Short Story Connect discussion

Join us on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 for a special discussion with author Ann Swann. If you have a question for her, please post it in this thread, where Ann will be discussing her writing and books.

Remember - you can post questions here throughout the duration of the Featured Author Read at any time!

Hi Ann - How do you select your topics? Did you read about or are the topics something you or someone in your life has experienced?

Another question - What work was your favorite to write and why? As well, which of your works did you find most challenging to write and why?

DigiWriting wrote: "Hi Ann - How do you select your topics? Did you read about or are the topics something you or someone in your life has experienced?"

I think it's more that the topic selects me. Sometimes--as in All For Love--it starts as an image such as the explosion of the plastics plant. In Stutter Creek it was a real event in which a father threw his four year old son out of the car on the interstate (the boy was found wandering the next morning, covered with cactus spines). In Lilac Lane, it was simply a gut response to the overwhelming number of domestic abuse cases in our area of Texas.

DigiWriting wrote: "Another question - What work was your favorite to write and why? As well, which of your works did you find most challenging to write and why?"

My favorite work was Stevie-girl and the Phantom Pilot because it is set in a fictionalized version of my hometown. I grew up much like Stevie-girl. But I was never brave. That's why I made her so brave.

The most challenging one to write is the one I'm working on now, book three in the Stutter Creek trilogy. It involves a psychotic doctor. And that's all I'll say about that (to paraphrase Forrest Gump).

Hi Ann, I read "Chems" -- it was actually my first zombie story, and I enjoyed it very much. The story never lost its sense of humor, and l like your writing style. What inspired you to write this story, and should we expect more as a series?

Cheers,
Piper

Hello Ann!

I am very interesting in the editorial side of your writing. How many edits do each of your books typically go through? Do you always follow the same process, or does it vary by book? Thank you!

Talia

Hello Ann!

A question we often ponder: How do you select the title for your books? Do they grow from your writing or do you have the title in mind before you start to write?

Hi Ann,

I see that you write series. I'm currently working on my second series and am wondering how you decide how many books to include? I didn't announce my book series as a trilogy so characters have the option to return :) Do you listen to reader feedback or your own inner creativity?

Thanks!

Ann, I enjoyed Stutter Creek, especially the point of view switches between narrators. Did you find it difficult to decide which point of view which scene should be experienced from?

Ann, also, do you feel this is more a thriller than a romance? I know genres are difficult to peg but I wanted to ask! Do you feel that listing it in one or the other genre would lose readers?

I see in the comments that you're working on the series - looking forward to reading the next one!

Piper wrote: "Hi Ann, I read "Chems" -- it was actually my first zombie story, and I enjoyed it very much. The story never lost its sense of humor, and l like your writing style. What inspired you to write thi..."

Hi, Piper, thanks for asking! I loved writing the story Chems. It began as an image of a zombie hiding in a tool shed, but I didn't want just any old zombie. I thought Billy needed a hero so I reimagined him as a zombie-soldier. The story wrote itself after that. Yes, there may be a book about Pvt. Johnson!

Talia wrote: "Hello Ann!

I am very interesting in the editorial side of your writing. How many edits do each of your books typically go through? Do you always follow the same process, or does it vary by book? T..."

Hello, Talia,
That is a wonderful question. All my books go through at least two professional editors (content and line editors), but along the way I may have my critique group edit (or review) parts of them, and I may edit or rewrite parts over and over and over just to suit my own inner editor.

I did find the point of view(s) difficult in Stutter Creek. Not writing the different POVs, but melding them together. That was the hard part.

If you read my Phantom series, you will find all first person POV. That was so much easier the books practically leapt onto the page.

Blue Moon wrote: "Hello Ann!

A question we often ponder: How do you select the title for your books? Do they grow from your writing or do you have the title in mind before you start to write?"

Hi there! Great question. Titles are so important. Stevie-girl and the Phantom Pilot began as a short story named The Escort. Then the book was called The Phantom Pilot, but when I realized how many books there were about phantom pilots (both fic and non-fic) I added Stevie-girl to the front of it. Now all three books begin with Stevie-girl and...

All For Love began as How Long Does it Take to Fall Out of Love? But the publisher said NO WAY to that mouthful.

And Lilac Lane began as Maybe, Someday but when a famous author released a book with that same title just a few weeks before mine, I decided it needed to change. I think Lilac Lane was actually suggested by our cover artist at 5 Prince. I believe it goes very well with the sound of Stutter Creek--which is probably the only book whose title I had before beginning to write. It came from a short passage I had written a while back about a little stuttering creek.

Amanda wrote: "Hi Ann,

I see that you write series. I'm currently working on my second series and am wondering how you decide how many books to include? I didn't announce my book series as a trilogy so character..."

I do take into account reader requests. I've had several requests to do another Stevie-girl book, and it is one whose title has already come to me. I've got it barely started.

With the Stutter Creek series, it was sort of a happy accident. A few people asked what became of Danny (the little boy) after the story ended but I didn't really want to continue with all the same characters so ... in the meantime, I'd started a story about a woman who was fleeing an abusive relationship and somehow that morphed into her relocating to Stutter Creek to a house on Lilac Lane. LOL.

I think that was my subconscious working while I slept. Or the Muse, whichever you prefer.

Now for the next book (which is well underway) it was easy to decide to revisit the Stutter Creek area of New Mexico because there was a certain detective who had really piqued my interest. Det. Kendra Dean had just a minor role in book one, but in book three, she is the main character. But oh my how her life has changed. She has been put on paid leave, her husband has left the family, and her younger partner is doing his best to be her all-and-everything. And then there's that pesky serial killer who likes to play with his victim's bones...

Monica wrote: "Ann, I enjoyed Stutter Creek, especially the point of view switches between narrators. Did you find it difficult to decide which point of view which scene should be experienced from?"

Hi Monica,
No, I didn't find the POV difficult in Stutter Creek. But I think my editor did. LOL. When I'm writing in 3rd person POV, sometimes characters just appear on the page and start talking or doing things. My job as the author is to sew the different POVs together. I think the stitches show in a couple of places. But it's a learning curve. In Lilac Lane it was so much easier. I learned a lot from my first few editors (nods to YoDen Vitola, Bernadette Marie, and Connie Kline).

Having said that, I will also admit that I had just come off the three book series, Stevie-girl and the Phantoms, and they were all written in first person POV. I think that may have made switching to 3rd person even more difficult.

I actually can't wait to return to a first person narrator, but since I'm still working on book three in the Stutter Creek series, I didn't want to switch back yet.

Monica wrote: "Ann, also, do you feel this is more a thriller than a romance? I know genres are difficult to peg but I wanted to ask! Do you feel that listing it in one or the other genre would lose readers?

I ..."

Monica, I am so glad you asked that question. YES! I do feel Stutter Creek and Lilac Lane are both heavier on thrills and suspense than they are on romance. But of course there is a dash of romance in both books and it's actually a driving force in Stutter Creek (she's looking for that old flame, remember?). But if you will notice, in Lilac Lane I don't let the knight rush in and save the day at the end. I wanted a happy ending, but I wanted it to be more realistic and not too easy. I wanted Ella and Nick to stand on their own four feet. LOL

I did worry a bit about listing the books in the Romantic Suspense genre, but listing them as thrillers didn't seem just right, either. I guess I think of the thriller genre as spies and espionage, maybe a terrorist or two. But who am I to say? I just write the story and let the chips fall.

Ann, my daughter read all the Stevie Girl books and loved them - if you consider adding to this series, will you keep her "aging" each year? What's going to be your process for this series to keep readers who've read the earlier ones?

Another question, as an author myself who dabbles in both YA, NA and Adult genres, do you find it hard to "define" yourself? So many times we're asked to choose which genre we right in. I find it hard to do that, so how do you market yourself?

Ann wrote: "Blue Moon wrote: "Hello Ann!

A question we often ponder: How do you select the title for your books? Do they grow from your writing or do you have the title in mind before you start to write?"

Hi..."

Thanks Ann. Speaking of titles, if someone were new to your writing, which book would you start them off with and why?

