Ask the Author: Charlotte Whitney
Answered Questions (12)
Charlotte Whitney
When I'm well into a writing project I find other characters, settings, and plot ideas that won't fit into the current manuscript but certainly could be a source of future books. Occasionally I'll follow up.
Charlotte Whitney
I simply plunge in and somehow the words trickle into my consciousness. I've never been blocked from prior jobs like waitress, secretary, teacher or consultant so I won't waste time on writer's block.
Charlotte Whitney
My co-author Juliet and I are working on a historical novel based on a true story. We're following a fugitive slave family from Kentucky as they make their way through Indiana via the Underground Railroad to my hometown of Marshall Michigan. It's tender, beautiful, and heart-breaking.
Charlotte Whitney
You walk into your pitch black bedroom and flop on your bed. Every nightmare you've ever had descends from the ceiling in three-dimensional reality.
Charlotte Whitney
Oh, I'd go back in time to Huckleberry Finn's world along the Mississippi River and meet up with all the scoundrels and scallywags he and Jim encountered. I'd help Jim escape to freedom and encourage Huck to remain true to himself.
Charlotte Whitney
My father knew very little about his people, although there were rumors of a horse thief somewhere back in the family line. It would be fun to invent a story around the thief. What was his motivation? Why a horse and not a bank theft? How did he carry it off? Did he have any redeeming values?
Charlotte Whitney
Hi Grace, Nice to hear that you're interested in reading. Keep it up.
Get a library card whenever it's safe for you to go to the library. Librarians can help you choose some books suited to your interests and reading level.
Get a library card whenever it's safe for you to go to the library. Librarians can help you choose some books suited to your interests and reading level.
Charlotte Whitney
This is a question to ask fans of historical fiction. An author puts so much effort into her book that she wants EVERYONE to love it. But, of course, readers who enjoy other genres will prefer other titles. So check reviews and talk to your friends who have the same reading tastes as you, and ask for recommendations. I realized I'd ARRIVED when a friend was talking to another friend (someone I didn't know) and found out that they were both reading THREADS that same week. Better yet, they both loved the book. Regarding your second question, it's hard to tell how many people are reading it, particularly if book clubs are using library copies. But in general, an author can took at her major booksellers such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble to see how many copies have sold in any given month.
Charlotte Whitney
Read, read, and read some more. Figure out your passions and the genres you love the most. That's the starting point. I love historical fiction but it took me a long time to get there. Because I worked in a university setting and was used to nonfiction, I started there. If I had listened to my heart I would have gotten there much sooner.
Charlotte Whitney
Catherine and Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights. The relationship is so complicated by social mores and dictums and there's the backdrop of the rugged moors and miserable weather..
Charlotte Whitney
It's incredibly rewarding to have people tell you how much they enjoy your work. Many people don't have this gift so I want to use my talents to the max. I keep pushing myself to take on more challenging projects and this in itself keeps me motivated and my writing fresh.
Charlotte Whitney
I once asked my grandmother what it was like during the Depression. I expected her to say that they had no problem since they had dairy cattle and a large garden. Instead, she told me how lucky they were because they only went hungry for one year. That grabbed my attention.
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