'Angrily,' looks like a great mix of personal and fictional
story. Any plans for a follow up or
series?
I’m not quite sure if there should be a
follow up. I feel the story ends perfectly, and does not need any further
development. Moreover, the story is based on personal events, and the book ends
sort of where my life is at right now.
What do
you think makes a great story?
Being absolutely in love with
your story is what makes a great story. If there’s any doubt in what you write,
it will be noticed by others, thus affecting a potentially great story. Raw and
personal emotions are a great way to convey the main message of a story.
Characters that will stick with you for years, because of something that makes
them stand out. There really isn’t a correct answer. Great stories are felt in
the heart.
What
inspired you when writing 'Angrily?'
This was a personal journey for
me. I’ve been wanting to share this terrible experience with others, I just
wasn’t sure how. I thought about doing
it through poetry. Instead, I chose to incorporate my poems within the book.
There were so many routes I was going to go with this, but what truly inspired
me was my niece. She is the light of my world. She’s 11 years old, and just to
think that what happened to me, can happen to her upsets me. And that was the
emotion I felt while writing the book.
What
are your ambitions for your writing career?
Full time? Part time?
I thought it would just be a
one time only deal, but numerous ideas are coming to mind, and I’m going to
continue writing for as long as I can.
When
did you decide to become a writer?
When
I was 22, I was drinking heavily, and I was getting myself into all sorts of
trouble. I felt depressed and hopeless. One day, I just wrote about it. Since
then, writing has been my coping mechanism; it makes me happy.
When
writing 'Angrily,' did anything stand out as particularly challenging?
Angrily
deals with some sensitive issues, including rape and self harm. Recounting
certain events was extremely uncomfortable for me. Even trying to proof read
that particular part of the story was very challenging.
What do
you like to do when not writing?
I enjoy anything paranormal. I love
horror movies. I’m
also a great cook; it’s
a stress reliever. I love experimenting with different flavors.
As of
now, there’s not much about me since this is my first book. However, I’m
already working on a second story, which will be a novel, as opposed to a short
story.