Grimoire Interview with Winter Lawrence

Gothic Grimoire Authors!

Third up on the interview podium.....(drumroll)…..is
Winter Lawrence!

1) How long have you been writing?

(A) I’ve been writing my entire life, but up until recently, I only wrote in journals. What’s funny is that I’ve always been a voracious reader and I’ve always been struck by inspirational ideas for stories, but I had never actually considered writing as a career until I hit my 30s. It was when my daughter went off to school that I realized I had some free time in the day. I started off small, but when I found my writer’s groove, I fully committed myself to writing!

2) Do you remember the very first story that you wrote? Please, please share with us!

(A) I’m a science fiction fanatic, so naturally, the first story I thought up was about aliens! I love reading all genres but I’ve always had a soft spot for young adult fiction, so I knew that I wanted to write for a younger audience. The problem was that the romance I had in mind wasn’t geared toward younger teenagers, per se, so I started researching new adult fiction. It was a perfect fit for the story I had in mind, so after that, I committed myself to writing and it was smooth sailing from there!

3) Tell us a little about your grimoire anthology submission, title,

synopsis, etc. Is it a standalone, or a part of a larger novel series?

(A) When I was invited to participate in the Grimoire anthology, I immediately thought about the Salem Witch Trials. I’ve always been so moved by that part of history because, to me at least, the entire situation was so tragic. Even as a child, I remember wondering how two little girls could have been given so much creditability. Why had the adults not only believed them, but also encouraged them to act on these outrageous accusations? Now, as an adult, I’m even more astounded because I really can’t comprehend how the feverish rantings of children could have so easily persuaded an entire community into hysterics. It truly blows my mind, so I wrote “No Good Deed” with that hope that, in some small way, those unfortunate people and animals were given some type of justice.

4) Do you see yourself as one particular character in this novel? If so, which one? BTW, are any of your characters based on family or friends? (…just asking…)

That’s a great question! I think, as writers, we always put ourselves on the page! Some authors may do so intentionally, but for other writers, like me, we try to keep ourselves out of the proverbial picture. Unfortunately, that’s impossible to do because we’re the ones telling the story, from our prospective—with the glossy tint of all of our life experiences. So as much as some of us try to avoid including ourselves (and all the people we know), we’re always there, in the periphery of the story.

In “No Good Deed,” I can definitely see some of my personality traits reflected in the protagonist’s character, which I’m hoping is a good thing, but I can also understand what drives and motivates all of the other characters as well, because in real life, I’m many people—a wife, a mother, a friend, a coworker, a neighbor—so each of those perspectives, I hope, comes through in my cast of characters.

5) Are there any spoilers that you want to give to the readers?

Ah! That’s a tough question when it comes to a short story, especially one that I hope has a good twist at the end! For now, I’ll just share the short blurb, which I hope is equally intriguing: “Even the most noble of deeds cannot right the gravest of wrongs…”

6) Aside from this project, what book (or series) are you known for?

I’ve been fortunate enough to become part of the Gothic Bite family, so I’ve published “My Brother’s Keeper” in the Merry Krampus anthology and “A Girl Named Audrey” in the Downfall anthology. I also have my debut novel, “Eve 2.0: The Ultimate Gaming Experience,” due out in the summer, and book 2 of the series is due out in Spring 2020.

7) So, tell us your fave genre all around, in writing? What genre do you prefer to read?

I prefer to read and write young adult fiction. I’m such a fan of coming of age stories and I especially love when someone (or something, in most cases) is learning how to handle their life situation, especially if what’s happening to them sets them apart from the norm. I feel as though I can relate to those characters, because I had a unique upbringing and I understand those emotions.

Don’t get me wrong though, I do love my adult fiction as well. My favorites are paranormal cozy mysteries. I’m a sucker for romance. But I also love supernatural, horror, and science fiction. I especially adore flash fiction and I always try to honor the classics, like Chopin and Marquez, who are just a few of my favorite authors.

8) What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

Oh, this is a good one! I offer an Author’s Spotlight segment in my blog, so I’m used to asking questions, not receiving them! I guess if I had to think of something off the top of my head though, I would go with, “If you could go back in time, knowing what you know now about the writing and publishing industry, would you still pursue a career as an author?”

And to that, I would reply to myself, “Yes…but I wouldn’t take it so seriously next time around.”

I know that may sound counterintuitive, but when I started writing, it was because I’ve always been blessed with a muse and I genuinely love to write, and quite frankly, I didn’t think it would be that hard of a job. I know—could a girl be anymore wrong! Writing, as I’ve discovered, is a very tough business, and I’ve learned the hard way that when you put so much pressure on yourself to become an accomplished author, it can be a very emotionally taxing process. So now I try to just write for fun—like when I’m inspired by my muses or when I want to share a story that I know is worth telling, and I just enjoy the process and the people I get to meet along the way.

9) Alrighty now, just to wrap it up, one last thing. This is the interview trademark of my blog. What's your favorite bedtime drink? Cocoa, soda, wine? Inquiring minds want to know, please. (Don't worry, you can answer 'water,' if you don't want to say (lol).

I love the idea of a trademarked blog question! It’s brilliant! Unfortunately, for me, there’s nothing remotely exciting about my bedtime routine. On some nights, I go with my Yogi tea (the tulsi spiced berry immune support one that I can’t ever seem to find anymore!), or I sip on my water. LOL, I did try to forewarn you that I’m as boring as can be!

And many thanks for having me, Kish! It was great fun and I’m glad I was given the opportunity to sit and share my thoughts with you! Until next time, be well and write on!

 

Cheers!

Winter

Forward to the Grimoire Anthology!  See you soon!

Ta-Ta!

Think my posts are fun?  

Sign up for my quarterly Knight's Time newsletter.

CLICK HERE to sign up