Linda Westphal's Blog - Posts Tagged "the-medium"

It's been 6 months since these two books pushed their way from my desk to your bookshelf. I'm so glad I did it. THANK YOU, readers! I'm thrilled with how well they've been received.

There are two writing magazines that I enjoy reading, The Writer and Writer's Digest, and my favorite segments are the author interviews.

There is so much you can learn about an author from an interview that's not on the back cover of a book or an author's website. In particular, I think it's fascinating to read about an author's writing process and what influences his or her writing. And if I enjoyed the interview and have not read any of the author's books, that's an added bonus; I like discovering new authors to read.

If you are like me and enjoy reading author interviews (where secrets are often revealed), please enjoy these two interviews:

Kathy Reinhart, Ink Drop Interviews & Reviews, interviews author Linda Westphal: Define a great book; Tell us about the picture on the cover of your book THE MEDIUM; Tell us about the theme running through your book THE HERMIT BOOKSTORE; and, more - View the interview

Lisa Montanino, Accidental Bohemian, asks author Linda Westphal about writing, reading, life - View the interview

Whether you are a reader who enjoys stories that take place in the 1950s, or a writer who is writing a story that is set in this time period, you will want to visit this place. I only live 30 miles from Mark Reiff's Gas Station Museum in Woodland, California, yet had no idea it existed. What a thrill it was to hear about it from a friend!

It made me think about the writing process and the importance of research. To see, touch, smell, hear and sense the vibe of the time or place where your story evolves is invaluable (at least it is for me when I write). All of these sensations become part of the book and help your words develop pictures in readers' minds.

Before I wrote THE MEDIUM, I traveled to Savannah, Georgia, and explored the city's Historic District for two weeks (read more about my visit here). Also, a visit to an old farmhouse in California's gold rush country inspired my novella, THE HERMIT BOOKSTORE.

It's not always possible for writers to travel to their story location; therefore, they rely on other research methods, such as reviewing online blogs, local newspapers and magazines, maps, travel books, or talking with people who are familiar with a region.

Every good novel worth reading requires some research. And it happens to be one of my favorite steps of the writing process.