What is your favorite part about writing? Why?
Oh, I have to
choose? I love the writing part. Creating a world, characters, and
situations and then exploring them makes for great fun. It takes more
work than simply reading a book, but the work is worth it because I have
something tangible when I am done. Something I can share and others can
enjoy over and over again.
Who helped you the most while you were beginning to write?
The
first people to read my writing beyond my parents were a huge
encouragement. My piano teacher, Mrs. Holden, found something to praise
even though I am sure she also saw the flaws in my meager attempts at
writing. She related to my characters, which guided me to pursue
developing and replicating that in my next story.
My mother
taught me to work hard. She never gave out praise unless it was merited.
She showed me there is constantly room to improve and grow. Learning,
growing, and improving are hard work, but they are worth the effort.
What first gave you the idea for Wren?
A
group of my friends, both writers and young women interested in
writing, came up with an idea of doing a writing project together.
Creating a family of nine siblings, we endeavored to each write one
sibling’s story. We intended to begin and end each book in the same
place and connect the stories through letters (hence the epistles in the
series title).
Wren’s character began with her name. I wanted
her to be like her namesake, small and plain looking, but extraordinary
in quiet ways. Unlike her siblings, she does not struggle with her faith
in her God, but she does struggle with how to walk by that faith. She
is a strong woman in a world that does not welcome women of her ilk.
Despite her unconventional skill set (she is a bounty hunter and falcon
mistress), she maintains her femininity and tries to adhere to the path
God has set out for her. She is a woman of seeming contradictions, which
I love about her. The aspect of her character that I really latched on
to as I wrote the book was her confidence. She is far more self-assured
than I have ever been.
Do you have any more projects in the works?
Oh,
yes! I am currently working on releasing the next two installments of
the Theodoric Saga. (The Crown of Anavrea, the first book, is already
available.) I am finishing up the rough draft of the sequel to Duty,
which is tentatively titled Honor. A number of short stories from Duty
and Honor’s world are in the works and will follow soon after. Also,
there are other projects, both old and new, in the queue and ready for
my attention. In the mix are an inspirational speculative fiction
trilogy, an modern day inspirational retelling of East of the Sun West
of the Moon, a Regency mystery/romance, a fourth Theodoric Saga novel
with plot problems, ideas for two more sequels to Duty and Honor, more
than one science fiction novel, and a whole mess of short story ideas.
The ideas are endless. The challenge is finding the time.
If you were to start over, what would you do differently? (Providing that you still had the knowledge of writing you do now?)
I
would spend more time reading, writing, and editing. Writing is a
journey and I am constantly learning new things about the craft.
Also, I would pay attention more closely in marketing class.
Regardless
of which way you end up publishing, writers are required to do more and
more of their own publicity as time goes on. The one marketing class I
took in college turned out to be a great resource despite my lack of
interest at the time.
Remembering when you were first starting out, what was the most important thing you were told or learned along the way?
I
have learned that you can’t please everyone. Make sure you please God.
He is the most important audience you will ever have. Write for His
glory and trust Him to handle the rest.
Additional note:
Also,
for those of you who are on the brink of publication or researching
publication feel free to contact me with questions. I would be happy to
offer my services at a discount or just point you in the right
direction. Traditionally published or independently published, we
authors need to help each other.
Twitter ~ http://twitter.com/RachelRossano
Facebook ~ http://www.facebook.com/RachelRossano...
YouTube ~ http://www.youtube.com/anavrea
Goodreads ~ http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
-Ysa-
Very cool interview! 'Wren' sounds like an awesome novel! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kaycee. It was great fun to write. :)
Delete