Self Portrait: Inside a Writer’s Mind

She was short, plump, with blonded hair, a few spots telling her age, and laugh lines, her ready smile.  Her eyes sparkled with every new idea and softened with love as she thought of her new granddaughter and expected grandson.  Whenever she mentioned “her” husband of 42 years marriage, her voice warmed and her smile widened.  On the surface she was a happy woman.

But underneath the loving-life persona lurked questions and doubt.  Was there not more to life?  She understood the lyric, “Is that all there is?” and continually looked for new fulfillment.  She swam, walked, biked for a healthy heart.  She read, read, and read some more for her mind.  Ideas excited her, especially those which came unbidden as she thought about what she was reading.  And then she

Emerging Writer Carole-Ann Vance Speaks Out on Video

During an instructive and enjoyable weekend writing retreat last September, Carole-Ann Vance and I found a little free time to talk on camera about her writing.  She is beginning her writing journey and was excited about having just completed her novel’s first draft with the working title, Give Me Your Hands.

Interviewing writers always intrigues me because each one is so unique.  Carole-Ann talked about her love of books, so much a part of her that she walks around hugging the good ones sometimes.  Also her method of doing the actual writing amazed me as I’m such a computer lover and wouldn’t dream of writing any other way.

Carole-Ann finds herself living vicariously through her characters.  She talks about multiple possibilities through her writing which are not available to her in real life.  I enjoyed my time with Carole-Ann because of our shared love of writing but also since she showed her warm sense of humour throughout the interview. You can find the video by clicking this link or by finding Carole-Ann’s name under the Video section to the right of this page.

What did this interview touch on which really spoke to you in your own writing?  Consider leaving a comment on this page and both Carole-Ann and I will endeavour to reply.

Writer in the Making: Jennifer Filipowicz

Did you ever wonder what makes a person write?  Or how someone can write with a whole other life full to the brim?  Today’s video is about one such person:  Jennifer Filipowicz.  In a delightful private session while a number of us were at a weekend writing retreat, I talked with Jennifer about her background–her mother is a published author, her reasons for writing, and her hopes for the future.

Jennifer’s youthful vitality made our retreat a lot of fun, yet her honest answers to my questions showed her serious  side as well.  Watch the interview below. .

Why are so many people of all ages writing fiction and non-fiction these days?  Can you relate to Jennifer’s comments?  Consider leaving a comment about your own struggle to accomplish something near and dear to your heart.