You know I didn't really have any kind of idea in mind. I was eating lunch one day and I started writing, then what I thought was the first chapter, and it just took off from there. That actually ended up being the prologue.
As different as it may sound...my inspiration comes at night. That's when I've always had the most interesting ideas. When everyone else is already sleeping there I am still awake, staring at the ceiling for sometimes hours on end. That is when my mind switches into gear and really starts rolling! It doesn't seem to want to wind down like everyone else, mine is just getting started it seems. The other time it hits me is when I am listening to music various sounds and lyrics and put me in a certain frame of mind and then I go from there, but again it mainly occurs at night.
Well I like to bounce around from novel to novel that I have going. So as of right now I have two horror and another romance. Sometimes I am in the middle of writing and something will pop into my head and I'm like OOOO - that belongs in this story...and then I have to switch gears a second.
Exactly as I wrote my first quote in Unforeseen in the beginning pages of the novel...when you need to let it out, write. Get it out of you. Put it down on a piece of paper. Exactly how you are feeling or what you are thinking. Your new idea. It can all start with a simple sentence of your reality. Especially if you feel like you're not being listened to or you can't talk to anyone. At least writing it down allows you to let it out of you instead of holding it all in and then becoming consumed by it all. It's kind of a meditation of sorts.
The freedom. Freedom to be as creative as you want. The uniqueness of the whole experience. You enter a new world and suddenly you're living in it. It's compelling.
This is something that I did struggle with about ten chapters in when I was writing Unforeseen. I am not ashamed to admit it. I like to think we all probably reach this crossroads, new and experienced authors, and it's okay. What I found was most helpful, for me at least, was I took a break from the book. (Which I have read in some places never to do, but I didn't know that) I reread the ten chapters I had written, to get a refresher, then I made a bubble map of all the things I wanted to do from where I was. Bubble maps have always helped me in the past, they have never let me down. For me it's a structure, it's organized that I can lay out my next steps and see it all clearly. I hope this helps you as much as it helps me!
Do you ever work on more than one book at a time?
I used to but I don't anymore. I find it better to put all my thoughts and energy into one at a time. However there are days when new ideas interrupt my thoughts and then I found myself stopping what I'm doing and writing it all out until it runs its course.
Will unforeseen ever have a sequel?
To be honest, I had never intended for there to be one. But the more ideas that come to my mind the more I think I might play around with it and see how it goes. So possibly in the future we will see a sequel for Unforeseen. I guess we will have to wait and see...
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How long does it take you to write a book?
If I am focused and completely invested in the story line - I can knock it out in about three months.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I always had a passion for writing so I knew for a long time this was what I wanted to do. But I just thought it was something out of reach - like I was dreaming an impossible dream.
what is your work schedule like when you're writing?
Depending on how my idea juices are flowing that day I usually write about four hours but I have done as much as an eight hour day and as little as an hour a day. Sometimes I'll find if I'm not having a good day writing cutting that day short or taking a break helps to keep the writing fresh. That is the last thing that I want is for my words to go stale.
what does your family think of your writing?
They are very proud of me and all I have accomplished thus far, especially my parents - they are my biggest fans.
As a child what did you want to be when you grew up?
Growing up I threw a lot of ideas around on this subject and never narrowed it down. The three main things on my plate boiled down to: writer, psychologist, and a teacher.