Today we are pleased to introduce Author Belinda Amerman, who was gracious and agreed to tell us about her new work Prairie Spirits. Check out her interview below:
K.W – Hello, thank you so much for joining us today. Please go ahead and introduce yourself and tell us about some of your work. Mention any notable works or collaborations.
B. Amerman – My name is Belinda Amerman. I am a retired photojournalist/journalist. A story I wrote was included in an anthology titled “Tales from the Golden State of Mind” two years ago. My first novel, “Prairie Spirits” was published last year.
K.W – How did you begin writing?
B. Amerman – This will sound silly, but when I was a child, I stapled several pieces of paper together. I wrote on the first page, “My Book.” Actually, when I was 19 years old and in my first year of college, my English instructor invited me to participate in a writing class he was conducting between semesters. It was then I was fascinated with the world of publication.
K.W – Can you tell us what inspires you?
B. Amerman – I am inspired by new experiences such as when I meet new people. I’m inspired when I hear an interesting turn of a phrase. Getting out of my comfort zone is inspirational.
K.W – Can you describe how you handle the writing and editing process?
B. Amerman – My writing process may seem chaotic to other authors. I see my characters in different situations and write them down. When they interact, I write them down. When they speak, I write them down. It is all in bits and pieces and/or short paragraphs. At the time when I have most of it, I print out the pages, then cut them into individual slips of paper. I look at each piece of paper then I tape them together in order. At that point, I begin typing the first draft either copying and pasting or copying them from the taped-together version. It is then when I wait for the mystery to show itself.
K.W – How do you approach writing a new book?
B. Amerman – This may sound like nonsense, but the book approaches me, sometimes seemingly out of nowhere. Then my journalism background tends to flesh it out when I start needing direction on action and conflict.
K.W – What genres influence you the most?
B. Amerman – Currently, I find the largest influences in myths and legends.
K.W – How do you stay inspired and creative?
B. Amerman – Since my first writing class, I have kept journals. I keep a journal with me when I travel, when I’m home, when I’m at church, and when I’m photographing birds and wildlife.
K.W – What are some common challenges you face?
B. Amerman – When I have a great idea and I mean an inspirational idea, I think it’ll cover pages and pages moving the plot forward, then when I type it out, it’s only a sentence or two.
K.W – How do you overcome this?
B. Amerman – Well, when my inspirational idea was larger in my mind than on paper, I push forward and keep writing.
K.W – How has the industry changed since you started?
B. Amerman – The changes are many. The Internet has been a great improvement for getting the rejection to me faster. No more sending out the printed pages of cover letter, bio, synopsis, sample chapter and including a self-addressed stamped envelope then waiting six weeks to three months for the rejection, which there have been many. Now days, publishers and agents have HTMLs on their websites where the above information can be copied from my file into the appropriate space, however, they still take about the same amount of time to reject.
K.W – Have you noticed any new trends?
B. Amerman – Trends seem to develop with what people are doing. While I’m not interested in writing for these areas, publishers and agents seem to be open to authors who write LGBTQ+ topics. There are specialized publishers who want only romance, horror, thriller, or mystery genres. It just depends on the publisher and agent, but they always want something spectacular and new. Many publishers and agents want to know if the author is willing to help with promotion through blogs and websites.
If authors are fed up with rejections, the Internet, Amazon, hybrid and vanity publishers make getting published easier if the author has the money. Some offer packages with editing, cover design, and marketing.
K.W – What advice would you give to other authors?
B. Amerman – I was once told by a published author to write what turns you to fire. Another told me to write about what bothers you but no one else. It’s up to each author to figure out this cryptic advice for himself/herself.
K.W – Tell us about your favorite character you’ve written.
B. Amerman – My favorite character is Connie Lone Wolf, one of the main characters in my first novel “Prairie Spirits.” I named her after a Lakota woman I met when I worked for a newspaper. She told me many stories about her Lakota heritage that I included in my novel.
K.W – Do you have any upcoming projects?
B. Amerman – Yes. I have written a second paranormal/mystery novel using the same characters in my first. I’ve had developmentally edited and will have it proofed. I need to get the cover designed. I’m expecting to release it later this year. It is titled “Secret of Bounty Ranch.”
K.W – Do you have any project goals?
B. Amerman – My future goals are to keep writing as long as I can. I love writing. Eleven years ago, I started a non-fiction book about our church. I’m working on its second volume.
