#1 What am I working on?
I am at work on my third novel. The main character is a young woman called Spark who
keeps falling for the wrong person, but that is the least of her problems. Her
father, grandmother, and best friend are each struggling with a different
health crisis, and the only thing that gets Spark through is music.
#2 How does my work differ from others in the same
genre?
If the genre is “lesbian
fiction,” my work tends to the more mainstream or general fiction end of that
spectrum. There is same-sex desire in most of my fiction, but in the
novels, I tend to work best with a variety of characters, including male
characters. There are certainly other writers who deal with some of the same
themes I do, such as family, spiritual faith, and humor! But I try to make a
contribution that is a little bit unique.
#3 Why do I write what I do?
Writing is a habit and if
I don’t write, I get withdrawal—it’s part of my life. But once I create
characters, I care about them as if they were real people, and my aim is to get
that across to my readers. When readers say they were moved by something I
wrote or it made them think or made them laugh—that is the best feeling. I love
that experience as a reader, and so I love to share it with others.
#4 How does my writing process work?
I write best in a kind of
half-conscious flow, before I can start self-editing and blocking myself from
just getting it all out on paper. And paper it is—I write with a pencil,
ideally before I’ve turned on a computer at all, as early in the day as
possible. I do sketch out plot ideas and have some idea where the story is
going, but that’s only a guide. I listen to music the whole time. Only at the
rewriting stage do I start putting a version of those paper drafts into typed
form, so I can share them with my writing group and get their help.
The “Reading” page at jeknowles.com has published stories that you
can read for free. There are also links to my books, and a contact page,
because I always love to hear what others are reading. Thanks!
J. E. Knowles is the author of The Trees in the Field and Arusha, a 2010 Lambda Literary Award
finalist, and editor of Faith in Writing.
She also blogs at The Discreet Traveler: jeknowles.blogspot.com
Next up, we’re keeping it in Canada! Here are a
couple of terrific writers you should read:
Liz Bugg (lizbugg.com) is a Toronto-based writer best known for her Calli Barnow
mystery series. Her first novel, Red Rover, won a Goldie Award for Debut Author
from the Golden Crown Literary Society, and Yellow Vengeance is short-listed for
this year's Goldies in the Mystery/Thriller category. Liz also writes short
stories, and is presently working on a novel based on the life of her
grandmother.
Nadine LaPierre (nadinelapierre.com) is a
playwright, novelist, and composer. Her novel The Slayer, is the first in a mystery-thriller series set in
Halifax, Nova Scotia, and featuring Constable Danielle Renaud, an officer of
the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Her follow-up, Verity, is coming soon.
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