Seth writes . . .
We're really excited to introduce our author of the week to you: Jennifer Ford.
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| JENNIFER FORD |
She's the creator of the fantasy The Waking Dream and you can read a review of the book here.
Erin: Jennifer, welcome to our corner of madness. Please tell us a little about yourself. What do you do when you're not writing?
Jennifer: When I’m not writing I can be found working in my garden, playing with photography (I specialize in black and white film photography), playing with my cats, hanging out with my family, and trying to keep up with life. And for the next couple months I will be avidly following the football season!
Erin: *pulls face* Football? Maybe Seth should be doing this interview.
Erin: *interrupts* Okay, okay. Enough. Back to the topic at hand. Jennifer, how do your characters communicate with you?
Jennifer: *smiling* Later Seth. Okay, Erin. Characters usually talk to me, telling me what they should be doing. If I don’t listen, they start yelling at me, so I try to pay attention as soon as they start talking.
Seth: I like! So your characters really controls your story.
Jennifer: Yes. I just make suggestions. Sometimes they listen, sometimes they don’t. *Erin and Seth share a grin* But it all seems to work out in the end!
Erin: Are you working with some new characters in a new project? And if so, how do your other characters feel about it?
Jennifer: I am working with new characters on a whole other world- and the characters from The Waking Dream obliged me for a while and then they got a bit jealous. They started chattering at me, trying to make their voices louder than the voices of the new characters I was working with. It got very loud for a while!
Seth: I can imagine it would. So how do you handle it when your characters give you a hard time with writer’s block?
Jennifer: I usually take a break and read something completely unrelated by a really great author. That opens the creative pathways back up and I can focus again.
Erin: Did your characters teach you anything when writing their story?
Jennifer: Yes; they did! They taught me that until the story is written, I don’t know what is going to happen or how everyone gets from scene A to scene B. I just have to trust my instincts and let the story tell itself.
Seth: You mean trust your characters' instincts!
Erin: Ignore Seth. Jennifer, do you have any advice for other writers coping with the challenge of characters and stories appearing in their heads?
Jennifer: Write everything down as soon as you can once it comes to you. Don’t try to make sense of it when you’re writing it down- just get it all down. I keep a small notebook with me at all times so I can jot things down wherever I am. I’ve had to stop in the grocery store and write down a few lines! There is magic in the moment; sometimes if I wait then I lose it and have to work to try and get the lines right.
Erin: Is there anything your characters want to say to our readers?
Jennifer: Hmmm, I’m sure they would say something, but they are clamoring over each other to be the one that gets to talk. So they’re all going into separate corners for a time out!
Seth: *aside to Erin* We would never behave like that.
Erin: *whispers* Shush, Seth. They'll hear. So Jennifer, what advice would you give our readers who are also writers to continue in the noble work of providing a voice for characters?
Jennifer: Don’t stop until the story is done. Don’t rush yourself. I always take plenty of time to let the story develop in my head before I try to write anything, I have to let it take root and grow and then I can sit down and visualize what is happening.
Erin: Now for the most important question of the interview.
Who is your favorite book boyfriend?
Jennifer: I think I need more information to answer this. . . What kind of boyfriend?? Are we talking people, wolves, elves, dragons, immortals, etc.? Does it have to be a published book or can it be one I haven’t finished yet? There are so many to choose from . . . Young and innocent vs. older and tainted . . . it’s hard enough for me to pick a favorite book. I’m not sure I could actually pick one favorite book boyfriend. . . *voice trails off*
Jennifer, thank you so much for visiting with us today.
And to our readers, if you would like to contact Jennifer, you will find her at:
Or you can enter our GIVEAWAY and win a SIGNED copy of the book. Like all our giveaways, this is International.
Cheers
S&E
S&E
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