Tony Gilbert's Blog - Posts Tagged "comedy"
An Interview with Rebecca Scarberry
1 - Why did you first start writing? Was there a book that you read or a film that you saw which pushed you towards it? Have you stuck with the genre you began in?
Rebecca: I started writing because I felt I could write just as well as the bestselling authors. I’ve felt this way since I was a young child. Whether I am or not….time will tell.
The first book I published was Messages from Henry and it was written for young adults. I haven’t stuck with writing young adult fiction. My second book, a short story called Rag Doll, is written for adults. My third book is a children’s picture book called Jumper, and my fourth book is a romance novel called Where Love Takes You (sequel to Messages from Henry and previously entitled something else). The next book I publish will be Jumper Bounces Back. It’s the second book in the Jumper series. I’m waiting for the illustrator to send the pictures and I’ll publish the book the beginning of 2014.
2 - As an author you are well versed in stretching the truth. What is the most blatant lie you have ever told?
Rebecca: Yes and I have a lot of fun doing this. Once I get to know people a little bit, I make up stories about myself. Once I realize they’re buying into my lie, I come clean. When I was seventeen, my boyfriend drew a large Playboy Bunny on my tummy with a black marker. My inny bellybutton was the bunny’s eye. I walked all over the beach in my bikini and told people that noticed it that I was a Playboy Bunny. I didn’t tell all of the men, believing it true, I was joking.‿
3 – Every author gets writers block at some point. How do you cope with this?
Rebecca: This happened to me two days ago. What I did was delete part of the last I’d written and I took the story in a whole new direction.
4 – If you could switch genders for a day, what would you do?
Rebecca: I’d build a very large kennel, with a nice wooden shed so that I could raise teddy bear puppies and sell them.
5 – What are the most important attributes to give to a lead character, in your opinion?
Rebecca: A lead character has to be believable and entertaining. If a reader can’t relate to your protagonists and entertained by them, they won’t enjoy the story.
6 – What, outside of writing, do you consider your biggest success?
Rebecca: My artwork. I supplemented my income a great deal by selling my scrimshaw. I’ve often felt like going back to this ancient art. Felt this way after I realized that just because I was a good storyteller, putting my stories on paper wasn’t quite as easy as I thought it would be.
7 – And the same question but in regards to your writing?
Rebecca: I’d have to say that my biggest success as a writer and self-published author is my debut novella, Messages from Henry. Before I took it off Smashwords, I had over one hundred rave reviews. I now have about ninety rave reviews (Amazon and goodreads). A close second would be my children’s picture book, Jumper. I’ve sold quite a few paperback copies of it out of my Hummer since July 2013. I’m no longer a shy little farm girl. I tell just about everyone I meet that I’m an author and hand them a book marker.
8 – Freezing plastic containers releases deadly toxins! Fact or fiction? What are your thoughts?
Rebecca: Hmm. I googled this and I’ve found that there is a big debate about this. I personally don’t freeze food in plastic containers. I wrap mine in butcher paper.
9 – Do you have any regrets?
Rebecca: Yes. I regret not marrying my very first boyfriend. Shhh! Don’t tell my husband.
10 – Who or what really makes you laugh out loud?
Rebecca: Hmm. This is a tough one because I laugh out loud a lot. I’ll try to narrow this down. I guess it would be the laughs I get from people I tell about the time I proved to my husband that I’m still flexible. I told him I can still wrap my legs around my neck. After showing him, the left side of my body went numb the next day. When I went to the chiropractor he took an X-Ray. I had popped one of my top vertebrae out. He asked how I did this. I lied and told him I didn’t have a clue.
11 –I have heard that you were the chief inventor of sellotape. Do you stick to that story?
Rebecca: No, but I stick to my story that I invented the padded bra. Hmm. I wonder why people never believe me?? Maybe I should consider wearing one.
12 – What is your favourite story that you have written, about?
Rebecca: Without a doubt it’s my story about Jumper, a big red beach ball. This series is written for age four and up. It was so much fun pretending to be a beach ball, telling the story about his adventures outside of the toy store.
13 – How can people get in contact with you?
Rebecca: Leave a message for me on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/Scarberryfields I’m also @Scarberryfields on Twitter. I read DMs. My email address is: r3scarberry@yahoo.com
14 – Do you like to be interviewed?
Rebecca: I love to be interviewed. Hey! I love any and all of the attention I can get. I have to say that I’ve enjoyed answering your questions so MUCH. Thank you!
My books are only sold on Amazon:
Messages from Henry: http://smarturl.it/58as19
Rag Doll: http://smarturl.it/9qb5qq
Jumper: http://smarturl.it/ij1p4x
Where Love Takes You: http://smarturl.it/jjmlsa
- See more at: http://www.tonygilbert.info/1_18_Rebe...
