Charmain: When
I’m writing a novel, my approach is to put some words on the page every day
until the book is finished. I don’t go for daily word counts; some days it
might be 2,000, but on others, it may only be 10.
Paul: If someone had the power to step into your
creative mind what would they see?
Charmain: Imagine
a pinball machine at a level where all the lights are flashing and several
balls are in play at one time. Ideas about artist profiles, community theater
productions and bands playing at local haunts for my newspaper work, as well as
specifics on my latest novel, bounce off the bumpers, illuminating the machine
and triggering the sounds as I hit the flippers.
Paul: Do you have a
favorite character in each of your series, aside from the lead? If so, which
one and why?
Charmain: I like the character of Lucy
a lot. Although she’s a kid, she’s feisty, strong and not afraid of anything. She’s
a composite of some of my favorite people, and she embodies characteristics I
wish I’d had at her age.
Paul: How do you find
the time to write?
Charmain: Writing is my life. I’ve been a journalist for 25 years,
most of them as a freelancer. If I don’t write, I don’t get paid. My children
like to eat. I write something every day.
Paul: What is one thing
you hope I do not tell the readers?
Charmain: I have a couple of bad writing habits I have to keep in
check. There are some words I overuse. I print out copies of my manuscripts and
ask my editors to mark them in red ink. Sometimes, those words are needed, but
90 percent of the time, they have to go.
Paul: Do you plot your stories or do you just get
an idea and run with it?
Charmain: With
my two novels, I started with the opening scene and let the story flow from
there. I had some elements I wanted to include in the stories, but I let my
characters lead me. There were some plot elements in The Key of Elyon and in
Elyon’s Cipher I didn’t see coming when I first started.
Charmain: My most recent book is
called Elyon’s Cipher and was released in November 2012. My hero, Stephen,
from The Key of Elyon returns and travels with family to a small town, where
they find a mysterious plague has wiped out many of the residents. Immediately,
they recognize it’s the work of a familiar enemy from another realm, but why does
this enemy want these people dead? Stephen must use Elyon’s Cipher to unlock
clues to the mysteries behind this attack and to defeat his enemy.
Paul: What inspired
you to write this book?
Charmain: There were a couple of
things that inspired me to write novels. My son, Jeremy, loves to read. He’s 19
now, but when he was younger, I found it difficult to keep age-appropriate
books in his hands. He’d blast through any series in a few days. At the time, I
was writing heavily for two newspapers and one magazine so I couldn’t write a
novel. Also, there were many times I’ve watched a movie or read a book and
predicted what would happen. The thought
of “I could do that” came into my mind often. Because of changes and cutbacks
in the newspaper industry in the past few years, I decided to pursue the idea
that “yes, I could write a good and different book for people to enjoy.”
Paul: Do you also
write any poetry, non-fiction or short stories?
Charmain: I’ve never been much for
poetry or short stories, but as a freelance journalist, I write loads of non-fiction.
Paul: Do you have
any pieces of work that will never see the light of day?
Charmain: Not really. I didn’t start
writing novels until I’d been a professional writer for more than 20 years.
After so many years of being published, I write with the intent of seeing that
work in print. My first attempts at novels I’ve shelved, but I believe they
have potential. I plan to rework them at some point.
Paul: How much
marketing do you do for your published works or for your 'brand'?
Charmain: I’ve done a lot of local
marketing with interviews on radio shows and in the newspaper I write for. I
have had several book signings, spoken at Rotary Club meetings and made
appearances at writing events for NaNoWriMo. I carry paperbacks with me at all
times. I have a Facebook author page and a
Twitter account. I’ve also purchased a couple of banner ads on
e-book websites here and there. I am cultivating my own blog and trying to
wriggle into other people’s – like yours. Thanks!
Paul: What do you do when you're not writing? Do
you have any hobbies or party tricks?
Charmain: I
love photography. My children are dancers, and I learned a few professional
tips from the photographers at the newspaper I write for to help me get great
action shots of them during rehearsals and performances. I’ve also performed in
community theater productions. My favorite role was Glinda the Good Witch in a
production of Wizard of Oz. I got to fly.
Paul: Thanks Charmain. I wish you all the best for the future!
Charmain's Blog: Charmain Z Brackett
Charmain on Twitter: @CZBrackett
Charmain on Facebook: The Key Of Elyon
Charmain's latest book: The Key Of Elyon (Amazon)
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