Ina Grant is the pen name for a fantasy author who loves to explore the naughtier side of fiction writing. When she isn’t writing novels, she updates her blog sites and helping couples have better sex lives. But, writing isn’t the only thing she loves to do. She was raised in a professional children’s choir and has performed in theatrical musicals from the age of nine. So, screenwriting is the next thing on her list to tackle, thanks to a producer/screenwriter friend who talked her into giving herself a new challenge.
Q.1 Tell us something about yourself not many people know?
A. Not many people, beyond my husband, know that I’m a huge gamer. I love games that are high in action but also force me to think. My favorites are anything Kingdom Hearts or Zelda-related. I’ve played everything they have to offer and am desperately awaiting the release of the second breath of the wild. I’m also a huge horror nut, so any video game with a fear factor is on my list of things that I love.
Q.2 Do you have any upcoming books? What are you currently working on?
A. I have a few books in the works; it’s a matter of which one I’m in the mood to work on. I’m working on a YA adult fiction about a high school stuck in limbo after a school shooting. I don’t want to give too much away yet. Under Ina Grant, I have paranormal erotica in the works called Forbidden Rituals. I plan to have it released sometime before Halloween.
Q.3 When did you decide to write The Alphabet Rewind?
A. I saw a Tik Tok from a girl that I follow that caught my attention. She had a sorority sister get pregnant while engaging in a sex competition to sleep through the alphabet. My first thought was, “wouldn’t that be funny to see the process of trying to find out which one of those guys was the father.” I had pitched the idea to a screenwriter who asked me about book ideas, and he asked if he could opt out the rights to adapt it to screen. This forced me to go beyond a simple idea and turning it into a romantic comedy for adults who also enjoy erotica. It’s not for the faint of heart, so pearl clutches might want to sit this one out.
Q.4 How do you come up with the name of your books?
A. I examine the overall theme and decide what title will tell more with saying less. I also look up the synonyms of the words that come to mind seeing what rolls off the tongue with ease.
Q.5 If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
A. I would tell myself to do what I love and stop making up excuses on why I can’t find the time to write. It’s okay if you don’t know anything about the publishing world; that will come later. Just write.
Q.6 How do you select the name of your characters?
A. I don’t have one method. It all depends on the genre I’m writing. I either use names that I have heard and like, or I look up baby names and their meanings. This helps me find a name that fits my characters’ personality. I also like to use names that are popular in that character’s culture.
Q.7 Why did you choose to write under a pen name?
A. I have more than one reason I write under a pen name. I live in a small conservative town that smacks down in the middle of the Bible belt in the United States. I don’t want to give any old ladies heart attacks. The other reason has to do with my other novels. I have a large following for my fantasy chronicles that I write under my actual name. I don’t want them to be associated with my erotica novels under Ina.
Q.8 How many books have you written? Which one is your favorite?
A. I have written ten books that are published and several short stories. My Chronicles are my babies. Alphabet Rewind is also a project that I love. My beta readers' responses were what put me over the moon, but my favorite book is the one I haven’t written yet. It’s an outline that I have sitting and waiting until the day that I become brave enough to tackle my own demons.
Q.9 What were your feelings when your novel was accepted/when you first saw the cover of the finished product?
A. The best word would be elated. It was surreal to hold a physical copy of MY work in my hand. There is nothing like it.
Q.10 In your opinion, what’s the recipe for an irresistible love story?
A. I feel that this is a preference thing. For myself, personally, I like a romance to be realistic. I want to see real people with real struggles. Love is messy, and we all want to relate to the characters we’re reading about. We need to see that everything will be okay and that love is going to win in the end. A lot of spice is a bonus.
Q.11 Do you have any unique and quirky writing habits?
A. I love to write on a car ride. I think it’s one of the few times I don’t have a child climbing on me while I’m typing. It also helps me get focused. I think it all started while I was working on my Ph.D. I would write while my husband drove me to my residencies. They were always somewhere that was a five-to-ten-hour drive. Road trips are the best time to write, in my opinion.
Q.12 Do you believe in writer’s block? If yes, how do you deal with it?
A. Writer’s block is a real thing. I like to look up writing prompts and do some fun short stories, so I don’t get out of the habit of writing daily. It helps get the creative juices flowing. I also think that it’s important to have a “dump” book. It’s a story that you turn to when you have lost the inspiration to work on your current WIP. (Work In Progress) It may never see the light of day, but it gives you a moment to reset. Reading a book is another way to help with writer’s block. It reunites you with your first love of words.
Q.13 Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with good or bad ones?
A. I read them when I first became a published author. I haven’t had any terrible reviews, but the ones that had constructive criticism I used to improve my writing. There is no such thing as a perfect writer. Every single one of us should continue to learn, practice, and grow our art. Even Stephen King looks back at his first works and thinks they are complete crap compared to his new novels.
