The Interview - Lynifer Craft

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. Even before I knew how to form actual words, I was scribbling away with a pencil, creating stories in my own way. Creativity has always been at the heart of who I am.

I always need my Pinterest board video and the playlist I created for the project playing while I write. I usually start with an outline and then work my way through the rest step by step.

The most challenging part is finding the balance—making sure all the important details are included without overloading the story, while still giving enough to captivate the reader.

Characters are something I sometimes struggle with—it can be hard to keep track of who they want to be. But I make it easier by breaking them down as much as possible.

Cassandra Clare, Anne Rice, Jaz Primo, and Edgar Allan Poe have been incredible inspirations to me. I’ve admired their works for years—their ability to craft such vivid worlds, complex characters, and captivating stories is something I deeply respect. I feel there’s so much I could learn from each of them, and their influence continues to inspire my own writing journey.

The advice I’d give to aspiring authors is this: yes, I absolutely want to read your book—so go ahead and publish it. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to writing or publishing. If you’re going the traditional route, there are steps to follow, but outside of that, let your creativity flow. Just remember not to push yourself so hard that you burn out. Take care of yourself, stay inspired, and surround yourself with an amazing support system.

I absolutely love being able to unleash my creativity and share the worlds swirling around in my head with others. There’s nothing quite like hearing readers say how deeply they’ve been pulled into my stories—it’s pure magic. Knowing I can give someone that feeling, the same one other authors have given me, is truly the most rewarding part of what I do.

I would love to have had dinner with Anne Rice. She seemed like such an incredible person to talk to and share stories with.

I’m currently in the middle of rebranding and working on a few projects to keep my readers engaged since I’m a bit behind on my author tasks—and, honestly, the rebranding isn’t making things easier. I used to go by the pen name L.N. White, but another author started using the same name around the same time. We both claimed to be the first, and I couldn’t tell you who’s right, but it got frustrating when people started asking if I’d written her book. I hate having to explain myself, so I decided to embrace a fresh start as Lynifer Craft.

Once the rebranding is complete, I’m focusing on finishing my project bible—a crash course for publishing, plotting, and marketing your book. After that’s out, I’ll be diving back into writing. I’ve got five book series fully planned, with release schedules stretching all the way to 2035. It’s a lot, but I can’t wait to bring these worlds to life for my readers.

My quirkiest writing habit? I can’t dive into a project without fully immersing myself in its mood. I need my Pinterest board for the book/project playing as a slideshow on one screen and the playlist I created for it playing in the background—even if the songs have lyrics. The mood of the book has to surround me, so I can see the scenes unfold as I write. For some stories, it’s not just the visuals and music—I’ll even light a special candle tied to that book. For The Hidden and The Hunted, I had a lavender candle from a local brand that became a staple while writing. That scent is forever entwined with those worlds for me.

Finding balance can be tricky, especially with a work schedule that sits somewhere between afternoon and evening—and feels like it stretches forever. I do my best to map out my week, making sure to leave some wiggle room for time with my partner, friends, and family. It’s not always perfect, but I’ve learned to make it work, one day at a time.

The best compliment I’ve received so far was someone telling me my book could have easily been written by James Patterson or Nora Roberts. I was completely floored—like, my book? Are you sure??

I haven’t given much thought to a full cast yet, but I know I’d want Henry Cavill to play someone in the movie—I’m just not sure who! As for Cleo, I think Olivia Holt would be a perfect fit.

Honestly, I love treating myself to something sweet for a book launch—usually a cookie cake or those frosted cookies from Walmart (my weakness). I’ve even tried celebrating a launch live on Instagram before, but no one showed up, even after I’d been posting about it. So, I’ve ended up celebrating alone. It’s a little bittersweet, sure, but sometimes that’s just how life goes.

I’m a total crybaby, so yes, I’d probably cry. But after that, I’d pull myself together and figure out whether their feedback is something worth considering or if they’re just being mean.

Without writing, who would I even be? If I had to choose something else, maybe I’d be a content creator for others—managing their posts, editing, and so on. Though if you had ask child me this question she would say cottage witch, so I could make potions and heal people. But honestly, I don’t know if that would’ve made me truly happy. Writing is my anchor. Without it, I’d feel like I was lost at sea with no land in sight.

I’m a bit of both—when it comes to outlining, I prefer to write it down by hand, but the rest I do on the computer.

Most of the time, I try to choose a name with a meaning that fits the character. Other times, I’ll use a name generator and keep hitting shuffle until something clicks.

