Help me welcome Missy Frye to my blog today:
Tell me a bit about yourself:
This
question is always difficult for me. I’m not sure what people would want to
know. I’ve been writing since my teenage years, but didn’t take it seriously
until my mid-thirties. I once had a column in a newspaper supplement in which I
wrote reviews of independent, foreign and less publicized films. Let’s see,
what else? I’m a professional Aunt; an introvert; and Eeyore fan.
What type of genre do you write?
I
dabble in different genres. I’m currently working on a Women’s Fiction novel,
which I’ve recently learned is lumped into the general fiction section of
bookstores.
What genre to you personally read?
Again,
different genres. I prefer fantasy and historical but my keeper shelf holds
everything from biographies to young adult to literary fiction.
Tell me about your latest?
My
latest published work is a short story called Miltonia Butterflies.
It’s about
a young girl who discovers a beautiful
flower in an amazing garden. She wants to share it with her mother but has to
jump through a few hoops to do so. It can be found at Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/MissyFrye along with my other short
stories.
Where is your book available?
All
of my short stories were published through Smashwords and can be downloaded in
multiple e-reader formats from there.
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/MissyFrye
Where you live and one thing you love about
it
I
live in Northwest Arkansas. It’s hard to choose just one thing I love about it.
I guess I’ll go with I love it because it’s where my roots are.
What sparked your passion for books and the
art of a good story?
I’ve
always loved books and was lucky that my parents encouraged my reading. As a
child, I subscribed to one of those book clubs that sent several children’s
books on a regular basis. I so wish I had all of those books; they were handed
down to my cousins.
I
learned to appreciate the art of a good story in high school English. At that
time, it mystified me. I was in my thirties before I really understood story
structure. I still struggle with it at times. LOL
Is there a particular book that changed or
affected your life in a big way?
The
Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
What was the seed of inspiration for your
latest book?
The
death of my father. I sort of went of the deep end after his death in 2011 and
needed help to deal with my grief. In the process, I found myself going back to
the age of fourteen when two really good friends and the older brother of a
classmate were all killed in accidents within months of each other. I hadn’t
really grieved for them properly. Once I got my head on straight, I wondered
what life would be like had they lived. From there, I began to imagine all the
ways those of us left behind could deal or not deal with losing them. I went to
extremes to create a compelling story. I’m working on the second draft now.
Is there a message in your book that you
want readers to grasp?
I’ve
never really write with a message in mind. But my novel certainly is a warning
to grieve properly.
What challenges have you faced in your
writing career?
I
deal with chronic migraines and pain stops me in my tracks more often than not,
to call that a challenge is an understatement. I get in my own way a lot of the
time. Self-doubt is a near constant companion.
What has been your best moment as a writer?
Three
moments popped into my head when I read this question.
1. My
cousin inadvertently compared my writing style to Jane Austen
2. My
aunt was completely surprised by the ending of my short story Miltonia
Butterflies and took the time to tell me so
3. I
got a five star review of Miltonia Butterflies from a self-proclaimed horror
nut
Who is your author idol?
I
don’t have one. There are authors that I love and will read every book they
publish, but I try not to put people on pedestals because they so often fall.
One of my mom’s favorite authors was sued for plagarism. A favorite of mine
tried to scam her fans by selling self-published books and not delivering the
goods until threatened. I won’t read either author’s books now even though I
know they both are very talented. I
appreciate talent, but integrity wins my loyalty.
Do you see yourself in any of your
characters?
I get
a glimpse of myself in all of them. Even the baddies. I’m character driven
which means I get to know them very well. To do so I have to empathize with
them on some level. You can learn a lot about yourself while creating a
character.
Do you feel like your dream has come true or
is there much more to do?
There
is way more to do. I’m just beginning.
What is your personal cure for
procrastination?
There’s
a cure?
When
I procrastinate it is usually because I’m stuck and need a diversion that will
allow me to mull things over. Admittedly, there are times when I’m
procrastinating because I don’t want to write, or don’t feel like writing.
Those times usually pass quickly.
What does your workspace look like?
It’s
cramped and messy. I clean it regularly, but it always returns to a disaster,
quite quickly, in fact. We plan to move in the next few months and I dream of
creating a workspace where I can stretch out. Hopefully, I’ll keep it tidy, but
I won’t hold my breath.
Have you ever had a day when you just
wanted to quit?
I’ve
had many of those days. No matter what people tell you, writing well is hard.
There are times when I read something I’ve written and find it to be terrible.
My thoughts run from what were you thinking to you should give it up and you
have no talent. I enjoy the process though and that’s what keeps me typing
away.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
Read.
Genealogy research. Watch movies. Gardening. Watch television. Spend time with
family and friends. I’ve learned to prioritize my writing and some of the things
I like doing for fun and relaxation get overlooked sometimes. It’s important to
take time away from writing too. It’s easy to burn out if you don’t divert
yourself regularly.
What are the most important attributes to
remaining sane as a writer?
Keep
Calm and Write. Seriously. If you over analyze what you put on the page you can
drive yourself crazy. I recently went on a binge of questioning the basics of
writing while editing my WIP. I even Googled how to use pronouns. When you feel
yourself freaking out, take a break.
What was the greatest thing you learned at
school?
I
have a talent for writing and there’s a community in which I fit. In high
school, I was that girl who hung out with all the cliques from popular to
nerds, but never felt as if I belonged. I skated through life under the
assumption something was wrong with me. In college people saw something in me
and took the time to show me that image. Scholastically I learned many things,
but none of it impacted as much as learning about myself.
Did you have a moment when you realised you
were meant to be a writer?
It
was really a combination of moments really. I decided to take college courses
to get a degree in web design. During English Comp I our first assignment was
to write a letter to someone and hand it in at the end of class. At the next
class, the instructor read mine aloud because she liked my creativity. I wrote
from the perspective of a man travelling to a new planet and sharing his
discoveries with a family member on earth. Other teachers/professors encouraged
my writing. Within a year I had changed my major to English with an emphasis on
creative writing.
What advice would you give to aspiring
authors?
Keep
writing.
After this book, what is next?
I’m
outlining a sequel to my short story Fool’s Journey and planning a novel based
on a character I created during one of my college creative writing classes.
See, what a great interview. She can be reached at the below locations. Stop by and leave her a comment so she knows you've been there. Oh, and go pick up a copy of her newest book!
Your website?
www.melissamfrye.com
Your blog?
Missy
Writes: www.melissamfrye.com/missywrites
Invincible
Love of Reading: www.melissamfrye.com/invincibleloveofreading
Other websites?
Linkedin:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/missyfrye
Facebook
Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/MissyFryeAuthor
Amazon:
www.amazon.com/author/missyfrye
Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5787369.Missy_Frye
Pinterest:
http://pinterest.com/mmfrye/
Twitter:
@MissyFrye
No comments:
Post a Comment