Being Pamela

Hello, bloggers. I’m here this beautiful Thursday morning with one of my favorite Fanstory romance authors, Pamela. Good morning, sunshine!

Hiya, Nic.

Pamela, would you please introduce yourself?

Well, I’m a 24 year old stay-at-home mum of my 2 year old boy, living in Moffat, near Edinburgh, in Scotland. I’m in love with my husband, writing, and my schizophrenic cat, called Indie. I’m addicted to movies, TV, Twitter, Fanstory, and Thai Sweet Chili crisps.

So, if I understand you correctly, you and your hubby ate Thai chips while tweeting about an Indie channel TV movie concerning Scottish schizophrenic cat writers from Fanstory? What? Who said that? Oh my… Just ignore those voices... Let’s continue. (ehem)

When did you first begin writing?

The first book I wrote was when I was six. My mum stapled a few blank pieces of paper together and off I went to write my first masterpiece. It was about a little girl living on a farm, who goes into a barn one day and finds a horse. This was when I knew there was something inside me - it wasn't a little girl who wrote a story about a horse who hoped her parents would see it and think it was a hint. I was terrified of horses! I'm not sure who the little girl is in the story, but she and the horse are still very happy together.

The year my son was born I sat down to write my first 'proper' book. By proper I mean finish. Over the years I've written bits and pieces. I still have some of my really early work from when I was a teenager, but most of it is pretty cringe worthy!

Why do you write?

I write because I have to. Ask anyone involved in the arts - that thing they have inside them, be it words or music or art, it isn't something you can ignore. It's in your blood and it's a part of you, there's nothing you can do about it. Ignoring it would be like asking someone to close their eyes and ignore the fact they can see. I write because I have to, because the alternative is both far too bleak, and unimaginable. I write because, whether it be a few minutes of editing at night or those great few hours when I really get to lose myself in the writing process, I get to be a part of something really great. I'm not saying I'm a fabulous writer, I mean like when you watch a movie you fall in love with or a book you just can't put down, you get to be a part of a different world.

When did you begin thinking of yourself as a writer?

I once heard a quote that said just because you write thousands of words, slap a cover on it and call it a book, doesn't mean you're a writer. But, if you wake up in the morning and the first thing you think about is writing, then you're a writer. Even when I was terrified of people finding out I liked to spend my spare time sat in front of my word processor making up stuff in my teen years, I still thought of myself as a writer. Be it published or not quite there yet, when you're a writer, you just are - like being short or having red hair.

What a coincidence! I’m short, have red hair, and I’m a writer. I also get up every morning. Okay, so there’s just a little red in my hair…

Let’s stay on track here, Nic.

Sorry. (chuckle) Who or what are you inspired by?

My first inspiration was when I read The Nanny by Melissa Nathan, a British author. It isn't a work of great masterpiece; I suppose it was Chick Lit. But I can't describe how I felt when I read it. The characters were beautifully written, it had a gorgeous leading man and a charming leading lady, a few cute kids and a predictable storyline, but it gave me that warm glow in my tummy. It inspired me to make someone feel like that by reading my work. The Nanny is my go to book for when something is troubling me, when it's raining and the only thing to do is crash on the sofa for the day, or for when I need cheered up. I'd love one of my books to be like that for someone one day. Songs inspire me most often, so music is a huge part of the writing process for me.

Do you like writing for a particular genre?

I like to mix it up. My first book is historical, second was modern and the third was YA. All of them have romance, I can't keep it out. Even when I try to stop it, all my characters end up kissing at some point.

Is there anything in particular that was difficult to write?

I've written a lot of things that have been difficult, but all for different reasons. My first book is set during World War II, and my MC's love interest got shipped out to serve in the Pacific. For his character, I read a lot of books about this, and Japanese concentration camps. They were really tough to get through.

In another book, my MC's dad is dying of cancer. I've never lost anyone close to me, never mind to something as serious as this. A lot of it was guess work, and I really had to draw on pain I've felt in my past and try and use it to make my MC's pain believable. I was exhausting and draining writing about it.

The most difficult thing would have to be a rape scene.

