Avalon Books - Author! Author!


	Read some interviews from past editions:
		Zelda Benjamin April, 2008
		Shirley Marks December, 2007
		Donna Wright December, 2007
		Carolyn Brown August, 2007
		Roni Denholtz June, 2007
		Tara Randel April, 2007
		Sheila Robins December, 2006
		Ann Holt October, 2006
		Cynthia Danielewski July, 2006
		Patricia Azeltine May, 2006
		Jane McBride Choate March, 2006
		Kathryn Meyer Griffith January, 2006
		Mel Taylor November, 2005
		Kathleen Fuller September, 2005
		Tracey J. Lyons July, 2005
		Ludima Gus Burton May, 2005
		Holly Jacobs March, 2005
		Sandra D. Bricker January, 2005
		Kathryn Quick November, 2004
		Cheri Jetton September, 2004
		Heather S. Webber July, 2004
		Karl Fieldhouse May, 2004
		Shelley Galloway March, 2004
		Ilsa Mayr January, 2004
		Kathy Carmichael November, 2003
		Dorothy P. O'Neill July, 2003
		Joani Ascher May, 2003
		Patricia DeGroot March, 2003
		Nancy J. Parra January, 2003
		Barbara Meyers November, 2002
		Christine Bush September, 2002
		Debby Mayne July, 2002
		Jean C. Gordon May, 2002
		Charles E. Friend March, 2002
		Norma Seely January, 2002
		Glen Ebisch November, 2001
		Gina Cresse September, 2001
		John Paxson July, 2001
		Terri Alcock May, 2001
		Clifford Blair March, 2001
		Amanda Harte January, 2001
		Kent Conwell November, 2000
		Carolyn Brown September, 2000
		Annette Mahon July, 2000
		Marjorie McGinley May, 2000
		Jack Lewis March, 2000
		Amanda Harte January, 2000
		Joyce and Jim Lavene November, 1999
	Return to the current Author! Author! interview:
		S.J. Stewart April, 2008


Author! Author!: February, 2007
Click an image to learn more about this books. An Interview with Sydell Voeller


How long have you been writing and how long did it take to get published?
	I've been writing (professionally) for 21 years now. It took me about 3 years to acquire my first book contract. Contrary to how most authors get published, I sold a book manuscript before I sold my first short piece.
Where do you get ideas for plots?
	I've often used scenarios from newspaper and magazine articles to jump-start plots, or ideas garnered from real-life people. I also draw from my personal knowledge and experiences. For instance, in one of my novels for teens, the heroine and hero attended a summer day camp. I based the story background on a true-to-life camp where I'd spent time volunteering as a camp nurse. Also, in my book Daisies Are Forever, published by Avalon, I created the story's central conflict based on the environmental issues that had recently made headlines in our area.
How did you start writing?
	Although I wrote for my high school newspaper and creative writing magazine many moons ago, I didn't consider writing professionally until I was in my mid-thirties. At that time, my youngest son had been diagnosed with a rare orthopedic disease, and I was keeping a journal about my trials in dealing with that. Totally naïve about the world of publishing, I submitted the manuscript to Redbook magazine and was crushed, of course, when it was rejected. Meanwhile, I'd read an article in a writer's magazine about writing books for the teen market. After reviewing entries from the journal I'd kept as a teen, I sat down with my pastel pink Smith Corona manual typewriter and got busy (yep, I'm really a dinosaur!). My first book manuscript was never published, but most of the rest were.
What inspires you to write?
	Actually, I have to work hard at my writing, and I'm rarely—if ever—struck by an inspirational bolt of lightening. I agree totally with the person who said, "Writing is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration."
How do you develop your characters?
	I begin by giving my characters a compelling conflict to resolve, a goal to attain, or a new challenge to face. In order to do that, I must first dig into their psyche to discover what drives them—their greatest dreams, their most paralyzing fears, their vulnerabilities, etc. I also strive to make my characters three-dimensional. (In real life, no one is completely "good", or entirely "bad".) Additionally, I often give my characters contradictions in terms of their personalities. For example, my protagonist might be a woman who is obsessively organized at her workplace, but allows the personal details of her life to slide. By the end of the book, my characters must have solved their conflict, reached their goals, and become better people because of their efforts. Those factors are crucial, of course, for any good story-telling.
What can you tell us about your latest book for Avalon?
	Star Light, Star Bright was inspired by my love for amateur astronomy. In my opinion, there's nothing more thrilling than viewing the sky on a crystal clear night, especially in the summertime! After having attended several Star Parties in the central part of our state where the horizons stretch on forever, I felt inspired to recreate this experience in one of my romance novels. Additionally, I'd read a news article about a historic inn in our state's back-country that was being renovated into a trendy eatery—and many of the locals were up-in-arms about it. That's how I created the external and internal conflicts for my heroine and hero.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers? Or for anyone wanting to submit to Avalon?
	My best advice is to keep writing, no matter how many rejection slips you receive. (In other words, don't give up!) It's also important to attend writing conferences and/or classes, seek out objective critiques (NOT from good friends or family members), and stay current with the ever-changing markets.
What do you do for fun - other than writing?
	In addition to my love for amateur astronomy, I love to go camping and spending time in my flower garden. I also enjoy crocheting (I head up a Prayer Shawl Ministry at my church), playing with my cat, exercising at the community pool, going out with my husband, and getting together with friends.