#ArmchairBEA: Author Interaction/More Than Just Words

Author Interaction
I love all of my fans. One of the most memorable experiences I have ever had with a fan is when Sarita Love turned from fan into my personal cheerleader. She was so excited after reading Calico (Children of the Shawnee series) that she ask for book 2. I am currently working on the second book of the series. Every time I was on Facebook she would ask me "Are you writing? When is the next book coming out?" One day she told me, "Write! Write! Write! I need more." Sarita has become my number one fan. If I had a fan club she would more than likely be the president of it. She reminds me to never give up no matter how hard having a writing career can be. 


More Than Just Words
Transmedia. I had never heard of the word until I was in graduate school working on my MFA in Creative Writing at Full Sail University. Our world has drastically changed since the Internet came online in the 90's. There use to be a time when a writer's story would only be in books.  No longer. If a writer's story is to be successful then they must be able to present that same story as transmedia. Transmedia means the same story is told in game, television, screenplay, book and comic formats. Writers can no longer sit back and just write a novel if they want a successful writing career. They need to understand how to write in each of the formats. Every time you take a story and adapt it from one form to the other the story will change. Writers need to be flexible enough in their thinking to allow these changes to occur and for other people to make changes to their story. Agents, managers and publishers tend to favor the writer who can write effectively in all media formats because they know that a story is more likely to be profitable if it is presented in more than one market.

 I am so grateful I learned how to write in all media forms with my MFA. The education I received at Full Sail has changed my writing process for the better. It has opened my mind to expressing my creativity in new forms that has opened new doors for my writing career. I am currently writing the screenplay for my book, Calico, and the novel form for my screenplay, Field of Grace. I want all of my stories to be transmedia. That takes hard work and stretches my mind. But I wouldn't have it any other way.