BBW: This is easy. Poetry allowed me the earliest form of expression. My brain couldn't fathom writing an entire novel, though I did make a few attempts (wow! are those bad, too!) and my writing was still too immature to try for the serious nature of novels, but poetry allowed me to be expressive and brief. Poetry just seemed to flow for me as a teen, but as I've matured, my worlds seem far less constricted and it's easier to "fall down the rabbit hole" now. Plus, my imagination has grown as I have. I still dabble with poetry from time to time but really, I don't have the need to use it to express myself like I did then.
CB: I notice you are not only in the middle of publishing your first book in your trilogy, but are also working on several others at the same time. Is that difficult to do? And why not finish one before starting another?
BBW: Yes, I am working on multiple projects. At first, I solely worked on Sister Light but as editing for the book started, I realized it was too much to put in one novel and started removing chapters. I realized those needed to go into the second book.
It's not terribly difficult to work on multiple stories at once, for me at least, because each one is individualistic; they all have different feels and textures, tastes and styles, that make it incredibly easy for me to keep them separate. Although trying to dedicate equal time to each can be challenging, but it's the challenges in life that keep us going, and I've always been told that I'm great at multi-tasking.
As for finishing one before starting another...well, I've always tried to explain my writing simply, and that is that I don't write my novels, they write me. I can be driving along in my car and suddenly an image will blur over into reality, sort of like a negative overlaid on the real world. My brain automatically begins "writing" what I see, taking dialogue and scene in. It's very hard for me to dictate to a story wanting to be written that I'm not going to do it, so I don't even try anymore. Often times the story only wants a piece written and is content to simmer while I work on other projects. Sometimes I use a tidbit of a story as a kind of mental un-damning when I have writer's block on another project. It allows me to refocus and stop concentrating so hard. That's when the worlds become the easiest - when I stop thinking about them.
CB: What are your feelings on time and work involved between writing a book and promoting it?
BBW: Different projects require different writing times. The Of Shadows trilogy has taken infinitely longer to write then my Abigail St. Michaels series. I spend a lot of time daydreaming about my worlds. That is, I think about the WHOLE world, not just the parts going into the story itself. It helps me make the world as complete as possible.
For promoting, well I think I've been doing that in my sleep! On top of my work schedule and my writing regime, I've dedicated a portion of my day to promoting my work: writers groups, online discussions, flyers, business cards, talking to everyone I meet about my novel, plus lectures and press releases. I even mention it at karaoke when I have a microphone and people's attention! *lol*
CB: Whose idea was it for you to have a mock 20’s wedding and do you like that era?
BBW: I've always loved the era and been fascinated by the clothes, music, and general way of life, but truthfully it was my husband's ultimate choice. I asked him what he wanted to wear for the wedding, so he could be comfortable, and he told me he wanted a real zoot suit, complete with 13" feather in his hat and patent leather shoes. I felt his suit wouldn't be done justice if we'd done anything else! Also, I'm not a traditional type person, and neither is he, we knew we wanted to do something really outrageous to catch peoples' attentions we just didn't know what until he said what he wanted to wear, then it all clicked!
CB: I have a cousin who lives in Indiana and her daughter’s name is also Billie. Did you or do you now, ever get teased with that name?
BBW: I don't anymore, although I sometimes still have people asking me if that's my real name. *smile* But I did get teased a lot as a child. It was hard sometimes because I was a tomboy with bright orange hair and a boy's name. I practically had a target painted on my back for being picked on, but I've always liked my name since I'm named after my grandfather (actually both of them, my middle name is Carlena after my mother's dad, Carl). But to this day, I don't like the Michael Jackson song "Billie Jean". It's really hard to be a "Billie" and not be a "Billie Jean", you know.
CB: Are there any other writers in your family history or are you the first?
BBW: To my knowledge, I'm the first. Several family members are avid readers, and my middle sister, Michelle, is fair at poetry when she needs to be in a card or something, but I don't think any of them have ever tried their hand at writing. Although my thirteen year old niece has become inspired to try here lately, so their may be another one of us yet!
CB: Do you plan to make your writing career full time someday?
BBW: Ah, full-time! That is my goal to one day allow myself the true time I would like to have to spend on my writing, and to be able to depend on it for security and stability. Until then I just try to balance it with the things I need to do right now. Because all play and no work makes you really boring, they say, and I've always considered my writing as play and not work. Although I guess all play is the ultimate American dream, huh? *smile*
CB: What difficulties did you experience in choosing a publisher to submit to?
BBW: Trying to figure out which ones were legit was hard, but I'll have to admit that I have a whole case full of rejection letters from other publishers over the years. Most authors say that they threw them away but I plan on making them the kindling for a publishing party bonfire once the book is on the market, and since it's fall it’s the perfect time for a bonfire! See, it's all kismet!
CB: Interesting “quote” you have: Just squint your eye and tilt your head. How did that come about?
BBW: Ah, my quote...bunches of people ask me that very question. The answer is...I have no idea how I came up with it. I was talking with a family member one day (actually she was telling some people she knew about her weird sister with all the strange ideas) and I just smarted off when they asked me how I came up with the stuff I wrote. I told them that it wasn't so strange, they could see it too if only they "tilted their head and squinted one eye". I got a strange look from them, but my sister went on to explain that it was all just a matter of perception, and sometimes her little sister's perception was a little "cock-eyed".
CB: What are your expectations or goals in pursuing your writing career?
BBW: Well, I tell everyone that I'm "almost famous"; I'd like to get rid of the "almost" part of that. *laugh* Actually, I just want to be able to write and take care of my family doing something that I love. I watched my mother my whole life working jobs she hated to because she had to do it, and I've always wanted to be able to rely on something that I love to do for that. The only thing I love to do more than write is read, so if there's anyone hiring for a professional reader let me know and I'll be there, but I still don't think I'll stop writing and trying to do it full time. I used to tell my husband, before he was my husband and he still thought the four a.m. writing sessions were odd, that if I didn't write then my head would explode, and it's true. As for my goals, I want my name to be included in the same breath as some of the world's renowned writers like Buck, Hemingway, Rice and King.
CB: Did you have a mentor who encouraged you along the way to not only write, but to publish what you’ve written?
BBW: Mentor? Yes and no. I did not have another person whose passion was writing help me write and get published, but I did have two wonderful sisters that always prodded me along the road to getting published. One sister fed my love of literature and reminded me that it was time for the baby sister to take care of the older sisters, and the other sister found out information about publishing, statistics, facts, and was always there to read anything I needed read. My whole family has always thought me incredibly odd, but they've always supported me in and been proud of my "oddity" and my desire to one day be published.
CB: Who is your most favorite author of all time and why?
BBW: That's a hard question, Cindy, and you know it. *wiggles finger at you* I challenge you to tell me yours! Ok, I know I have to answer it, though, so here goes. I find my way back, time and time again, to Mr. Stephen King. Few books of his have ever failed to intrigue me, and I've always found myself ready to pick up his works and re-read them a million times when I just need a fix of literature. People can say what they like and don't like about him as an author, but I've always enjoyed the things he writes, at least almost all the things he writes, and have rarely not finished a novel of his for whatever reason. So I would have to say that King is probably my favorite writer of all time, although reading on a whole is my chocolate, my baby blanket, my snuggly pajamas and my family all rolled into one.
This interview appeared in Writer's Block - November 2007
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