Ask the Author: Tracy Gilpin
Answered Questions (6)
Tracy Gilpin
I am almost daily horrified by the violence of South African society. I have thought about what might be causing it. Rain of Ashes asks some of the questions it has become impolite to ask about the most supported freedom struggle in history. It is about the role of the international community in apartheid - most of which has been covered-up. The story is filled with monsters and skeletons, but there is light, too, and hope, in its lead characters who epitomize triumph of the human spirit.
Tracy Gilpin
I'm observant and open to new possibilities and ideas. I listen at doors, peek through windows and thoroughly enjoy a branch of 'literary archaeology' - removing sand, bit by bit with small brushes, to reveal skeletons and, hopefully one day, a chest of gold or, at the very least, a clue as to where I can find the elixir of life. What a story that would be!
Tracy Gilpin
I'm working on the fourth story in the Marks and Lambrecht Series.
Tracy Gilpin
Be aware that you're in for the long-haul. For most writers, agents and deals come after decades of dedication, not years. Be prepared for hard work. Writing is one of the few activities that produce quality from quantity. Cultivate the discipline of quashing your ego. Critique is your personal map of where you would like to go with your writing and what should be avoided. Rejection is character-building. Lastly, you will need to grow wise and philosophical. Life is generous, fate can be whimsical and cruel. Know what to take to heart and when to throw off critique and ambition.
Tracy Gilpin
The best thing about being a writer is being able to do a lot a dog walking, stare out the window and call it working, and have the odd nap. I also don't have to wear shoes to work.
Tracy Gilpin
Luckily, I've never had writer's block. What I do battle with is finding the time to turn the ideas I have into stories.
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