Welcome to The Wormhole!
It is my pleasure today to host Brenda M. Collins.
She is a Bandit Creek author and her recent release is
Witch in the Wind.
? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
My
mother, concerned that I had so little interest in reading as I entered my
teens, bought me my first category romance novel. That’s when I knew what I
wanted to be when I grew up – a romance writer. From there, my tastes expanded
to mystery and fantasy. Witch
in the Wind starts out with a murder but comes to life with
witches, warlocks, a canine familiar and even a magical dimension I created
called The Otherland.
? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?
As
often happens, life got in the way of my writing dream and it’s taken me more
than two decades to circle back to it. But I’ve finally done it! Before that I had a very successful career in
the senior management ranks of the international business and high tech world.
? How long does it take you to write a book?
It took
me ten years, and lots of classes and workshops, to write the first two
manuscripts while I was learning the craft,
but only ten months to write Witch
in the Wind. I guess I needed a deadline to really get my butt in the
chair, as they say. I’m lucky that
my debut novel is part of the Bandit Creek eBook
Series so, along with the deadline, I had the support of more than
30 fellow authors. Their excitement is contagious as you’ll see if you catch up
with our authors on Facebook.
? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
I dream
my scenes before I write them. Honestly! I've been a lucid dreamer from early
childhood.
? Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame
of mind to write?
I need
to get enough sleep. LOL. And, contrary to what most writers find about writing
in the morning, I'm a night hawk. I have to clear the decks of all my other
chores during the day and then I sit down late in the afternoon and the
creative juices start to flow. I do my best work from 8pm to midnight.
? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?
The
easy answer is my imagination but to dig deeper I'd say it's my heritage. I was
born and raised on the island of Newfoundland in the North
Atlantic . Its history dates
back to the Vikings and leans heavily to Irish, who believe in everything from
fairies to leprechauns, four-leaf clovers to banshees, and have
all sorts of rituals to ward off evil spirits or bad luck. There were still
Gaelic speakers in Newfoundland Newfoundland
? How do you decide what you want to write about?
It goes back to the
dreams—if I dream it, and it still appeals to me that evening when I sit at my
computer, then I start typing. I also tend to be very verbal—another family
trait, I'm afraid—so I discuss ideas with my friend and critique partner, Roxy
Burroughs. She's more advanced as a writer than I am, so I value her advice.
My
former work colleagues are still adjusting to—what appeared to them to be—my
sudden decision to quit my day job to become a writer. Yet every one of them
comments on what a positive difference it has made. They tell me my eyes
sparkle when I talk about my story, that my enthusiasm washes over them in
waves, and that I seem years younger. That's what following your dreams will do
to you. I don't regret the long wait to follow my passion because I believe I
am the sum of my experiences—both good and bad, they are what will feed my
stories now, although I am so happy to be living this life at this time.
May I add that Witch in the Wind is available on
both AMAZON and SMASHWORDS, if your readers are interested reading an excerpt? And
if they are interested in finding out when
my next story is coming out they can follow me on TWITTER @bcollinswriter
I'm currently working
on a collection of short romantic stories with award winning author, Roxy
Boroughs, which is coming out next month. I know magical people from The
Otherland will continue to slip through the portal to the mortal world for more
adventures, and, of course, Marcus and Avy will have a role to play in
resolving the situation with the Witches Council at some point.
Thanks
again for having me Beverly.
More ABOUT
Brenda M. Collins
Brenda Collins has wanted to write romance since she was twelve years old. At the age
of twenty, she spoke to an editor in Toronto ,
Canada
To help her fellow writers develop strong business
skills, Brenda has published articles, and delivered workshops to hundreds of
writers, on career planning, professional networking and presentation skills.
Her most recent article is scheduled to appear in the 2013 Writer’s Market (Brewer, R.L., ed. F&W Media Inc.).
Brenda
is currently working on a collection of short romantic stories with award
winning author, Roxy Boroughs, which is coming out early this summer. She
promises magical people will from The Otherland will continue to slip through
the portal to the mortal world for more adventures. And, of course, Marcus and
Avy will have a role to play in resolving the situation with the Witches
Council at some point.
If
you enjoyed Witch in the Wind, please help other readers find it by
recommending it to friends or writing a review on Amazon. Follow Brenda on Twitter. For upcoming titles, keep an eye on her Amazon
Author Page.
Witch in the
Wind
Bandit Creek has a new magical dimension, The Otherland.
When murder strikes in Bandit Creek, and the victims aren’t
who they seemed, powerful guardian warlock, Marcus Egan, is sent from The
Otherland to investigate. What he doesn’t expect to find is Avalon Gwynn, the
grieving daughter of the victims, who has no idea she’s an extraordinary,
hereditary witch. And Avy’s pent up magical abilities have just been set free
in the mortal world.
Can Marcus catch a killer while making sure Avy doesn’t
bring Crow Mountain