Finding the motivation to write can be a challenge, especially for those of us who carry the weight of grief or other mental health struggles. For me, grief is the strongest, and while some days simply sitting down and pushing through works, there are harder days when even that feels impossible. On those ‘barely any spoons’ days, I remind myself that progress doesn’t have to be linear. You don’t have to write the next scene—dive into the ending, a bonus chapter, or even just brainstorm ideas for your project.

Sometimes, a little extra motivation helps. I might watch a YouTube video or come across that hilarious and inspiring social media creator—Auntie Adam, I think?—telling me to get my butt in gear and do the thing. Having backup plans (and backup plans for your backup plans) is key. A good support system and changing up your environment, like writing at a local spot with free Wi-Fi, can make a huge difference. Creativity might not always come easily, but small steps forward still count.

Oh, my phone—absolutely, without a doubt!

When I’m not lost in writing or devouring a good book, you’ll find me conjuring stories in The Sims—because even virtual worlds need a little magic.

Honestly, I love treating myself to something sweet for a book launch—usually a cookie cake or those frosted cookies from Walmart (my weakness). I’ve even tried celebrating a launch live on Instagram before, but no one showed up, even after I’d been posting about it. So, I’ve ended up celebrating alone. It’s a little bittersweet, sure, but sometimes that’s just how life goes.

The world I’d want to live in hasn’t been released yet—it’s part of the series I’m working on after The Haunted Series. I’ve always dreamed of having pointy ears and magic!

I’ve honestly had a few moments like this, and most of them came from people I know who’ve read my book. Maybe they’re a little biased, I’m not sure, but hearing them talk about my book with so much passion gave me literal goosebumps. It always takes me by surprise because I never thought I was that good. Yet here they are, speaking about my work like it’s something amazing. It’s not that I don’t think my book is good—I just never believed I could write something that good, if that makes sense.

Cassandra Clare, Anne Rice, Jaz Primo, and Edgar Allan Poe have all been huge inspirations for me. I’ve admired their works for so long, and I feel like there’s so much I could learn from each of them.

No, and I know this might sound a bit Twilight, but honestly, The Hidden came to me in a dream. Originally, I had planned to collaborate with an artist friend to turn it into a webtoon, but our schedules just never aligned. So instead, it became a book—and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.

What I love most about connecting with my readers is hearing how deeply they’ve been pulled into my stories. Knowing that the worlds and characters I’ve created resonate with someone else is truly magical. It’s incredible to share that connection and see my work come to life through their eyes.

I would tell my younger self that I could’ve started working on publishing much earlier. All I would’ve needed was an adult’s approval, and most of the adults in my life would’ve said yes—after doing their own research, of course, because I’ve always been a bit impulsive!

I currently have five series fully planned out, and I’m crossing my fingers that nothing derails the deadlines I’ve set for myself. I can’t wait to share these stories with all of you!

I absolutely love when other authors dive into world-building, even though it’s a lot of work. I just wish I had done more of it with The Hidden and The Hunted.

I might be a little chaotic—okay, maybe more than a little—but that’s just how my brain works. I either hyper focus on one project to the point where everything else fades away, or I’m juggling multiple projects at once. If you’re ever feeling overwhelmed, my advice is to take a step back, breathe, and break things down. Figure out how much effort each project will take.

For me, I use spoons as my measurement (if you’re familiar with spoon theory, you’ll get it—it’s stuck with me ever since I heard about it). I’ll go through my projects and label them: ‘This one is just a baby spoon,’ or ‘That one’s two small spoons,’ or even ‘Okay, this monster is a four big spoons kind of task.’ Then, I tackle the smallest tasks first and work my way down the list.

Also, lists and Google Sheets? Absolute lifesavers. I couldn’t manage without them.

I aspire to create like Anne Rice and Edgar Allan Poe, or even master writing in their captivating styles.

I’ve always found myself relating to villains, or at least understanding the reasons behind their actions. So I would have to say Mortimer, for example—he had his entire family taken from him, endured unimaginable pain, and yet they didn’t think he’d come back to fight? He became a reflection of how I saw myself, a version of me if I ever let the hate consume me the way it did him. In a way, Mortimer feels like the gender-swapped embodiment of my alter ego. I don’t technically have an alter ego, but if I did, he would be it.

Series all the way! I love watching characters grow over time—and there’s nothing better than a good slow burn.

I absolutely love being able to unleash my creativity and share the worlds swirling around in my head with others. There’s nothing quite like hearing readers say how deeply they’ve been pulled into my stories—it’s pure magic. Knowing I can give someone that feeling, the same one other authors have given me, is truly the most rewarding part of what I do.

I'm somewhere between a plotter and a pantser. I do the bare minimum of plotting just to jot down ideas so I don’t forget them, but if something needs to change along the way, I’m all for it.