Ask the Author: Shirley Johnson
Answered Questions (6)
Shirley Johnson
I'm so happy you loved I Heart Ed Small. I am done with the first half of the sequel, Baby Small.
You know, I wasn't going to write a sequel but so many people asked for one, I thought- I will try.
I am shooting for it being out next November. 2015. I'm going to try.
When I wrote the first novel, I didn't have to worry about letting anyone down. I thought like 5 people would read it! haha!
I can't post any more excerpts on here because I don't want to spoil anything.
Thanks for your question and for your kind words.
You know, I wasn't going to write a sequel but so many people asked for one, I thought- I will try.
I am shooting for it being out next November. 2015. I'm going to try.
When I wrote the first novel, I didn't have to worry about letting anyone down. I thought like 5 people would read it! haha!
I can't post any more excerpts on here because I don't want to spoil anything.
Thanks for your question and for your kind words.
Shirley Johnson
Write for only you. Write as if only you were ever going to read it. Write for your own enjoyment and write the perfect novel that you would enjoy reading again and again.
Because if you ever want to publish it, you're going to have to read it again and again.
and then instill the help of friends to read it for content. Then instill the help of people that maybe aren't so friendly, to read it for content. And if you can afford an editor, hire one. I've never been able to afford a real editor and my books have slipped past with errors.
But mostly write for yourself and write every day.
Because if you ever want to publish it, you're going to have to read it again and again.
and then instill the help of friends to read it for content. Then instill the help of people that maybe aren't so friendly, to read it for content. And if you can afford an editor, hire one. I've never been able to afford a real editor and my books have slipped past with errors.
But mostly write for yourself and write every day.
Shirley Johnson
This answer contains spoilers…
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Shirley Johnson
I love to read. And I think what pushed me to write I Heart Ed Small was because I was in between books. I hate to be in between books, don't you? And so I thought, I'll write this book for myself, to give myself something good to read.
So one good thing about being a writer is, you can create your own books, just for your own entertainment. And if you enjoy them, again and again, maybe someone else will too.
The second best thing is, I have always loved to play with dolls and dollhouses and now I like to build dollhouses; and writing is like creating a dollhouse in the mind. You create an entire world. And you people that world. Writing a novel is like playing with dolls in your imagination. When I played dolls as a kid, it was always very real to me. I would get engrossed for hours. I hope my stories, my novels can engross you for hours.
So one good thing about being a writer is, you can create your own books, just for your own entertainment. And if you enjoy them, again and again, maybe someone else will too.
The second best thing is, I have always loved to play with dolls and dollhouses and now I like to build dollhouses; and writing is like creating a dollhouse in the mind. You create an entire world. And you people that world. Writing a novel is like playing with dolls in your imagination. When I played dolls as a kid, it was always very real to me. I would get engrossed for hours. I hope my stories, my novels can engross you for hours.
Shirley Johnson
I am currently working on a sequel to "I Heart Ed Small". I wasn't planning on ever writing a sequel to this novel, but many people have emailed me, asking me to please write a follow up. So I'm exploring the idea. I can't promise anything. Because if I do, then the writers block sets in. So I'm just exploring and having fun with the idea right now.
I'm also halfway done with the first draft for a novel called "Charlie". About a woman in a small town who works at a weapons manufacturing plant and is trying to find where she fits in. She's a tough talking red-headed girlie girl who just came out of an abusive marriage, but everyone in the town thinks her husband was a war hero. It's a novel to get me out of my comfort zone; honky tonk music and line dancing and pick-up trucks and men in Wranglers.
I'm also halfway done with the first draft for a novel called "Charlie". About a woman in a small town who works at a weapons manufacturing plant and is trying to find where she fits in. She's a tough talking red-headed girlie girl who just came out of an abusive marriage, but everyone in the town thinks her husband was a war hero. It's a novel to get me out of my comfort zone; honky tonk music and line dancing and pick-up trucks and men in Wranglers.
Shirley Johnson
I tell myself that I am never going to publish what I write, that no one but me and my best friend will ever read what I'm writing. That takes away the fear of being judged. I write it just for me, and I tell myself, "it doesn't count" and "It's just for fun". And then I'm free to write anything at all. No limits. No judgements.
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