1) What inspired you to write?

I think a combination of my love for stories, the characters in my head, and my mom were really the biggest inspirations for me to write. I’ve always loved stories, whether they were on tv, a movie, a book, or made up in my head, and my mom spent a lot of my childhood writing plays for church. So it was never out of the realm of possibility that I could write, but when I finally latched onto the idea of a character, and started building the world around him, that’s when I was moved to write more formally.

2) Are you a reader? What are some of your favorites?

I am a reader, although I would have to admit I mostly listen to audiobooks now because it’s easier to do when I’m busy. I’m a big fantasy fan and fell in love with the genre when I picked up Redwall. Then there was Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Eragon and more. Lately, I’ve been really into Brent Weeks two series, the Night Angel Trilogy and the Lightbringer Series.

3) What is your newest work, and what is going to happen in the future?

My debut novel, The Lightning Knight, is my only book I have out now. It’s a classic fantasy story with a fun twist on the traditional hero’s journey and really focuses on teenage character relationships. I have a plan to write many more books continuing this story, with hopefully the next book out sooner rather than later!

4) Do you have advice or tips for Indie Authors?

Write, write, and write some more. Even if it feels like you’re writing garbage, just write. Get the words out. And then… take a break. The biggest impact I had with my writing was taking a break away from my manuscript in-between drafts (and sometimes in the middle of drafts). It allows you to come back with fresh eyes, see the forest through the trees, and let the ideas settle in your head. 

5) What influenced you as a writer?

The biggest influence for me was Christopher Paolini. When I read Eragon, it was like hanging out with an old friend, and then I learned that he was a teenager when he wrote that epic tome, and I said to myself, “I bet I could do that too!” Beyond that, other influences have been a lot of my favorite media (tv, movies, books) as well as personal life experiences. That’s the cool thing about books and stories – they are static in that they don’t change, but you as a reader are different every time you read them. What you bring as a reader changes what you get out of the book, and it’s similar to writing. What I brought to my writing three years ago is vastly different than what I bring to it now, and that change in life and the world is the biggest influence of all. 

Author Website: https://www.seanvaliente.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QL2DM9T

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56483580-the-lightning-knight

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seanpvaliente

Twitter: https://twitter.com/StayAtHomeSean