MV:
1. Why did you begin to write?

Myra:
My very 1st memory, was wanting to write in a vague way as a teenager, but I think it was only because I was so in love with reading. I can’t remember exactly how it began, only that it was an “urge” to tell stories. The 1st story, was Love's Captive, which I thought up, then I started coming up with short story ideas.

MV:
2. How long have you been writing?

Myra:
I started writing in 1978, when I hand-wrote 1/2 of Love's Captive; then stored it in a drawer for years. I call it “piddling” with writing off & on. I wrote several short stories during my college years...1980-1984, and came up with many other ideas for short stories & novels - which got jotted down & stuck in that drawer.

MV:
3. Have you written in other genres?

Myra:
Yes! I have many different interests in my personal life and I think that translates into my wriitng as well. I have short stories that are: straight S/F, horror, true tellings (either of a humorous or serious bent), a fantasy with fairies & demons, one literary story, and several which I’m not sure belong to any one specific category. In the past, I have also written several psychologically based articles for a newspaper, an editorial on juvenile irresponsibility, a booklet for Non-Traditional Students at college, and had an interview style biography on an engineer accepted by The Vocational Careers Encyclopedia.

MV:
4. What made you decide to E-Publish?

Myra:
I must admit, I wasn’t as informed about ebooks as I should have been when I made my decision; in fact, I knew very little about it. But I received a flyer from 1stbooks (my publisher), and I thought “that looks cool”. And, I’d spent a lot of time sending out query letters to agents and feeling as though I kept running in the same track...not getting anywhere nearer my goal of getting published. Please refer to question 12 for the main reason I decided on E Publishing.

MV:
5. Could you tell us the process you went through when doing this?

Myra:
It’s not really hard, just a hassle redoing your story. When you get your story ready for the book publisher, you know it has to be double-spaced & with margins they like. The E Publisher needs it to be single-spaced and while I was making changes anyway, I decided to save the buyer a little space (for those who would be printing it out), by moving my margins from 1 & 1/2 to 1 inch. You also send the publisher a bio, synopsis, & an introduction that sounds like a jacket cover. Then, I put each of these on a separate disks (as 1stbooks required) & mailed them in. I had to give them an idea of what I wanted on the cover, although that’s not very “wide” since they only use clip art. It took about a month for them to get it ready for the web.

If you haven’t readied a novel yet, I guess I should mention that the biggest tasks are rewriting, rewriting, rewriting - and then getting it edited. Agents used to do that in years past, but not anymore; they will let you know if they do read, say the 1st three chapters, that your story has potential, but needs editing. Publishers will definitely not do it - only the final editing once they accept a story.

MV:
6. What is your average writing day like?

Myra:
Well, that’s a hard one. Not, because I don’t have an average day, but I just often do different things. Sometimes I answer email, or get short stories ready to send out, many times I’m doing marketing for Love's Captive on the web, sometimes sending out query letters for Love's Captive, at others query letters and/or the proposal for my southern traditions book - or research for it. Most often, I do an intermingling of several of these throughout the day.

I think most aspiring writers are probably more at the point I was when I wrote Love's Captive, so I’d like to cover that “average day” also. I worked a typical 40 hour week, at a job which at times could be very stressful. I would try to unwind after dinner for a while, then scheduled myself writing time. I tried making it 2 hours, & then saying to myself that I’d write 2 pages a night no matter the length of time it took me. But eventually, I fell into my rhythm, which was deciding I’d write a chapter a week, so on night’s I was tired, maybe less would be produced, but on night’s when the juices flowed - more. This worked really well for me, I could crank out a chapter a week - but I did allow myself “breaks” if I was just too sick or tired. I also usually worked on a chapter I got done, rewriting & correcting it before moving on to the next chapter.

