Every once
in a while, you stumble upon a book (or series of books) that looks intriguing
enough, interesting enough, and just fun enough that you can’t help but dive in
head first – even when you’re already waist deep and sinking in everything else
you’re already doing, reading and involved in. That’s sort of how this post,
and tomorrow’s, came to be. If you’ve played around on this blog by checking
out the other pages/tabs across the top, you may have noticed that I have a
review request form that authors, their PA’s or even readers can fill out in
the hopes of having me read a specific book to review and/or talk about here on
Ups, Downs, Ins & Outs. And
sometimes a book that is requested captivates me just enough that I can’t wait
to do something, anything with it… That’s where today comes in.
Today I’m
sharing with you the interview I did with Indie Author Sonia Taylor Brock, writer of The
Swamp Witch series. And pssssst… if you stick around to the end, Sonia and
I have a BIG SURPRISE for you all too!
THE INTERVIEW
[centered/italicized
= LDF; normal = STB]
Why (or how) did you
decide to be a writer?
I have
always dabbled in writing, but concentrated on my art for many years. [Then] I was given really good advice from
another writer that helped me take the plunge.
He told me to write what I know and write what I like to read. I knew exactly what that should be. Once the inspiration started, I haven’t been
able to shut it off.
When you started
writing what was your goal?
Honestly,
when I started writing, my first goal was just to finish what I started. Then the advances in self-publishing were
really starting to gain momentum. I
researched the pros and cons and decided that if I wanted to continue writing,
I had to self-publish. I realized that
if I waited for a publisher, I would never write another book.
What does a typical
writing day look like for you?
Oh,
Lord! I get up, take care of the
grandkids, do housework, play on social media for a while, do chores until
lunch time. When the grandson takes a
nap, I begin writing. I write for about
two hours every day. I continue with my
daily chores until the grandkids come home, dinner is cooked and hubby is
settled in and then my time is my own again.
Sometimes when I am on a roll I will write all night long.
Do you write every
day?
Most days
yes. Even if I am not writing in one of
my WIP’s, I journal.
Do you listen to music
while you’re writing? Do you make/use playlists to help keep you inspired or
focused on the story or scenes you’re writing?
No, I do
not. It is too distracting for me and I
can’t focus. I dive in and become one
with the keyboard using it to translate the thoughts into something other
people can comprehend. To me writing is
the great escape. You can be anyone, do
anything, on any planet you choose.
Music comes later with a glass of wine while re-reading my progress and
I am me again.
Do you have a process
you have to follow, items you have to have with you, or other “superstitious”
or good luck type of things that help you while writing?
Only to not
be interrupted. Items I have to have,
coffee … LOTS of coffee, a full pack of smokes (yes, I am a smoker and I’m not
quitting, so everyone can just back off).
I don’t need food or anything else (husband usually reminds me to eat). Most importantly, I need to room to pace
while I work through a scene in my head.
My only good luck charm or focus is the book cover I create. I usually do it first and it keeps me
centered.
When you’re writing do
you drink coffee, tea, water, soda, wine?
Coffee from
the time my feet hit the floor until about 10:30 then water or soda. Wine is my reward at the end of a good day. [LDF note: FYI - This could describe my
consumption to a ‘T’!]
When you were a kid
what did you want to be when you grew up?
Many
things, but mostly I think I saw myself working for a newspaper or
magazine. Fashion and entertainment
didn’t intrigue me, but journalism did.
Unfortunately, my life chose many different paths. After a stint in the Marine Corps, several
secretarial and office administration positions, I found myself in
Advertising. I worked for several
newspapers and magazines over the years including The Atlanta Journal
Constitution, Creative Loafing, and a couple trade magazines. Ad copy is not as rewarding as news or human-interest
stories, but it gave me an outlet and a sense of direction.
If you could go
anywhere in the world on an all-expenses paid vacation,
where would you want
to go?
I have been
to many places tropical and intend to visit some of them again soon when we get
the sailboats seaworthy, but I have always wanted to go to Ireland or
Scotland. The history and beauty of
those countries intrigue me.
If someone gifted you
$1,000,000 tomorrow, name three things you would do with it?
Completely
fund the pilot program for my Non-Profit Organization (Future Literary
Professionals of America, Inc.), sell all my property and belongings and buy a
50 foot catamaran.
