Please let me shine the light on another awesome author and fantastic friend of mine, Mia Epsilon. She recently joined other writers for the WONDERLAND TALES collection of short stories revolving around a fresh take on "Alice in Wonderland". Let's have a round of applause for today's interview candidate!
Leave Your Hat On by Mia Epsilon
10 questions with Mia Epsilon
What do you like most and least about being a writer?
Most: I can share the characters and their stories which dance and often scream through my head. I love that gift, the gift of storytelling with written words.
Least: The promotional aspect of being a published writer is daunting. I'm not very good at 'putting myself out there' since I'm a fairly shy person and I believe writers are, by nature, introverts.
How does being a teacher and principal influence your writing?
I would say being a principal influences my writing in the ability to multitask. It's rare I'm ever doing only one thing at a time 'in my day job' so this juggling of tasks helps me focus and sort through the story arches and characters in my head so I can get them down on paper once I get to sit down and listen fully to them.
As a teacher, writing helps me hone the skills I teach; I'm more mindful of words I say, and especially of how I physically write words, sentences and phrases. I use much free reading time and story hours in my classrooms; I firmly believe a child who grows up loving written words and to read is more successful (and certainly more happy) in life.
What was the hardest part about writing your romance novel “Wedding Belle Blues”?
In the actual writing of this novel, the hardest part was to stop writing to go to my school. I wake a few hours before I am due at work to write; this is my sacred, do-nothing-but-write time. Yet, I would become involved in the scene or chapter and not want to stop. I would grumble the entire way to work and couldn't wait some afternoons to get home.
Any hidden talents or crazy facts about you?
I'm amazing at the card game 'trash'. I absolutely stink at video games and don't dare try those Facebook ones like Candy Crush for fear I'll become hopelessly addicted. I'm a Doctor Who fan married to a Doctor Who fan and have a Tardis tea service.
What inspired you to be part of “Wonderland Tales”?
My editor's great big whip. Actually, my editor suggested I write a "Wonderland Tale" and I told her I had no idea what I'd write. So she gathered 4-5 fellow Breathless Press Authors on a Skype call and we brainstormed ideas until each of us had our basic plot and characters. Then our work as writers began.
What’s your favourite and least favourite genre (writing and reading)?
My favorite is Romance, all kinds and sub genres. I absolutely adore reading about what makes and keeps people in love. My least favorite is Political, because I feel everyone is entitled to his/her opinion and it's not up to me or anyone to try to change that opinion. Give the facts and let each person decide.
Tell us about the one thing you can’t write without.
I need to have a couple of bottles of water, because it makes me stop furiously typing, take a breath, take a swallow, and then start with fresh energy.
Do you have any advice for (aspiring) authors?
Write every day and never give up. No doubt you have heard that before. It's true. Get in the habit of having set writing time, even if you write nothing productive. Consider each rejection as a lesson and learn something from it.
As the title of your Alice-inspired tale is “Leave Your Hat On”, are you a hat fan? Anything to say in favour of hats and mad hatters?
Oh I LOVE hats! I can recall my mom dressing up for church, with hat and gloves. She and her lady friends went to the 'beauty shop' every Saturday to have their hair done and she would take her hat for the next day to see if her hair would be perfect.
And there's just something about a man in a top hat, elegance and charm coupled with sexiness…mmmm. And Mad Hatters are probably the sanest people one ever meets!
What are you currently working on?
I'm working on the next book in the 'Weddings by C & C' series. Anna's (from Wedding Belle Blues) mom's story, 'Take a Chance on Me' is due out later this year, and her brother Adam is currently trying to charm my editor. I also have two short stories featuring these characters out later this year.
Most: I can share the characters and their stories which dance and often scream through my head. I love that gift, the gift of storytelling with written words.
Least: The promotional aspect of being a published writer is daunting. I'm not very good at 'putting myself out there' since I'm a fairly shy person and I believe writers are, by nature, introverts.
How does being a teacher and principal influence your writing?
I would say being a principal influences my writing in the ability to multitask. It's rare I'm ever doing only one thing at a time 'in my day job' so this juggling of tasks helps me focus and sort through the story arches and characters in my head so I can get them down on paper once I get to sit down and listen fully to them.