Rebecca: I started writing because I felt I could write just as well as the bestselling authors. I’ve felt this way since I was a young child. Whether I am or not….time will tell.
The first book I published was Messages from Henry and it was written for young adults. I haven’t stuck with writing young adult fiction. My second book, a short story called Rag Doll, is written for adults. My third book is a children’s picture book called Jumper, and my fourth book is a romance novel called Where Love Takes You (sequel to Messages from Henry and previously entitled something else). The next book I publish will be Jumper Bounces Back. It’s the second book in the Jumper series. I’m waiting for the illustrator to send the pictures and I’ll publish the book the beginning of 2014.
2 - As an author you are well versed in stretching the truth. What is the most blatant lie you have ever told?
Rebecca: Yes and I have a lot of fun doing this. Once I get to know people a little bit, I make up stories about myself. Once I realize they’re buying into my lie, I come clean. When I was seventeen, my boyfriend drew a large Playboy Bunny on my tummy with a black marker. My inny bellybutton was the bunny’s eye. I walked all over the beach in my bikini and told people that noticed it that I was a Playboy Bunny. I didn’t tell all of the men, believing it true, I was joking.‿
3 – Every author gets writers block at some point. How do you cope with this?
Rebecca: This happened to me two days ago. What I did was delete part of the last I’d written and I took the story in a whole new direction.
4 – If you could switch genders for a day, what would you do?
Rebecca: I’d build a very large kennel, with a nice wooden shed so that I could raise teddy bear puppies and sell them.
5 – What are the most important attributes to give to a lead character, in your opinion?
Rebecca: A lead character has to be believable and entertaining. If a reader can’t relate to your protagonists and entertained by them, they won’t enjoy the story.
6 – What, outside of writing, do you consider your biggest success?
Rebecca: My artwork. I supplemented my income a great deal by selling my scrimshaw. I’ve often felt like going back to this ancient art. Felt this way after I realized that just because I was a good storyteller, putting my stories on paper wasn’t quite as easy as I thought it would be.
7 – And the same question but in regards to your writing?
Rebecca: I’d have to say that my biggest success as a writer and self-published author is my debut novella, Messages from Henry. Before I took it off Smashwords, I had over one hundred rave reviews. I now have about ninety rave reviews (Amazon and goodreads). A close second would be my children’s picture book, Jumper. I’ve sold quite a few paperback copies of it out of my Hummer since July 2013. I’m no longer a shy little farm girl. I tell just about everyone I meet that I’m an author and hand them a book marker.
8 – Freezing plastic containers releases deadly toxins! Fact or fiction? What are your thoughts?
Rebecca: Hmm. I googled this and I’ve found that there is a big debate about this. I personally don’t freeze food in plastic containers. I wrap mine in butcher paper.
9 – Do you have any regrets?
Rebecca: Yes. I regret not marrying my very first boyfriend. Shhh! Don’t tell my husband.
10 – Who or what really makes you laugh out loud?
Rebecca: Hmm. This is a tough one because I laugh out loud a lot. I’ll try to narrow this down. I guess it would be the laughs I get from people I tell about the time I proved to my husband that I’m still flexible. I told him I can still wrap my legs around my neck. After showing him, the left side of my body went numb the next day. When I went to the chiropractor he took an X-Ray. I had popped one of my top vertebrae out. He asked how I did this. I lied and told him I didn’t have a clue.
11 –I have heard that you were the chief inventor of sellotape. Do you stick to that story?
Rebecca: No, but I stick to my story that I invented the padded bra. Hmm. I wonder why people never believe me?? Maybe I should consider wearing one.
12 – What is your favourite story that you have written, about?
Rebecca: Without a doubt it’s my story about Jumper, a big red beach ball. This series is written for age four and up. It was so much fun pretending to be a beach ball, telling the story about his adventures outside of the toy store.
13 – How can people get in contact with you?
Rebecca: Leave a message for me on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/Scarberryfields I’m also @Scarberryfields on Twitter. I read DMs. My email address is: r3scarberry@yahoo.com
14 – Do you like to be interviewed?
Rebecca: I love to be interviewed. Hey! I love any and all of the attention I can get. I have to say that I’ve enjoyed answering your questions so MUCH. Thank you!
My books are only sold on Amazon:
Messages from Henry: http://smarturl.it/58as19
Rag Doll: http://smarturl.it/9qb5qq
Jumper: http://smarturl.it/ij1p4x
Where Love Takes You: http://smarturl.it/jjmlsa
- See more at: http://www.tonygilbert.info/1_18_Rebe...
