Do you work another job as well as your writing work?
I write full-time, but my hobbies often transform
into part-time jobs. I recently enrolled in a yoga teacher training program. I
want to take my practice to a deeper level. Beyond personal gain, I’m eager to
see what paths open to me that will allow me to share this wonderful way of
life with others. I’m keenly interested in working to help those in need of
rehabilitation from injury or illness. I’ve taught high school for seventeen
years and my parents were teachers, so teaching is a natural part of my life. I
gain from giving.
How long does it usually take you to
write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?
It takes about two months for me to
write a clean first draft. Then I allow about two more months for revisions
with beta readers and my editor.
What can we expect from you in the
future? ie More books of the same genre?
Books of a different genre?
To date, I’ve been writing epic fantasy with
romantic elements but am shifting toward magical realism, which is the genre of
my new series I’ll be working on next year.
I enjoy reading magical realism, mythpunk, and
mythic fiction—all subgenres that sit on the border between fantasy and
literary fiction. I expect my writing will shift in those directions over time.
Do you have plans for a new book? Is
this book part of a series?
I’m
writing the fourth book in the Enchanted
Bookstore Legends. There will be five total. I still enjoying
working with these characters, letting them grow and develop. I’ll miss them
when the series ends, but I do have a new series planned that I’m looking
forward to. It will be more magical realism than high fantasy.
What genre would you place your books
into?
My
series, the Enchanted Bookstore Legends,
is epic fantasy with romantic elements. The fantasy is the primary theme.
What made you decide to write that genre
of book?
I like the complexity of fantasy, the feeling of
being transported into another world. However, most fantasy books are written
for young adults. In my reading, I longed to find more fantasies written for
adults. The element of romance I include is far less about adding sex than about
adding deeper connections between the hero and heroine, allowing them to be
more three-dimensional and work with more complex issues.
Do you have a favourite out of the books
you have written? If so why is it your favourite?
I am in love with the series I’m presently
writing—the Enchanted Bookstore Legends.
It’s a blast to write all the interwoven subplots, clues, and red herrings that
will be unwind slowly in later books. The scope of an epic fantasy written over
a series of five books is something I’m really enjoying.
Do you have a favourite character from
your books? and why are they your favourite?
This is a truly epic tale with a large and wonderful
cast of otherworldly characters, including many talking animals. My main
characters, Lyra and Cullen, must attempt difficulties that stretch their
abilities over numerous quests. But, my secondary characters often bring
laughter and lighten their loads, or encourage their strengths to persevere.
I’m in the middle of writing the third book, so by now the personalities of my
secondary animal characters really shine and they feel very real to me. I’m
especially fond of my dragons, but one type stands out as a
favorite—pseudodragons.
Pseudodragons are not true dragons. They are much
smaller, being only three feet long, including their tails. In my legends, we
get to know the pseudodragon Cullen keeps as his wizard’s familiar—a typical
role for this species. His name is Noba, and he is a tiny burgundy-colored
pseudodragon who has a heart of gold that makes people melt. He even has a
starring role on the cover of the latest book, Lost Volumes.
If you had to choose to be one of your
characters in your book/books which would you be? and why?
Easily I would be Lyra. Reality always forms the
framework of my stories. Actually, since this is a five-part series and I’m
currently writing book #3, the more I look at this story, the more of myself I
see. My heroine, Lyra, is very much connected to me. Even in the first chapter
of the first book, the childhood memories brought to her mind by Cullen’s
magical tea are actually all mine. How Lyra interacts with her Aunt Jean has
been a way for me to work through my own issues with my mother’s failing
health. Some scenes intentionally connect to my own experiences, like those, and
others surprise me much later when I’m polishing my draft to send to my editor.
I shake my head and hope no one other than my crit partners can identify the
similarities.
Where do you get your book plot ideas
from?What/Who is your inspiration?
I’m influenced by all sorts of things
I encounter—nature, movies, books, art. I mentally tuck away impressions that
captivate me and assemble a collection into a setting or group of characters that
I want to spend time with.
My Enchanted
Bookstore Legends are basically a fantasy lover’s dream, being able to step
into a favorite book as a character. I know my initial inspiration came after
watching the recent Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland movie. From that, I wanted
to work with parallel worlds and have a heroine who must save the fantasy world
from danger.
I envisioned a
series with the magical complexities of the Harry Potter world, but for
grown-ups, with characters who faced more complicated life issues. I had
strong opinions about choosing my heroine’s age. I wanted her to have
experienced enough hard times to be able to truly appreciate true love, honor,
courage, fairness, all that is good. In this way, she can truly commit to
whatever obstacles lie in the path to happiness. She knows herself and is
determined. As the series progresses, I admire her strength.
