Finale Friday!...YES!!!

This week's Finale Friday! Is about my friend, mentor, and fellow author- April Erwin. Please read the following interview and take time to check out all of April's links, personal pages, and various other tidbits of information.

1) When there are so many things in this world that could draw you in, what draws you in to writing?

You ask deep questions! LOL, way to make me think hard before the weekend. What draws me into writing… let me count the ways… other than the fact it makes me wax poetic in a completely cheesy way, writing is the way I express myself best. I’m not bad with snappy comebacks, but give me a pen and a chance to write my response and it will always be better. I think it’s because it gives my shy, introverted self the license to truly say anything. Plus, I’m a complete day dreamer at heart. If I’m not writing the fantasy down, the stories are still playing out in my mind. Writing might get stressful at times, but the high I feel when I get it right and see it completed makes it all worth it.

2) How long have you been writing for and when was your first publication.

My first book was about a family of bunnies in Kindergarten. I thought it was wonderful. (I was the only one, but the bug had bitten) I continued to write stories throughout middle school and high school as a way to process my life events, but it wasn’t until my senior year in high school that I had an idea for a novel that didn’t center around me. I worked on it for years while taking classes and eventually self-published Missing Pieces when I was twenty-five. It did well and as a fun side note, the high school where the story idea was born adapted Missing Pieces as their schools play one year. That was very cool to see.

3) How important is technology to you ​in regards to​ writ​ing​?

VERY! My handwriting isn’t very pretty and gets unreadable really fast! LOL! I hate writing anything long hand. I even have word on my cell phone to take notes. I use the internet a lot for research when I don’t have individuals to interview and I have at least three separate backup locations to protect my files. I love Jane Austen but I think even she would have dumped her quill pen for a keyboard in a heartbeat.

4) Does technology interfere with your writing ability?

Only when I let myself get sidetracked by social media or follow a rabbit hole. You know, you’re researching chili peppers so you know which is best to use in the novel and suddenly that brings up an article about the world’s largest pot of chili, then pot sold in a drug ring in Chili and you think “Ooo, that could be an interesting story” and an hour later you have a page of notes on drug running in South America instead of writing about your character picking up chili peppers. Unfortunately, I fall down rabbit holes frequently, on the bright side, I know a lot of interesting stuff! J

​​5) In an ideal environment, what stimulates your creative writing side?

Peace and quiet, no distractions… that helps, but really my creative side tends to get triggered at the oddest times. In my last short story, The Power of Love, I describe a wreck where a tanker carrying ink is hit and ink floods the highway. The idea for that scene came as I was driving back from visiting my brother. I saw a semi-tanker with an ink label on the side and I thought, “Wow, can you imagine the mess that would make if it spilled?” That got me excited and I couldn’t wait to find a way to use it in my stories.

6​) Do you have a favorite author(s).

Oh, my, I get asked this one a lot and it’s so hard to answer because I have a lot of fav authors and new ones that I’m adding all the time. Just to name a few: Donita K. Paul, Dee Henderson, Michael Crichton, Kathy Tyers, Melissa Landers and Harold Bell Wright. That’s just the highlights across the genres. I love a lot of different styles and really enjoy studying how each creates a story in a different way.

​7​) What advice would you give to up and coming authors?

Don’t stop writing no matter how frustrated you are and be willing to listen to experienced advice. Sometimes that comes from other writers and sometimes that just comes from someone who’s more experienced in the topic your writing about. We all love our baby, but we have to remember to let it breathe and grow and change. And as long as I’m using the parenting analogy, let’s face it, if you’re a new parent with one book on the way or a pro with several books, there is always someone else out there with more experience in something that can teach you a new or different approach at parenting/writing.

​8​) For you, what is the hardest part about writing and developing a story?

The first draft is always the hardest. I’m a planner. I like to outline and know where the story is going. The problem is my stories don’t like to stick to the rules. It’s like my outline looks at my finale, laughs manically and says, “HA! That’s what you THINK is going to happen.” They ALWAYS change as I write, which means I’m constantly adjusting my plot and just moving forward to see what the outcome is really going to be. I’m never disappointed by the surprises and I know by now I should just expect the outline to be more of a suggestion, but it’s still tough finding the story the first time through.

9) Do you use real life examples or scenarios as your inspirations?

Absolutely! In Dysfunction Junction my main character Kianna gets herself in a very uncomfortable position putting on a new bra. It’s completely true; I did it myself and thought for sure I was going to end up strangling myself by accident. I wrote about it on my blog and then later in the book. I’ve been told it’s one of the funniest scenes in the novel.

10) Of all the numerous steps of writing a book to seeing it on the shelf, digital or otherwise, what has been the hardest part(s) for you? Easiest part(s)?

Hardest part, hands down, is always the first draft. It’s much easier to edit and expand on the story once I know what is happening, but building it the first time is TOUGH! Easiest is probably the final edit stage before it goes to publication. By then it’s down to technical stuff and the fun part of choosing art and such.

Thanks for inviting me for a chat, it’s been a blast. You can feel free to share any link or graphic from my author bio that you’d like. Here's the link on Google Drive to access the document- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FRQwA_Sq2Ay-DVZ6X4HO4qGs_3XNpg7E3L7EqfeyiIQ/edit

Also by April Erwin:

Available Now:Dysfunction Junction, Justice Burning, A Volunteer Christmas & The Power of Love

Other pages to visit: viewAuthor.at/AmazonAprilErwin, www.AprilErwin.com, www.Facebook.com/AprilErwinAuthor, www.TheErwins.com or www.ProjectingA.blogspot.com