Greta Burroughs Interview and Book Giveaway

I'm pleased to have Greta Burroughs on my blog for an interview. She is writer of two books Gerald and the Wee People and Heartaches and Miracles. She is offering one lucky commenter their choice of one of her books. Make sure to fill out the Rafflecopter form out for entry to win. Please remember to leave your email address so I can contact you in event of winning.

Greta Burroughs

What inspired you to become a writer??

Ever since I can remember, I have loved books but being an author never crossed my mind until my husband, Robert DeBurgh wrote Riders of the Wind. He encouraged me to try my hand at writing so I became a freelance writer for a local newspaper. After that successful endeavor, I tried my hand at writing children’s stories and that progressed to my first novel, Gerald and the Wee People.

What character(s) of your book(s) do you most relate to??

The characters in Wee People are pretty unique and have their own personalities. The one I relate most with would probably be Alyson. She was named after my mother and shares some characteristics with me. We are both pretty shy but determined to do our best.

How do you visualize your stories? By dreams? Inner monologue with your characters, dreams, etc.?

In Wee People, I just let the story unfold as I wrote. I didn’t have any outline or even know what direction the story was going to go until I was sitting at the computer. I was working full time with the newspaper and could only work on the book when I had a few spare minutes. At times there were months between starting a chapter and it’s completion but I was always thinking about it. I guess I visualized the story in bits and pieces during quiet times before falling asleep and put it in writing when I could.

What is your writing ritual? Music?? Silence? Meditation?

Unfortunately, I have no ritual. I write when I have a chance between my other responsibilities. I am a multi-tasker and am usually doing several things at one time. The few times that I can just sit and write without interruption, I like it to be fairly quiet. Usually, I can tune out the TV and other noises but music is distracting unless it is just instrumental.

What inspired you to write Gerald and the Wee People?

The inspiration behind Wee People was my desire to memorialize my father, uncle and brother who had all passed away. I started the manuscript on a Christmas morning as a way to cherish their memories. I really missed them and thought that by having my father (Vernon) and uncle (Gerald) as the main characters in a book, they would live on forever. My brother (Tom)was added as one of the companions and a couple of years later, my mother passed away so I renamed one of the characters for her (Alyson).

If you could be a book genre? Which one would you choose and why??

Fantasy is what I would be. The reason being, it is my favorite genre to read. I love the opportunity to escape reality and be in a world totally different from this one. It is the best way for me to relax and recharge my batteries.

What knowledge do you want to share with aspiring authors like myself??

Write about what you know or enjoy. Sometimes writing can become a chore, that is the time to put it away for a while and come back to it later. Don’t rush yourself, it is great to set goals to write so many words a day but if you miss out one day, it’s nothing to be upset about. The hardest part of writing is the editing. Don’t rush that either, go over the manuscript several times and have someone beta read it for you. A fresh set of eyes can see things you overlook.

if you were stranded on a deserted island, what 5 things would you bring and why??

Matches, food, water, 2 way radio and something to read. What else would I need to enjoy my stay?

What other books do you have to write or be written in the horizon??

I have written a nonfiction book on my struggle with an autoimmune disease called ITP. Through Heartaches and Miracles, I’m trying to bring the subject of autoimmune disorders to the general public so that more research and better treatments may be found. It is not the run of the mill medical journal but my and several other ITPers’ personal accounts of the roller coaster rides we have experienced.

I also have a children’s chapter book in the works called Patchwork Dog and Calico Cat. Next year, I want to write a sequel to Wee People titled House on Bo-Kay Lane.

If you could have dinner with anyone alive or dead? Who would it be and why??

I would love to talk with JRR Tolkien. His ability to create a world, language and everything else associated with the Lord of the Rings books amazes me. Maybe he could give me some pointers.

If you could time travel, what time period would you go to and why??

My favorite era is the 1940’s. The music, and the general feeling of the time fascinates me. I may have a romanticized view of that era due to the movies I‘ve watched and books I’ve read but I think the 40’s would have been a interesting period to live in.

How do you write your books?? By the seat of your pants? Or is it plotted out in advance??

Heartaches and Miracles was taken from my journal that kept track of the medications, treatments, relapses as well as my thoughts and fears while on my ITP roller coaster ride.

Gerald and the Wee People was seat of the pants. I had no idea what was going to happen from one chapter to the next. It will probably be the same for its sequel.

How many books in the future do you see in Gerald and the Wee People?

I have only one more book planned, but who knows what the future holds.

Here is a twist...10 words or less, what comes to your mind first??

Sun

Moon

Fantasy

Sanity

Book

Bird

By sun and moon, I will write fantasy books til the blue bird of happiness steals my sanity. 

Feel free to add anything you would have liked me to ask and your social media links. 

FB Author page Greta on Facebook


Wee People buy links


(US Amazon)Buy Wee People at US Amazon
(Breakthrough bookstore)Buy Wee People at Breakthrough


(UK Amazon)Buy at UK Amazon
(B&N)Buy Here
(Smashwords)Buy Here


Heartaches and Miracles buy links


(US Amazon e book)Buy Heartaches and Miracles
(UK Amazon e book)Buy Here


(Breakthrough Bookstore)Buy at Breakthrough


(B&N)Buy Here