I must say though, it is very important to have support from somewhere. My husband took over many of the household chores (he volunteered to do this for me), & he did the 1st editing of my book, giving me great feedback. Whether you find friends who will read your book & give you that important/necessary feedback, or join a writer’s group, take a creative writing class, or have a critique group on the web - it’s very essential to have other eyes see your work. And, writing is a lonely toil & every little bit of encouragement you can get is wonderful. It is also a very long process and you need those little “warm fuzzies” to substain you through the tough times.

MV:
7. What are your priorities in your writing life and how does it contrast or parallel with your personal life?

Myra:
That one has to be broken down too. I have long term goals & short term ones. My short term ones can be as simple as getting a short story ready to send out or making a priority list for that day. I do have a file called “Things to do” & try to follow it along until I’ve completed items on my list, then either make a new list or add to it (these usually incorporate more long term goals).

My long term goals may be, getting Love's Captive published in book form, or getting my southern book accepted by an agent. My “Big” goal that acts as the umbrella for the rest, is to be a successful writer...for me, that means getting published in book form, having a fan following and decent number of sales. I’m not saying that getting E published is not a success, it is...everything you get accepted is great, because it is so hard to get stories accepted. But, I will not be satisfied until I see one of my books in print.

I don’t see my writing goals contrasting or paralleling my personal life. I have accomplished so much in my life (previous goals), that if I never attain the success I desire in writing, it will be a disappoint for a while, but not change how good I feel about myself. I am a person who believes in trying for something you want with all your heart, & if you don’t succeed, at least you can say you gave it your all. Therefore, you are not a failure; you only fail yourself when you don’t risk things in your life. Often, without risk, there is not great success...or growth.

MV:
8. How do you prepare for your stories and do you use a different process for novels than short stories?

Myra:
Yes, I use different processes, similar, but more detailed for longer stories. With a novel, if I dreamed the story, then I get up immediately the next morning & write down a brief synopsis of it before it’s lost. Then, when I have time, I will sit down & write up a more detailed synopsis, start doing character sketches as they become more clear, and then when the story has really “cemented” for me, I will write up a rough outline (I don’t like outlines like many of you, I’m sure, but I find them very helpful in the next step).

I can then take the outline & I write up a brief synopsis of each chapter. I don’t find these methods “binding”, because I can always take off in a new direction if one comes to me, but find that often I just add to what I already have or improve on it. Also, if I have any further dreams or thoughts on a specific part of my storyline (which usually comes to me in great detail), then I will write up that scene, even down to what the characters say to each other. I put these little “slices” of scenes into my file & pull them out when it’s time to incorporate them into the appropriate scene.

So, with a novel, I know the beginning, much of the middle section, & definitely the ending - because I am a hopeless romantic & optimist, I love happy endings.

With short stories, whether I dream them, think it up, or spontaneously “discover” it, I immediately jot down the synopsis & make a file for it. It goes in “that drawer”, sometimes for years, until I have time to work on it. I have ideas for stories stuck in that drawer, that I can put in front of me at any time & start writing the story...because I have the gist of it written down, so even it my (sometimes) pitiful memory fails me, I can pull it up again from my notes.

MV:
9. Do you model your heroes after anyone you know? In physical appearance and emotional make-up?

Myra:
Yes! Why pass up a golden opportunity? My husband, Simon, is cut from the same cloth as story book heroes, and I don’t mean that in any kind of bragging way. Here’s why: If you go to my web page, you’ll see his picture & see that he’s good looking (unless you just don’t like men with black hair, brown eyes, golden skin, & lots of muscles!). Simon is a body-builder, but not the “overdone” type, he has the classic V-shape of the cover model.

He is in the Army, so he is a soldier, like many of the heroes are. But, not all military men are in shape or look good. Simon has been through Air Assault school, where they repel from helipcopters; and Airborne school, where the men parachute from planes. When we lived at Ft. Bragg, home of the 7th Special Forces, (Green Berets), he was on the medical support team who jumped with the Green Berets on missions. Simon is also working very hard toward his black belt in Tae Kwon Do; he’s up to 1st level green to date.

