven’t worked in phasers or light sabers).

2. I’ve heard you’re a big Twilight fan, how has the Twilight Saga played a role in your writing?

I do love the Twilight series. I love the epic romance of it and I enjoyed not knowing who Bella was going to end up with. In the Twilight series, the romance was woven together with a really cool story so it was like two books in one. That’s what I wanted to give my readers. I wanted them to experience the romance but I also wanted it to be more than just a romance book. My goal was to sweep the reader away on an adventure with crazy monsters, villains, and danger.

3. How would you describe your main character, Kelsey Hayes?

Kelsey Hayes is an average girl who loves to read, bake cookies, sketch, and write in her journal. She’s a girl next door type, but she is haunted by a tragic past that cripples her heart, causes her to avoid taking risks, and complicates her relationships. 

4. Why did you choose India as the backdrop for Tiger’s Curse?

The tiger actually led me to India. I picked a Beauty and the Beast theme for my series and chose a white tiger for my beast. I knew I wanted a handsome prince which limits where I’d place him. I thought my prince would be Russian for a while until I learned that all white tigers are descended from one Bengal tiger that was captured many decades ago in India. That’s what spurred me to shift my focus to Indian culture and mythology.

5. Why did you originally choose to self publish Tiger’s Curse?

I self-published my book because I was impatient and didn’t like getting rejection letters. My husband and I talked it over and agreed to give self-publishing a go. I decided that it didn’t matter to me if I had ten fans or ten thousand so I stopped querying and put my books on the market.

6. Your novel was a #1 bestseller on Kindle, what advice would you offer someone who is considering self publishing?

Try to go the traditional route if you can because there are many limits to self-publishing. But if you’ve exhausted your options then there is nothing wrong with listing your book yourself. Also, selling my book electronically was the best decision I ever made. The E-reading community, I think, is very good about trying out new authors and giving feedback, especially if the price is right.

7. How did Sterling Publishing become involved in your Tiger Saga?

My editor, Cindy Loh, was looking for a series to launch the new YA imprint at Sterling. She was in Los Angeles at Paramount and asked a contact if he knew of any material. He told her that a self-published book had just come across his desk. She snapped it up and was in contact with me within a week.

8. Tiger’s Quest will be released in June 2011, can you give us a sneak peek into the novel?

Tiger’s Quest is home to my favorite chapters of the series. I never get tired of reading what happens when Kelsey goes home to Oregon. Where Tiger’s Curse was my nod to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Tiger’s Quest is my tribute to Midsummer Night’s Dream. Here is a blurb from my self-published version that I really like. “Kelsey Hayes sacrifices an ordinary life for the love she can no longer deny, but to save him she must begin a new journey with a different man, a man who asks her to choose him instead.”

9. I know you have an upcoming tour planned, where can your fans find more information?

For tour information, check the extras page on my website www.tigerscursebook.com and follow me on @colleenhouck on twitter.

10. What was the best writing advice you’ve ever received? If you can’t think of anything specific, then what advice would you offer an aspiring fantasy writer?

For young writers, a great way to practice is to write fan fiction. There are a number of websites that provide a forum for feedback and to list sample chapters. It’s nice to use characters that are already established so that a new author can focus on storyline. Also if you have a dream to write then you should do it. My grandfather wrote cowboy books that he never published. He died when my mother was young so I never got to meet him but I can hear his voice in his writing. Even if only a handful of people read and appreciate what you have created it’s still a worthwhile achievement.

Colleen is a lifelong reader whose literary interests include action, adventure, science fiction, and romance. Formerly a student at the University of Arizona, she has worked as a nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter for seventeen years. Tiger’s Curse is her first book, which has already received literary praise and digital success. Her self-published eBook claimed the #1 spot on Kindle’s children’s best-seller list for seven weeks. Colleen lives in Salem, Oregon, with her husband and a white stuffed tiger.