Topic: Author Interview
Erica Stux the person:
1. What three words do you think describe you as a human being?
easy-going, hard-working, friendly
2. How do you think others would describe you?
bright, dependable
3. Please tell us what you are most passionate about outside of writing .
Nature &conservation
4. Do you have any pets? If so, introduce us to them.
Not now, but I've had several cats
5. What is your most precious memory?
The day each of my children were born
6. What is your most embarrassing memory?
Almost walking into the men's room while in college
7. If you weren't a writer, what would you be doing with your life?
Probably some sort of volunteer work
8. In two paragraphs or less write your obituary.
Erica Stux grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. her love of science led her to study chemistry at the University of Cincinnati. After working several years in industry, she married fellow chemist Paul Stux, They moved to Akron, Ohio, where she became involved in various volunteer work while raising three children. Reading to her children inspired her to start creative writing, and over the years she wrote and published many poems and short non-fiction, first for children and then for adults. After her husband died, she turned to writing books, and also to a previous interest - writing music. Four of her musicals have been performed. In 1999 she moved to the Los Angeles area to marry long-time friend Bill Shore. Her sense of humor led her to write her most recent book "Who, Me? Paranoid?"
Besides her husband, she leaves three children and four grandchildren.
Erica Stux the writer:
9. Can you describe the time you realized you were indeed a "real" writer?
When my first book was published.
10. What is going on with your writing these days?
Not much - I keep sending out query letters.
11. What are your future goals for your writing?
Get various poetry collection for children published. Get one or more of my musicals produced.
12. Can you describe a typical writing day for you?
I don't have a day that I'd consider typical. The only constant is waiting for the mail each afternoon and hoping there will be something from a publisher.
13. Why do you write?
As a sort of legacy - to leave something behind after I'm gone.
14. What writer most inspires you? Why?
Right now I'd say Erma Bombeck, whom I'm trying to emulate.
15. How do you define your writing?
I've written in many genres, so there's no single definition.
16. In one sentence-what do you want people to say about your writing in fifty years?
She was thorough in her research and could express herself well, and her humorous prose and poetry gave people lots of laughs.
Erica Stux the details:
17. Can you tell us where to find more information on you? Website? Blog?
Sorry, I don't have a website.
18. Is there a place where readers can reach you?
My e-mail address: ericastux@aol.com
19. Can you list all your book titles so people can look for them?
Landlady (adult novel), Winston Derek 1991 now out of print, but I have copies
Eight Who Made a Difference: Pioneer Women in the Arts, Avisson Press 1999
Strobe Lights (poetry chapbook) The Plowman 1995
Writing for Freedom: the Story of Lydia Maria Child, Lerner Publishing Group 2000
Sequins and Sorrow (a memoir of my co-author), AuthorHouse 2002
Enrico Fermi, Trailblazer in Nuclear Physics, Enslow Publishers 2004
The Achievers: Great Women in the Biological Sciences, Avisson Press 2005
Going for the Jocular Vein (poetry chapbook), Hazel Street Productions 2005
Who, Me? Paranoid? (humor collection) Wheatmark Publishers 2007
20. For new readers-what can they expect when they read your book(s)?
From my biographies, lots of information. From my humor collection, lots of laughs.
In conclusion:
21. Take as much space as necessary to speak to our readers-what would you like them to know about you and your writing?
I'm a member of California Writers Club; I'm currently a columnist at www.hazelst.com.
I like to write about animals and nature for children, but none of those manuscripts has found a publisher as yet. I wrote the biographies because I felt that teenage girls need more role models in the literature that's available to them.
Sales of my books are picking up. I hope "Who, Me? Paranoid?" will continue to sell for a long time.
