Ira Levin is one of my favorite authors because he managed to weave humor into dark topics with his pen\u2019s fine needle.\u00a0The Stepford Wives<\/em>\u00a0is a 145 page classic.\u00a0The title itself makes me giggle.\u00a0Yet, how horrifying (and gratifying on some sick level) to be known as a Stepford Wife.\u00a0Deathtrap, Rosemary\u2019s Baby, A Kiss Before Dying;\u00a0<\/em>his writing is concise, precise, and so much fun to read.<\/p>\n Anne Rice is another favorite author because she has integrated her religion, her beliefs and her life into her work without authorial intervention.\u00a0She brings her characters to life as individuals.<\/p>\n I devoured Gillian Flynn\u2019s books.\u00a0For some reason, I really love to read about evil women. Gone Girl<\/em> was a compulsive read.\u00a0Sharp Objects<\/em> was one of the darkest books I\u2019ve ever poured through.<\/p>\n Congratulations on the release of your novels, Seeking Samiel<\/em> and The Book Seller’s Secret<\/em>, through Sunbury Press! What was your process like when you were writing these books, and did you face any particular challenges during the first draft or subsequent edits?<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019m a pantser\u2014I write by the seat of my pants. Then, when I\u2019m about 3 or 4 chapters in and after I have a firm handle on quest and my main character, I\u2019ll write a premise. The premise helps me stay in check, and keeps me aware of when I\u2019m writing tangents.<\/p>\n The biggest challenge I faced in subsequent drafts of my novels was avoiding clich\u00e9s and melodrama. My novels are based on true events in South Africa, and those events inspired my horror story. A lot of research was involved, and I wanted to write something creepy and scary, all while weaving fact with fiction. Not easy.<\/p>\n Not only are you a novelist, but you are also a short story writer. How does your approach differ when writing short fiction compared to longer narratives?<\/strong><\/p>\n My approach to short fiction and novels, to me, begins very similarly\u2014I\u2019m a pantser. However, the process differs with my focus on plot; no subplots and few sublayers, if any, are in my short stories. If I have a theme or a prompt, I can bang out a short story. Editing? Well that process is the same for shorts and novels, no matter what\u2014it\u2019s laborious, and involves judicious use of the \u201cdelete\u201d button.<\/p>\n I never intended to become a writing facilitator; I sort of fell into it. My writing mentor asked me to substitute a class for her. I said yes, though I thought, who am I to teach others? Well, I fell in love. Apparently, I made a good impression, was asked back, and have embraced every opportunity since. My favorite class to teach is critique, because its practicum; it allows students to put all their lessons into practice while receiving constructive feedback. I believe every writer should find a critique group filled with a mix of new and professional writers.<\/p>\n In addition to your work as an author and a teacher, you are also an accomplished editor. What inspired you to become an editor, and do you feel that your work as an editor has shaped your work as a writer?<\/strong><\/p>\n I was inspired to become an editor through my critique classes. Editing is the next step to critiquing, and I plunged into it when a friend asked me to edit her memoir. I have since then edited anthology collections. The selection process\u2014as well as the back and forth between the writer, has allowed me to see just how important structure (even something as basic as \u201cquest\u201d) is to a story, and how often it\u2019s overlooked. Structure has shaped my writing in such a way that I can go back to my previous works and say, \u201cOh, well that\u2019s what was wrong with this story.\u201d<\/p>\n What current and upcoming projects are you working on?<\/strong><\/p>\n Right now, I just completed editing an anthology titled Strange Magic<\/em>. Launch and promotion are the next steps. I\u2019m working on a personal collection of short stories for all the major holidays, not just Christmas. I\u2019m also writing my third book in the Seeking Samiel <\/em>series. Where would you like to see your writing career in five years?<\/strong><\/p>\n Currently, as a writer, I\u2019m doing the things I had only dreamed about. Within the next five years, I\u2019d like to turn my novels into scripts\u2014I\u2019d like to get my characters out of my head and off the pages, and onto the big screen! I\u2019d also like to see my books on the \u201cmust read\u201d lists. And I wouldn\u2019t rule out being an editor on staff. At the same time, I see myself having assisted many others in their quest toward successful publication.<\/p>\n Big thanks to Catherine Jordan for being part of this week’s author interview series! Find her at Goodreads<\/a>, Amazon<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and Facebook<\/a>, as well as her author site<\/a>! <\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Catherine](\"https:\/\/www.gwendolynkiste.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Catherine-Jordan.jpg\")
<\/a>I started writing fanfiction when I was about six. In middle school, I wrote stories to read aloud in English class. I wrote short stories and dark poetry in High School. At Penn State, I wrote for the college newsletter, and continued business writing afterward. I decided to become a professional writer about 10 years ago. I had completed the original version of Seeking Samiel <\/em>and decided to see if I had the stamina for publication, which I knew involved re-writes, edits, and query letters, and rejection. Five years later, my persistence paid off, and my first novel was published.<\/p>\n<\/a>You facilitate numerous workshops in the central Pennsylvania area. What inspired you to teach writing, and what is your favorite class you’ve instructed so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n
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