Interview Pam Labud

by

Allison Knight

1) Pam, I see from your web page that you are a mother of two teens. How does a working mother with teenaged girls find time to write?

Very carefully! Just kidding. I have learned to write while waiting in line at the school pickup, during dance class, early in the morning, or late at night. I'm very versatile about where and when. Plus, I've been writing since my girls were in diapers so they're used to seeing mom at the computer or with her Alphasmart huddled in a corner.

2) How do your daughters feel about your writing career?

My oldest daughter, now 15, doesn't think it's such a big deal because two years ago she had a poem published in The Young Poet's Anthology. My youngest daughter is always very supportive and happy to celebrate at the drop of a hat. Actually, I think they are both very proud of their mom, though not always quick to admit it.

3) What you do like most about writing?

My favorite part of writing is 'freewriting,' that buzz you get when you just let go and let the story tell itself. Of course, my least favorite thing is editing. I always feel that I should be writing new stuff.

4) What recommendations can you give to other authors with a growing family?

Learn to be flexible with your time. Always give your attention to the important things because kids grow up so fast, you don't want to miss anything. Also, raise your family to be as independent as possible. In addition to giving you a little extra free time, it teaches them to be self sufficient. It won't hurt them to learn to set the dinner table or pick up their toys.

5) Tell us about your book, The Hanging Bride.

The Hanging Bride is the story of Natty Lane, a young woman who has inherited a defunct silver mine and has to take care of her eccentric uncle. Very poor, she is determined to find the precious metal in her mine or else, so she trades her most prized possession for a condemned man on the day of his hanging.

6. How do you pick locations for your novel?

Generally I pick places that are interesting to me. So far I've written a Western historical romance in Kansas, and the Hanging Bride is in the Black Hills of South Dakota. I'm fascinated by the Civil War and the years immediately after it, because those are the places that had to balance a rapidly growing population and in an area that was still mostly wilderness. I also love Regency England. People of the 1800s always seem larger than life to me.

7) I see that you also enjoy writing plays. How does this help with writing fiction?

I do dabble in writing Screenplays, though I've not sold one yet. I am fascinated with the entire movie making industry. The best benefit of writing screenplays is that you must be very efficient with your words--an extremely difficult thing for a novelist. Screenplays are told 90% in dialogue and can only number around 120 pages. This kind of writing forces you to write cleaner and more concisely.

8) When did you start writing and more important, why?

I seriously began writing when I was 13. I used to watch Star Trek on T.V. (the original was in reruns at the time) and I was extremely disappointed when there were no new ones. So, I started making up my own. From there I began writing my own stories, mostly science fiction and fantasy. I went on to write poetry and short stories in college, though I've always loved reading novels the most. Oddly enough, I didn't even read a romance novel until I was in my 30's, though. I read my first one and I knew that's what I was meant to write.

There are many reasons why I write, but I think the biggest thing is that I just love to discover things about my characters. To watch them grow and change during the process of writing is totally fascinating to me. It's a new adventure with every story.

9) If you could only write in one genre, what would it be and why?

There I'm really torn. I love both Western historical and Regency periods the best. English Regency because it just fits my voice most of the time. Western historicals are fun because I think it's a genre that most of us can relate to. Who hasn't seen a western movie, Gunsmoke, or Little House On The Prarie? For me, writing a western romance is like visiting an old friend. These stories are part of our heritage.