Monday, June 16, 2014

Blog Hop via Patti Smith

Hi everyone! Welcome to my second blog hop, courtesy of Patti J Smith. Patti asked me to participate in this about a month ago, and you're supposed to ask three writers to carry it on after you. So, here is the short Q&A, and at the bottom of this post you will find links to Patti's blog along with the other's I've chosen. Enjoy!

To start off, my writer's bio:
My name is Grace Yee. I’m a follower of Christ, a writer, a dancer and many other things. I first began writing fantasy and fiction when I was about fourteen or fifteen and absolutely fell in love with it. Ever since then I have been studying and perfecting my craft, indulging in classics like Sherlock Holmes, The Screwtape Letters, Shakespeare, as well as modern fantasy.

 

What are you working on? I’m hopping around four stories at the moment. Yeah. Four. Don’t ask me why, it just kind of happened. My first priority is a series called Colony Zero, which I contribute to along with six other authors. It’s a sci-fi in Christian Short Stories but despite all of our differing styles, each writer has really come together to make a truly fascinating story. Secondly is a story that is as of yet untitled, but I have the plot mostly mapped out and have been working at the story for quite some time. Thirdly is my take on Cinderella, but trust me, it is not what you think. And finally there’s a story I’m usually quiet about because it’s so important to me, but suffice to say that in a world ruled by the fair but conniving Vivia, four strangers may find the power to resist her. And perhaps even… usurp her.

 

How does your work differ from others in its genre? It’s hard to place my writing into specific categories within a genre. While a lot of books may fit under the “Action,” “Romance,” or “Dystopian” categories, my stories would only vaguely touch a few categories. As far as differing from everything else on the bookshelves, my series “The Woman in Scarlet” tries to tell a story through a child’s eyes, but children are not the intended audience. I am fascinated with how different a child’s mind works from, say, a teenager’s. Children will come to different conclusions, face different fears than a teen or adult would. In my other stories, it’s fun to write from multiple points of view, especially the villain’s point of view. I am rather enjoying writing with a male protagonist in some of my stories. It is quite the experience.

 

Why do you write what you do? As odd as it sounds, fantasy/fiction is the only thing I can connect with. In some ways it is something I can relate to. I love the concept of creating something out of imagination and then running with it. Writing about mystical, magical characters is something I have always loved. But mostly, I write the things I do because they are stories I would want to read. When the movie The Hunger Games first came out, my parents and I went to see it. I had read the books already, so it was an interesting experience. Later at dinner, my dad asked what I would have changed if I had written the book. My response was, “I wouldn’t have written it.” This is not to say that The Hunger Games is not a very good book, but I could not have written The Hunger Games myself. I have an issue with killing certain characters, and the books themselves are such a different style than what I’m comfortable with, that I could never bring myself to write it.

 

How does your writing process work? I have to be honest, there is a lot of procrastination. Have you ever seen that t-shirt where it says “Procrastinators Unite!” on the front and on the back it has a picture of a guy sitting in a recliner in front of the TV with the caption “Tomorrow”? That’s what it feels like. I will sometimes get these streams of inspiration and think, “Aw, yeah, that would be so cool! I wanna write about that!” I will usually be at school or work or something when it comes to mind. Then later as I am mulling over my plots, characters, etc., I’ll think, “I really do want to write about this.” Spare a glance at the clock. It will most likely read somewhere past midnight. “Tomorrow,” I mutter. You’d be surprised how many “tomorrows” there are yet to come. I can’t tell you what the secret is because I am still trying to uncover it. Is it a combination of adrenaline, music, and inspiration? Is it a deadline that forces the imagination into overtime? Probably. But you know what? I find I am at my most inspired either when or after I have read a book purely for enjoyment, with no grade or pending review behind it. I just finished a new book recently and it still has me a little jittery. I want to write. I just have to work up the motivation, put pen to paper. Oh, that’s another thing. I like to write long-hand first, and then transfer it to the computer. Yeah, I’m mad as a box of frogs, but that’s just how I roll.
 
 
I hope you enjoyed that little interview. It's always fun to talk to other authors. :-)
As promised, here is the link to Patti Smith's blog: http://gridirongrannyfootballfanatic.blogspot.com/ And in case you're wondering, that URL reads "Gridiron Granny Football Fanatic". Y'all should ask her about it, and check out her other books, including Moments with God and the Grave Obsessions series.
Here are the people I asked to participate in the blog hop, although their interviews will not be up until next week:
Mark Venturini, author of Whispers from Forbidden Earth, Dark Passages, and Colony Zerohttp://www.markventurinijourney.blogspot.com/
Karen Malena, author of Shadow of my Father's Secret and Reflections from my Mother's Kitchen: A Journey of Healing and Hopehttp://karenmalena.com/
Unfortunately I could not find a third writer, but I would highly recommend looking up Dana Arcuri ( http://www.danaarcuri.com/ ), Angie Black ( http://coffeeshopreader.wordpress.com/ ), or the four lovely ladies of the blog The Call: Willow Silver, Darrion Marine, Ammelia Gabriella, and Billie Catherine ( http://www.willow-the-call.blogspot.com/ ).
 
-Grace
  

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