Hey Readers and Writers! It’s time for a lovely debut indie author interview to kick off our month of December! Her book just released and she was even interviewed on TV! We’d loved her premise, and we think you will too…check it out!

SP: Hi Rebecca! We’re so excited to have you here on the Spinning Pen! Tell us all a little bit about you and your writing journey.

RA: Thank you! I have been writing for over a decade now and love multiple genres. I have projects I’m working on varying from kids’ picture books, MG scifi, YA fantasy, and adult dystopian novels. And if that isn’t enough, I love to change it up by writing screenplays. My favorite part of any book is the character growth. I think that’s what draws me to stories in the first place. 

SP: Ok now for the bookish part we’ve been waiting for…tell us about 12 Days to Christmas! How did the idea come to you? Favorite parts of writing it? 

RA: In 12 Days to Christmas, holiday festivities and the history of Dec 25 come together in a sweet romance filled with heart. Mira, while grieving the loss of her mother, leads her small town’s Christmas festival, linking each community event with something that happened in history on Dec 24-25. She doesn’t expect a widower and his three sons to help her heal and find the joy and magic of the season.

12 Days to Christmas is different from any of my previous works because it’s a contemporary sweet romance! I love it though because it ties in so many elements, from dealing with grief during the holidays, to intriguing historical facts, and an eclectic mix of antique and vintage finds. 

I can’t remember exactly how the idea came to me but it was probably while I was watching Hallmark Christmas movies and wondering if I could branch my writing into another genre.

SP: Since you write YA as well, how did you decide to debut with an adult romance? 

RA: This story is ready to be told! 12 Days to Christmas has been whispering to my heart for a while that I need to share it with others. Every step of its publication journey has solidified that belief…it’s no longer my story but it belongs to those who read it and connect with its message. 

SP: How did you decide to self publish? What are some of the dream goals you’d like to reach? 

RA: Choosing to self-publish took me a long time to accept because I believed a lot of the lies, wanted validation, and was literally terrified of marketing, haha. BUT when I finally took the plunge…it was FREEING! I get to choose the title, the cover, the release date, where & when I sell it. Having full creative control is liberating and I am really loving the process! To break down one of the lies of self-publishing: “not edited well” – I edited 12 Days to Christmas with a fine tooth comb and perfected everything I could. There might still be a little wiggle room for human error – but that’s just to prove I’m not AI. As for validation, my early readers have enjoyed it! Although it hasn’t been released yet, I’ve already had reviews like “This book was written for me” and that means more than a corporation stamping their approval. I write for real people, not mega-businesses seeking profits. As for marketing…I’ll answer that in the next question…

One important step in encouraging me that I could self-publish successfully was watching two of my writing group buddies do amazing with their own books! So this is a special shout out to Callie McLay and her book What If We Met in A Bookstore, because her guidance made my dream become a reality! I’m also thankful for Nova McBee, Candace Kade, and M.T. Solomon for their support! If you haven’t read their books yet – go read them! Having friends who are writers has been pivotal in encouragement, pursuing publication, and ultimately being able to share 12 Days to Christmas with you! 

SP: What’s one or two craft techniques or marketing tips you would recommend to other writers? (We LOVE your reels by the way!)

RA: Marketing has been a learning curve but it’s becoming fun! (Although I can’t wait til January when I can just hibernate the entire month, lol). 

I knew the 12 historical events in 12 Days to Christmas needed Reels to explain the history in the book. Those, paired with the fun I’m having on Canva, has been a creative outlet that I enjoy sharing with others. 

Little tidbits: Many times my cameraman is one of my sons. My 11yo son edited my first reel! They also helped inspire some of the characters in the book.

The main marketing tip I’ve learned from other writers and have tried to practice myself is: Have fun! I keep it interesting by changing up my outfits or decorating for Christmas in September. And on the days it’s difficult, I’ve learned that pushing myself to learn and do something new is rewarding. While I dreaded the idea of making videos and showing my face on SM, it’s actually been growing easier and I’m finding enjoyment in it…especially when I can act goofy.

SP: You’re a YA fiction writer and a screenwriter too. Tell us about this? 

RA: I have a YA fantasy dragon trilogy I’ve been working on for several years and will publish it when I have the series complete. I also love writing screenplays because I can write a story the way I visualize it. In fact, I finished the screenplay of 12 Days to Christmas before I completed the novel! If anyone is interested in partnering to make it a movie, let me know 😉

SP: Time for the lightning round! Early bird or night owl?

RA: Night owl ALLLL the way. Don’t ever wake me up before 10am, LOL

SP: Most obscure hobby?

RA: I’m a homeschool mom and writer so I don’t have lots of free time for hobbies but I do spend more time than I should watching videos: especially dashcam footage of crazy drivers and home inspectors showing all kinds of messed up houses. Does that count?

I also love watching kdramas, going thrifting, and sleeping in.

SP: Word you can never spell? This may be a trick question.

RA: Definitely. (Thank goodness for autocorrect!) Also, “horsdeouvres”…those tiny snack bites before a meal, haha.

SP: Alright, time’s up! We’re so sad to see you go! BUT…there’s way more where this came from. Where can we go to read more from you?

RA: I’m on instagram @rebeccaalexandruauthor and have all my links in my bio. Check out my website for free coloring pages and a new, exciting gift soon! (Hint: it’s connected to 12 Days to Christmas and vintage styles)

Thanks so much for your time RA! To check out RA’s series, go HERE. To connect with her on Instagram go HERE. Check out her website go HERE.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccaalexandruauthor/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/rebecca.alexandru.92/ 

Website: https://rebeccaalexandru.com/ 

Order book: https://happilybooked.company.site/products/12-days-to-Christmas-Pre-Order-P-p694595326 

Purchase the eBook early on Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1637534 
— 

Rebecca Alexandru