Can you believe it's already the last weekend in March?? Today and tomorrow will be the final authors featured here for Small Press Month...then Wednesday, April 1st, I'll announce the winner of the prize package.
So get your comments in!
Today I'm chatting with Wild Rose Press author P.L. Parker. Enjoy!
P.L., welcome to Allie's Musings! Tell us a little about the woman behind the author.
In my real life, I am a legal assistant with a downtown law firm in Boise, Idaho. I am married to my best friend and fan, proud mother of 3 sons and a baby granddaughter who is just amazing.
My life is full of varying interests. I find it hard to take just a few minutes for myself. I write during my breaks at work and, on Fridays, I e-mail the week's work home and enter it into my manuscript. It's a great way for me to write. I keep a screen open and if a good idea hits me, I switch over and write it down. By the end of the week, I usually have at least four pages to add to the total. I have several friends at work who follow along, giving suggestions, and always eager to read the next "chapter." It's great to have my critique group right at work.
What advice would you give to new writers just starting out?
From my fellow authors, I have garnered a great deal of information on the basics of writing. It's amazing what one can learn by just lurking in e-mail conversation and I am a great lurker. I have learned so much these past three years and, to my great excitement, finally figured out what the initials "POV" meant. As a fledgling author, these bits of information are invaluable.
Tell us a little about your most recent works.
Besides my two novels already in print ("Fiona" and "Riley's Journey"), I have two upcoming releases. My third novel, “Aimee’s Locket” is about a young woman who is thrown back through time to 1847 and the start of the Oregon Trail. I also have a shorter story, “Heart of the Sorcerer,” again about time travel and involves a painting on the wall which is the portal to the past. We are in the final edits stage of "Heart of the Sorcerer" and that one should be released soon. I also have a short story, “Prophecy’s Bride,” released in the Free Reads program with TWRP. I recently completed the first draft of my fourth novel, "Absolution," (a vampire story) and am in the edits stage of that one. Due to the many requests I've received, my next project will be a sequel to "Riley's Journey," centering on the female tracker, Geena.
Do you have any tips for developing characters?
I was heavily involved in theater in my school years and I think that background helped me in formulating my characters' personalities. When I am writing, I mentally act out what that person would do or say in a specific situation (from my perspective) and try to put it down on paper as best I can.
Anything else you'd like to mention today?
I’ve gone far above my expectations already. I had given myself five years to try to get published and I’ve beat that, so now it’s pretty much just fighting like every other writer to be noticed on a bigger scale.
I’ve gone far above my expectations already. I had given myself five years to try to get published and I’ve beat that, so now it’s pretty much just fighting like every other writer to be noticed on a bigger scale.
I can be contacted at plparker@plparker.com or plparker92@yahoo.com
11 comments:
Wow! I somehow manage to get 4 pages written a week with an Alphasmart. But I'd rather have lunchtime to take a stab at writing. Great interview, PL.
Thanks, Skhye! Sometimes it's really hard to get time to write. This week has been a slow one for me. I had the crud that is going around and missed 2 days of work - and 2 days of writing.
Patsy
Patsy
I enjoyed the interview. I loved Fiona and I can't wait to read Riley's Journey, which is in my "to be read very soon" pile. I can't wait for Aimee's Locket. The plot sounds really intriguing. You have a lot to be proud of. You've achieved much in a short time. I used to write on my breaks at work too. It's amazing how much you can get done when you put your mind to it.
I learned a lot by lurking myself.
Best of luck with your books, I hope they sell like hotcakes!
Mary Ricksen
Great interview! How wonderful to have such a supportive husband!
Very nice to learn more about about you, P.L. I wish I could write on my lunch, but I can't seem to focus. Just when I get into what I'm writing, my lunch is up and I have to put it on hold. Congratulations on all your success!
I enjoyed your interview! That's wonderful you are able to write and work full-time. Very inspiring. TWRP is such a great publisher so congratulations on your success as an author.
Wishing you easy writing and lots of sales! I enjoyed reading your interview and learning more about you and your work.
It's been great reading the comments. I appreciate your input. It is hard to work and write, but sometimes I think being out and about actually helps me. I find so many little incidents in my life actually end up somewhere in my stories. In Aimee's Locket, there is a story about boys rubbing lye soap in their eyes, and this incident comes from a story about my grandfather and his 7 brothers.
Great interview! I am very much looking forward to reading Aimee's Locket. I love the time period, and the story sounds intriguing.
You've accomplished a lot in a short time. Big congrats!
Yes, I'm late but I couldn't resist coming over and praising P.L. (Patsy). I had the pleasure of reading HEART OF THE SORCERER for an author review. I loved it. Full of enchanting, memorable characters, I remained glued to the pages until the very end. Keep an eye out for this author. She's definitely going places!!
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