Ask the Author: Janalyn Voigt
Answered Questions (11)
Janalyn Voigt
I'm partial, but I'd travel into Elderland, the fantasy world that unfolds within the pages of the Tales of Faeraven books.
Janalyn Voigt
The identity of my grandfather has long baffled the family. He was a Sauk-Fox Indian, on the Fox side of that nation. He died before my father was born, unless he didn't. It's a long, sad story that I'm certain has colored the books I write.
Janalyn Voigt
Hi, Lori. I followed you. Thanks for the invitation.
Janalyn Voigt
I have a hardcover copy of Hawaii by James Michener on my nightstand and my Kindle loaded with books by Lynnette Bonner and Dennis Brooke. I may also reread a romantic mystery novel by Mary Stewart, my favorite vintage author.
Janalyn Voigt
My most recent book, Hills of Nevermore (Montana Gold, book 1) came to life after its title flashed into my mind. It came without any effort on my part, which makes me believe it was an instant of divine inspiration.
Janalyn Voigt
Inspiration comes in a variety of ways. Often an idea will present itself to me, and I'll push it back in my mind. It will emerge from time to time, and my reflections at those moments flesh it out. I'll draw a theme from the idea and tease out a story problem readers will want to solve. Eventually, I'll talk about what has now become a premise to people I trust. This helps me shape the story. For me, this is the process of years.
Janalyn Voigt
I'm working on Cheyenne Sunrise, book 2 of the Montana Gold western historical fiction series set during Montana Territory's gold rush, a time of unrest in the Wild West.
Janalyn Voigt
Believe in yourself even if no one else does. Basing your success or failure on someone else's definition will skew your results. What is your own definition of success, and how will you know when you've attained it?
Janalyn Voigt
The writing life can be incredibly difficult, what with deadlines, competition in the marketplace, and long days at the keyboard. Receiving feedback from readers touched by my books makes it all worthwhile.
Janalyn Voigt
I didn't believe in writer's block until I experienced a creative block after a devastating illness and schedule disruptions stacked on one another last year. I was willing to write but became restless at the keyboard and couldn't focus. It was hard to get back in the groove.
This really devastated me, because my agent was waiting for a submission, but thankfully she understood, having seen this before in other writers.
The idea of having angst as a writer can seem glamorous, but to me it was a pain. I am normally quite disciplined and just wanted to meet my obligations. Looking back, I can see that my creative block was linked to my state of health. Once that corrected itself, I had no trouble slipping back into gear. Also, external forces can disrupt our focus for a time. When that happens, working to smooth life out will yield benefits.
I'm happy to say that I'm doing well now, but the experience marked me. For months afterwards, I was afraid to commit to a project schedule, in case I'd be unable to complete it.
This really devastated me, because my agent was waiting for a submission, but thankfully she understood, having seen this before in other writers.
The idea of having angst as a writer can seem glamorous, but to me it was a pain. I am normally quite disciplined and just wanted to meet my obligations. Looking back, I can see that my creative block was linked to my state of health. Once that corrected itself, I had no trouble slipping back into gear. Also, external forces can disrupt our focus for a time. When that happens, working to smooth life out will yield benefits.
I'm happy to say that I'm doing well now, but the experience marked me. For months afterwards, I was afraid to commit to a project schedule, in case I'd be unable to complete it.
Janalyn Voigt
Hi, Nike. Ideas come to me in different ways. Sometimes they arrive out of the blue (I love when that happens). Other things that can set off ideas for me are someone's casual comment, a news story, a picture, an idle reflection, or people watching. :o)
How the idea for my Tales of Faeraven series formed is an example of my creative process. It started as a story I made up to entertain my bored young daughter while on a road trip. Long after she'd forgotten the story, it stayed with me, growing and evolving over a space of years.
Writers sometimes liken giving birth to a story with the biological process, and that's not far off.
How the idea for my Tales of Faeraven series formed is an example of my creative process. It started as a story I made up to entertain my bored young daughter while on a road trip. Long after she'd forgotten the story, it stayed with me, growing and evolving over a space of years.
Writers sometimes liken giving birth to a story with the biological process, and that's not far off.
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