Add to that, Simon has a very sexy accent. He’s Lebanese, but has more of a French accent on his accent! Besides speaking Arabic, he’s fluent in French - and when I can talk him into whispering those French love words to me in our bedroom, believe me, it does send little shivers down my body!!

As for the emotional, some I pulled from Simon & put into Rhamus, but not all. Simon is much more aggressive & hot-tempered than the King, who I felt needed to be level-headed. I’m probably going to put more of my Simon into the barbarian hero in Barbarian Love (the 3rd in the trilogy). But all my heroes have to be a “man’s man” because that’s what I’m attracted to, and I believe in writing storylines and characters that I would enjoy reading about.

But Alpha males don’t have to be jerks just because they’re warriors & such. I took the way Simon sometimes sticks his foot in his mouth because he doesn’t understand something (like Rhamus did when he misjudged Serena’s almost rape); but gave him the same sweetness when he apologized. My heroes & Simon are totally male, but they do have a sensitive side, which I believe most women appreciate too. The sensitive nature that can feel sad, like watching a sad movie, or be caring & nuturing when you’re sick or feel depressed. The one that will notice when you’re really tired and offer to do the dishes, or come in and give me a sweet kiss and an encouraging, “don’t worry honey, you’ll get there”, when my sales from Love's Captive weren’t as I wished.

I could go on & on, but the point, I think about character development, whether it be the heroe, or a secondary character, is to pull parts of real people you know, to use. You often hear that writers should write about things they know (I wonder how that covers the S/F part??!), and with characters, I definitely think compiling parts of people you know will make them believable.

MV:
10. Same question for your heroines?

Myra:
Well, you can see from the prior statements, that my heroines would also be made up of different people I know. Until you asked this, I hadn’t really thought in-depth about Serena, but now I realize that I did put some of myself in her. She’s strong in some ways, vulnerable in others. But, I also gave Serena characteristics I wish I had, like being a very physically, athletic person & capable of fighting. With Kasha, the princess (a secondary character in Love's Captive), who will be the heroine in the 2nd book - I wanted a totally different personality than Serena. I patterened much of her after my fiesty, beautiful daughter, so I think she comes across very well since I know her mannerisms, secret peeves, and thoughts!!

MV:
11. Are your ideas influenced by other writers and their books?

Myra:
I think we are all influenced by other writers, even if only through our readings. I can see that in my S/F romance writing, I am very influenced by Edgar Rice Burroughs & Robert E. Howard, who were my favorites when I started reading S/F & fantasy as a teen. They had such wild fantastic worlds they described, & of course the heroes were hugely masculine.

I thought seriously before starting Love's Captive (the 2nd time I wrote & finished it), about the “voice” I wanted as a writer. I didn’t want to copy anyone’s particular style, find my own, but follow somewhat, something that I admired. I like the more “flowery” language of writers such as Kathleen Woodiwiss, but also the more simple straight forward writings of Jude Deveraux. With my S/F romances, I decided I wanted the more simple writing style. I like the “easinest” of the read. I do use more “elaborate” language flow in some of my short story writings, trying to put a different feel to a story with a different genre - such as horror or fantasy.

Then, I incorporated the “feel” of Burroughs & Howard into Love's Captive...with strange exotic places & animals, and men “bigger than life”. As with Conan, I like the touch of dark magic & sorcery, and a monster that the hero must fight to save the damsel. I was also very influenced by Star Wars which came out during the time I thought up LC. I have the almost “fairy tale” quality to the story, with a King & Queen, the enemy capturing the Queen & the King having to rescue her, the use of crystal powers & their tie to sword fighting, and sorcerers. But, just like the princess in SW, Serena is strong & can hold her own.

MV:
12. What would you say are the pros and cons of E-Publishing?

Myra:
Pros, I’d have to say, is seeing your book actually published; having great reviews (I’ve got two so far & 8 more coming - hopefully they’ll be as good); and building a fan base. This one I was really surprised by, I just hadn’t thought about it. I had the 1st fan write me nice note, then her friend followed by email. They truly love Volarn & its characters & are anxiously awaiting the sequel. And we’ve become web friends too. There are others too, but Patti & Denise are the most avid - stating that they chose me as their new author to support and if possible would help my writing career along.

