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Edita A. Petrick |
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Edita’s 18Q |
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The Eighteen Questions |
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18Q |
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The Cracked Shadow Gold Scheme Sweet Poisoned Wine Burning Spiral The Flaming Tiger |
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Bibliography |
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1. Did you choose the writing profession or did it choose you? Neither. It kind of grew out of me, like an undeniable Siamese twin.
2. What is your background? (education, work, etc.) I'm an engineer. Currently I do project work and contracts. And, of course, I write and take care of family.
3. When did you 'know' you were a writer? I could say that one day as I sat beside a book shelf, a book fell on my head...but truth be, that I don't think there's any such think as "knowing" you're this and that. It's like Morgan Freeman says to Monica Potter in "Along Came a Spider" - you do what you are.
4. How would you describe your style of writing? Years of critique and harsh editorial slaps later - I hope that it's finally focused. A rejection note from an editor at Penguin-Putnam once said that the greatest strength of the submission was that it was "an easy and smooth read."
5. What is your writing process? I walk with a story in my head. Once it stays there for a few months, I know it wants to be written. Then one day I sit down and write it - completely and entirely. During the months I 'live' with the story in my head, I do research to determine if it's going to be 'feasible' - especially if it's a complex suspense/thriller/romance. By the time I am actually at the keyboard, the story is basically done.
6. What was your path to publication? In the early eighties I published a few fantasy/sci-fi stories in now defunct magazines. Then I published a few literary stories and realized that luck - finding an agent who'd represent me to large publishers - just wasn't going to come my way. So...I set out to meet it half-way. That's precisely where I am at this time - four e-books and trade paperback to my credit, I'm heading for the large publishers.
7. What is your favorite self-marketing idea? Anything that I can send out from my computer. I just don't have the time or inclination to visit stores, newspapers and other sources in person.
8. What are the biggest surprises you've encountered as a writer? For writers, publishing is driven by luck. It is luck that makes you connect with an agent who has sterling connections in the industry and genre that you write. It is luck that makes any given editor look benevolently at your submission. It is luck that gets you a multi-book deal with a large publisher. It is luck....the only thing that is not determined by luck, is writing your novels.
9. How do you inspire yourself? What are your sources of creativity? Years ago, in one of the university courses, the prof said that creativity is simply living with your eyes, ears and the rest of the senses open. Stories are happening all around you and you live through them. As a writer, all you have to do it put a slightly different spin on any situation by asking: What if this happened, instead of what I just saw?
10. What is your proudest writer moment? Actually, it was the other day - when I received my first bona-fide fan letter.
11. What's the best advice you were given about writing? None. But that's because I don't ask for advice when it comes to writing.
12. What is your most embarrassing writer moment? When a reader pointed out to me that it would be difficult or nearly impossible to tell the victim's clothing was navy blue - in a night-crime scene before any lights are set up around.
13. What business challenges have you faced as a writer? Too many to mention but one particularly stuck in my mind - when a Tax/Revenue analyst wrote back saying that writing was a hobby, not a business/vocation or profession.
14. What is your writer life philosophy? If offered a choice to be born lucky or rich, I'd take luck over anything.
15. When you're not writing what do you do for fun? Fun? I'm a single parent with a mortgage. I've three young adults living at home. I cook, clean, do laundry, go to work, write and if I'm still alive after that, I take-out sushi, sit down on the couch and watch a movie...usually with both dogs draped around my shoulders and they're not lap-dogs either.
16. Who do you like to read? Anything that strikes my fancy. Yesterday, I just opened up the book of Sudden Fiction: American Short-Short Stories and "did" Joyce Carol Oates' "Happy." The day before, I found Sidney Sheldon's "Best Laid Plans," and sat down with it -- and enjoyed it. Point is that reading for me is an opportunity whenever and wherever I can find it.
17. What’s your advice for new writers? Get an excellent day-job with great benefits and a good salary. And since most business institutions these days insist on formalized organizational structure, get that degree or diploma in...whatever you fancy, but get it.
18. What are you currently working on? Four novels that are new and one that is a re-write because it needs its romantic component strengthened. |
