You know that feeling when you've just got to get out and stretch your legs?
Now that's out of my system, on with the rest of the post. In my interview today, I am talking to Carissa Andrews, author of the Pendomu series.

What draws you to writing science fiction?
Science fiction, or speculative fiction of any kind, has always captured my imagination and sparked the subconsciously aware person in me. I notice a lot in the world, but it's not until I start writing that I understand why I've noticed something, or even that it's been settling itself into my psyche. Plus, as a technological person who appreciates science, art, creativity, and neuroscience... I can't help but envision what the future looks like when all of those meld together.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Whew... that's a loaded question. There's a TON actually. In fact, I did a whole video series on Facebook, as well as an online course a couple of years ago. I guess if I had to boil it down, the biggest advice I have for aspiring writers is to... dun, dun, dun... write. It sounds stupid, or completely obvious, but you'd be surprised how many aspiring authors get hung up on the first sentences, first paragraph, first pages... etc. Stop doing that and write, dammit. There's a time to let the creativity flow, and a time to edit the crap out of it. Stop mixing the two up. Find a method that allows you to focus, to get over the inner monologue of why you can't KEEP WRITING and shut it down. Then, write your little heart out until it runs dry.

How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?
When I first started writing, it was simply because I loved books and wanted to get a dream I had down on paper. I hammered out a 300 page book and turned the melodramatic re-enactment of my dream to my teacher. I was 13. Then, I kinda let writing go for a loooong time while I pursued other avenues of publishing. When I finally came back to writing, it was because my career as a graphic designer wasn't fulfilling my soul. Now, I've found that if I can blend the two - graphic design (book covers and marketing), with the author in me, I'm much more fulfilled. Thus, more creativity springs from it. I'd also like to think that I'm a bit more seasoned with my creativity. Not only does creativity flow, but sometimes, it works best inside a container so it can force it's way out. ;)

Where do the your ideas come from?
Many of my ideas spring from dreams or insights while my mind is otherwise quiet. It's like all of a sudden getting a "download" in my brain and I have this whole storyline, series, person, etc. that lands in my head and starts telling me things. Then, I have to start writing it down or they don't shut up. LOL! I'm also very inspired by other authors, writers, designers, as well as TV and movies. I take the aspects that call to me, and meld them into a story all my own.

And finally, I love your covers. Who designed them?
I'm the designer for all of my books. As a freelance graphic designer (for my clients), it's an aspect of the creative process that I love to dig into. My mother is a fine artist, working in acrylic paints, and as a techie, my medium turned out to be the computer. Go figure. Whenever I get stuck in writing the next sequence, I find that if I switch to designing for a bit, it's enough of a break that it unlocks whatever block I may have had.
Wow! Thank you for taking the time to talk to me.

Carissa Andrews is a genre-bending author who writes a combination of science fiction, fantasy, and dystopia. When not writing her own books, she's busy reading them.
Her first novel, Pendomus, was the first of a three-part series and was published in 2013. Now, four years later, Polarities (Book 2) of the Pendomus Chronicles, and Revolutions (Book 3) was released at the end of 2017.
She lives in central Minnesota with her husband, kids, and dog.