What Keeps Me Motivated to Write?

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Each writer finds their inspiration and motivation in different ways.  When I am thinking about a scene, it helps me to gaze out the window in front of my computer at the lovely lemon tree that grows in the back courtyard of my home.

Recently I did an interview with Smashwords and thought you, my readers, might enjoy reading it:

Interview with Renee Benzaim

1.  Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?

I grew up in California in a large family. As an adult, I lived in North Carolina, Delaware, and Hawaii. Looking back, I can see that the “:California mindset” is different, especially from that of the East Coast. I think this influence gives my writing a less formal, more open style. Also, my crime fiction series featuring Robbery/Homicide Detective Annie Avants is set in Kern County/Bakersfield, California where I lived for many years.

2.  When did you first start writing?

I remember the first long story I ever wrote. I was in the third grade and my teacher, Miss Steere, asked us each to write a story about something in history.

I chose to write about the Donner party and the tragedies that befell them as they tried to make it to the wild west.

3.  What’s the story behind your latest book?

Right now I’m writing a series featuring Detective Annie Avants of the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. Most of my family worked in law enforcement and I majored in Criminal Justice in college. I enjoy listening to police calls and following the action.

The real Annie Avants is an ancestor and I wanted to feature her name and her roots – she’s originally from Mena, Arkansas – but I wanted to transplant her to California where I was familiar with the location. The two blended perfectly.

I just finished the second book in the series (they will all be stand-alone) DAMAGE CONTROL and am working on the third, SOUTHERN SECRETS. The first book, CAUSE OF DEATH, is available in many formats.

4.  What motivated you to become an indie author?

In 2009 I published my first article on the internet. I didn’t realize it was possible and was amazed! I then took courses and published more and more, wrote several blogs, and just fell in love with the publishing side of writing.

Then, one day, I was reading something and I discovered indie publishing! I was shocked! The possibilities were endless. I researched how to do it and then wrote a couple of ‘how to’ books based on two of my blogs, “How to Make Compost” and “Can Men Get Yeast Infections?”. I was hooked. I followed them up with a short story I wrote several years ago, “Frog Crossing.”  I’ve also included a cookbook named “Salsa!” which has many delicious recipes for vegetable and fruit salsas.

5.  How has Smashwords contributed to your success?

I love Smashwords! They enable me to share my books with venues I would never have thought of or knew how to contact. Most of my sales are through Smashwords and the various channels they submit my work to.

6.  What is the greatest joy of writing for you?

The most excitement for me is when I put all the pieces in my head together and it all makes sense. When I first start a project, my head is a jumble of thoughts and ideas. As I progress, things begin to fall into place. Eventually, it’s all there, it all flows perfectly, and I am happy.

7.  What do your fans mean to you?

I want my fans to be my friends. I love talking to them and having them tell me what they liked and didn’t like about something of mine they read. I write for myself, of course, but my fans are the wonderful people I love to share my writing with.

8.  What are you working on next?

I’ve just started the third book in my Det. Annie Avants series, SOUTHERN SECRETS. This book will take Annie out of Kern County part of the time. She will visit her hometown, Mena, Arkansas, and the hometown of Jesse Greyeyes, a Deputy District Attorney from Kern County, who grew up on the reservation in Cherokee, North Carolina.

9.  Who are your favorite authors?
Nelson DeMille, Patricia Cornwell, Dan Brown, Travanian, Kiana Davenport, J.R.R. Tolkein, Anne Rice,and many more.

10.  What inspires you to get out of bed each day?

When I quit writing each day, I stop right in the middle of a sentence, thought, or scene. When I wake up the next morning, I’m excited to get back into whatever I was writing. This makes it easy for me to jump start my day and makes me eager to continue the story.

When my husband brings me a cup of coffee in bed, that certainly helps set a happy tone for my day!

11.  When you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?

I have normal household chores, of course, and a wonderful husband who does most of our shopping and cooking so I can write. I read a lot and think about different aspects of what I’m writing. A lot of my questions are answered during quiet times, such as when I meditate or sleep.

We also have several cats and kittens that we enjoy and I spend some time crocheting, which I learned how to do from my grandmother when I was eight years old.

12.  How do you discover the ebooks you read?

A book’s description and reviews help me make my reading choices. I pick a lot of books from the police procedural genre, mainly because I learn a lot. In addition, I look for non-fiction titles on the different topics I address in my books.

What Keeps Me Motivated to Write? is a post from: Renee Benzaim, Writer