They sure helped me in one big way, which I’ve told them about. Their letters came at a time I was really feeling down & like I was spinning my wheels, and gave me the motivation to begin writing again.

Cons - I guess not getting the same exposure as shelf books would be a biggie. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to get attention to Love's Captive through listing my web page on sites, setting up reviews, & introducing myself on lists. I think this is my least favorite way to spend my writing time, but very necessary. If you are considering E Publishing, check out all the publishers & especially see which ones have the best exposure on the internet...that’s my advice. I don’t feel 1stbooks has the exposure many of the others seem to. And I’ve noticed that some of the others have 1st time books mentioned on the home page or somewhere, and also review sections for their books, which mine doesn’t.

My main concern is whether getting my book published as an ebook is going to affect an agent taking it on. When I chose to do so, the agent I had at the time, said she didn’t see any harm in it. And I thought maybe there might be agents or publishers out there who check on ebooks for potential. I don’t know if this is true, but there’s always hope.

Referring back to question 4 - the main reason I chose this route, is I hoped to get attention drawn to Love's Captive by reviews & reader comments. I feel that Love's Captive is not a “formula” story, therefore, some agents may hesitate to take it on. But, I hope to change their minds; I am planning on sending some of the reviews & reader’s comments along with future queries. It may not work, but can’t hurt to try.

MV:
13. You have been working to get Love's Captive into paper print. What have the responses been so far?

Myra:
Agents seem to fall into 3 categories (to me, at least): those that don’t seem to take the time we writer’s feel they should (you often wonder if these even read past a few words!), these are the ones that send back a form rejection letter; then there are terse ones that send back little harsh notes of rejection - like - “Not for me!”; then there are fewer in number who send back encouraging rejections - like - “Has potential, but...”; “There are many things of merit here, but, unfortunately, I’m going to have to decline taking this on for you.”

MV:
14. How long did it take you to write Love's Captive?

Myra:
It took me approximately a year writing it after work. The actual time was probably more like 8 months, but it stretched to a year when adding in sick times & a surgery.

MV:
15. Was it difficult to give up your career to write full-time?

Myra:
No. There were only 2 difficult parts: One, was giving up the 2nd income of $30,000 a year; two, was getting used to the isolation. I was used to talking to people all day & helping them solve problems. This makes my 3rd career change. First, I was a nurse for a number of years, then became more interested in the mind & attained my MS in counseling. But, the whole time, since the 1st time I jotted down notes on Volarn, I dreamed of one day “being a writer.”

I also knew this wouldn’t come about easily, that it couldn’t happen until we could financially afford it. In 1996, after 40 passed me by, I felt like I had gotten no closer to my goal & time was slipping faster through my fingers. That’s when I made up my mind to finally, finally, start writing Love's Captive. Simon & I had discussed my writing career and both agreed that if our bills got more mangageable, I could quit the next time we moved. And that’s exactly what happened.

And even though my degrees are in psychology & counseling, I never considered myself to have a career, just a job. Simon being military, I always had to change jobs, so that didn’t leave any room for upward growth in a true career pattern.

After 24 years of helping people, I figured it was my time, that I wanted to do something for me only - writing!

MV:
16. What advice would you give other writers?

Myra:
Hmm. That’s really a tough one. But, here goes...one, don’t give up your day job unless you can afford it!! Also, only pursue writing as a full-time endeavor unless your heart is really into it, it’s kinda an itch that needs...no...has to be scratched. Maybe, an urge that runs through your blood and keeps you awake at night...you know what I’m talking about...when all those characters run through your head, living their lives, filling you up with a passion to spill the beans on them!!

Otherwise, write as you can. Short stories may be easier to start with, less time consuming, with more avenues for acceptance. I think they’re good training ground for novels too. Your story has to be “tighter”, things have to happen much more swiftly, and characters have to be developed quickly and jump into the action or whatever the storyline is.

