Ask the Author: Suzanne Thackston
Answered Questions (6)
Suzanne Thackston
What a good question. Let me try to distill the very long answer into something that fits in this forum.
Firstly, I strive in all things to be as honest as I can, and that's where I start, with writing from a place of love and pure honesty. So when I'm writing a dark tale about Them like this one, I'm always coming from that place- honest in that They can be terrifying, and also love because They are never evil. I never need to make fun of Them like Riordan or present Them as petty as so many do. Holy terror is real and pure, and if you can survive it, transformational. When I'm writing a really dark scene, I go there first, then write it. When I write it, I try to keep in the forefront of my mind my love for Them. The love that is every bit as real as the terror.
Hope that makes a little sense.
Firstly, I strive in all things to be as honest as I can, and that's where I start, with writing from a place of love and pure honesty. So when I'm writing a dark tale about Them like this one, I'm always coming from that place- honest in that They can be terrifying, and also love because They are never evil. I never need to make fun of Them like Riordan or present Them as petty as so many do. Holy terror is real and pure, and if you can survive it, transformational. When I'm writing a really dark scene, I go there first, then write it. When I write it, I try to keep in the forefront of my mind my love for Them. The love that is every bit as real as the terror.
Hope that makes a little sense.
Suzanne Thackston
There’s not a single answer to this, but my best ideas seem to come about when I’m alone, quiet and in nature. Walking under the stars brings the inner silence and space for ideas to wander in.
Suzanne Thackston
It came from a writing prompt! Back in 2012 a group of writers came to my house for a sharing session, all having written a piece based on the prompt ‘spring peepers.’ While the peepers ended up being edited out (they don’t exist in Greece), that was the first chapter of my novella.
Suzanne Thackston
A picture book for children about death called ‘When I Am a Tree’ in collaboration with the artist who did the work for ‘Dark Horses’ and a series of short stories tentatively titled ‘Tales for my Grandchildren (But Probably Too Creepy for Yours)'. I’m also preparing a short story for my critique group’s next anthology, and working on my bi-monthly column at Luna Station Quarterly.
Suzanne Thackston
Nothing new here. I work for Nora Roberts at her gift shop in Boonsboro, which doesn’t actually give me access to her but her work ethic is awesome and inspiring. Sit your ass in the chair and write. Often what you write will be ghastly, but you can fix that. You can’t fix a blank page.
Suzanne Thackston
I’ve wanted to do this my whole life, but made a gazillion excuses as to why I couldn’t. 60 is late in life to make a dream come true, but being a writer is thrilling, exhausting, incredible and terrifying. Every single day I walk into my studio I’m overcome with gratitude that it’s happening.
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