Hi Rachel, welcome to the blog, What Inspired you to write Reckless Magic? 

My Sister-In-Law, Kylee, actually. When my husband and I were married, she was still in high school, but we bonded immediately over reading. We read everything together, constantly traded books or recommended series; but my favorite thing of all we did was get together after we finished a book and discuss. We're both very skilled at talking, and so book discussions would last hours and hours. We would start out loving books and then discover we actually hated them, or hated characters and then finishing the night by adoring them. She would change my mind. I would change hers. Or sometimes we would just disagree until we were both blue in the face. In those discussions, I decided that there was more to my love of books than reading. I love the idea behind a story, the development the plot must undergo, the creative process in even the simple things like naming characters or deciding their hair color. And out of our discussions came this fierce need to write my own book. Reckless Magic is actually the second book I've written. The first book will hopefully never see the light of day. I realize now how awful it is... But at the time, I was pretty proud of myself. When I couldn't get a publisher or agent interested in it, I decided to write Reckless Magic, a vampire story. The vampire craze was in full swing, and I had been reading about agencies that were accepting any and all vampire-type manuscripts. As it turns out, I didn't have a vampire story in me though and Reckless Magic came out of my head instead. I wanted to write something with a strong heroine and a complicated new world, but at the core of the story I knew there would be this impossible love story. 

Indie publishing- Why do you think its becoming so popular? 

Because it's amazing! :) No seriously, it is! Traditional Publishing is terribly difficult to break into, and as a business one can hardly blame them. But there are lots of stories out there to be told and Indie Publishing offers that opportunity. For the reader, Indie Publishing makes books immediately accessible and convenient. I love browsing through the Amazon or Smashwords catalogues from the comfort of my couch in my pajamas, or at midnight when I just finished a book one and I need the sequel immediately or I won’t be able to go on living…. 

There are so many books out there, and with eReaders you can look up the reviews right along with the low, inexpensive price. Picking up a brand new book, by an author you're not familiar with is always risky. But, Indie-Publishing makes it affordable enough that it's easy to buy and even easier to enjoy. I think the Publishing world as a whole is noticing how many talented writers there are out there outside the realms of Traditional Publishing, and with free publishing, it gives these authors an invaluable platform for their unique voice. Personally, I faced a couple years of rejection before my husband suggested the Kindle Store. And at that point, when I published, it was just to see if I had written anything worth reading. I loved my story, and my characters, but I think there comes this point when you doubt your own taste, or objectivity. Indie Publishing gave me the break I had almost completely given up on, and I think that’s true for a lot of authors. And the readers get to reap the benefits. 

Reckless Magic has become a movie, who is playing your main character (s) and why? 

Ok, hold on, because I have a ton of characters I want to cast! I didn't realize how many there were until this question! So. For Eden, my starlet, I think Selena Gomez. Eden has to be a mixture of sweet innocence and feisty sarcasm. I think she could pull it off! For Kiran, someone like Max Irons. He's young. He's English. And he has the smirk down! Avalon, is a bit tougher, but I like Brant Daugherty (Pretty Little Liars). I think he would make a great bad boy. Let's grow out his hair, cover him in tattoos and then swoon! I would love to see Lilly played by someone like Emily Browning. Gorgeous! And she has that perfect purity that Lilly requires. And last by oh so not least, Jericho.... Nick D'Agosto. Not only does he capture that good guy, hero thing, but he is from Omaha!! 

What top three Indie books would you recommend to readers and why? 

I only get three picks? But there are so many good ones to choose from!! Ok, well, definitely The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines. It's so fun and sweet. And I just love a good love triangle!! Significance by Shelly Crane. That woman can write a love story that anyone would be jealous of! And soul mates that would do anything for each other or to be together just make my heart melt! And The Fallen Star. I just loved it. I was caught up in the pages and the story, and every time I felt a chill, I found myself looking over my shoulder! 

Whats on the horizon for Rachel Higginson? 

So much actually! I just released the fourth and final installment of the Star-Crossed series and am jumping right back into writing. Starbright, the first book in a several book series will be out in May! And then only more writing from there. I'm currently co-authoring a trilogy about witches although we have no release date in the near future. And after Starbright, or during, or.... soon, I plan on writing a prequel to Reckless Magic! I’m really excited for what’s to come! 

What do you want readers to walk away with after reading your book? 

Well, first and foremost I want them to enjoy it and to just fall in love with these characters! The whole series takes place in this elite and secret world, but the story, at its core, is a love story. And that's what I want people to get from it! I want the reader to enjoy the adventure and mystery, but know the thread weaving its way through all four books is simply love. I also want them to see Eden as a strong heroine. She is a teenage girl, full of angst and uncertainty and at times she can be stubborn, even whiny. But she is independent, and brave, and I want her strength to resound from the pages. And finally, I want readers to go away with a new or renewed thirst for travel. Growing up, I remember reading all kinds of books and from those pages, making lists of all the places I wanted to travel when I got older. So during college when I spent time in Europe, the places I visited seemed already familiar because I read about them. The spires of St. Stephens in Vienna. The busy streets of Paris. The beauty of the Alps. In those short months I spent abroad, I felt like I was surrounded by old friends and familiar faces. Reading as a child became a sacred gift I got to keep with me as an adult. I would like to pass that on to my readers, so that when they hike the mountains in Peru, or meet Gypsies in Romania, they already know, intimately, the ground they are walking.