Ask the Author: Toni Armstrong Sample
Answered Questions (7)
Toni Armstrong Sample
The first novel I ever remember reading, when I was 13, was "Desiree". It was a huge book for a little girl. It is an old book (and an old story about the human condition) -- but reading about Napolean and Desiree started me on a journey of reading that has never found an end. I loved the way the author wove the story. It was so real I imagined myself as 'Desiree' -- a beautiful, desirable woman. Every author should touch the readers on such a personal level.
Toni Armstrong Sample
I get inspired to write by taking care of myself -- eating right, a little exercise, a good nights sleep, and great times with friends. I listen to my heart. I often get inspiring ideas just before I drop off to sleep -- when my mind is relaxed and not so full of other activities. I keep a pen and paper beside my bed and make notes when ideas come. The next morning, after breakfast and feeding my dog, I write for at least an hour. I just let thoughts roll and then go back and massage that hour of writing. If I don't feel like writing I do something else. The inspiration will come -- and when it does -- write. Life is the writer's best inspiration. Just live a full and content life and you'll want to write.
Toni Armstrong Sample
The best advice I can give an aspiring writer is to write, write, write. Don't let life, or anyone, discourage you. Like art -- not everyone will like your writing, but others will be deeply moved by it. Be true to yourself -- write about what you know. If it's joy, write about joy; if it's hearache, write about heartache; if it's accounting, or sailing, or skiing - then write about those things -- and make them come to life for the reader. Your readers when know when you are transparent or when you don't know what your writing about. AND, good research helps.
Toni Armstrong Sample
The best thing about being a writer is becoming friends with the characters I create. One of my favorite quotes is by Christopher Wren - "Choose your authors like you choose your friends." Well, as a writer I like to choose the characters I include in my books, like I would choose my friends. Like all of us, they have flaws, but they have good basic values and work diligently to recover when things go wrong in their lives. Writing is a 'no lose' endeavor -- I get great joy from writing and my hope is that my readers get joy form reading my stories.
Toni Armstrong Sample
So far -- no block! I have trouble finding the time to capture all the stories in my head.
Toni Armstrong Sample
I'm currently working on a book about the town I live in. I've edited it 6 times myself because writing -- even a fictional story -- about 'home' -- is not easy. But, I'm loving every word of it. Look for it in 2015 -- "When Football, Guns, Bibles and Sunshine Collide". I'm a transplanted Pennsylvanian -- but this book is told with the voice of a true southern woman.
Toni Armstrong Sample
"Transparent Web of Dreams" is about a woman, who, after her children were married and had children of their own, was informed one day, by her husband, that he was leaving her for a younger woman. The theme is not a new one -- but how Helena repurposes her life, is. I want to encourage women to move forward, forgive and let go. There is tragedy and there is celebration in this book. It's about real life -- only the characters and the actual storyline are fiction!
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