Below is an interview I did with EZ Read about being a writer.  http://global.ezread.com/meet.asp?id=56

 

From your website’s biography, you have obviously always loved writing. But, what made you finally decide to write books? What was the actually turning point for you?

I decided to become a writer when I was about sixteen and went to work for Beaverton High School’s newspaper, The Hummer, as a reporter. It was the most thrilling thing to ever happen to me outside of learning how to skate board really fast and crashing my ten – speed bike into the garage door because for some inexplicable reason I couldn’t find the brakes.

I was hooked on writing and decided that HAD to be my career, in one form or another.  My journalism teacher and I are still friends and we laugh about how much she had to use her red pencil on all of my articles. Honestly, it looked like she bled on them when she was done, but she was one of the key people who taught me how to write.

In addition, my late mother always encouraged me to write, from the time I was three. She was an English teacher, she loved reading and writing, and I clearly inherited her genes and her addiction to the written word,  which translated into my novel writing.

 

Was it difficult to transition into a full-time writer?

 

Not difficult at all! I loved it. I skipped into writing full time with a jig and a happy wiggle and a few hoots.

Writing full time is what I dreamed of doing for years.  I plowed through many, many rejection letters, a bunch of tears, feelings of hopelessness because I was often sure I would never become a real writer, and wrote millions of words to get to the point now where it’s my full time job. I considered myself a  full time writer after I sold Julia’s Chocolates in 2005.

To get to the “full time” part, I was very busy, didn’t sleep much, and was very focused on that one goal. I was a freelance writer for The Oregonian for years while my three kids were young, which I absolutely loved doing, while I also worked on my novel writing late, late, late into the night. A couple of times over the years I had to go back to school and renew my teaching certificate in case I never made it as a writer and had to go back to teaching. (A VERY real possibility).  But every night now, no kidding, and every day when I wake up, I am so grateful that I’m able to do this.

 

How would you classify your seemingly versatile style of writing?

I call my writing women’s fiction, even though I do get letters from men, too.

I like laughter. I believe that tears are a part of life. I combine the two. Maybe that’s the versatile part.

 

You have been a part of several compilation books of short stories with other authors. What is it about these books that interests you?

I love writing my short stories. (See list below)  They’re about 35,000 words.  My novels are between 135,000 – 155,000 words. The  novels are  monsters, but the short stories are just that…short. And they’re a lighter tone. They must end happy.  I try to develop my characters and add supporting characters that are relatable, interesting, funny, and add a new dimension, or depth, to the story. I keep it light, but I want there to be meaning, too, something that women can read and hold onto.

You have to use the delete button a lot when working on these short stories because the word count is very tight. So you get a tight story, where every word is maximized, the scenes flow, and the story line is quick and gripping, in a good way.  And, let’s face it. I do like happy endings, and I do like the romance part of those books.

 

What other hobbies do you like to do, when you’re not writing?

My primary hobby is my family. We are not a perfect,  Brady Bunch sort of family, too noisy and rowdy for that, but we sure do have a lot of fun together.  I love reading, walking, I do not love going to the gym or running, but I do it anyhow. I do not like to cook or clean because it is boring.  I love going to lunch with friends, to the beach, to the mountains, and to bookstores. I am in love with Broadway shows, smaller plays, and the symphony. I love going to Starbucks and I am really good at going on vacation and sitting on a deck reading books. I daydream a lot.

 

Is there anyone you like to discuss your stories with, besides your editor or publisher?

 I discuss my stories with my editor and with my agent. They have been immensely helpful with my books. My deadlines are really close, so I lean on them for advice and help and direction so I can be off and writing. I also run ideas by my daughters.  That’s about it. Too many voices and you have a mess in your head. I do not need a mess in my head.

Once I start writing the story, and I get it, so to speak, I dive straight in, no life jacket.  I draft out the whole story, no corrections as I go, few deletions, and I just write. I let the words and the story and the characters flow naturally, even though that takes me off on tangents that I hadn’t planned. I listen to the characters in my head and watch what they’re doing and write it down.  I edit all my books at least eight times before I send it off to my agent and editor, then I edit more.

Makes me tired even thinking about it.

 

Which of your books has been the most fun to write, so far?

 

Honestly, they’re all fun. Julia’s Chocolates gave me the most laughs, however, because it published first and I was just so thrilled. I don’t think I’ve quit smiling since then.

Well, okay. Breast Power Psychic Night, and Your Hormones and You: Taking Cover, Taking Charge Psychic Night, in Julia’s Chocolates also made me laugh.

 

Does your previous work in education influence any of your writing?

I think that my work as a fourth grade teacher gave me a unique perception of kids and the very real troubles and hardships that they go through. Some of my students had very, very sad problems in their lives. That experience made me even more sympathetic to young people. That said, I also met some quirky, funny, creative, kids who were definitely on their own unique walk and I use that knowledge to form “compilation kids” in my work.  And, I throw parts of my own kids in my books, too. 

 

What has been your greatest accomplishment in your writing career, so far?

My greatest accomplishment?

I hope it is still to come.

 

Is there anything else you would like to share with your fans?

Thank you so much for reading my books!  If you have a book club, invite me! We can Skype or you can put me on speaker phone. Email me if you’d like to chat! I eventually look up from my stories, from the cacophony in my head, from the strange characters saying odd things,  and answer all emails.