Tell me a about yourself. What got
you started in writing?
I remember sitting in
my seventh grade English class a hundred years ago talking with a friend about
being writers “someday”. In 2008 I decided someday was never coming unless I
started writing. I jumped into NaNoWriMo that year with two months to prepare
and started blogging. Last year I turned the hobby into a second job and
started getting serious. I work full time and have two young kids, which means
if I want to be a writer I don’t sleep much. The sleep deprivation is worth it
to see my work in print.
How and where do you write? Do you prefer a lap top or do you prefer writing freehand?
Physically, I write at
home in my office surrounded by my books. I use a laptop and Scrivener. Whoever
created that program and made it so affordable should win a medal. The truth
is, I’m constantly writing. I have an “ideas” file on my phone that I add to
daily when things I see in the world spark something I could use in a story
somewhere. I work out plot ideas in the shower. I talk to myself in the car
about characters. The real challenge is finding the time to get all the stories
floating around in my head down in black and white.
What's your favorite part about
writing? Your least favorite part about writing?
I love the abandon of
a first draft with a minimal outline and freedom to let the story rise from my
subconscious. I used to think revising was my least favorite because it is harder
work. All the plot holes to fill in, motivations to get right, characters to round
out. Now I think marketing and promoting the finished product is less appealing
than anything else. Having to put yourself out there, selling what to you is a
piece of your soul, without being obnoxious is difficult. I’m guessing the
answers to this question will continue to morph with new experiences. There’s
always something I haven’t done that may be less appealing than my current
least favorite thing. Creating will always be my favorite part.
How do you come up with your
characters? Why would readers want to get to know them?
Most of my characters
grow organically from the story seed I start with. I’m an idea-driven writer.
Most of my worlds and my ideas come with a “what if” question sparked from
things I observe in my world. ‘Reflection’ started with the question ‘What if
you lived in a world without mirrors’. I imagined how strange it would be to
never see what your face looked like and how that would feel at all stages of
life. I decided it would be harder for an early adult or late teen just
starting to figure out where they fit in society and what kind of an adult they
will become. The main character, Jadayell, grew from there. The question of why
reflections were banned created the rest of the world and gave her things to
rebel against. By giving my characters reason for doing everything, I hope most
readers find something they can identify with or empathize with.
What types of marketing do you do
to promote your writing?
This is my first
published work so I think this answer will change over time. Social media is
easy to incorporate since I do a lot of that already including promoting the
book on my website, blog touring like my stop here, Facebook, that sort of
thing. The Secret Door Society will be at the Life, The Universe and Everything
Science Fiction and Fantasy Symposium in February promoting the release. From
there, I guess I’ll find out what works and what doesn't. Luckily this
anthology has very established authors who I can learn from.
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| Get the Book Here |
How do you schedule your writing
time? When do you write?
I am a tech-savvy, structured
person. If it isn't in my calendar it doesn't happen. I joke that I’m OCD but it’s the only way I remember all the things I have going on in my life. I’d be
lost without my calendar.
I write three nights a
week between nine and midnight after the kids are asleep. On the weekends, I
try for at least two blocks of three hours depending on what the family has
going on. Sometimes it ends up as what I call “Marathon Sundays”. I found that
until I scheduled it physically and thought about it as “going to work”, I
would put it off and never be consistent. The mindset of having a second job as
a writer is what works for me.
What are you currently working on?
I’m revising a
paranormal novel about a woman whose family was cursed. When the curse
threatens her own happiness, she vows to find a way to break it. I’m also
working on plotting the full novel behind the world from “Reflection”. How did
they get there, why and how do the portals work, who is behind it all. Things I
hope readers will enjoy if they liked this story.
Do you have a project on the back burner? Tell me about it.
My first novel still
has a secret place in my heart. It is an urban fantasy I wrote years ago when I
was figuring out how to write a novel. It went through so many re-writes and I
lived in that world for so many years that someday I hope I can dig it out and
make it worthy of publication. Right now I fear it is a pile of first-novel
crap. It’s about a girl who doesn't know she has paranormal bloodlines but her
unique parentage could be the key to saving the planet.
What would you tell a beginning writer
who wants to publish but doesn't believe he/she has enough talent?
Writing is hard and
talent only takes you so far. If you’re willing to put in the work and learn
the craft, it is possible to sell your work. Very first, learn the craft. I
collaborate on a website (www.oneuponakeyboard.com) designed as a one-stop place to learn at all stages, from
understanding how to brainstorm to finding a publisher. Some great advice I got
was to write short stories. There are so many markets for them and it’s a great
way to hone your craft. You’d be surprised how quickly you learn how to portray
a setting or build a character effectively when you’re limited to a few
thousand words. The best advice I never got from anyone is be realistic in
your expectations. This story went through eleven drafts before my editor
deemed it was worthy of publication. A novel is not much different, just ten
times more words to revise. Writing ‘The End’ on your first draft is when the
real work begins.
***
Thank you Terra!
The authors from the above anthology are donating 100% of the profits to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund. Terra lost her mom last August to diabetes so the cause is close to her heart.
Open the door and unlock the secrets in eleven short
stories from The Secret Door Society, an organization of fantasy and science
fiction authors dedicated to charitable work. All proceeds from this anthology
benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in their quest to cure Type
One Diabetes (T1D).
In these pages you’ll discover a modern woman
trapped in an old fashioned dreamscape, a futuristic temp worker who fights
against her programming, a beautiful vampire’s secret mission disrupted by betrayal,
a sorcerer’s epic battle against a water dragon, the source of magical mirrors—and
more. There are tales for every science fiction and fantasy taste, including new
works from award-winning authors Johnny Worthen, Lehua Parker, Christine
Haggerty, and Adrienne Monson.
Join us in the fight against T1D as you peek into a
world of magical and mysterious doorways—if you dare.
Learn more:
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