But first, I give credit to my writer friend Rob Kent (aka Middle-Grade Ninja) for talking me into this. Rob writes excellent scary fiction (I mean, who doesn't love zombies? *shudder*)
But now, a little about me:
Question #1 - What Am I Working On?
Did you want the front burner, or the back burner? Because writers, like many creative people, have lots of projects rolling around in their heads all the time. In fact, sometimes we have so many ideas that it's hard to focus.
But on the front burner, for me right now, is the third story in my series of short fiction called Cat Tales.
Cat Tales are not little light-weight kitty stories, though. The Winter Kitten and The Springtime Cat (the first two in the series) are very real human drama, with fully-realized characters and families working out problems (with the help of adorable four-legged friends, of course *purr*.)
So at the moment I'm working on The Summertime Cat, and (fingers crossed) should have it available by summer. And on the back burner is the sequel to The Girl Who Remembered Horses, and I should have a surprise announcement about that later this year. Also, some other short fiction, as well as a YA novel in verse.
Question #2 - How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I like to think my work is different because it's cross-over fiction. While perfectly suited to middle-grade readers and up, many of my readers are adults who happen to love animals. And even if you aren't an ardent animal person, there is enough excitement and drama in these stories to grab other readers, also.
For that reason, I've branded myself as a writer of Fiction for Animal Lovers of All Ages. And I love the fact that I now have readers and fans all over the world. In fact, The Winter Kitten and The Springtime Cat are very often in the Top Ten Animals/Cat Fiction in the UK. (Thanks, readers!)
Question #3 - Why do I write what I do?
After a lifetime shared with animals, I've realized how important they are to the emotional and physical health of humans. At first, when I began writing, animals (dogs, cats, horses, etc.) just seemed to automatically sneak in to any storyline I was working on. Later, I realized it was because animals have played a very big part in my life, since I was a small child. So it was only natural they would surface in my writing.
Presently, I see many humans living further and further from nature, trapped in houses and apartments with only cell phones, computers and television for companionship. And I recognize how animals (as pets, companions, or helpmates) can teach us kindness, compassion, and how the natural world really works. Show me a boy who loves his dog, and I'll show you a boy who'll grow up to be a kind man.
Question #4 - How does my writing process work?
Oh, good question. As if there was an actual process I could tap into and/or show you. I don't follow any "rules" - like writing every day, for X amount of minutes. I do know that if too many days go by without writing, I start to get twitchy fingers and I become restless. I have the "need" to write, and that is what it feels like to be a writer.
As for both novels and short fiction, I usually start with a character in my head. A character who wants their story told. Sometimes I will just jot down an opening paragraph, and let the story flow from there. Very often, the characters grow and develop before my eyes on the page, and as they tell their own story, I get to know them, just as you might by reading.
Do I work out a synopsis beforehand? Very rarely. On my most recent story, I do have a vague plotline. But whether or not I stick to it, is still very much up in the air.
Okay, enough about me.
I now pass the torch of this writing process blog over to two other great writers, who also happen to write about animals. In fact - horses! They'll be blogging about their writing process next week.
Lisa Wysocky is an author and motivational speaker who writes, trains horses, and consults with therapeutic riding programs. She not only writes horse mysteries, but also a wide variety of other things. Please check out her work here http://www.lisawysocky.com/ and here .
That's it for now, everyone! Hope you are all enjoying Spring, and finding great things to read, also! Be sure and check out the other writers in this blog as they talk about their writing processes and what they are working on!
