Does this book have a special meaning to you? i.e. where you
found the idea, its symbolism, its meaning, who you dedicated it to, what made
you want to write it?
In every respect. I
dedicated it to my wife. I wanted to
acknowledge her support and her encouragement, but most especially, I wanted to
recognize our partnership in life, through marriage. I try to support and encourage her in all her
endeavors as well. In fact, Lucky Chance is about our marriage. Not our exact marriage, but about the
mechanics of becoming in the Biblical sense, one I use symbolism in story to tell the story
and the meaning that I hope to communicate.
I wrote about a marriage between two people who come from disparate
backgrounds, fall in love, and then dedicate themselves to allowing the energy of love shape them into a viable
and enduring partnership through marriage.
I also wrote about the vicissitudes of life that tend to make that
endeavor difficult. We are individuals
after all and we possess our own motivations and desires.
Where do you get your storylines from?
I begin my writing with two points of control. I have a story and an ending in mind. I suppose I also have characters in
mind. Perhaps, I think of characters and
then place them within the story, which
has a proposed ending. In between those
points, I write my stories that reveal the plot or the longer story. I enjoy moving along and coming upon inspirational
ideas that take my plot on a turn or a curve.
If I have any type of inherent writing talent that gift manifests as a
sense of what works and belongs and what doesn’t. Sometimes, I simply know that something is
missing. I might write a piece of two
and reject them just as quickly, but I try to stay engaged and moving. More often, sooner rather than later, I find
myself satisfied with finding the missing piece and filling the void.
Was this book easier or more difficult to write than others? Why?
This book was far easier than my first. After my first, which was accepted but far
too long, and remains, as yet, unpublished, I accepted myself as a writer. I knew what I was doing. I felt a freedom to write and to cut or
remove unnecessary pieces of work. I
knew there would be enough, and I had a sense of what was enough.
Do you only write one genre?
I have been asked to write non-fiction in a sort of academic
capacity. I am a reader, and I am a
researcher when I read. My wife catches
me looking up every word that I do not know, and researching story points for
their origins and history. I have not
formally considered this work at this point.
Therefore, I suppose the answer to your question is, Yes, I only write
in one genre.
Give us a picture of where you write, where you compose
these words…is it Starbucks, a den, a garden…we want to know your inner sanctum?
I have made an office out of the smallest bedroom in the
house. All our newborns slept and played
in this room until they were no longer considered infants. It’s cozy, quiet and secluded, but it is in
design and décor, with the exception of my desk, still, the baby’s room.
And finally, of course…was there any specific event or circumstance
that made you want to be a writer?
I am actually a story teller. I became a writer, out of off handed
necessity. My wife found my day planners
that I had saved across all the years of my corporate life. She read my notes regarding many activities
on many days. She said, “Honey, nobody
does a day planner like this. Have you
ever thought about writing some of the stories you tell?” Hmmm?
But, when I was 12 years old I was selected by my family to tell our
story at the annual reunion. We had a
story telling time at reunions and each branch of the family selected a member
to tell a story for that year. I told
about the dogs and I setting the leaves on fire in the back yard, and then
attempting to extinguish the blaze. I
may write that story sometime.
Many thanks for your consideration and your kind attention.
Regards,
R. C. Welch
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDelete