Interview with:Stormy Glenn [stormyglenn]
WRITING
 | What did you first read? How did you begin to write? Who were the first to read what you wrote? I picked up my first romance novel in sixth grade. By the end of the book, I was hooked. I've been an avid romance reader ever since. My idea of the perfect rainy day is a stack of books to read, curled up in my bed, and no one to bother me.
I began to write several years ago. I had these stories in my head that just needed to be put down on paper. And paper it was. In the beginning, I hand wrote everything. I've moved into the technilogical age now and type everything but I still keep a pad of paper on my nightstand just in case.
The first people to read what I wrote? My friends. Then an author friend of my (I'm a huge fan of her work), suggested I submit my work. I thought she was nuts. Who would want to read the crazy stuff that comes out of my head. But, I decided to try anyway. It's been a rollercoaster ride ever since. |
| 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? I don't have a favorite genre. I read almost anything. I also write just about anything. I tend to write a story then figure out what genre it's in afterwards.
For more about my books, including my Tri Omega Mates series, Lover's of Alpha Squad series, and my Wolf Creek Pack series, visit my website at http://www.stormyglenn.com
You can also find out the latest by reading my blog at http://stormyglenn.blogspot.com/
My yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stormyglenn/ |
| What is your creative process like? What happens before sitting down to write? Creative process...uh...well, ideas come to me, whether in a dream, a sentence I hear, a song, or something I've read. Then the "what if's" start. What if I had a character that did this...or this...and what if that character did this...and the story goes from there. I have an entire file of story ideas. I write everything down. I even keep a pad of paper on my nightstand and in my pruse in case I come up with something I want to remember.
I have a character sheet/chapter reminder I created that I use to keep track of my characters and what's going on in the story. I don't tend to write out major outlines of my stories, just small ones because I truly never know where the story is going to go until I write it, sometimes not even paragraph to paragraph. |
| What type of reading inspires you to write? I write what I like to read. In some ways, I am my own biggest fan. I write what I like to read and what I want to see in a story. I'm not trying to write something that I think will make it to the best seller's list. I'm writing a story that I enjoy. Then, I just hope everyone else will, too. And yes, I read my own work. Somehow, after it's all done, been edited and revised, etc...it's just different reading it than when I wrote it. |
| What do you think are the basic ingredients of a story? The basic ingredients of a story are solid, fleshed out characters that a reader will feel for, a good plot driven storyline, not too much head hopping, and a ton of romance. |
| What voice do you find most to your liking: first person or third person? Third person, I think, although first person does have benefits too. |
| What well known writers do you admire most? That answer is not so easy. I read so many different authors that I don't have favorite books. I have favorite bookshelves. However, if I had to name a few...Carol Lynn, Claire Thompson, Amanda Young, Ethan Day, Kera Diablo. |
| What is required for a character to be believable? How do you create yours? For a character to be believable, the reader has to connect with the character. That connection could be through similiar situations, making the reader laugh or cry, or feel like "yes, I would have said that". On the other hand, the reader also has to want to hit the character over the head with a brick in a "How could you be so stupid?" type of thing.
Truthfully? When I create my characters, I just write what the voices in my head are screaming at me...LOL. Usually, I have a rough idea of where I'm going with my story before I start but my characters develope along with the story. |
| Are you equally good at telling stories orally? No...big fat NO! |
| Deep down inside, who do you write for? Deep down inside? Myself and my readers. I believe reader feedback is more important than professional reviews. If my readers like what I'm writing, I'm going to keep on writing it. I even have a few readers involved with my writing. Mari's Men was dedicated to one of my biggest fans. She helped me choose the series name "Lover's of Alpha Squad". I even have a character in one of my books (WIP) that is named after a reader. |
| Is writing a form of personal therapy? Are internal conflicts a creative force? Yes and no. I think characters should be strong, even ones that appear weak to the outside world. However, even the strong ones need to be weak sometimes. I believe the same is true in real life. |
| Does reader feed-back help you? Very much so. I love hearing from readers of my books. |
| Do you participate in competitions? Have you received any awards? I've never knowingly entered a competition with my books, yet. I was surprised to learn that Forbidden Desires was nominated as the best Shapeshifter Book of 2008 by Love, Romance, and More two weeks after it was released. That was exciting.
