I was invited to participate in the “My Writing Process Blog Tour” by author Hillary K. Grigonis, author of the non-linear novel, Kaleidoscope Me.
Question #1: What am I working on?
Right now I am working on the Alissia Roswell Series. Unexpected Entrapment, the second book in the series, is about to be released, and I have already begun writing the third novel. The series is a fantasy romance about a woman who was pulled into a new reality, much different from ours. Her body soon begins to change in mysterious ways, and the adventure begins with her searching for many answers.
She had a violent childhood, and trust does not come easy for her. Readers get to delve deeply into her mind as it is often haunted by her past. She is put in a position where she is forced to rely on others, and this is a big struggle for her.
As for the romance, I promise that it is highly passionate, yet clean.
Question #2: How does my work differ from others of its genre?
Everything in the Alissia Roswell Series is completely new and created by me. Although I love vampires, elves, and all the other mystical creatures, this series (along with others in my head) revolves around creatures I designed. That pretty much means my readers don’t know what to expect. I’m not limited in any way, and I let my imagination completely run free.
What I hear often from my readers is how much they love the world itself. It truly is a beautiful place, and I put a lot of thought into its design.
There’s also my guilt-free writing style. I am among many people who love to read fantasy romance, yet that genre seems to be getting darker and dirtier theses days. I love a great adventure and steamy romance, but I don’t want to read detailed sex scenes or have to read through a lot of cursing. Even some of the young adult novels I’ve read contain these things.
I’ve found that my conservative writing style is not shared by most authors, and I am in the minority group. I guess that makes me different from most. I know I will never cross certain lines, and I can assure my readers that although I am truly trying to keep it real, I write in a way that keeps their mind from going into dark places. I want to be able to tell a story without my readers feeling guilty afterwards.
Question #3: Why do I write what I do?
I have always been a lover of fantasy novels and movies. I tell my husband often that if I’m going to read or watch something, then I truly want an escape from reality. I love it when I’m taken to a new, magical place. You never know what to expect when it comes to fantasy.
As for romance, I guess it’s just a part of who I am. It’s just better if it’s mixed in with a lot of fantasy 🙂
Question #4: How does your writing process work?
I’m a panster writer. Although I have a bunch of scribbled notes written on various notebooks and journals, I don’t write many details down. I usually keep it all in my head. I see a lot of the scenes perfectly and replay them continuously in my mind until I type them out. I love it when I finally get to a big scene I’ve had in my mind for a while. Once I type it out, I don’t have to think about it anymore, and it’s a massive relief, although the scene is quickly replaced by another. My brain is busy, and I often wish I could pause it.
As for writing, I’m not one of those authors with music playing in the background. I get distracted easily and have to be alone in silence, unless I’m in a waiting room. I take my laptop with me when I go to an appointment, and I’m often typing while waiting at one of my children’s events or appointments. At home, if the children get loud while I’m trying to work, I go into my bedroom and turn on a sound machine. It blows air and drowns out all the noise in the house.
My favorite place to work is from one of my porches. I love being outside, and when the weather is right, I’ll sit outside with a cup of hot tea and a stash of dark chocolate. That’s where I’m most productive. I’ve found that typing next to the fireplace is least productive, as I often get too comfy and get drowsy.
The real process and advice I can give is to just write, even when you don’t feel like it at times. Unless I’m exhausted, I find that when I force myself to sit down and write, it soon starts to flow.
Up next week on the Blog Tour…
Tricia Stewart Shiu is an award-winning screenwriter, author, and playwright, but her passion lies in crafting mystical stories.
A creative spirit from a young age, she experimented with acting and wrote one-woman shows and plays. She produced a short performance piece called Doing Lunch, which made its way into a short film trilogy directed by Hal Trussel. That film won “Best Dramatic Short” at the Houston Film Festival in 1993.
The author is also a spiritualist and metaphysical adept. She has studied mediumship, pagan and Huna rituals.
Shiu’s Moa series – Moa, The Statue of Ku, and Iron Shinto – sparked by her firsthand encounter with an ancient Hawaiian spirit, takes readers on a journey of exploration through her world of spiritual healing. Each chapter of the books begins with a meditative ritual that pertains to that chapter. The rituals from the first book have been published in both eBook and audio form as The Gatekeeper’s Guide to Ancient Essential Oils and Rituals.
Tricia Stewart Shiu currently lives in Southern California with her husband and their ten-year-old daughter, Sydney. Sydney is a gifted artist, whose photographs adorn the covers and illustrations grace the interiors of all three Moa books.