Ask the Author: Deborah Linn
Answered Questions (5)
Deborah Linn
I'm so excited about my classic revisit. It's taking me back to my teenage years because it takes place in the 1980s. Get ready for hair bands, shoulder pads, and, like, some totally tubular plot twists.
It's the 100th anniversary of Huck and Tom finding a pirate's treasure, and two teenage girl descendants discover that their ancestor's gold was just the beginning. The rest of the pirate treasure is bigger than everyone suspected. Well, not everyone. Someone else knows too, only he can't get to it without something one of the girls has. But he's the last person on the planet either one of them could trust.
Think Outer Banks meets...well, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
It's the 100th anniversary of Huck and Tom finding a pirate's treasure, and two teenage girl descendants discover that their ancestor's gold was just the beginning. The rest of the pirate treasure is bigger than everyone suspected. Well, not everyone. Someone else knows too, only he can't get to it without something one of the girls has. But he's the last person on the planet either one of them could trust.
Think Outer Banks meets...well, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
Deborah Linn
1. Write every day. It's the advice that was given to me, and it made a big difference.
2. Only take advice from people who know what they are talking about.
3. Develop thick skin. You need honest critique partner who won't let you make stupid mistakes.
4. Don't give up. Persistence and tenacity are key.
5. Read Stephen King's On Writing.
2. Only take advice from people who know what they are talking about.
3. Develop thick skin. You need honest critique partner who won't let you make stupid mistakes.
4. Don't give up. Persistence and tenacity are key.
5. Read Stephen King's On Writing.
Deborah Linn
I'm lucky. I'm always inspired to write. Daily writing helps me to be able to write even when the spirit isn't moving me.
Deborah Linn
I handle writer's block by telling myself to write a scene that will never make it into the book. Knowing that no one will ever see it frees my brain to create without judgment. This exercise usually ends up revealing information about the characters that I didn't know before.
Okay, I know. That sounds weird. My math-brained husband does not understand how information about a character I created can be revealed to me through my own writing, but it happens.
Sometimes, getting away from the story altogether helps. Going for a walk is very useful in working out writer's block issues. I just can't walk to far or, knowing my ADHD brain, I'll get it all worked out but forget what I'm going to write by the time I get back to the keyboard.
Okay, I know. That sounds weird. My math-brained husband does not understand how information about a character I created can be revealed to me through my own writing, but it happens.
Sometimes, getting away from the story altogether helps. Going for a walk is very useful in working out writer's block issues. I just can't walk to far or, knowing my ADHD brain, I'll get it all worked out but forget what I'm going to write by the time I get back to the keyboard.
Deborah Linn
The answer to this question is a big secret--until now. I've never told anyone this before. Yeeeears ago, when I was young and thin, I competed in beauty pageants. Once, while on a return home flight from the First Runners Up pageant (Yep, that's a thing. A national pageant for all first runners up from each state. And, believe me, that's a whole other story!) Anyway, I hate flying. At some point, I usually have to reach for the barf bag. On this particular flight, I was luckily seated beside a hunky airman. (My hometown has an airbase.) We hit if off in a sort of Hallmarky way. He even handed me the barf bag when I needed it. (I know Ewww.) I was so embarrassed, but he was super sweet and offered to give me a ride home from the airport. My heart was a-fluttering! So we exit the plane. He goes to get his luggage, and I go to the restroom to freshen up. When I come back out, my recently ex-boyfriend is standing there. He had surprised me, a gesture to try to win me back. Stupidly, I revealed the truth of the matter to the hunky airman. He smiled (with dimples, of course) and said, "Well, it looks like you've got some stuff to work out. That is really too bad." And then he gives a disappointed nod and walks away. I never see him again. I would love, love, love to rewrite the ending to that story!
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