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Read some interviews from past editions:
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Zelda Benjamin
April, 2008
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Shirley Marks
December, 2007
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Donna Wright
December, 2007
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Carolyn Brown
August, 2007
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Roni Denholtz
June, 2007
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Tara Randel
April, 2007
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Sydell Voeller
February, 2007
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Ann Holt
October, 2006
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Cynthia Danielewski
July, 2006
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Patricia Azeltine
May, 2006
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Jane McBride Choate
March, 2006
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Kathryn Meyer Griffith
January, 2006
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Mel Taylor
November, 2005
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Kathleen Fuller
September, 2005
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Tracey J. Lyons
July, 2005
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Ludima Gus Burton
May, 2005
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Holly Jacobs
March, 2005
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Sandra D. Bricker
January, 2005
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Kathryn Quick
November, 2004
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Cheri Jetton
September, 2004
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Heather S. Webber
July, 2004
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Karl Fieldhouse
May, 2004
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Shelley Galloway
March, 2004
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Ilsa Mayr
January, 2004
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Kathy Carmichael
November, 2003
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Dorothy P. O'Neill
July, 2003
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Joani Ascher
May, 2003
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Patricia DeGroot
March, 2003
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Nancy J. Parra
January, 2003
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Barbara Meyers
November, 2002
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Christine Bush
September, 2002
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Debby Mayne
July, 2002
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Jean C. Gordon
May, 2002
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Charles E. Friend
March, 2002
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Norma Seely
January, 2002
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Glen Ebisch
November, 2001
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Gina Cresse
September, 2001
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John Paxson
July, 2001
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Terri Alcock
May, 2001
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Clifford Blair
March, 2001
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Amanda Harte
January, 2001
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Kent Conwell
November, 2000
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Carolyn Brown
September, 2000
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Annette Mahon
July, 2000
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Marjorie McGinley
May, 2000
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Jack Lewis
March, 2000
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Amanda Harte
January, 2000
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Joyce and Jim Lavene
November, 1999
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Return to the current Author! Author! interview:
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S.J. Stewart
April, 2008
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Author! Author!: December, 2006
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Click image to learn more about this book.
An Interview with
Sheila
Robins |
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Have you ever used real people as characters?
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Maybe not as characters, but definitely as inspiration. Real people do such crazy, irritating, fun, inspiring things. I’ve been known to base characters on friends and family members on more than one occasion, although not for this book.
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Where do you get ideas for plots?
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I think ideas can come from anywhere. In another life with another name, I wrote Regency romances. I once got inspired to write a novel based on something I found in a book when just doing research on that time period. Oprah and Dr. Phil are always a good place to mine for ideas. So are magazines and online news. My own experiences can provide grist for the mill as well.
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What inspires you to write?
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Bills. It’s nice to be able to pay them. Of course, I also write just for the fun of it. As a child I would put myself to sleep by making up my own bedtime stories, and I wrote little songs and books all through grade school. Now as an adult, my favorite place to go in times of stress is to my computer. I love losing myself in an imaginary world, one where I have complete control. That’s always a nice change from real life.
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What’s the hardest part about writing?
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Getting started when you think you don’t have any ideas. That’s when it’s good to sit down at the computer and just start playing around, or call a friend and brainstorm.
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How do you develop your characters?
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Sometimes, with great difficulty. I try to make sure my main character learns something by the end of the book. For that to happen, she has to go on a journey and experience something that will open her eyes to the truth she couldn’t see at the beginning of her story.
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Do you have any advice for aspiring writers? Or for anyone wanting to submit to Avalon?
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Learn as much as you can about the craft of writing. Try to make your work as polished as possible before sending it out into the world. (In publishing, nobody can afford to adopt an ugly baby, so make sure you’ve made your brainchild beautiful.) And, if you’re just getting started, make sure you have a complete book before you start shopping for an agent. Don’t give up.
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When do you find time to write?
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I try to write every day. The time of day differs according to what’s on my schedule, but I always log in some writing time.
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What do you do for fun - other than writing?
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I love to play. When I’m not playing music, I like to play volleyball, drag my husband out dancing, make a fool of myself on the tennis courts, throw a lot of parties, and play poker. And, once a month I get together with seven other girlfriends for a wild afternoon of cards and games like Charades or Taboo. We call ourselves the Game Girls. I have a strong work ethic, but I’m probably more of a grasshopper than an ant - a working grasshopper. Maybe that’s why I’m a writer. When the writing is going well, it’s just like play!
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