Ask the Author: Mae Redding
Answered Questions (5)
Mae Redding
My idea for 'The Color of Jade' came from a few things that happened to come together at the same time. One of my daughters requested the books the Hunger Games for Christmas and wanted me to read them, so I did. December 2011, I read them, one after the other, in five days. I loved them, but the ending of the third book upset me enough that I wanted to write something that didn't involve killing sweet, little girls. I have three daughters of my own and I wanted to write a better ending, (funny, right? Not possible, those books are great and I can see now, why it had to end the way it did). It got my mind thinking though on the writing process and how people come up with such stories.
At the same time, if you remember, the Doomsday December 21, 2012 had been predicted and was big on the T.V. This worried my youngest daughter. By profession, I am a nurse at a local hospital and she was worried about what would happen to me and to them if I was at work on 12/21/2012. She even wanted me to take that day off. Cute.
Nevertheless, we had a discussion on safety and emergency preparedness and to not believe everything you see on T.V.
But, this gave me the idea for my novel and January 2, 2012 I started writing. The words came faster than I could type them and before I new it I had seventy five pages. I was amazed that I could write even one. I wasn't a writer before this, the only classes I took were the required English classes for my nursing degree.
I know that was a long story, but that is how I got my first idea, not only for the novel, but to actually write in the first place.
At the same time, if you remember, the Doomsday December 21, 2012 had been predicted and was big on the T.V. This worried my youngest daughter. By profession, I am a nurse at a local hospital and she was worried about what would happen to me and to them if I was at work on 12/21/2012. She even wanted me to take that day off. Cute.
Nevertheless, we had a discussion on safety and emergency preparedness and to not believe everything you see on T.V.
But, this gave me the idea for my novel and January 2, 2012 I started writing. The words came faster than I could type them and before I new it I had seventy five pages. I was amazed that I could write even one. I wasn't a writer before this, the only classes I took were the required English classes for my nursing degree.
I know that was a long story, but that is how I got my first idea, not only for the novel, but to actually write in the first place.
Mae Redding
Real life and the challenges people face inspires me. Relationships, my children, the outdoors and nature, my love of horses and animals play a part in that too. I believe my novels are very realistic with issues that people face today or may face someday in the future.
Mae Redding
I am currently working on the second book in the Jade Series, 'Jaded Warriors'. If you fell in love with Jade and Gage you'll want to find out what happens next. It's a continuation as they try to move past the devastation, forgive themselves, mend broken hearts and find their way back to each other again, all while they are forced to live in an ever increasingly hostile world. They both become key players in the fight against Morrison. It is very close to finished and I am hoping to release it sometime in the next six months.
I am also working on the beginnings of a second series which I am very excited about. Hopefully coming out some time next year.
I am also working on the beginnings of a second series which I am very excited about. Hopefully coming out some time next year.
Mae Redding
My advice for aspiring authors?
I still consider myself an aspiring author. I had a whim one day after reading the Hunger Games and decided I wanted to write a book. So I jumped on my computer, did some research on writing, then went for it. It was that crazy and that fast. I did not take writing classes beyond the college English requirements. I guess what I am saying is, if you want to write... then do it. It isn't easy, sometimes you will get frustrated and not everyone will like what you write, but you need to just believe in yourself and go for it. You just might come up with something amazing.
I still consider myself an aspiring author. I had a whim one day after reading the Hunger Games and decided I wanted to write a book. So I jumped on my computer, did some research on writing, then went for it. It was that crazy and that fast. I did not take writing classes beyond the college English requirements. I guess what I am saying is, if you want to write... then do it. It isn't easy, sometimes you will get frustrated and not everyone will like what you write, but you need to just believe in yourself and go for it. You just might come up with something amazing.
Mae Redding
I guess it depends on what's causing the writers block. I tend to have a harder time focusing if my house is not clean or if I have obligations coming up that need my attention. Sometimes if I've worked too much on a particular project, I will move to another writing project. (I have several in the works). If there are no distractions and I'm still having a hard time, then I set my writing aside and go for a walk, experience nature, spend time with my kids and go back to my love of reading and read books from other authors. Those things are where I drew my inspiration to write in the first place.
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