Do you have a certain routine you have
for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?
Through the years, I’ve varied my
routine a lot. During my first couple of books, I wrote more methodically as
part of my normal day. It was a good technique to develop discipline and keep
my mind focused on writing. When I began my fourth book, I changed to writing
in concentrated periods, usually making writing my main event for several
weeks. My novels are written over 3-4 of those concentrated sessions. I’ve
found my writing is best when I submerge in my story and live with my
characters. It’s definitely more fun to spend a week playing “Let’s Pretend” in
my elaborate imaginary worlds than grinding out a couple of pages per day. I
always look forward to my writing “vacations,” and eagerly clear out the
household chores. In fact, my house is about to get cleaned in a quick way
since I feel the need to spend a week writing. That writer’s muse can’t be
denied!
How do you come up with the Title and
Cover Designs for your book/books? Who designed the Cover of your books?
I designed the covers for the Enchanted Bookstore Legends. I combined techniques of watercolor and
digital painting to achieve the illustrated look I wanted for fantasy.
Do you choose a title first, or write
the book then choose the title?
I usually create the title after I form the outline.
I like mantras, and having a title is simply way to keep me focused on my
initial vision for the work.
Do you basic plot/plan for your book,
before you actually begin writing it out? Or do you let the writing flow and
see where it takes the story?
My process begins with a setting I find interesting,
somewhere I’d like to spend some time. In writing fantasy, world-building is
everything. Then, I create the main characters, appearance and personality.
From there, how they will become involved goes hand-in-hand with developing the
plot. I do outline a lot, since there are many interwoven subplots in this
series. This series is epic in scope, and details would get lost if I didn’t
plan. Outside of the key features on the outline, I do allow the in-between
progress in each chapter to flow freely, which I enjoy a lot. Some of the most
imaginative bits arise that way.
What do you think makes a book a really
good/bestseller ?
It’s impossible to guess what makes a
bestseller. I know what I like to read, and those points are important in my
writing. I love a setting that tempts me to visit with colorful visual details.
Also, characters I can root for are important. They need to seem real, with
quirks or weaknesses that work against them. I also like a complicated plot.
There needs to be some action taking place to balance character introspection.
What do you do to unwind and relax?Do
you have a hobby?
I like to balance my quiet writing
time with exercise and spiritual growth. I’m a yoga addict and am enrolled to
begin teacher training for all of next year. Every week, I also make time to
bike and kayak. These activities keep my mind clear to encourage my imagination
for writing.
Are there any hidden messages or morals
contained in your books? (Morals as in like Aesops Fables type of "The
moral of this story is..")
Definitely, there is always a theme of reality
behind my fantasy. In this series, the theme of compassion is clearly the
correct path toward happiness. That’s one I often use.
Is there a certain Author that
influenced you in writing?
I loved Gulliver’s
Travels by Jonathan Swift. The symbolism is amazing; the more you read, the
more layers you find. Inspired by that, I like to hide things in my stories.
From the present, picking one book is too hard. The Harry Potter series is one of my
all-time favorites. Again, the layering of hidden plots, which spin to
completion later in the series, really captures my imagination. The last few
books that really pulled me in were Natasha Mostert’s Season of the Witch and Erin Morgenstern’s Night Circus. In both of those, magic caused mental effects for
both the giver and receiver. I enjoy the complexity of that theme and employ it
myself in a very different way. My heroine, Lyra, must learn to mentally
control her vast inherited powers as the new Scribe. That is something she
struggles to master through the series.
I love Sarah Addison Allen’s magical realism. She’s
one of my favorite authors. The way her
characters spring off the page while the magical elements seem so natural
really influences me.
What are you currently reading? Are you
enjoying it? What format is it?(ebook, hardback or paperback)
I’m currently reading The White Forest by Adam McOmber, Peace is in Every Step by Thich Nhat
Hanh, and Quiet Mind by David Kundtz.
I almost always read some fiction and non-fiction simultaneously. Usually I
read fiction on my ereader and the non-fiction I prefer in print since I like
to flip back and forth in those.
Do you or would you ever use a pen name?
I do use a pen name. The last name I use, Moore, is
actually my mother’s maiden name, easier to spell and remember. I like it
because it still feels like me and reminds me of her love, now that she has
recently passed.
Where can readers follow you?
Your blog details?
Your web site ?
Your facebook page?
Your Goodreads author page?
Your Twitter details?
And any other information you wish to
supply?
Sandra, thanks so much for taking the time to
interview me today!
Thank-you Marsha for taking time away from your writing to do an Interview for my little blog!
Thanks lots for interviewing me today!
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