Indie Author Interview with Barbara Elder - Author of the Paranormal Fantasy Novel Rhiannon’s Tale.
Barbara Elder graduated from the University of California Santa Cruz with a journalism degree, and worked as a professional writer for more than 20 years.
Interview with Barbara Elder
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| Author Barbara Elder |
Barbara Elder: I studied creative writing, literature, and history in college, and I finally settled on journalism. I’ve worked for magazines and newspapers, editing, writing, and once, bottlefeeding a baby pig.
Fiction has always been my true love. I’ve been writing Rhiannon’s Tale - and the sequel, the Circle of Six - in my head for decades. Every detail came to matter, to mean something.
Writing, to me, is sometimes joyous, exuberant, and at other times like a Sundance, where you ache to rip free.
Who are your favorite writers, your favorite books, and who or what are your writing influences?
Big question! Favorite writers - L. Frank Baum, Mark Helprin, Tom Robbins, JD Salinger, Robert Heinlein, Neil Gaiman, Mark Twain, Julia Quinn - too many more to mention. Favorite books - Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin, Maia by Richard Adams, Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins, American Gods by Neil Gaiman, and Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum - again, too many more to mention.
Writing influences - William Strunk and E.B. White, Natalie Goldberg, Lucille Clifton, Anne Lamott - and all the authors I love, and some of the ones I hate, and everyone who has ever written anything I might have read since the day I started reading.
When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?
I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was eight years old. I knew my purpose. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
No - I was writing little stories all the time. The first one that I truly remember (probably because I mistakenly thought it was a work of true genius) was a fairy tale in which the princess rescues herself, then the prince, and they run off and live in a condo. What can I say? It was probably 1978 or something.
"[I] literally write until I’m exhausted and eyes are bleary, stay up all night if that’s where the story takes me."
Tell us about your writing process. Do you have a writing routine?
I write something every day. But when it comes to really working on my story, I like to do marathons, literally write until I’m exhausted and eyes are bleary, stay up all night if that’s where the story takes me.
My family knows that when I’m doing one of these marathon days, I’m to be left alone. A writer in the middle of a passion, interrupted, is an unpleasant thing.
It’s not all passion either. Sometimes it’s hours of slow plodding, putting one word behind another. But that’s how it is, when you decide how long you’re going to write, whether it’s 10 minutes or 10 hours. You just have to keep going, no matter what.
Please, describe your desk/workplace.
My office itself has sharply canted walls, papered to the ceiling with art, posters, photographs, greeting cards, bumper stickers, memorabilia, stuffed animals, toys, masks, lots of stuff related to my current project, Rhiannon’s Tale - from the photo of a giant sequoia to a bright pink circus poster depicting the wedding of two little people, Michu and Juliana.
At present my desk is a disaster area, piles of papers and books, pens, little boxes and stickers, a bright red stapler, that sort of thing. I clean it off periodically (and when I do I just love it, it’s so nice and shiny), but when I’m doing a new project it clutters up fast. I figure, as long as I can still see the screen and use the keyboard and mouse, then it’s not too bad.
"[...] going with the flow, allowing the words to just pour out of me"
What do you find easiest about writing? What the hardest?
Easiest: just going with the flow, allowing the words to just pour out of me - even if only a trickle.
Hardest: getting into the flow in the first place.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
I love it when people read my book - and say they loved it. It’s like I’m over the moon every time.
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| Click to Read an Excerpt |
Barbara, please tell us a little about your Paranormal Fantasy Novel Rhiannon's Tale.
Rhiannon’s Tale is the story of a young woman who is escaping a killer with a dark aura. On the run, she discovers she is aeternan, part of a group of evolved humans who remember past lives, and develop psychic abilities with each death and rebirth. Rhiannon has to learn who she is, accept who she is, if she’s ever going to be able to remember the truth about herself, and defeat her inner demons.
The book is different for everyone. It’s paranormal, but also has touches of romance, history, mystery, suspense, action, fantasy. It’s a fairy tale for grown ups.
What inspired you to write the book?
The initial idea for Rhiannon’s Tale came from a Grimm’s fairy tale, in which three spilled drops of blood on a handkerchief could talk to a troubled princess. The idea of blood speaking, the idea of communicating through blood, eventually led me to Rhiannon’s e’drai, her psychic gift. The rest of the story just grew from there, over 20 years.
"All that’s required is a relatively open mind."
Who do you see as your target audience?
I’ve had people of all ages read and enjoy the book - people from 18 to 75. All that’s required is a relatively open mind.
What makes your book special?
The characters really make it stand out, I think. Really, they’re very real, unique people. They’re people you want to know.
“...people are out there, and they’re reading this!”
How would you describe the success of your self-published books so far?
I’m really happy with how we’re doing with the book. I’m always so amazed when I get another review. It’s like, “people are out there, and they’re reading this!”
"Keep reading. Keep writing."
Can you give some advice for other Authors regarding the writing process?
Keep reading. Keep writing. Don’t give up. Believe in yourself. Don’t use comic sans.
Are you working on another book project? Can you tell us a little about it?
I’m working on the sequel to Rhiannon’s Tale: The Circle of Six. I plan to release it for pre-order soon. It’s Rhiannon’s continuing story, her exploration of herself, as she hides from the man who stalks her. It is in part a love story between Rhiannon and Alex, but also an exploration into the nature of darkness. Only when Rhiannon can remember who she truly is, can she finally fight the man with the dark aura.
"[...] people will always love paper books."
Where do you see the book market in 5 or 10 years? Will there be only eBooks and will book stores disappear like record stores disappeared?
I believe people will always love paper books. But it is true that modern booksellers have to use a different business model. I love cozy local bookstores, with bites for noshing and a glass of wine for sipping.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
Primarily, I read on my iPad using iBooks. However, I have the Nook and Kindle apps as well.
Do you write full-time or do you have a day job? When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I’m blessed to have a wonderful partner who encourages me to write. When I’m not writing, I’m reading, playing with my dog (a ridiculously cute corgi/blue heeler mix), picnicking in the mountains, wandering through cemeteries, hanging out with my daughter, watching Supernatural and Doctor Who, crocheting. I do a million things. Life is never dull.
How can readers connect with you?
Readers are invited to check out my website at BarbaraElder.com (with links to Facebook, Twitter, etc.), or you can find Rhiannon’s Tale at Smashwords or Amazon (see links below)
Thank you very much for the Interview, Barbara.
About the Book Rhiannon’s Tale
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| Click to Read an Excerpt |
She learns she is aeternan - a race of evolved humans who remember past lives, developing psychic gifts with each death and rebirth.
During her odyssey, Rhiannon finds a lost family, and a man who waited for her over 1,500 years.
Using her formidable power, she must fight her inner demons, and finally faces the darkness which stalks her.
- "[...] The main character has a very personable feel, likable from the very start. As I read, she became more and more familiar until, at last, I felt like I had made a friend. Being able to relate to the characters, particularly Rhiannon, made Rhiannon's Tale an excellent read and hard to put down. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is up for an exhilarating yet thought provoking book." - Reader Review
Link to the Book
Link to the Paperback Rhiannon’s Tale on Amazon
Link to the eBook Rhiannon’s Tale on Amazon
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