Q.14 What is your favorite book from other authors and why?
A. This is a hard one for me. I love so many genres and so many books. It is hard to pick only one. The books that inspired me to write were the Fear Street books by R.L. Stine and anything written by Ann Rice. Who doesn’t love Lestat? I already explained my love for horror. Most of my fantasy novels have a dark side. I can’t help myself.
Q.15 How do your family/friends feel about your book or writing venture in general?
A. I have some of the most supportive family and friends. They all purchase and read my novels. Some of them are also my beta readers. My husband is my biggest cheerleader. He has high hopes that I hit it big enough to be his sugar momma. He’s only joking, I think.
Q.16 How do you develop your plots and characters? Do you use any set formula?
A. I’m old school. I do an outline and then let my characters come to life as I type out the story. I start with a plan for them, but characters can be stubborn and do their own thing. I get surprised with the direction my stories take. It’s okay to veer off the path. It’s the joy of creative freedom and expression.
Q.17 What advice do you have for aspiring authors?
A. Take every creative writing class you can find, read about the art of writing, read the books in the genre you want to write, and then write, write, and write some more.
Q.18 What is the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
A. The most challenging part about writing the opposite sex is getting into the right mind frame. The dialogue is tricky because men and women don’t really talk the same. What matters to a man may not be as crucial to a woman. Women are also more expressive with their words and emotions. It’s essential to keep that in mind to make the dialogue come off as more natural.
Q.19 What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing this book?
A. During the research phase, I was shocked to find out that human women can be impregnated by multiple partners. The shock about myself came when I first heard feedback on the book. It was my first time writing a comedy, so I was excited when I had multiple strangers tell me that it was the first time; while reading a book, they laughed out loud. I was worried that I wouldn’t come off as funny enough, so this was a great surprise.
Q.20 Share the experience of your journey so far?
A. It’s been exciting, frustrating, and a long time coming. I love writing. It’s like oxygen for me, but I hate the marketing side of it all. Even if you’re traditionally published, you must market yourself and your book. This takes up valuable time that I could be writing. I’ve never been someone who gets involved with getting people to by-products, so I loathe the idea of feeling like that pushy salesperson. I try to avoid being that person and truly get to know my readers as people. Even though this part is frustrating, I wouldn’t ever give up on my dream. I’ve given away so many free books, so I know that I can share my stories with the world. It’s rewarding.
Share your social account links -
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Author-Ina-Grant-romanceerotica-100227778591657/
Twitter - @authorInaGrant
Q.1 Tell us something about yourself not many people know?
A. Not many people, beyond my husband, know that I’m a huge gamer. I love games that are high in action but also force me to think. My favorites are anything Kingdom Hearts or Zelda-related. I’ve played everything they have to offer and am desperately awaiting the release of the second breath of the wild. I’m also a huge horror nut, so any video game with a fear factor is on my list of things that I love.
Q.2 Do you have any upcoming books? What are you currently working on?
A. I have a few books in the works; it’s a matter of which one I’m in the mood to work on. I’m working on a YA adult fiction about a high school stuck in limbo after a school shooting. I don’t want to give too much away yet. Under Ina Grant, I have paranormal erotica in the works called Forbidden Rituals. I plan to have it released sometime before Halloween.
Q.3 When did you decide to write The Alphabet Rewind?
A. I saw a Tik Tok from a girl that I follow that caught my attention. She had a sorority sister get pregnant while engaging in a sex competition to sleep through the alphabet. My first thought was, “wouldn’t that be funny to see the process of trying to find out which one of those guys was the father.” I had pitched the idea to a screenwriter who asked me about book ideas, and he asked if he could opt out the rights to adapt it to screen. This forced me to go beyond a simple idea and turning it into a romantic comedy for adults who also enjoy erotica. It’s not for the faint of heart, so pearl clutches might want to sit this one out.
Q.4 How do you come up with the name of your books?
A. I examine the overall theme and decide what title will tell more with saying less. I also look up the synonyms of the words that come to mind seeing what rolls off the tongue with ease.
Q.5 If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
A. I would tell myself to do what I love and stop making up excuses on why I can’t find the time to write. It’s okay if you don’t know anything about the publishing world; that will come later. Just write.
Q.6 How do you select the name of your characters?
A. I don’t have one method. It all depends on the genre I’m writing. I either use names that I have heard and like, or I look up baby names and their meanings. This helps me find a name that fits my characters’ personality. I also like to use names that are popular in that character’s culture.
Q.7 Why did you choose to write under a pen name?
