Hello Donna Ann
tell us about you and your books
Do you plot or let the story unfold
as you write?
The
concept of an outline never occurred to me until I attended my first writing
group. Chapters were always out of order and sporadic. I had concepts and ideas
jumbled, with absolutely no focus. Wrote chapter five before the first chapter
was finished. Went to my first writing convention and learned how to
incorporate structure into my method.
Now I start the story at the beginning, no matter what the character is
telling me, and let it unwind. I fly by the seat of my pants. This means I have
to make notes, go back and put pertinent information into finished chapters,
and even put a story on the back burner until I can figure out what the next
chapter will hold. There is never a dull moment in my mind.
Are your characters based on real
people?
Never and
always. There are similar personality and character traits, values, morals, and
beliefs. These types and traits are a composite of people I have run into on
the road of life. I try to make the characters believable while recognizing we
never know what someone else thinks, how they believe, and what created their
core values.
How did you do in English as a kid?
English is not my favorite subject.
I grew up in a border city – El Paso, Texas / Juarez, Mexico. I found out I
never learned my basics when attending college. Overheard the Director and one
of my teachers talking. They planned to re-send for my transcript, believing I
had found a way to falsify the original. I couldn’t punctuate correctly or
write a complete sentence. All my tenses were jumbled. They still are. Thankfully,
I found a critic partner.
Do you have trouble saying goodbye to
characters?
Yes. Characters
talk to me in my head and I never want to see them go. The last few chapters
are always the hardest to write because I dislike saying good-bye.
How long does it take to research and
build a fantasy world?
I like to use facts while writing fiction. Elizabeth Barrett &
Cupid’s Brooch incorporates the Elgin Marbles which were controversial during
that time. We also meet John Leslie in the counting house. I used creative
license to have Liz explain the tables, asking Mr. Leslie to publish them. She
knows all about The Philosophy of Arithmetic he will publish in 1820. Historical
incidents create a sense of authenticity. The research takes the length of the
book because you never know when you will need a fact from the past to spark
inspiration.
Do you have set times during the day
that you write?
Working in my own business doesn’t give me leisure time. Having a critic
partner forces me to write at least once each week. When I’m on a roll, I can
stay up until midnight writing.
What tips would you give a new
writer?
Decide if
you are writing for you or writing to be published. Once you know you want to
be published, join a critic group. Lastly, no matter what someone says, you
cannot be offended. I have been to many critic groups. Seen good writers stop
because someone was downright mean. I’ve also seen writers who are too thin
skinned and don’t improve because their feelings get hurt. You have to decide
to listen to everything. Take in the ideas that help you write cleaner and clearer.
Notice who gives feedback. One group I was in had a writer who came up with
brilliant titles. Some writers focus on grammar. A few have jealous streaks. I
paid attention to one person’s negative feedback. Realized I had to keep the
passage he said to delete. Notice who says what when you are in a critic group.
When you don’t know something, ask. When you feel hurt, cry and move on. When
you think you can’t, know you are almost there. Try different topics, themes,
and styles. You can become a writer if you set aside your ego and work on your
craft.
What are your current projects?
I’m working on a contemporary love
story about re-inventing oneself, a Madeline Murphy Mystery, and a regency romance
that doesn’t want to end.
Describe your writing style in ten
words or less.
I write
at a rapid fire pace in between seeing clients.
And for some fun questions
What's the most blatant lie you've
ever told?
I called
in sick when I was young and told them I had mono so I could hang out with a
guy. I married that guy and six months later I got mono.
What is your favorite drink?
Cold brewed coffee with Amish cream
in the winter, and Sam Pelligrino Water in the summer.
Do you ever wish that you had an
entirely uncreative job, like data entry or working in a factory?
I worked in a factory before College
and realized a routine job would literally drive me insane. I do like inputting
Quickbook entries when I’m over-stimulated. This seems to have a calming effect
on me so I use data entry as a go-to when I have too much going on inside my
brain.
You can erase one embarrassing
experience from your past. What will it be?
My first husband. But I can’t do that because then I
would have had two virgin births and only one is believable.
Has the dog ever eaten your
manuscript?
No, but
my grandson pooped on mine when his diaper exploded after I feed him children’s
probiotics.
Do you enjoy giving interviews?
I’d rather give an interview than
have one. I’m interested in others but I can’t understand why anyone would want
to know about my mundane life.
Do you laugh at your own jokes?
Yes, which can be embarrassing.
Are you fun to go on vacation with?
Yes. I like to explore new places
and try different experiences. I’ve found that I have to start the trip without
expectations. You can’t be disappointed when you have no expectations. I even
like the stories I get to tell when something goes wrong. Our boat ran out of
gas on a Louisiana swamp tour with a three fingered, incompetent guide. I go
back to that experience when I need to describe fear. Most of the time I’m
delighted with the results because I’ve seen and done something I never knew could
be possible.
Have you ever found true love?
Yes. I believe in love. I also
believe people can grow apart when they don’t work through daily issues. The
after story doesn’t get told very often.
Are you jealous of other writers?
When I see someone who is
successful, that makes me want to continue my craft. I’m also curious and love
to ask them questions.
What makes you cry?
Korean sagas on Netflix. I’m
addicted to them.
If you were a tool what would you be?
A hammer so I could be a force to be
reckoned with.
What is your favorite comfort food?
Homemade soup when I’m a little
down. Cutting vegetables takes my mind off problems, seasoning reminds me how
creative I can be, and a belly full of hot, delicious soup gives me
satisfaction. Chocolate when I’m bored. Sparkling water when I want a quick
pick me up.
What is your favorite time of year
and why?
Easter. I
love the decorations, the rebirth theme, the plastic eggs, filling baskets with
non-traditional items, and even finding rotten eggs later in the month.
What is the one question you wish an
interviewer would ask you?
If you were a man, would you wear boxers or briefs?
Who's more fun, bad boys or perfect
gentlemen? Or Bad Girl or a lady?
Bad boys who know how to behave like perfect gentlemen.
Where can we find out more?
website: www.donnabrownwriting.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wiriting4you/
Download Elizabeth Barrett and Cupid’s Brooch on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0861JBTWNand other online retailers
1 comment:
HI Donna: nice to learn more about you. Yes it would be fun to be a hammer, esp. Thor's!
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