As soon as I read the book blurb for Hawk’s Spell I knew that this was a book I was going to have to
read. Then I looked at what the previous books in The Swamp Witch series were about and knew I was going to
have to read all of them. How did
you choose your subject matter – witches, dragons, trolls, shape-shifters and
etc.?
Well, I was born and raised in South Louisiana. Stories of the ‘Swamp Witch’ and the ‘RouGarou’
were stories we were told as children. I
have always been a supernatural fan and love the classics. I think I have watched every vampire and
werewolf movie ever made. I write what I
like to read. My writing is a bit
unconventional because I don’t follow the rules. I also write phonetically with Cajun Patois
when Cajuns are speaking. It bothered me
in many movies that actors always got it wrong.
I wanted you to “hear” how it really sounds to hear a Cajun talk. Don’t worry, I have included a glossary to
help understand what the meanings are and how they are used. Unfortunately, grammar Nazis don’t like this
strategy at all. I chose to write about
all the creatures because my way of thinking is that if you have one why not
all of them and I don’t discriminate like that, Ha Ha!
How does De Lady Down De
Bayou fit in to the series? Would you say it’s more “extra scenes &
stories” or the “bridge” that takes you from one book to the next?
You hit in on the head.
It is the “extra” to get to know the day to day life of the Swamp Witch
and get a feel for the community that is the primary setting of the books. I have also given my readers a hint of what
they are in for in the way that the title of the book is written.
You’ve got a new book in The Swamp Witch series slated to come out this
spring.
Tell us about it.
Ooooh!!! I am sooo
excited about this one! I am having a
blast with it! As with Hawk’s
Spell, this is another book focusing on one of the main characters and
how they fit in to the world of The Swamp
Witch, how they came to be and a little bit of a side-adventure that
focuses on entirely on them. This one is
about Jean Lafitte. Pirate, Supernatural
Creature and main love interest of the Swamp Witch. He epitomizes what it is to be a rogue in the
early 19th century. He is a
thief, scoundrel and a gentleman and loves Stella with everything he has… in
his own way. You are going to get a
little bit of actual historical fiction in this one as I recount his life for
you.
[LDF note: Sonia
shared with me a peak at the cover work for Jean Lafitte’s book and it’s pretty cool. If you’ve read
the books, or intend to, the way she’s captured him for the cover is pretty
much exactly how I imagined him in my head while reading!!!]
Of all the characters (and they are many) who inhabit your created
world,
which has been your most favorite to write and work with?
Now that is a difficult question. I love them all, but I think maybe …. Ummm…
Oh I can’t choose! Let’s see, if I
absolutely HAD to, I would say Jean.
Thus far you’ve stuck to the world of your Swamp Witch,
do you have any plans for something new/different?
Yes, I have two other books that I am working on right
now. One is called The Bright Lighters (but
that may change with a new movie out called Bright, Ugh! ). It is a dark paranormal. It is REALLY dark. At this point there are no Heroes only a
woman with a vendetta. So far, it is gruesome,
and I absolutely love it! I don’t intend
to make this a series unless fans talk me into it, but the plan is to write
more books like this but as stand-alone pieces.
I am going to SHOW you
so much you will get queasy but keep on reading just to find out what happens
next.
To take a complete 180 degree turn from my work so far, I am
also turning some of my journaling into a book that may or may not wind up as a
biography of sorts called “Along the Way”. I hate the idea of being so narcissistic that
I would write a book about myself, so I may make it about someone else and draw
on my personal experiences. Most of my immediate family has passed away
and I only have a few cousins that I am in contact with, so with prompting from
friends to tell the tales for posterity, I was inspired to write this one. Who knows?
Maybe it will help someone else.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You’ve made
it this far – yay! I hope you found Sonia as interesting as I did, and if we’ve
managed to peak your interest in the books you can find out more, and get your
own copies, using the following links.
Book 1: The Inheritance of a Swamp Witch
Book 1.5: De Lady Down De Bayou
Book 2: A Witch’s Welcome
Book 3: Hawk’s Spell
You’ve
stuck it out to here, so you’re probably wondering now about that surprise I
mentioned, right?
Click that
link ^ people. It’s totally worth it!
And until later... Happy Reading!!
No comments:
Post a Comment