I think I'm still stunned by the acceptence of my writing by the readers and other authors in the romance genre. Who knew anyone would be excited to read the crazy stuff coming out of my head? |
| Do you share rough drafts of your writings with someone whose opinion you trust? Never. I don't like to share the story with anyone until I'm all done with it. I don't even tell my publisher what I'm writing until it's done. However, if I'm stuck in a plot and don't know where to go, I do explain the situation or storyline with two people, my daughter and my sister-in-law, and ask for their assistance. My suster-in-law is a great sounding board and also an inspiring author. My daughter just has an evil, evil mind and is great at plots. |
| Do you believe you have already found "your voice" or is that something one is always searching for? Thats as hard question to answer. Yes, I have found a niche that I love writing in but I'm not going to limit myself. Like I said before, I write the story and then decide what genre it fits in to. |
| What discipline do you impose on yourself regarding schedules, goals, etc.? Um...schedules? Discipline? I'm not sure those exactly apply. That is one of the reasons I don't tell my publisher what I'm writing until it's done. I don't like having to write on a timeframe.
I do set everything aside when I get edits and get them revised and back to the publisher asap but other than that, I just write. If I get stuck on something, I move on to another story until I can come back. |
| What do you surround yourself with in your work area in order to help your concentrate? This one is easy. My favorite place to write is in my bedroom. I turn the TV to something mind numbing, usually a B-rated monster flick, grab my laptop and cuddle blanket, and start writing.
I do have an office where I write but I seem to get more done when I'm all nice and warm and tucked into bed. |
| Do you write on a computer? Do you print frequently? Do you correct on paper? What is your process? I do write on a computer. However, I keep pads of paper with me at all times becuase I never know when an idea will come to me. I have a laptop and a desktop with a flashstick as the go between. I save constantly. When all of the work is done, everything has been submitted, edited, blurbed, ARC's have come, cover is done...then I put the entire file on a disk and keep it for my records.
I learned the hard way that saving my work is very important. Years ago I was working with floppy disks. I had been working on a story for six months. I was twelve chapters in, about 75,000 words...left the floppy disk next to my monitor and the whole thing was wiped. I had no backup file. Now, I have no less than three backups that I update anytime I add something. |
| What sites do you frequent on-line to share experiences or information? I've made a lot of friends in the writing community and we often share information together.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MMRomancereadersandWriters/
http://www.authorsden.com/
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/board/
http://www.manicreaders.com/
http://www.gogreenreade.com/ |
| What has been your experience with publishers? I've had varied experiences with publishers. A few have been cold and calculating but most were helpful. And then there are the dream publishers. Even if they rejected my manuscript, they edited it or suggested places I needed work.
I can't say enough good things about my current publishers. They have bent over backwards to help me, get my books out, and edit my work. They answer all of my questions without making me feel stupid. In the eginning, I had to ask what and ARC (advanced reading copy) was. I had no idea. I've learned a lot from them and hope we have a long relationship. |
| What are you working on now? I have a lot of different stories I am working on right now but I guess my main focus has been the sequel to A Promise Kept, which was published through Torquere Press. I just finished the fourth book in my Trim Omega Mates series and submitted it to my publisher. I am also developing a new series about demons. |
| What do you recommend I do with all those things I wrote years ago but have never been able to bring myself to show anyone? Show them! I wish I had started this writing thing years ago. I could just kick myself now. Friends were always telling me to submit to a publisher but I never thought anyone would be interested. My mistake.
Yes, I received rejection letters. Yes, it was horrible. But also recieved contracts and fan emails and helpful hints fron editors. The writing community is very welcoming and open. Give it a shot! |
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Stormy Glenn
Portland, USA
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