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3Q’s – B.P. Gregory gets tricked!

3Q2

Usually, usually, the title of each 3Q’s has to do with one of the answers or releases that the author has released. Not this time. This time – it has to do with how this 3Q’s went down. When I asked B.P. is she was interested in doing one – she replied that she had been hoping I would ask and had been trying to decide on who her favorite wrestler was – for the Bonus Question!! Well… The fav wrestler question was one of three bonus questions I had for SEASON 1!!! And now, in Season 2 – I have three other random bonus questions!! So, I wonder if, when Gregory opened up the email, she cursed my name and shook an angry fist in the air towards Canada!?!?

No matter – I’m super excited to have B.P. join me today for this fun 3Q’s!

Welcome, B.P.!

B.P. Gregory

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try to write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

B.P.: Thank you for having me Steve!

I work part-time and I have two days per week ostensibly put aside for writing, although as you can imagine normal chores around the house tend to eat them up a bit.

I don’t have a regular routine or word count; and how fast I write depends on the story. I find early drafting is a slog, but as the narrative pulls together the process gets faster and more exciting. Which means that writing a novel starts out a real bummer, then later gets offset by how enjoyable things are once they start ticking along. I’m also a chronic drafter – I could draft forever if there wasn’t a requirement to stop and publish. Heaven is going to be just a long perfect draft unspooling off the side of the table and across the floor as the sun comes through the window for the cat to sleep in, and my mug of coffee stays eternally hot.

Weirdly, I’ve found that waiting is one of the most important aspects of writing. Once I think a story is finished, I set it aside and work on something else for a month or so. When I can finally come back with a fresh eye the mistakes and bum notes suddenly seem so obvious, and I can give it a final polish.

Steve: If you could write a story for another author’s fictional world/series, which would it be and why?

B.P.: That’s a tough question! Most of the fictional worlds and series I’ve loved have been because they blew my mind in ways I’ve never thought of writing myself, they just seem so far beyond my abilities.

That being said, if we imagine limitless talent then the world I’d most like to write a story for is Catherynne M Valente’s Palimpsest. For those who haven’t read it yet, the mysterious city of Palimpsest has been sealed away from the ordinary world for years. Seekers wishing to live in this land of wonders must follow maps etched into their own and strangers’ skins, half awake and half dreaming. It’s such a luxurious, beautiful novel that’s unflinching and yet forgiving of human weakness, and the call to action at the end was so lovely it made me burst into tears. I want to be able to write stories that make other people feel like that someday.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

B.P.: In June this year I had the pleasure of releasing my first audiobook, in collaboration the very excellent Ed of One-stop Audiobook. Flora & Jim the audiobook is an all new way to experience the frozen glacial apocalypse as poor Jim struggles to keep his young daughter Flora alive against monsters, nightmares, the dangerous prospect of love, and worst of all, their past. Being an audiobook you can enjoy the end of the world on your way to work, pretend snow-dogs are chasing you as you exercise, or forage along with Jim as you do your chores.

Steve: Bonus Question! Do you have a cherished book?

B.P.: I have a few signed books that are special to me, but my MOST cherished book has to be my limited Folio Edition of Tristan Alice Nieto’s Imago. It’s an exquisite and haunting sci-fi/horror masterpiece about resurrection and existence, where every word and moment are crafted just so.

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