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A Conversation with Marisa Noelle, a Sci-Fi, Fantasy Author
Marisa Noelle is a writer of young adult and middle grade novels. She leans towards grounded science-fiction, urban fantasy and paranormal but mental health issues are important to her writing too.
Marisa Noelle is the writer of middle grade & young adult novels in the genres of science-fiction, fantasy, horror & mental health including The Shadow Keepers, The Unadjusteds Trilogy (The Unadjusteds, The Rise of the Altereds, & The Reckoning), The Mermaid Chronicles – Secrets of the Deep & Quest for Atlantis, & The Unravelling of Luna Forester. She is a mentor for the Write Mentor program that helps aspiring MG & YA authors. With dual citizenship, Marisa has lived on both sides of the Atlantic and uses settings in both the USA and UK as inspiration for her novels. When she’s not writing or reading or watching movies, she enjoys swimming. Ocean, lake, or pool, she’s not fussy, as long as she can pretend she’s a mermaid. Despite being an avid bookworm from the time she could hold a book, being an author came as a bit of a surprise to her as she was a bit of a science geek at school. She lives in Woking, UK with her husband and three children.
Let’s get started with a quick rapid fire.
Q1. If you could be transformed into one mythological creature, which one would you choose?
Well, considering I write about mermaids, I think that has to be my choice! I’ve always loved the ocean and would love to explore more!
Q2. What is one thing you wish you enjoyed more?
I wished I was better and doing adrenaline stuff – I’m such a wuss!
Q3. What are the least-likely three words someone would use to describe you?
Hopefully, something like: selfish, mean, and a wallflower? Eek!
Q4. Where did you go on your last vacation?
Hawaii! And it was awesome! We got to swim with sharks, snorkel with rays and turtles!
Q5. Would you rather find your dream job or win the lottery? You can’t do both.
DREAM JOB!!!!! (that kind of is like winning the lottery)
Q6. What is one thing you regret spending money on?
Ha! Probably an expensive book promo that brought me no sales!
Q7. What object do you misplace or lose the most?
Probably my phone. I usually find it in my hand!
Q8. If you were a spy, what would be your codename?
Agent Shadow – b/c I’d be so scared I’d stick to the shadows!
Q9. What secret about the universe would you most want to learn?
Its creation! And what else is out there – intelligent life! Mermaids are being hunted. They are no longer safe in the human world.Marisa Noelle, Quest for Atlantis
Q10. Favorite Holiday Destination.
Hawaii was definitely up there, but I also loved China and Sri Lanka too.
Q11. What was one “before” and “after” in your life?
Before anxiety and after anxiety. Gah!
Q12. What do you think people misunderstand about you?
I probably appear confident but I can need reassurance.
It’s time for a more detailed conversation, Marisa.
You’ve answered our rapid fire brilliantly, Marisa. Now, it’s time for our readers to know more about the person behind the book.
Q. Tell us something about yourself that’s going to keep us wanting more.
I tend to do method writing where possible. So for my mermaid books, I bought a mono fin and took to the waves!
Q. Well, that’s just…memorable for sure. So, what books have you read more than once in your life?
Watchers by Dean Koontz, The Hunger Games. I tended to reread more when I was a teenager, now there is so much to read. I loved the Sadler’s Wells stories and Sweet Dreams books. As well as all of Christopher Pike’s books.
Q. Interesting. Who has been the biggest supporter of your writing?
Tricky! My husband is super supportive but doesn’t read anything! My parents have been great and my mom proofreads everything. My kids help me with plot holes, and my agent is fab! Have to mention my writing friends – no on understands writing like author friends.
Q. Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few die-hard fans will find?
Yes! I have a few Easter Eggs that make it into every book. hehehehe I felt like Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole with no idea how far I would fall. But I wasn’t going to a magical world, I was being kicked into reality with a swift, sharp, steel toe-capped boot, and it hurt.Marisa Noelle, Quest for Atlantis
Q. For an author, what do you think is worse – negative reviews or zero reviews?
Depends on the balance. If all the reviews are negative, that’s not good, but if there are no reviews, you can build on that.
Q. What comes first for you — the plot or the characters — and why?
Depends on the story. Usually the plot or situation. But my characters usually have a mental health condition so they usually come to me quite quickly too.
Q. How do you plan your plot and characters?
Mostly on a spreadsheet. I work by jotting down notes and scenes first. Then I organize them into an outline. I keep a column for each character about their wants and needs and motivations and keep embellishing them as I plan the outline. I’ve recently discovered Plottr and love it.
Q. You got 100 points. You need to divide them on the basis of how relevant and important they are to you as a reader and a writer for your book or someone else’s as a reader. Your options are Plot/Story, Book Cover, Marketing, and, Reviews.
As a reader, plot/story first, then dialogue, then cover. Marketing and reviews I could care less about.
Q. So, now, about your book. Talk to us about it. No major spoilers.
My latest book is Quest for Atlantis, book 2 in The Mermaid Chronicles Series. It is best to read them in order, but there is a recap if you chose not to. This book followed main character Cordelia, a mermaid, on a quest to find the lost island of Atlantis, while navigating relationship issues with her shark shapeshifter boyfriend and other influences that may not be well intentioned. Love square anyone? It’s full of danger and adventure, dragon kings, ice demons and deep diving submersibles!
Q. What part of the entire book publishing process, starting from the plot idea to the book anniversary, do you find tough or tricky?
Editing. After I’ve written the first draft, I’m always nervous about making big picture changes, and also making sure my characters are fleshed out enough. Marketing is also very hard.
Q. Let’s talk about the process of writing. Do you do research while writing a book to add more authenticity? What kind and how far do you go – ever travelled to a foreign place or learned some skill, just for the sake of your book?
I do as much research as I can before I start writing so I don’t have to stop in the middle. But if something crops up I do stop to research. As mentioned before, I have learned to swim with a mermaid tail. I will watch a ton of YouTube videos about hobbies I now nothing about. I’m constantly on the phone to my scientist brother for science stuff.
Q. What risks have you taken with your writing that have paid off?
I’m not sure I’ve taken many “risks” that have paid off – I continue to write and market hard and find that’s the way to get results.
Q. What was your hardest scene to write?
Endings are always hard for me. They make me cry. After I’ve put my characters through so much and they reflect on their journey, I’m right there with them, feeling everything they do. Thankfully The Mermaid Chronicles has 3 more books to come. Each word was like the blade of a guillotine dropping. That sickening slice of metal communicating so clearly everything which preceded this moment and how I would view everything after. But it wasn’t heads being severed, it was my spirit, gouged out in bite-sized chunks until I was left feeling hung, drawn, and quartered three times over.Marisa Noelle, Quest for Atlantis
Q. What is the best money you’ve ever spent with regard to your writing?
Book covers. I love my cover artist. She’s done all my books and really gets them.
Q. Well, this has been great. Now, before we wrap this up, do you have any suggestions to help someone become a better writer? If so, what are they?
From a craft point of view, feedback is your best weapon. You won’t grow if you write in a vacuum and never get feedback. It can be scary, but the moment you open yourself up to it (to someone you trust), then that’s the moment your writing will grow.
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