A. I have more than one reason I write under a pen name. I live in a small conservative town that smacks down in the middle of the Bible belt in the United States. I don’t want to give any old ladies heart attacks. The other reason has to do with my other novels. I have a large following for my fantasy chronicles that I write under my actual name. I don’t want them to be associated with my erotica novels under Ina.
Q.8 How many books have you written? Which one is your favorite?
A. I have written ten books that are published and several short stories. My Chronicles are my babies. Alphabet Rewind is also a project that I love. My beta readers' responses were what put me over the moon, but my favorite book is the one I haven’t written yet. It’s an outline that I have sitting and waiting until the day that I become brave enough to tackle my own demons.
Q.9 What were your feelings when your novel was accepted/when you first saw the cover of the finished product?
A. The best word would be elated. It was surreal to hold a physical copy of MY work in my hand. There is nothing like it.
Q.10 In your opinion, what’s the recipe for an irresistible love story?
A. I feel that this is a preference thing. For myself, personally, I like a romance to be realistic. I want to see real people with real struggles. Love is messy, and we all want to relate to the characters we’re reading about. We need to see that everything will be okay and that love is going to win in the end. A lot of spice is a bonus.
Q.11 Do you have any unique and quirky writing habits?
A. I love to write on a car ride. I think it’s one of the few times I don’t have a child climbing on me while I’m typing. It also helps me get focused. I think it all started while I was working on my Ph.D. I would write while my husband drove me to my residencies. They were always somewhere that was a five-to-ten-hour drive. Road trips are the best time to write, in my opinion.
Q.12 Do you believe in writer’s block? If yes, how do you deal with it?
A. Writer’s block is a real thing. I like to look up writing prompts and do some fun short stories, so I don’t get out of the habit of writing daily. It helps get the creative juices flowing. I also think that it’s important to have a “dump” book. It’s a story that you turn to when you have lost the inspiration to work on your current WIP. (Work In Progress) It may never see the light of day, but it gives you a moment to reset. Reading a book is another way to help with writer’s block. It reunites you with your first love of words.
Q.13 Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with good or bad ones?
A. I read them when I first became a published author. I haven’t had any terrible reviews, but the ones that had constructive criticism I used to improve my writing. There is no such thing as a perfect writer. Every single one of us should continue to learn, practice, and grow our art. Even Stephen King looks back at his first works and thinks they are complete crap compared to his new novels.
Q.14 What is your favorite book from other authors and why?
A. This is a hard one for me. I love so many genres and so many books. It is hard to pick only one. The books that inspired me to write were the Fear Street books by R.L. Stine and anything written by Ann Rice. Who doesn’t love Lestat? I already explained my love for horror. Most of my fantasy novels have a dark side. I can’t help myself.
Q.15 How do your family/friends feel about your book or writing venture in general?
A. I have some of the most supportive family and friends. They all purchase and read my novels. Some of them are also my beta readers. My husband is my biggest cheerleader. He has high hopes that I hit it big enough to be his sugar momma. He’s only joking, I think.
Q.16 How do you develop your plots and characters? Do you use any set formula?
A. I’m old school. I do an outline and then let my characters come to life as I type out the story. I start with a plan for them, but characters can be stubborn and do their own thing. I get surprised with the direction my stories take. It’s okay to veer off the path. It’s the joy of creative freedom and expression.
Q.17 What advice do you have for aspiring authors?
A. Take every creative writing class you can find, read about the art of writing, read the books in the genre you want to write, and then write, write, and write some more.
Q.18 What is the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
A. The most challenging part about writing the opposite sex is getting into the right mind frame. The dialogue is tricky because men and women don’t really talk the same. What matters to a man may not be as crucial to a woman. Women are also more expressive with their words and emotions. It’s essential to keep that in mind to make the dialogue come off as more natural.
Q.19 What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing this book?
A. During the research phase, I was shocked to find out that human women can be impregnated by multiple partners. The shock about myself came when I first heard feedback on the book. It was my first time writing a comedy, so I was excited when I had multiple strangers tell me that it was the first time; while reading a book, they laughed out loud. I was worried that I wouldn’t come off as funny enough, so this was a great surprise.
Q.20 Share the experience of your journey so far?
A. It’s been exciting, frustrating, and a long time coming. I love writing. It’s like oxygen for me, but I hate the marketing side of it all. Even if you’re traditionally published, you must market yourself and your book. This takes up valuable time that I could be writing. I’ve never been someone who gets involved with getting people to by-products, so I loathe the idea of feeling like that pushy salesperson. I try to avoid being that person and truly get to know my readers as people. Even though this part is frustrating, I wouldn’t ever give up on my dream. I’ve given away so many free books, so I know that I can share my stories with the world. It’s rewarding.
Share your social account links -
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Author-Ina-Grant-romanceerotica-100227778591657/
Twitter - @authorInaGrant
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