As writers, we get invested in our work. That means our characters become very real for us. Think about it - you spend everyday with these people for a long time, and you start to really care about them. It's hard when we have to hurt them, and we feel it too. When I wrote the rape scene I felt guilty as hell that I was putting her through it. But it was therapeutic in a way, because it was something I've experienced but never spoke about.

Wow. Thank you for being so honest and investing so much of yourself into your writing.

Is there a work that you are particularly proud of?

Yes! I'm really proud of my first book. I think mainly because it was the first thing I ever finished, but also because of all the work I put into it. It reads awful now, though I didn't realize at the time. I've left it alone for a year, and once NaNoWriMo is finished it's my goal to make it polished and perfect.

Oh, I just love shiny, sparkly, polished things! I also like a leading man’s rippling abs, chance meetings in a corner coffee shop, and steamy hot tub scenes. (giggle) You know what I don’t like? When an insecure woman continually returns to her self-absorbed, cheating, no-good man, or when characters hear a noise in the middle of the night and search the entire house, except where the killer is, and when stupid, clumsy people who are being chased through the woods by a chainsaw-wielding boogie man, manage to trip and fall over nothing, and when… when... Hmm. I forgot what I was talking about.

Focus, Nic. (groan) We were talking about my new book.

Oh yeah! So, what’s the name of it, and what’s it about?

It’s called ‘Breaking Through’ on Fanstory, but I’ve changed it to ‘The Recantation of Barb Howell.’ It’s about a girl who finds herself changed by love, and how she survives when WWII breaks it apart.

Do you have any current works in progress?

Yes, I’m working on a YA romance for Nanowrimo, and also polishing up a sequel to my second book.

Does your writing have a reoccurring message that flows through it?

Never give up. If it’s painful to lose, then it’s worth keeping.

Oh, I like that! I have a reoccurring message in most of my stuff too. It’s “Oh crap! I’ve spent eons on this book and now I think it really sucks eggs.”

So who are some of your favorite authors?

I adore Melissa Nathan. She’s really funny and clever, and writes beautiful romances. Steven King, because he is the master of storytelling, and Jeffrey Deaver, because I can never guess whodunit.

It wasn’t me!

Can you give me a list of, oh… a thousand or so of your favorite books?

Uh, well… Here are a few:

The Mortal Instruments series, by Cassandra Clare

Marjorie Morningstar, by Herman Wouk

The Nanny, by Melissa Nathan

Halfway to the Grave, by Jeannine Frost

Succubus Blues series, by Richelle Mead

Juliet, by Anne Fortier

The Millenium Trilogy, by Steig Larson

The Dark Tower series, The Stand, Cujo, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, Gerald's Game, The Green Mile, and IT, by Stephen King

The Sky is Everywhere, by Jandy Nelson

Before I Fall, by Lauren Oliver

Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson.

I think I’ve read a couple of those. I dreamed about the girl who loved Tom Gordon for three consecutive nights after reading that book. I’d wake up each morning craving boiled eggs and Twinkies. Strange—I know. Steven King will do that to you.

So, other than writing, what else do you like to do?

I love walking in the woods outside my house.

Really? Even after reading The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon? Seriously?

Uh… I also love listening to music and dancing around like an idiot.

Me too! Me too! I’m actually dancing like an idiot right at this moment. Wheee…

What? You have to go tweet? Well, I understand. When you’ve gotta tweet—you’ve gotta tweet. Is there anything else you’d like to say before you go tweet?

I'd like to say good luck to whoever reads this interview. Whether you're reading for NaNoWriMo or because you're a writer just starting out, luck is always needed with writing! It can be a long road to the end, but thanks to things like NaNoWriMo, where you can meet people on the forums, or blogs, or Fanstory, it doesn't have to be a lonely road. Some of the best friends I've made I've never even met before.

Once again, me too! I’ve enjoyed chatting with you, Pam. Oh, and tell Indie that being schizophrenic has an upside—you’re never alone.

Uh… bye Nic…

If you’d like to learn more about Pamela, (or just want to snack on some chili crisps) you can visit her blog @ http://teeny104.blogspot.com/ or add pamelaroach to your Nanowrimo buddy list.