Interview Weta Nichols

by

Gini Wilson

Hi Weta, Wings has asked me to send you a questionnaire. I cant say that the questions are original, but I am interested in the answers as different things work for different writers.

1. Since I dont know the name of your book, as yet, would you please tell us the genre?

ROSIE'S DILEMMA is my upcoming release by Wings, a mainstream/contemporary, set in Tennessee in 1972.

2. Would you like to give us teaser of your story?

After losing her husband, Rosemary Gleason must learn how to ruin his business, cope with her loss, and adjust to an eight year old boy who claims Wayne was his father.

3. What is the driving force behind your desire to write?

To do something no one else in my family is capable of doing. I've always written since high school.

4. How have events in your life colored your prose?

We traveled a lot when my husband was in construction work, and the many places we lived and visited helped me tremendously in knowing the country, and finding settings.

5. Do you create your characters, or do they simply evolve with the story?

I create my characters by an evolving process.

6. Do you outline your characters? And if so, do you do it before or after they "come on the scene" in your story?

Yes, I have a three page questionnaire that I ask my characters. I do it before a word is ever written, so if I know my characters I know what they are going to do.

7. Do you outline your plot or does it develop as you write?

I do a rough outline of my story, then most of it evolves as I write.

8. With what authors, if any, do you dream of being mentioned in the same breath by an avid reader?

I've been compared to Annette Broaderick in my writing, but I liked LaVyrle Spencer very much and her 'down home' writing.

9. Do you have other works published?

Yes, I started our with many short stories, then four novellas, then came the novels. ARLY'S WISH was my first by New Concepts Publishing, followed by OH LONESOME ME, FORBIDDEN LOVE, LOVE IS ALL I NEED and SWEET MISSOURI WINDS, now ROSIE'S DILEMMA from Wings ePress and SECOND CHANCES is due for release by echelon Press in Nov. 2003.

10. Do you have other stories/manuscripts in the works, or finished and waiting? If so, tell us more. If not, what do you think you'd like to tackle next?

Always. I have a surplus of manuscript that I keep circulating. Then after five or six times out, I give them another look, reread, rewrite, and polish more. I have about six out to editors at this time.

11. If the Blue Fairy showed up with her magic wand, what wish would you ask to transform your art at this point in your writing career?

To make a little money to help defray the expense. To have about three or four accepted this year.

12. What brought you to Wings?

After reading several articles in RWA and Romantic Times about e-publishing, I queried them.

Thanks for introducing yourself, Weta. Hope to see much more of you in print.