Genevieve Raas is an international bestselling author living in Indianapolis with her husband and rather haughty Russian Toy Terrier, Mr. Darcy. When she isn’t writing dark fairytales or fantasy, you can find her plotting out her next travel destination.
A graduate from Indiana University, Genevieve holds a Master’s Degree in English and a Master’s Certificate in Professional Editing. She has worked as Lead Transcriber on several published anthologies, including: The Collected Stories of Ray Bradbury, Volume 2 and the New Ray Bradbury Review.
Now, she is venturing out on her own, into the wilds of untamed lands and untold stories.
Genevieve is signed with Captive Quill Press.
Connect with the Author
About the Book
The international bestselling book that brings a dark and steamy look at the tale of Rumpelstiltskin.
A necklace, a ring, a child…There is always a price one is willing to pay.
Laila sees her impending death in the mountains of straw waiting to be spun into gold. Faced with the impossible, she makes the impossible decision to survive, no matter what the cost.
A shadowy stranger sees an opportunity for vengeance.
Born to a nightmarish destiny that crushed and embittered his faith in humanity, he devotes himself to dealing in dark desires and desperate souls, and Laila’s is ripe for the trade.
When the stranger asks his price, Laila is bound by blood and magic to pay.
His own heart was never supposed to be part of the deal, but when honor drives Laila to break their bargain, he ends up tangled in his own web of deceit and destruction in a desperate attempt to save her life. In the black of night, there are no fairytales, only choices.
One choice makes a queen. One choice consumes a soul. It’s a roll of the dice in a game where love is everyone’s undoing.
Spin, Genevieve Raas’ debut fantasy novel, is a twisted, sexy retelling of one of Grimm’s classic tales and the first book in the
Spindlewind series.
Keep reading for an interview with the author:
What genres do you write?
Gothic romance, fairy tale retellings, fantasy, and paranormal romance…for now.
What inspires you to write?
I’ve always had a soft spot for villains and anti-heroes. Their soul’s inherent fight between darkness and light. Their heart’s tortured by what they want verses what they know is right. Their pain.
The complexity of these characters allows us to see a different perspective. Perhaps even get a better understanding as to why these characters do what they do. What motivates them? What changes them?
These themes inspire me, and drives my every word in wanting to share their untold stories.
How often do you write?
I write every day, except I usually will take a break on weekends.
Do you have a daily word or page count goal? What it is?
When writing a first draft I make a goal of 3,500 - 5,000 words. When I edit, I switch to page count and try for 7 - 10 + a day.
How long does it take you to write a novel?
It really depends on the story. I’ve written shorter works that took me four days to three weeks, while full length novels can be anywhere from two to three months.
If you could be one of your characters for a day, who would it be and why?
Definitely Rumpelstiltskin, the main character of my
Spindlewind series. He is snarky and has magic. I think that has all the makings of a pretty spectacular day.
What is the best writing advice you've ever received?
Show the story.
What is the worst writing advice you've ever received?
The worst advice for any writer are these words: “To be a writer you must…(insert ground breaking advice).” Their is no “must” to be a writer except to write. Writing is one of the most personal of creative forms, and each writer approaches the blank page differently. Don’t ever stop writing, or think you aren’t a writer, simply because you don’t fall into a “you must do X” category.
If you write, you are a writer. Simple.
If you were stranded on a deserted island, and you could only have five books with you, what would they be?
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
- Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
- Perfume by Patrick Suskind
- The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling
What book or series do you enjoy reading over and over again?
Definitely
Harry Potter and Anne Rice’s
The Vampire Chronicles. I adore both these series and my copies are read to virtual pieces. As far as stand alone works,
The Phantom of the Opera and
Pride and Prejudice have broken spines and torn covers from my love.
What is your writing process?
I always start with drafting an outline. Sometimes my outlines are very detailed and read more like a synopsis. Other times I brainstorm a series of scenes I feel will help show character development, then I try and knit them together into something more linear.
Once my outline is in place, I write a first draft as quickly as I can. I do this for a number of reasons, but mostly because it helps me keep the energy/emotion of the story charged, and prevents me from over thinking. (I swear I am my own worst enemy!)
The first draft mostly consists of dialog and major plot points. Then, it’s on to the second draft. Here I can expand, add detail, and delve deeper into character development. This draft takes me the longest to complete. I will send this draft to beta readers. The third draft is integrating the beta reader’s comments, and some other points I myself want to change.
Do you write in first or third person and why?
The majority of what I write is in first person. I love this point of view as I feel you can be part of the action. You see what the character sees. Feel what they feel, and most importantly, know what they think. I just love the versatility, and also challenges it presents.
Are you a pantser or outliner?
Definitely an outliner. I like to know where I am headed, although I do try to allow for some spontaneity. Sometimes characters don’t want to adhere to your outline, and if you are too strict with them, you will miss an angle that might be even better than what you originally were going for.
I discovered this the hard way. Always, always listen to your characters. They sometimes know what’s better for your story than you do.
How long does it take you to write a book?
It really depends on the story. I’ve written shorter works that took me four days to three weeks, while full length novels can be anywhere from two to three months.
What are you working on now?
Too much! I’m currently working on finishing up book two of my
Spindlewind series. It’s called
Twist, and continues where
Spin left off, and forces Rumpelstiltskin on a journey he never intended to take. I’m also plotting book three, and trying not to make Rumpelstiltskin too upset with me for what I’ve got planned.
Besides this series, I’m working on a novella,
The Crown, which is a darker retelling of the
Twelve Dancing Princesses. This will be published in an anthology with some other amazing authors this spring.
Do you have any advice for other authors?
Don’t let fear and self doubt stop you. Acknowledge it’s existence and then acknowledge its ridiculousness. Fear of failure causes you to fail if you listen and stop writing and stop trying. You must fight and write no matter what.
