Interview with Sharon K. Shubert [redladyart] on Whohub

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What did you first read? How did you begin to write? Who were the first to read what you wrote?

I had a love for reading at a very young age. In the summertime, visits to the local library was an exciting activity I always looked forward to. I read the many books about a character named, "Ramona Quimby" by author Beverly Cleary. I also read Cleary's books written about a character named Henry Huggins and his dog, Ribsy.

My grandmother was a big influence and bought all the grandchildren many books such as Black Beauty, The Bobsey Twins, Charlotte's Web, Old Yeller, to name a few. I still have some of the books from my childhood and they are treasured.

I started writing poetry in the 4th grade at the age of 9. The first to read my work was I guess, my teacher at the time.

What is your favorite genre? Can you provide a link to a site where we can read some of your work or learn something about it?

Although I write first person short stories, descriptive sketches and some other prose, my favorite genre is poetry (including haiku, tanka and humorous children's poems). My website includes my writing as well as my art work.

http://redladyart.com

What is your creative process like? What happens before sitting down to write?

I don't plan a time for writing. The thoughts come to me at the spur of the moment, sometimes when I'm trying to go to sleep. There have been times when I've kept a pad of paper and a pen by my bed so I could turn on the light and write things down that come to me just as I'm almost asleep.

My most creative, expressive poetry and haiku is the result of spending time observing the abundant array of wildlife around me. I can sit and watch several hawks circling the field behind my house, soaring higher and higher into the clouds, then a beautiful haiku pops into my head and I write it down.

What type of reading inspires you to write?

A well written novel or poem that touches my heart in some way; grabbing my attention and my emotions inspires me to want to become a better writer. I want readers of my work to feel those same emotions; to remember my work and to take something away from it that influences them in a good way.

What voice do you find most to your liking: first person or third person?

I usually write in first person; in fact, I don't think I've written anything in third person.

What well known writers do you admire most?

John Jakes, Julie Ellis, Phyllis Whitney, Ann Rule, Stephen King, and John Grisham, are some of the authors whose books are in my hardback book library in my home.

Are you equally good at telling stories orally?

I am not equally good at telling stories orally! I am most expressive with pen and paper or at my computer keyboard. Otherwise, I'm a fairly quiet person, especially around a crowd.

Deep down inside, who do you write for?

Deep down inside I write for myself. I have a strong passion for expressing myself. Yet I also write for those kindred spirits who feel the same way I do about the subjects I explore in words.

Is writing a form of personal therapy? Are internal conflicts a creative force?

Oh yes, writing has always been an escape, an expressive exercise to explore my innermost feelings, a sounding board for what I couldn't say out loud. For some odd reason, I have always been able to write better if I'm in a sad mood.

Do you participate in competitions? Have you received any awards?

I have not put as great a focus on my writing as I have on my artwork. I haven't entered any competitions in many years. In the 80's I won a few poetry awards from The World of Poetry competitions.

In 2008, my page of nature haiku was rated NUMBER 1 out of 301 entries at helium.com! I'm pretty proud of that achievement. Here's the link:

http://www.helium.com/items/657675-poetry-haiku

Do you share rough drafts of your writings with someone whose opinion you trust?

Not usually. I have no one around me who is a writer, or who really has much of an interest in my work. Most of what I'm currently writing is children's poetry and haiku. No one I know personally really understands haiku, though they do get a kick out of some of my humorous children's poetry.

Do you believe you have already found "your voice" or is that something one is always searching for?

I found my voice in my girlhood through my art and writing. I wrote my first "book" when I was 10, titled, "The Mystery House". I even created the book cover with my art work. (I still have it!) It's quite humorous to read it--a little corny with no real plot, but I remember feeling very proud of myself for writing it.

What discipline do you impose on yourself regarding schedules, goals, etc.?

I am a laid-back person who spends all day, every day creating whatever comes to mind in art and/or writing. My strongest discipline is that I never give up regarding my goals in art and writing. I keep going, keep trying, keep creating and stay focused.

What do you surround yourself with in your work area in order to help your concentrate?

My work area is my art studio. Most of my art is created with wildlife as the subject matter. A lot of my writing is also about wildlife, so the art influences the writing and the writing influences the art. Sometimes I combine the two into one-of-a-kind works of art with snippets of my poetry.

Do you write on a computer? Do you print frequently? Do you correct on paper? What is your process?

I write on my computer then print it and save a hard copy. If I make corrections, it's corrected on paper and on the computer.

What sites do you frequent on-line to share experiences or information?

I blog almost daily to share my thoughts, poetry and art. Here's the URL:

http://sharonkshubert.blogspot.com

What has been your experience with publishers?

I have had some works published, but all the "red tape" discouraged me a long time ago. That's when I decided to focus mainly on my art. I don't think a lot of publishers respect writers.

What are you working on now?

I write haiku most often. I'm learning to write tanka. I enjoy the challenge of both and adhere to the required syllable rules of each. I may write more humorous children's poetry in 2009.

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