Check out this author spotlight for Abigail Manning!
You can find all her links furthest down the page, and donāt forget to check out her books!
1. Hi! Welcome to my humble blog of all things bookish! I would like for us to start by getting to know you. Give us a short bio, please!
Hello! My name is Abigail Manning and Iām a wife, nanny, and author of the Emerald Realm series. Most of my day is spent chasing an adorable little one year old and three year old, but when Iām home I love spending time with my crazy pets and staring over my husbandās shoulder as he works! (He works from home š ) I currently live in the beautiful mountains of Tennessee, but I stem from the kingdom of corn known as āIndiana.ā Writing is a relatively new passion of mine, but I absolutely adore it and hope to continue doing so for a long time.
2. To get to know you just a little bit better, Iād like to ask you some this or that questions. Answer 5 of these and explain why you chose this or that, or maybe an entirely different alternative!
Tea or coffee? Tea!! Iām not going to say Iām a tea snob, because Iāll literally drink anything (ām looking at you matcha) but I’m definitely a tea enthusiast.
Morning or evening? Morning! Yes, Iām crazy, I wake up at five in the morning and am in bed by nine. Mornings are best for enjoying a cup of tea š
Ninjas or pirates? Pirates, hands down. Pirates have far more sass than ninjas, and Iām here for it.
Plotter or pantser? Both! I create a really vague plot chart just to ensure that Iām on the write track, and then I just kinda go for it! I love getting lost in writing descriptions and letting dialogue flow naturally instead of confining to a set schedule, but thatās just me!
Book or ebook? Audio book! I love books, but cannot physically sit still to read! The only chance I get to enjoy otherās stories is when Iām stuck in my car for my 30 minute commute to work. I actually really enjoy my long morning drive because it allows me to start my day with some fiction!
3. When you look for books to read, what trope or type of story will always catch your attention?
Naturally I love reading about the same things I write. Iām a sucker for a good fairy tale retelling and really enjoy reading the same story retold by different authors because itās inspiring to see the different takes. As a whole, clean romances and fantasy are always at the top of my list.
4. What do you write? Tell us about your current projects and the latest happenings!
I write fairy tale retellings! Currently I have two books published (potentially three by the time this gets posted!) The Emerald Realm series is a collection of stories inspired by classic tales such as Snow White, Goldilocks, and Cinderella. At the moment Iām finalizing the release of my third book, Framed in Florals: A retelling of Cinderella. Each book has itās own heroine and unique story, but all the books and characters connect throughout the series.
5. What is your most recent release? Give us a short presentation, cover, and a link for where to buy it!
As of now, my most recent release is my second book, Bearly Free: A retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. This story follows Aurelia Lockley, the daughter of a prestigious Lord and Lady who have trapped her into an arranged marriage. What does Aurelia do? Run away of course! She finds herself stumbling upon an abandoned estate that to her later surprise may not actually be abandonedā¦ Essentially, this is what happens when Goldilocks is locked in an intense game of hide and seek (bounty hunter included!) You can find Bearly Free on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited!
6. What real-life inspiration do you draw from, and what are your primary fictional sources of inspiration (books, authors, films, music, etc.)? Name a few!
My real-life inspiration definitely comes from my nannying job. I never would have even imagined writing a retold version of Goldilocks until I found myself reading the childrenās version to a two-year-old for the hundredth time and wondered, could I reimagine this?
As for fictional sources I get a ton of inspiration from other incredible fairy tale writers like Kenley Davidson, Melanie Cellier, and Camille Peters. I also really enjoy being inspired by music and have been known to create playlists that are themed to my characters.
7. What is your writing routine? If you have one, give us the run-down!
Well step one actually takes place at work. As a nanny, I spend a fair amount of time in a quiet, dark, room in a rocking chair pursuing the epic battle of naptime. During this time I procure what I have lovingly named my āRocking Thoughtsā where quite literally 90% of my writing ideas come from. Afterwards I scurry home and jot down said thoughts while chugging my second cup of tea for the day (in the most ladylike fashion, of course) then snuggle with the closest fuzzy creature to write until my husband gets off work about three hours later, then rinse and repeat the next day š
8. If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice as you started out on the path to becoming an author, what would it be?
Donāt ignore marketing. I was the shy author who told nobody about my first book until it was ready to be purchased, meaning that I didnāt gain any excitement for it whatsoever, well except for my immediate family and friends (thanks, mom!) I would definitely tell myself to spread the word far sooner and help readers get as excited as I am about new releases!
9. Last but not least: where can we find you? Drop those links!
You can find all of my links and my free newsletter on my website! abigailmanningauthor.com There youāll find my facebook, instagram, tiktok, and pinterest which are all @abigailmanningauthor. Thanks!
