It's always a special occasion to have an author colleague stop by at the Country House for a chat and a drink.
This time around, it's my pleasure to welcome Ceanmohrlass to my little cyberspace cottage on the lake. She is a retired
grandmother who has been writing novels for her family and friends for over 20
years. She is the family genealogist, and writing the family history has only
increased the passion for writing. She resides in Texas, and is
currently (and always) working on her next novel. "Stephani's Light" is her newest literary offering.
So, since we're all here to talk about books and writing, let's get right to some interesting conversation with Ceanmohrlass.
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Has writing always been a part of your life?
Absolutely, it has been a part of my life since I learned
to write at 4 yrs old. Crude, but effective even back then.
What made you decide to publish on KDP?
I tried to submit
Stephani’s Light to six different agents, and although I was surprised at the
majority of the responses being very helpful and cordial, my book wasn’t what
they were seeking at the time. I decided to continue the tradition of
self-publishing instead of continuing to query agents.
Tell us about the inspirations for your books.
Most of the time, my inspiration is some very simple
thing that just nags at me until I get a story outline created. I have scrapped
thousands of stories well before a completed first draft, and have at least a
dozen stories that are chomping at the bit to get their time in the
spotlight. Stephani’s Light was inspired
by a late-night view of a lighthouse photo online, and a dream began that woke
me in the wee hours of the morning.
How do you go
about creating your characters? Are they
inspired by actual people? Are they
“composites“ assembled from many “bits and pieces” of personality? Or are they purely products of your
imagination?
The characters are a struggle for me
still. Some of them are a conglomeration of me at a younger and far less
intelligent age, who are fortunately written in a much better light. Others,
well that is a trade secret. ;)
How
do you deal with every author’s nemesis: writer’s block?
I will let you know when that happens. I hear it is a real downer. I
have the opposite problem. The characters are beating down my door most of the
time, taking control of my pencil, and shoving me out of the way!
Do
you prefer first-drafting or editing existing work? Why?
I vary. For something like NaNoWriMo, I just
start that pencil scratching and don’t come up for air until my Frappe high
subsides. I have to slap myself upside the head sometime after and yell, “What
were you thinking here?” Most of the
time however I just write until I have gotten the scene from my head to paper,
then the details start to call out to me to be fixed. I have mild dyslexia (yeah, that’s fun for a writer)
and I can read that paragraph 20 times and it still needs work after.
Is
there a subject you would absolutely refuse to write about, even if doing so
would assure you of fame and fortune on the scale of J.K. Rowling?
Yes. I will not write a scene that my grandchildren could not read if
they are under 21. I just don’t have it in me to allow myself to do so. Money
aside, I stick to my guns on this one, and the money isn’t worth being less in
my grandbabies' eyes.
Are you a plotter
or do you prefer to “wing it”?
I usually am a
pantser, but lately, I have come to appreciate even a vague outline of sorts. (Wish
the characters would respect those outlines, but sometimes...)
What do you like
to do when you aren’t writing?
Gardening (horrible at it) and art, but reading is my
main vice as the days become shorter. (Note from Ponderson: I can totally relate to the lack of a green thumb. I can lay claim to having killed a plastic plant! It wasn't easy; but I did it!)
So tell us all
about “Stephani’s Light,” your newly-launched book.
This
is a contemporary fiction, and I consider it my tribute novel. This is the only
one I have made available in paperback. My parents, younger son and his wife,
my step-daughter, and my husband, and all my family and friends that encourage
me are in my heart and a part of this book. The story of Macy, is one many of
us can relate to. Macy has been content to trudge through each day but when her
dreams begin to take over, things must change. I tried to make it light enough
to not be depressing and readers to say, “Been there...” yet serious enough to
show that actions have consequences in life. It is a journey of her sudden
strength to take control of her destiny, and the havoc her rash decisions
cause. I still tear up at the ending, but it does have that element of that
happy ending that I try to incorporate in every novel I write.
Any final thoughts?
I have often been accused of
being too perky, totally off the wall, and eccentric to the max! I
wholeheartedly agree with this. I figure that I will someday become THAT granny
on the porch, flowered dress, pearls, support hose, and a beer, in a big rocker
on my screened-in front porch, antagonizing the young-uns when they pester me.
:) I’ve survived cancer twice, and I understand the old third time’s a charm
scenario, so I live for each day. No reason to waste a moment in life, whether
I have 1 second or a trillion minutes left, I plan to enjoy them all.
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Here's where you can check out the books written by this multi-genre fiction author: amazon.com/author/ceanmohrlass
I would like to thank Ceanmohrlass for stopping by on this beautiful autumn afternoon to share some of her thoughts on writing with us. You can easily follow her on social media by clicking on these links:
My thanks to one and all for stopping by today. I wish everyone a productive day and an inspiring autumn season. Get out there and enjoy it!
P.S: Don't forget to pet your Thesaurus today.
