Welcome — or welcome back — to another Author Spotlight! If you’re new and want to know more about how the series got started, go check out the introduction post.
Today the spotlight is on fantasy author Beth Hudson.
– – –
Let’s start with the most important. What’s your most recent/next book, and where can we go to learn more about it and you?
My most recent book is a collection of my short stories called “Seeing Green”. It’s available through both Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. I have an author page on both Amazon and Goodreads, as well as an author website and a Facebook page. My next book is a sequel to my novel “Etched in Fire” called “A Gift of Flame”.
Do you feel you’re influenced by other authors?
I am very influenced by other authors. Every author who has contributed to my world view influences my works by bending me in a slightly different direction than I would have gone otherwise; every story I read shows me something different. When I read anything that really impresses me, I look at what the author has done to create a compelling story, and try to figure out how that would or would not work for my writing. Ideas cross-pollinate and help me create stronger stories.
Do you write in a linear or non-linear fashion?
I write primarily in a linear fashion – I’m a “pantser” a writer who wings the first draft, meaning that I tend to go through chronologically and find out where the story is headed. After that I carefully edit to make sure that my story is as strong as possible. However, there are times when I get a scene from further along in my head, and need to make sure that I either write it then, or at least make notes about it, so that I can write the scene effectively later.
Do you have any unique or quirky writing habits?
I often write to music.
What’s the first thing you’d do if you won the lottery?
I would absolutely travel. I love traveling, and seldom am able to, so if I had the finances, I’d probably be making plans to visit other cities and countries. As it is, I have to rely on traveling to other worlds in my reading.
What is one question you’ve always wanted to be asked in an interview?
Hmmm… probably “Why do you write?” Because the answer to that varies so widely among authors that everyone will probably have a different answer. In my case, it’s a combination of wanting to give others stories that will affect them as strongly as I have been affected by the stories I have read, and an outlet for those stories I have always had in my head, but was not able to effectively share before I developed a strong writing style.
– – –
Thank you, Ms. Hudson for taking the time to answer a few questions for me. If you’d like to know more about Beth Hudson, you can check out her website, Facebook, and Goodreads page. Her books are on Barnes and Noble and Amazon.
