Hi Judy, welcome to Rachelle's Window. It's nice to chat with you today. Your first novel is out to rave reviews. What makes Red Fox Woman, your first novel,
special to you as a story?
Red Fox Woman is
simply a feel-good western, mystery, and romance that was tumbling around in my
head for years. It’s the tale of Pennsylvania redware potter, Julia Gast, who
escapes to the Colorado Territory only to find the ranch she purchased from her
deceased uncle is also owned by the adopted sister of a family of four
brothers. Julia makes ring flasks that were used to carry water in the
mid-1800s. The characters in the novel are vivid, colorful and humorous. I love
humor, and the bantering of the brothers helps propel the story forward. It was
selected as a finalist in the USA Book News Best Book and USA Book News International
Book Awards.
Congratulations! Sounds like built-in conflict and a chance for love (what with four brothers to choose from). You are not new to writing. How did you get hooked on a
writing career?
I fell in love with the ability to express myself in written
form from as early as second grade with a teacher who had the class
collectively journal on the blackboard every morning. I had a mother who
encouraged me to read. Once I saw how words string themselves into thoughts, I
was hooked. I studied journalism in college, wrote all types of nonfiction, but
was enamored with fiction because the writer is allowed to dream up his own
characters, settings, dialogue and plot.
Isn't fiction magical? I understand you
started writing short stories first and have won several awards. What
makes short story writing a special genre for you?
I love the short story genre the best. I personally enjoy
taking a glimpse into someone else’s life or traveling to a place I’ve never
been. A short story has a definite beginning, middle and end which can be
revealed in a short amount of time. It lets a reader simply escape the present
moment and be entertained.
I think most writers will agree that writing, in some small
way, allows us to make order of a chaotic world. We are very observant of our surroundings
and other people. Writers are curious individuals and we are most happy when we
are creating. We are dreamers. We love to use our imagination. We don’t like
our minds to be idle or bored.
So true, and sometimes we want to right wrongs, solve a mystery, and create happy endings. What are you working on now?
I just finished a contemporary romance, Key to Love. I’m currently working on a sequel to Red Fox Woman, and doing publicity for Red Fox Woman and Three Merry Mysteries. Ideas for short stories are always running
wildly through my overstuffed, sometimes chaotic mind.
Sounds like you're really busy! What advice would you give to a beginning writer?
Forget about perfection when you do your first draft. Strive
to get the main gist of the story down first. Forge through the sticky,
troublesome spots, or even troublesome dialogue. If the story is flowing, keep
it flowing. You can go back and write elaborate or witty dialogue later, but
you should never stop a story that’s running away in your head. Lastly,
rewrite, rewrite, and rewrite, as many times as you need to get the story,
dialogue and sentence structure right. And
despite the hard work, challenges, and confusion that goes along with writing,
don’t forget to have fun.
Red Fox Woman is also available from Amazon.
Don't have a KINDLE?
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