Interview S. E. Schenkle

by

Leanne Karella

1) Congratulations on your August release of Black Snow Rising from Wings ePress! It sounds like an exciting, intriguing premise. Can you tell us a bit about it?

The story takes place in the Sahara and brings together ancient mysteries of the land and the current mystery of two researchers gone missing.

2) Can you tell us what inspired this story?

I lived in Africa for ten years and have always wanted to bring my love of this land and its people into one of my mysteries.

3) Can you tell us about the location and time setting of the story?

The setting is mostly desert and the primary mystery takes place in the present.

4) What kind of research did you do for this book?

I did research on the Sahara for almost a year. I found out there was much more to this desert than sun, sand and wind. The Sahara carries a lot of baggage--most of which is still buried.

5) Do you have plans for more books in this series?

Black Snow Rising is the second in the Acey Tapp Mystery Series. I have two more under contract with Wings ePress, and I am working on the fifth in the series.

6) Could you tell us a bit about you as a person and your writing background?

I like to do things from scratch, and I guess you could say I’m a self-taught writer.

7) How has being published changed your life in any way?

Being published is the icing on the cake. Writing is everything else. As far as changing my life, it certainly has added a new zest.

8) How much time in a day/week do you spend writing? What kind of routine do you have, if any?

I work early in the morning--usually from around 3:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. I don’t allow myself to “write” on the weekend. I find it’s good to start fresh on a Monday.

9) From your Web site, I see that you have children and grandchildren. How do they influence your writing?

They add an enormous amount of pleasure to my life. And contentment is always a good jumping off point for the creative process.

10) If you could do it all over again, what one thing would you change about your writing career?

It certainly would have been nice to have had fewer rejection letters. On the other hand, all they ultimately did was spur me on to write even better.

11) Are you currently working on another book? If so, could you tell us a bit about it?

My work in progress is number five in the Tapp Mystery Series. It’s about a little girl abandoned in a cornfield, who grows up determined to learn the truth about how she got there.

12) When you aren’t writing, what do you like to do?

I like to watch mysteries. Especially British ones, as they are so much more cerebral and engaging. I also like to redesign clothes. I buy vintage, “attack” it and create something new. If I succeed, I cheer, and if I don’t, it’s no big loss.

13) What is the most rewarding aspect of being a published author?

To write and have no one read your work is like serving a well cooked meal to empty chairs. Being published allows the possibility of having guests around the table.

14) What advice can you give to aspiring authors?

Never give up. Write for the enjoyment it gives you. If you write to be famous and rich, you will most likely also be frustrated.