Interview with
J. Amanda
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I first realized that I wanted to be a writer and tell my stories or share my creativity since I was about 5 or 6 years old.
How long does it take you to write a book?
It would take me about a year to write a book due to the process of introduction to the completion (production) of the book.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
The most surprising things that I have learned in creating my book is that most people do not know where to start. What I mean by this, people are interested in creating a book idea then not be committed.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I have not heard from readers much. I have not discussed my book idea with a lot of people.
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Writing does energize me. It ends up giving me clarity on ideas that I may have.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
My writing Kryptonite would have to be prioritization.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
I am more original due to the fact I have not dived into writing other genres. I will explore writing other genres in the future.
What authors did you dislike at first but grew into?
I have not disliked any authors. There are a lot of authors that have different styles of writing.
At what point do you think someone should call themselves a writer?
I think someone should call themselves a writer by the time that they have accomplished a goal in a writing aspect. People write all the time when they do not even know it. When we converse with each other through technical or verbal communication, I think that person is considered a writer. Being a published author, does not necessitate a person to be considered a writer.
What do the words “writer’s block” mean to you?
Writer's block means that a person who is unable to continue with writing for an "x" amount of time and needs to take a break- recalibrate their mind or give the mind a rest.
Are there therapeutic benefits to modeling a character after someone you know?
Yes. There are therapeutic benefits when modeling a character after someone I know because a character can resemble someone whom had an impact in your life situations. For example, a person's primary caregiver (a person's loved one) can be a character and that author can receive a lot of self counseling through writing about that caregiver. If something had happened to that caregiver, they would be able to take the memories they have with each other and put into their story. The creativity in the story is limitless.
What comes first for you — the plot or the characters — and why?
The characters come first because a character has a lot of elements that the plot can be surrounded by. For example, a character has a personality, race, how they dress and what they are capable of doing.
How would you describe your book’s ideal reader?
My books ideal reader would a person who is compassionate about reading memoirs and biographies. My book would be helpful to those people who have experienced a tragedy and those who can learn from other people's experiences.
How much research did you need to do for your book?
I had a lot of research to do and it took me over a year to complete my book. I had to go back into my memories, my photo albums and any resources that would assist me in completing my book.
Tell us more about your book/s?
I have completed my dream of writing a book and have done my own research in completing this dream. I am presently writing my second book and exploring other ideas of writing a childrens book.