Topic: Author Interview
Theresa Chaze the person:
1. What three words do you think describe you as a human being?
Spiritual, loving, creative
2. How do you think others would describe you?
creative, tenacious, unique
3. Please tell us what you are most passionate about outside of writing.
My furkids--they are the loves of my life. My spirituality--being a Priestess and Ordained Minister, I wish to help heal the world and leave it a little better place.
4. Do you have any pets? If so, introduce us to them.
Yes, I have ten furkids. Nearly all of them are rescue kitties so they are skittish with strangers.
Thor is nine; he has extra toes on all four paws. Keshia is part Manx, but she is sweet and adorable. Abigail originally belonged to a neighbor; however, the woman was totally irresponsible. It would be 25 below, I would come home late at night and she’d be curled up on my front porch. I created a comfy stop on the front porch and started taking care of her. That next spring she had two kittens under my shed. I named them Sissy and Sinbad. The day I adopted all three, a young calico showed up. I thought I found a home for her, but the woman turned out to be a flake, so I adopted her and named her Button. A couple of years later someone started dumping off cats. Of the eight, I adopted four and found homes for the rest. Timmie and Oliver were eleven weeks old. Pooh was about two and Baby was just a little younger. Baby was so malnourished that she had lost most of her fur and you could feel every bone in her spine. Pooh’s long hair was matted to the skin so he needed to be shaved. They are both now very healthy, happy and a little pudgy.
5. What is your most precious memory?
I have many memories that are very special to me. I find it is the simple moments that mean the most. We don’t have to wait for holiday or extraordinary events to have special memory. A dinner with a friend. Playing feathers on a stick with the kids. Taking time to watch a movie. They are all beautiful times that will come with me through out this life and the ones that follow.
6. What is your most embarrassing memory?
Gee, tough question. Looking back, I still don’t understand why I stood on my friend’s porch and screamed her name, instead of just reaching out and knocking on the door.
7. If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing with your life?
I not only have a degree in Broadcasting/video production, but I have years of experience. I loved the work, but hated the politics of hurry up and wait.
8. In two paragraphs or less write your obituary.
She loved.
She healed.
She learned.
She made the world a little better place and then she moved on.
Theresa Chaze the writer:
9. Can you describe the time you realized you were indeed a “real” writer?
After I wrote my first short story and I learned how magical creating other worlds and reality was. I liked how the story unfolded and the characters were able to grow. It gave me a good feeling to be able to share a little wisdom through the characters.
10. What is going on with your writing these days?
I have a new project that is based on present and past life experiences. I have also started my own publishing house called Valkyrie Publishing. Instead of publishing other’s work, I help them do it for themselves so they are able to maintain control over the content and profits. I was scammed by two publishers. My goal is to help other authors avoid the mistakes I made. I also publish a free ezine called Messages From the Universe. It can be read on my site or there is a yahoo group that is used exclusively to receive the ezine.
11. What are your future goals for your writing?
I have a long list of projects. I want to finish the Dragon Clan Trilogy. I also a have series of children’s books. There are many more novels and several more screenplays.
12. Can you describe a typical writing day for you?
Right now, I am doing 10-12 hour days, doing not only publicity for the current projects, but writing articles for the local newspaper, my blogs and for online magazines.
13. Why do you write?
It is who I am.
14. What writer most inspires you? Why?
Marion Zimmer Bradley and Anne McCaffrey. I like their strong women who know how to not only take care of themselves, but how to share love and make a difference.
15. How do you define your writing?
It is a way to entertain and make people see their lives filled with new possibilities.
16. In one sentence—what do you want people to say about your writing in fifty years?
She made me laugh, cry and question. Mostly she made me afraid of the dust bunnies under my bed.
Theresa Chaze the details:
17. Can you tell us where to find more information on you? Website? Blog?
My website is www.theresachaze.com My primary blog is http://theresachaze.blogspot.com/.
18. Is there a place where readers can reach you?
There is a button on my site, but you can also email me at Theresa@Theresachaze.com.
19. Can you list all your book titles so people can look for them?
On my site is a free ebook called Sisters Mothers Daughter. It uses the fantasy genre to explore the complicated relationships between women.
Out of the Shadows and Into the Light is an ebook of shadows that not only give accurate information about the Wiccan and Pagan religions, but also original rituals for healing, protection, prosperity and love. It has information for the curious, the novice and the experienced worker. It can only be bought from my site.
Filled with magic, suspense and karmic justice the Dragon Clan Trilogy begins with Awakening the Dragon (978-0-9798406-0-9) with Rachael moves to Coyote Springs to find a safe home and fulfill her dream of opening an occult bookstore. The location for her store has been found. Only she has yet to find a home for herself and her three furkids. A reluctant real estate agent shows her a cottage in the woods that is perfect. It calls to Rachael and opens its doors to her. To her it feels like home. But it is more than a cottage, it is a spiritual nexus where three lay lines intersect; it is a natural energy vortex. It is also the scene of a brutal murder and the focal point to local cult's hatred. Making the cottage her home, Rachael finds herself becoming the catalyst to exposing the murderer, which brings her in the crosshairs of the cult’s violent hatred not only to protect their secret but because the she is another witch. To save herself and all she loves, she is forced to awaken her dragon spirit prematurely and unite it to the energy vortex. She knows what must be done. What she doesn't know if she can control the flames from within enough to save her from the flames without.
Dragon Domain (978-0-9798406-1-6) picks up the story several months and several miles down the road. Cheyenne and Celeste came to Coyote Springs to use their psychic gifts to find a missing child. They find the girl and made a new friend, Jane. Tired of rootless life, Cheyenne prays for a safe, stable home. With Jane's help, she find abandoned farm and decides to stay. Reluctantly, Celeste also remains. The threesome create a spiritual retreat that grows out of their shared wisdom, respect and sense of family. Cheyenne is happy for the first time since she awoke broken and bloody beneath the blinding desert son. Celeste had saved her then, but soon after Dominic appears on their doorstep, Celeste once again turns to the dark arts. Instead of a mother and friend, she becomes vicious enemy with knowledge of all her strengths and weaknesses. With the dragons' aid, she was barely able to ward off their initial attack. But with each dark soul Celeste and Dominic bind to them, their malevolence grows until they will not settle for less that destroying Cheyenne and all she loves. How do you protect yourself from someone knows exactly how to steal your soul?
20. For new readers—what can they expect when they read your book(s)?
They can expect a good read with characters that they will not only enjoy but who will challenge the reader. They can expect to laugh, cry and a be scared. I like to find the suspense, mystery and romance in normal situations and events. By finding the unusual in the ordinary, you create a new awareness that expands the individual horizons and awareness.
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?
Oprah once said there are only two emotions--love and fear. I have taken this a step further: if you come from fear, you can never have love, but if you come from love, you will always have it in your life. So many people fear what they don't understand so they hate. However, if they would only chose to face the fear by seeing past the differences they would learn that acceptance doesn't mean surrendering your own beliefs or way of life; it is opening your heart and you lives to others who will only make you spiritually richer. When we chose to respect ourselves and each other, we able to come together in peace, understanding and acceptance. Every day is a miracle if you chose to see it that way. Each moment is special. My favorite saying is, “Although you can't go back and make a brand new start, you can start from now and make a brand new end.” Everyone makes mistakes. It is the way we learn and grow as souls; what we do with our life’s challenges will reflect how our future path will be directed.
Posted by joyceanthony
at 12:01 AM EST
Updated: Tuesday, 27 November 2007 1:07 AM EST
