By Emily Groff

Knowing you want to be a writer but fearing that you may not be good enough is exactly the thought that ran through Courtney (C.R.) Reece’s mind. While it took time to overcome her fear, she has officially become not only a writer, but a published author (one of the three things she loves). The other two are spending time outdoors and with her family.

Courtney has three dogs, two beautiful daughters, and a loving husband. Her world is writing and being a stay-at-home mom. She was gifted in teaching high schoolers English, but loved spending time with her kids and writing more. It felt only right to be doing the things she loved most. Meet Me in the Woods is her first YA novel, and we can’t wait for you to read it.

Tell us what your book Meet Me in the Woods is about.

Meet Me in the Woods is about a teen girl, Lowen, who accidentally breaks an ancient curse that brings quite a few supernatural beings to her doorstep, including Sebastian and Wesley–two faces found in nineteenth-century photographs. She, along with two of her best friends, using alchemy, telepathy, and witchcraft, must figure out who is following Lowen and murdering teen girls who look just like her, before Lowen becomes the next victim. 

How did you begin writing Meet Me in the Woods, and what gave you the idea?

The idea came to me while hiking in the woods with my dog, Teddy. Being alone on the trails can be a little unsettling, so I let my mind play out my most outlandish daydreams. I would spend hours plotting while walking through the woods, and then would go home and draft those ideas.

Why should readers read your book? What is your target reader for each book?

I think readers will be surprised by the depth each of these characters encompasses. It truly is an ensemble cast of vulnerable, slightly broken souls who are still finding their own unique ways to care for others. This book is meant for young adults, 13-18. 

What are you most excited about with the release of Meet Me in the Woods?

I’m excited for readers to (hopefully) experience the quaint and slightly creepy town of Moon Creek the way I imagine it in my head. My hope is that someone will connect with one of these characters and feel a sense of being seen and valued in the process.

When did you first know you wanted to start writing? What got you interested?

If you ask my mother, she’d say I’ve known my entire life. As for me, it’s taken me a while to believe in myself enough to go for it. I’ve always had my nose in a book and have always written for myself, but only in the last few years have I pushed myself to write novels.

What genre do you tend to write in? Does it differ from what you typically read?

Meet Me in the Woods is a YA Paranormal Romance, but my second manuscript is Women’s Fiction with Speculative elements, and my third is an Adult Crossworlds Fantasy. All three may seem very different, but they all contain magic and all focus on women facing their literal and metaphorical ghosts. I love to read everything, but I am drawn to Fantasy and Women’s Fiction the most.

What is your writing process like? Do you have any particular tips, methods, or writing strategies that help you?

I am definitely a panster, no matter how much I want to be a plotter. Even if I create an outline, I inevitably end up veering so far off course, so I’ve learned to embrace the magic of surprise. The method that works best for me is to write from beginning to end, giving myself a word goal each day. I use Save the Cat Beat Sheets to make sure I stay on course with a sound structure, and then I let ideas flow.

Tell me a fun fact about you.

I have eleven tattoos, and the orca on my arm is my favorite. 

Click here to find locations to purchase Meet Me in the Woods.

Learn more about Courtney (C.R.) Reece here, https://wild-ink-publishing.com/courtney-reece/

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