MV:
17. Are you ever plagued with writer’s block? If yes, what did you do to work through it? If no, do you feel there are ways to avoid it?

Myra:
Not really. Just one time while I was writing Love's Captive, would I say I had writer’s block; but it really was more like, I had a hard time convincing myself to work on a particular section. I had gotten bored with it and wanted to jump straight into the action part. So, Simon made a simple but brillant suggestion - skip the chapter or two I was avoiding and go ahead and start writing the interesting part I was itching to do.

I did, and then after a few chapters, I was ready to go back and tackle the part I had avoided. It was a little difficult, having to go back and change page numbers again, but this method did get me through this blockage.

I think other writers may experience what I tend to do, rather than writer’s block - that is, I simply get unmotivated at times and don’t feel like writing. While I was writing Love's Captive, I found the only way to overcome this, was to make myself sit down & write, no matter what came through. Sometimes I wouldn’t even like what I’d written the first few paragraphs and I would delete them later. But, the act of simply writing would get my juices flowing in a fairly short time.

I don’t know if there’s a way to avoid either writer’s block or being unmotivated, other than the suggestion above...or perhaps taking a break. The mind gets tired and sometimes it just doesn’t want to cooperate.

MV:
18. Do you have specific research resources that are invaluable to you? If yes, why do you feel they work?

Myra:
I don’t really use research when writing my S/F because I make up my world. If I used more science fiction facts, then I would feel obligated to use substantive information. I use the old reliable Dictionary and Super Thesaurus.

But, for my southern traditions book, I used a lot of research, in the form of research on the web; interviewing friends, family, and southerners; reading other books on the South; and I’ve even added to my information by simply listening to people wherever I go - I’ve heard different little tidbits to add to my growing pile of facts.

MV:
19. Where do you do most of your writing and with what tools?

Myra:
I use the computer, which is located in my breakfast nook. When I travel, I try to always have a little notepad so I can jot down any ideas which may come to me. You never know when your imagination is going to take off.

MV:
20. What are the 3 most valuable books you’ve ever read? Why?

Myra:
I can’t think of any specifically. I was influenced by the S/F & fantasy books, as well as romance novels I’ve read and loved. The only one I can name, in a different sort of influence, was The Warrior Woman by Johanna Lindsey. Until my daughter brought it home & I read it, I didn’t know this new category of futuristic or S/F romance had finally come into being. When I made up Love's Captive 21 years ago, authors either wrote straight S/F or straight romance. That’s one of the reasons I put it into a drawer; I couldn’t decide which way to go with it, I wanted to combine both elements I loved so much. So when I read Warrior Woman, I was really excited. Here was a category in whichLove's Captive could truly fit!

MV:
21. Was there one person who influenced you the most in your writing and why?

Myra:
I wish I could say there was, but I never personally knew a writer...or anyone else who I felt influenced me in any way. The most influence I have experienced, was the support and encouragement I have received from my children and husband. My kids loved for me to read them the horror story about the boogie man I’d written when they were young; only when they were grown, did they tell me it scared them & made the shadows in their room at night creepy. And Simon has always loved my stories and respected my talent. Perhaps there’s not a better influence than your loved ones encouraging you?

But...when it comes right down to it, I guess I can name one person - me! If I didn’t have the interest, didn’t love books so much, wasn’t such a motivated person, didn’t have a wild imagination and the ability to translate this into words, wasn’t a person who believed in herself and her abilities, and wasn’t a “stick to it” person...I wouldn’t have accomplished what I have so far.

Thank you again, Myra, for doing this interview. I loved reading your responses.

If anyone doubts Myra's description of her husband, Simon, then they really need to visit her site. They will understand why she uses him for character material.

Visit Myra's site and find out about Love's Captive, and Simon, her inspiration.

Check out Mystic~Visions Book Review page to see a review on Love's Captive.