Topic: Author Interview
Larriane, the person:
1. What three words do you think describe you as a human being?
Loyal, unorganized and procrastinator
2. How do you think others would describe you?
Generous, considerate, supportive, at least those are the things I have had people say to me. My husband tells me I'm hyper, unable to sit still without something to do with my hands. Oh, you wanted me to say how I think people would describe me. Just me, an average, every day person.
3. Please tell us what you are most passionate about outside of writing.
I'm just not a passionate person. I do have buttons that can be pushed and there are things I get angry over; people who hurt people I love, people who attempt to force their thoughts and beliefs on others and are intolerant of those who don't accept their ways, senseless hurting both mental and physical, and I dislike being around people who only see the negative side of everything without being able to see the humor in day to day living or appreciate what they do have.
4. Do you have any pets? If so, introduce us to them.
Our number one animal, the one that rules the house, is four pound dog that doesn't know she's an animal. She's a long haired Chihuahua and poodle mix, cutest thing you ever saw, and yes, we spoil her terribly. Hellion joined us last year as a kitten. He's been raised to know Little Bit rules and still submits to her temper when he's teased her too much even though he out weighs her at least three times now. Brutus the parakeet and a Siamese fighting fish I haven't named round out the animal population. Hellion learned early he did not bother the bird and after I finally covered the fish bowl, he leaves the fish alone.
5. What is your most precious memory?
There's too many precious moments in life, mine anyway, to choose just one. A few would be holding my first baby in my arms, my little girl holding her new baby brother, births, weddings, graduations, so many great moments I really couldn't choose a most precious one.
6. What is your most embarrassing memory?
A lot of those have happened too, but I think the one I remember the most is arriving head first in class when I missed the bottom step. Flat on my belly, skirts over my head (dating myself a bit here since girls don't even wear dresses to school anymore) The teacher looked at me and said, "Hello, Larrriane," while the entire class laughed uproariously.
7. If you weren't a writer, what would you be doing with your life?
Another tough question. I don't really know. I was a stay at home mom. Any work I did outside the home after they went out on their own was to generate money without any career considerations. I wanted to write and work just interfered. What I would be doing now with my life if I weren't a writer? (shudder at the thought of not being able to write) Maybe become involved with the deaf community activities. I suffered a severe hearing loss about twenty years ago, not deaf but hard of hearing, so any kind of activities or employment would be very restricted. Communicating verbally is very difficult for me. I am now studying sign language and could possible help or contribute that way.
8. In two paragraphs or less write your obituary.
What a unique concept, writing your own obituary. Larriane, loving mother and wife, enriched the lives of her husband, children and grandchildren by always being there. Sometimes you had to work at getting her attention, but once you had, she was a great listener, giving advice when you wanted or needed it, and keeping her mouth shut when all you wanted to do was talk.
Larriane and Larion, the writers:
9. Can you describe the time you realized you were indeed a "real" writer?
That would depend on what you mean by ‘real' writer. I had stirrings of wanting to write when I was in high school. That got submerged until my early twenties when I put my first story on paper. After that I was hooked. Writer and successful didn't necessarily mean the same thing to me back then. I didn't think much of even trying to be published. I just wanted to write. Did I ever. The manuscripts started piling up in drawers and closets. I made an early, half way attempt to find an agent way back then. The first one that responded with more than a form letter wanted to sell me an editing service. Back then to me editing meant he would change it, and it would no longer be my writing. Yes, I've learned that is not what editing is all about, but then it just discouraged me from submitting, but not writing. About two and a half years ago I got brave and started submitting seriously, again to agents. My thinking was I didn't know anything about the field so I needed someone who did. One agent was generous enough to edit three pages. That put me in such a depression I was ready to quit that whole submitting thing. A couple of days later, I started looking over what she had done, making sense of all those red lines. A lot of it was simple formatting corrections. With those taken out, it didn't look all that bad. Long story shortened, I used that as a guide, did some serious rewriting and started searching the agent lists again. I stumbled, literally by accident, on the site of a newly opened small, traditional publisher, Swimming Kangaroo Books. Why not, I thought. They liked my idea and wanted to see the manuscript. They liked the manuscript and offered me a contract. That contract was when I changed my thinking from I'm a closet writer to I'm an author.
10. What is going on with your writing these days?
These days I am nearly submerged in the publishing process, edits and promoting. I now have three books published, one due out this month, another next month with four more under contract for releases in the next two years. All of that keeps me away from producing many new stories, but I do see a break in the future where I can get back to that as well.
11. What are your future goals for your writing?
My goal is to get all of those manuscripts out of the closet and typed into the computer to be edited into submitting form. Now that I know there are people out there who enjoy reading them, I want to share.
12. Can you describe a typical writing day for you?
Basically from the time I get up until I go to bed-no, wait, make that until I go to sleep. I keep a pad and pen beside the bed for those middle of the night inspirations. Breaks are taken only when necessary. I do have a house and husband to take care of, but my main drive is to finish what ever project I'm on to start the nest one.
13. Why do you write?
Because it will not leave me alone. Did I mention I have tendency towards obsessive behavior. I had a doctor tell me one time I tend to do things in the extreme. I just blinked my baby greens at him in a ‘who me?' attitude.
14. What writer most inspires you? Why?
Any writer inspires me whether it one of those multi-published, NY best sellers or the class mate that asks for help. My tag line is The Gateway to Imagination. That means reading to me. All those words, all those wonderful stories just waiting to be put down on paper for others to read. All the places you can go, all those things you can see and people you can meet just waiting for one person to imagine and others to see.
15. How do you define your writing?
I don't. I just write.
16. In one sentence-what do you want people to say about your writing in fifty years?
She writes a fantastic story.
Larriane the details:
17. Can you tell us where to find more information on you? Website? Blog?
My website is http://www.larriane.com/. My intermittent blog is there, menu on the left side. I have excerpts and blurbs from my books, purchase links, pictures, a free read page with some of my stuff and some from guests, other misc things. Oh and contests or drawings each month. I have a myspace also, http://www.myspace.com/larrianebarnard and welcome friends on both sites.
18. Is there a place where readers can reach you?
Email me any time at larriane@larriane.com
19. Can you list all your book titles so people can look for them?
By Larriane Wills;
The Knowing, a historical, romantic fantasy
Looking Glass Portal, science fiction, all story and characters with tech that doesn't boggle your mind.
By Larion Wills:
Morning Meadow, contemporary soft romance suspense with ghosties.
Coming this month, Thirteen Souls, hot romance, mystery and suspense with lots of ghosts and a psychic, or is she?
Mark of the Sire, western soft romance, first of a series of historical romances.
Little Sam's Angel (working title), Twisted Wind, Hate Rides Hard (working title) and Evil Reflections are all in the works for releases next year.
All of these are through Swimming Kangaroo Books. (www.swimmingkangaroo.com) I like it there.
20. For new readers-what can they expect when they read your books?
Characters you'll like, love and hate in interesting plots. As Larriane Wills I write fantasy and science fiction. Larion Wills writes romance, some soft, some hot, some with ghosts, some not, but all with mystery and suspense. Reviewers call them page turners with characters that won't let them alone.
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?
That I haven't already run on about you mean? I love to write; I love to read just about sums it up, and I think it's reflected in my work. I take the time to research facts no matter what genre it is for accuracy and work hard at editing to produce good quality. I want people to enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them. Even a year after my first release, I'm still learning what it means to be a published author, and I don't intend to stop expanding my knowledge and improving my work. I've met some wonderful people, a side benefit I hadn't expected, and am grateful for all their contributions. Many of them have become friends. As for my books, try one, you'll like it.
