Ask the Author: Elda Dawber
Answered Questions (6)
Elda Dawber
I have been a social worker all my professional career, working with children and families that have suffered the trauma of childhood abuse. When I semi-retired, I still had the voices of those hurt and courageous children wrapping around my head and heart. I wrote "Wait Until I'm Dead!" as a way to honor them and their courage. I also just simply love a good story full of mystery and human struggle -- so I tried to marry the two.
I have been passionate about ending abuse to children, and that passion led to my inspiration to write. I am now at work on another novel involving the same main characters dealing with a related topic. Stay tuned!
I have been passionate about ending abuse to children, and that passion led to my inspiration to write. I am now at work on another novel involving the same main characters dealing with a related topic. Stay tuned!
Elda Dawber
I literally walk it off. I am not an "index cards all over the wall", writer. The arcs have to fall into little slots in my brain when they are ready to go there, and I find that movement helps that happen. Odd? Perhaps. But it works for me -- usually.
Elda Dawber
It's an absolute thrill to get pulled into and pulled along by a character that works on your brain until you give him/her the perfect voice for their situation.
Of course, it is also a bit obsessive when they are all running around in your head and want out!
In my case, writing about children in pain was also at times extremely sad and compelling in that sense as well. It was hard, hard, hard to write to memoir piece of the book.
Of course, it is also a bit obsessive when they are all running around in your head and want out!
In my case, writing about children in pain was also at times extremely sad and compelling in that sense as well. It was hard, hard, hard to write to memoir piece of the book.
Elda Dawber
Write what you know. I took creative writing in college and found that I had some talent for writing, but was told by my professor that I would have to choose between social work and writing. I chose social work. It gave me the knowledge, skills, experience, empathy, and lots more, that hallmark my work today. What I could possibly have written about at twenty is beyond my ability to know. I am well aware that some authors do it, and do it well, but that wouldn't have been me.
Elda Dawber
I am about to begin a sequel to this book that will include some of the same characters yet present another current issue related to childhood trauma and recovery.
Elda Dawber
From my real life -- which is where I think writers do their best work! I am a clinical social worker by profession and have been working with, or about, children and families in which their has been sexual abuse trauma. I wanted their stories of courage and empowerment to be heard.
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