Wednesday 7 September 2011

AUTHOR INTERVIEW - GRETA BURROUGHS



What is your name, where were you born and where do you live now?
My name is Greta Burroughs. I was born in Seneca, SC (USA) and now reside in Green Sea, SC, a very small farming community about 40 miles inland from the Atlantic coast.

What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarise it in less than 20 words what would you say?
The title of my latest book is Heartaches and Miracles. H&M is a nonfiction account of my ordeal with a little known but very common autoimmune disorder called ITP.

 Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?
I published a fantasy novel, Gerald and the Wee People about a year ago and plan to write a sequel to Wee People in the near future. I also have a children’s chapter book, Patchwork Dog and Calico Cat which will be out in a few months.

How long have you been writing?, and who or what inspired you to write?
My husband, Robert DeBurgh published his novel, Riders of the Wind in 2002 and had quite a bit of success with it. He encouraged me to write as well so I became a freelance journalist for a local newspaper and also wrote up some children’s stories.
I started writing books in 2006, just after I was diagnosed with ITP.  ITP is a bleeding disorder where my immune system produces antibodies that destroy the platelets in my blood and I am prone to bleeding, bruising, etc.  There are several medications and treatments available for ITP but none of them worked for me to begin with. I kept a journal of my roller coaster ride and since then found out that others with ITP have the same questions I had and suffered through similar relapses and remissions.  That is what inspired me to transform my journal into Heartaches and Miracles. I want to get the word out to the general public about autoimmune disorders and ITP in particular so that new research and treatments can be found for this chronic blood disease.

Do you gift books to readers to do reviews?
I would be glad to send anyone a Smashwords coupon for a free download of my books.  I would greatly appreciate any and all reviews.

 How do you come up with the Title and Cover Designs for your book/books?Who designed the Cover of your books?
That’s a good question.  Each of the titles went through several changes before I decided on the one to use. Both the title and cover for my books were a collaborative effort between my husband and myself.  I used his artwork on the covers and did the lettering and such around his paintings.

 Have you ever based characters on people you know or based events on things that have happened to you?
Yes, I already described how Heartaches and Miracles came about.   Gerald and the Wee People was written in memory of my parents, brother and uncle who had all passed away. I started it on a Christmas morning as a tribute to them.
Wee People is a young adult fantasy/adventure that I use in talks with young people about the joy of reading. There are so many children who have not experienced how books can take to new and exciting places and can entertain better than computer games and movies. I have talked with teenagers who have never heard of Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway, etc. Basically I’m trying to encourage kids to get back into reading books.

  Is there a certain Author that influenced you in writing?
The first book that really made me think was To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I can still remember where I was while reading it and how I felt. That was almost 40 years ago and instigated my love of reading. There are several authors such as Anne McCaffrey, Mercedes Lackey and David Eddings that turned me into a fantasy fan. That’s probably why Wee People and its sequel, House on Bo-Kay Lane are fantasies.

Which format of book do you prefer, ebook,hardback, or paperback?
I never thought I would prefer anything other than a real book but ebooks are so convenient and easy to obtain. Most of my reading lately has been with ebooks.


Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is you favourite/worst  book to movie transfer?
I prefer books over movies. Usually the story loses a little something when made into a movie. The worst in my opinion was “The Hunt for Red October.” So many little details were left out of the movie that were integral parts of the book.

 What are you currently reading? Are you enjoying it? What format is it?(ebook, hardback or paperback)
Currently I am reading Alex Canton’s Remember in your Dreams on my Kindle. Alex is a fascinating person and I am enjoying his “talks” with his grandson very much.

 Is there a book you know you will never read? Or one you tried to read but just couldn't finish?
There are several genres that I am not interested in but that does not mean there are not any good books in those genres. I am not into horror mainly because they give me nightmares but I have read reviews of some very interesting books I would like to read if I had the courage to do so.
I have waded through some terrible books that I wanted to put away but keep onto the end hoping for better reading. I will not mention any titles because I do not want to hurt anyone’s feelings. It was just my personal opinion and may not be the same as others.

Are there any New Authors you are interested in for us to watch out for? and Why should we watch out for them?
I have downloaded a bunch of books by new Indie authors that I can’t wait to read such as Kristina Jackson, Dannye Williamsen, Valerie Douglas, Alex Canton, Ed McNally, Leland Dirks, and several more. Of course my all time favorite Indie author is Robert DeBurgh. Unfortunately, between writing and promoting I do not have much time to read anymore.

 Is there anything in your book/books you would change now if you could and what would it be?
Nothing that I can think of right off hand, of course, there is always room for improvement.

 What do you think about book trailers?
I enjoy watching movie trailers and believe they are a good promotional tool, just wish I could make one for each of my books.

 What piece of advice would you give to a new writer?
For a new writer, believe in yourself. When you are happy with your work, admit it. Let others help you with the finishing touches, (beta reads, editing, proofing, etc). The new set of eyes may point out things you have missed even though you have been over the manuscript countless times. Be patient, sales may not as great as you wished for but think positive and keep plugging away.

 Do you or would you ever use a pen name?
No, I do not use a pen name. Heck, I have a hard enough remembering the names of my characters in Wee People much less a new one for myself….

Where can readers follow you?

Your blog details? None yet
Your web site ? None yet
Your facebook page?
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Greta-Burroughs/187320551317744 

Your Goodreads author page? http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4173006.Greta_Burroughs
Your Twitter details?
And any other information you wish to supply?
Gerald and the Wee People

Heartaches and Miracles

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME FROM YOUR SCHEDULE OF WRITING TO ALLOW US A GLIMPSE INTO YOUR WRITING WORLD

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