As a teacher, writing helps me hone the skills I teach; I'm more mindful of words I say, and especially of how I physically write words, sentences and phrases. I use much free reading time and story hours in my classrooms; I firmly believe a child who grows up loving written words and to read is more successful (and certainly more happy) in life.
What was the hardest part about writing your romance novel “Wedding Belle Blues”?
In the actual writing of this novel, the hardest part was to stop writing to go to my school. I wake a few hours before I am due at work to write; this is my sacred, do-nothing-but-write time. Yet, I would become involved in the scene or chapter and not want to stop. I would grumble the entire way to work and couldn't wait some afternoons to get home.
Any hidden talents or crazy facts about you?
I'm amazing at the card game 'trash'. I absolutely stink at video games and don't dare try those Facebook ones like Candy Crush for fear I'll become hopelessly addicted. I'm a Doctor Who fan married to a Doctor Who fan and have a Tardis tea service.
What inspired you to be part of “Wonderland Tales”?
My editor's great big whip. Actually, my editor suggested I write a "Wonderland Tale" and I told her I had no idea what I'd write. So she gathered 4-5 fellow Breathless Press Authors on a Skype call and we brainstormed ideas until each of us had our basic plot and characters. Then our work as writers began.
What’s your favourite and least favourite genre (writing and reading)?
My favorite is Romance, all kinds and sub genres. I absolutely adore reading about what makes and keeps people in love. My least favorite is Political, because I feel everyone is entitled to his/her opinion and it's not up to me or anyone to try to change that opinion. Give the facts and let each person decide.
Tell us about the one thing you can’t write without.
I need to have a couple of bottles of water, because it makes me stop furiously typing, take a breath, take a swallow, and then start with fresh energy.
Do you have any advice for (aspiring) authors?
Write every day and never give up. No doubt you have heard that before. It's true. Get in the habit of having set writing time, even if you write nothing productive. Consider each rejection as a lesson and learn something from it.
As the title of your Alice-inspired tale is “Leave Your Hat On”, are you a hat fan? Anything to say in favour of hats and mad hatters?
Oh I LOVE hats! I can recall my mom dressing up for church, with hat and gloves. She and her lady friends went to the 'beauty shop' every Saturday to have their hair done and she would take her hat for the next day to see if her hair would be perfect.
And there's just something about a man in a top hat, elegance and charm coupled with sexiness…mmmm. And Mad Hatters are probably the sanest people one ever meets!
What are you currently working on?
I'm working on the next book in the 'Weddings by C & C' series. Anna's (from Wedding Belle Blues) mom's story, 'Take a Chance on Me' is due out later this year, and her brother Adam is currently trying to charm my editor. I also have two short stories featuring these characters out later this year.
Wedding Belle Blues by Mia Epsilon
About the Author
Mia Epsilon lives with her enduring soul mate hubby in the gorgeous Blue Ridge Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, USA. She's an avid reader of almost anything but particularly romance. She also is a never-miss-an-episode viewer of Doctor Who and Sherlock, and happily suffers coffee and chocolate addictions. She can get lost in Face Book posts for hours and considers it both a boom and bane of her existence. She can most often be found at her computer, spinning new stories, or in a quiet padded nook with her e reader. Mia loves to hear from readers and maintains a mostly current blog at miaepsilon.blogspot.com and a Face book page under the name MiaEwrites. Wedding Belle Blues, the first of the 'Weddings by C & C' series, was released in June with book 2, 'Take a Chance on Me' releasing in September and book 3 and 4, 'That Night' and 'When You Believe' coming later this year. "Leave Your Hat On' , part of the limited edition 'Wonderland Tales' is also available and features a sexy Mad Hatter you won't forget!
Links:
Blog: Authors, Books & Chocolate: The True ABC's of Life miaepsilon.blogspot.com
Facebook: MiaEwrites (Mia Epsilon Author)
Twitter: Mia Epsilon @MiaEpsilon
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mia-Epsilon/e/B00DQ61FRM
Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/14292463-mia-epsilon
Links:
Blog: Authors, Books & Chocolate: The True ABC's of Life miaepsilon.blogspot.com
Facebook: MiaEwrites (Mia Epsilon Author)
Twitter: Mia Epsilon @MiaEpsilon
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mia-Epsilon/e/B00DQ61FRM
Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/14292463-mia-epsilon
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