Elyse wrote: "Ann, my daughter read all the Stevie Girl books and loved them - if you consider adding to this series, will you keep her "aging" each year? What's going to be your process for this series to keep ..."

Hi Elyse, thanks for stopping by!
Yes, Stevie and Jase will age very slowly. When they get too mature, the series will probably end. I haven't decided that, yet. I've been too busy on the adult books!

Elyse wrote: "Another question, as an author myself who dabbles in both YA, NA and Adult genres, do you find it hard to "define" yourself? So many times we're asked to choose which genre we right in. I find it h..."

Yes, I do find it difficult and often wonder if I should have used a pen name for one genre or the other. But it's too late now, so I will just continue to meander happily along. I fear my MG/YA series will always take a back seat to the adult series...

Ann, one more question I keep asking fellow writers: Do you have a specific writing process or do you plan your writing time? ie. do you fit your writing into the rest of your life or does your life revolve around your writing?

Ann wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Hi Ann,

I see that you write series. I'm currently working on my second series and am wondering how you decide how many books to include? I didn't announce my book series as a trilo..."

LOL. I love how a character, or an entire book, develops a life of its own and takes you along for the ride!!

Ann wrote: "Monica wrote: "Ann, also, do you feel this is more a thriller than a romance? I know genres are difficult to peg but I wanted to ask! Do you feel that listing it in one or the other genre would los..."

It's interesting you say that because I often read stories and think: that's not thriller, or that's not romance, but it's true that there are elements of different genres in the same story and sometimes you can't choose. I think what jumps out at you is what you ultimately see in the story, or what you want to get out of it. Either way, I enjoyed the read, from the romance and the suspense side :)

So your next book in the series - is there any romance at all ;)

Amanda wrote: "Ann, one more question I keep asking fellow writers: Do you have a specific writing process or do you plan your writing time? ie. do you fit your writing into the rest of your life or does your lif..."

I have to fit writing into the rest of my life. I try to find time to write something every day. It makes me value my little pieces of writing time even more.

Amanda wrote: "Ann wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Hi Ann,

I see that you write series. I'm currently working on my second series and am wondering how you decide how many books to include? I didn't announce my book serie..."

Me, too! I plan on this being the last book in the Stutter Creek series, but we shall see. I have so many things started that it's almost ridiculous.

Monica wrote: "Ann wrote: "Monica wrote: "Ann, also, do you feel this is more a thriller than a romance? I know genres are difficult to peg but I wanted to ask! Do you feel that listing it in one or the other gen..."

Thanks so much, Amanda. There is romance in this current book (#3), but it's similar to the other two in that it's almost secondary to the story. It makes up a major part of the character's motivations, but it isn't one of those I-can't-live-without-you romances. It's more mature, more...I-hope-this-will-happen, but if not, I'll live.

I think I am terrified of showing a woman as being too dependent on a man, or on romance for that matter. I want my women to be empowered or to find empowerment as the story develops. The men sort of have to fit in with that! LOL (Sort of like fitting writing time into my day.)

Ann wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Ann, one more question I keep asking fellow writers: Do you have a specific writing process or do you plan your writing time? ie. do you fit your writing into the rest of your life o..."

I find the same. When you get a day of uninterrupted writing time, it's so delicious :)

Ann wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Ann wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Hi Ann,

I see that you write series. I'm currently working on my second series and am wondering how you decide how many books to include? I didn't announc..."

"Things started", as in book ideas or projects? I find I have this running ideas file that takes on a life of its own ;)

Amanda wrote: "Ann wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Ann, one more question I keep asking fellow writers: Do you have a specific writing process or do you plan your writing time? ie. do you fit your writing into the rest of..."

Yes it is -- I have to literally turn off the internet on those days. Email, too!

Amanda wrote: "Ann wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Ann wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Hi Ann,

I see that you write series. I'm currently working on my second series and am wondering how you decide how many books to include? I di..."

Books that I've started or short stories that need cleaning up. I love to write short fiction and I've always got a million in the works. My idea file also has a life of its own--LOL. Thank goodness, I'll never live long enough to write them all!