Author Interview - Courtney Reese
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Hey everyone! We've been doing author interviews on Mondays here at Critique This WIP, and this Monday is no exception (if you missed any of the other interviews you can check them out here and here). We've had the chance to get to know some pretty interesting writers, but we realized that you don't really know much about us as authors. So we got the brilliant idea to interview each other! Brilliant, huh? So last week Courtney interviewed moi, and this week I'm interviewing her!
We usually get a little bit of biography from each of our authors, but we've provided that for you already. You can check out Courtney's biography here or by clicking the link up above that says "Courtney."
Margaret: One of the questions we always like to ask, because it's one every writer has to consider at some point, is do you use a pen name?
Courtney: As of right now, I don’t use a pen name, even though I completely see the wisdom in having one. In the future, if I switch genres, I think it’d be a good thing to look into—so as not to confuse my paranormal readers ;-) (And it’s always fun to make up new names!)
Margaret: What is your favorite genre to write?
Courtney: Paranormal is my favorite to write because it lets me get uber-creative and make up my own little worlds. Want a character to be able to read minds—go for it. Want a shapeshifting, hybrid vampire—have at. There are no rules, no set guidelines. You get to think outside the box, and that’s always fun.
Margaret: And what's your favorite genre to read?
Courtney: I’m a sucker for the romances. I like my “investments” to pay off. I don’t always get a lot of time to read, so when I do, I plan to reap the rewards of a happy ending. If I don’t get that happy ending, I’m one pissed off puppy. There’s something satisfying in knowing that everything was tied up nicely.
Margaret: I like happy endings too! How about some craft questions? What inspires your characters?
Courtney: God only knows. Maybe they come to me, or maybe I just have a busy imagination. One way or the other, I have quite a few of the little buggers.
Margaret: And where have some of your best ideas come from?
Courtney: Dreams have influenced the majority of my novels—or even just a scene. They come in very handy when you’re least expecting them. Other ideas have stemmed from music, but that’s a little less frequent.
Margaret: Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Courtney: 100% plotter. Although all of my ideas start with one scene, then branch out from there, I always have a little outline that I follow/add to like crazy. I'm the kind of writer that has spreadsheets for my spreadsheets.
Margaret: OMG, that's way too anal for me! Tell us what projects you're working on now?
Courtney: Primarily, I spend my time working on the first book in a paranormal romance series called Nightlings. Other than that, I can be found toying around with different ideas, playing the plotting game, finding the perfect character name, researching different settings, etc.
Margaret: Do you use writing exercises?
Courtney: Not often.
Margaret: Are you published?
Courtney: God no. I haven’t even begun to clear that hurdle yet—I’m still writing the book!
Margaret: How do you "get in the zone" when you're writing? Listen to music? What's your writing environment like?
Courtney: I like to write in silence, which means shutting the door and closing out the rest of the world. I turn on a fan or a “water” sound machine, just to give myself a little background noise, but I can’t write to music lyrics or tv shows. It’s wayyyyyy to distracting.
Margaret: Which of your characters do you relate with most?
Courtney: I’m a firm believer that each one of my characters has a little piece of me in them. That being said, of course there are those that have a larger chunk, just like there are those who have the kind of qualities I wish I had. If I had to name just one that reminds me most of myself, I’d have to say Kate, the main character in Nightlings, because she’d awfully moody and has a snark-tastic view of life ;-)
Margaret: How important are character names for you? Do you spend a lot of time naming your characters:
Courtney: Names are a personal pet peeve for me. I like a certain kind of name, but some names just don’t mesh well with a particular character. Sometimes, you have to leave your comfort bubble and find the name in the character. I’ll spend days finding the right fit…weeks even!
Margaret: Now this is a loaded question since you're part of a critique group...but why do you use critique partners/groups as part of your writing process?
Courtney: Oh yes =) Love my girls at CritiqueThis and my CP, Ashley Tenille Remple. Out of the 5 of them, they each find something different that needs changing. It’s crazy important to have people on your side, helping to polish your story. Invaluable!
Margaret: Whew! That's a relief! So how do you handle the criticism of your work?
Courtney: I love it, much like I love a dentist appointment or a tetanus shot or a pap smear. *grins* It’s not my favorite part of the writing process, but after the initial read though of “Seriously?!” and “This sounds STUPID!” and “I’m not sure this makes sense…”, I can usually take a step back and absorb the advice. It’s not like my critiquers are trying to be rude. They are trying to help make my writing as good as it can possibly be. Long story short—criticism hurts but is worth its weight in gold.
Margaret: How many projects do you work on at once?
Courtney: Several at once, but I always have my primary WIP. I like to keep several ideas on the back burner...which means I like to play with them from time to time, just to keep them fresh in my mind.
Margaret: What's your favorite part of being a writer?
Courtney: Creating new worlds! Woot!
Margaret: What's your least favorite part of being a writer?
Courtney: It depends on the day...sometimes I love to edit, other times, I hate it. Sometimes I love to research, other times I can't stand it. It all depends on what I'm in the "zone" for.
Margaret: Do you ever have trouble with writer's block?
Courtney: You could say that. *snorts* Doesn't everyone? Gotta keep on truckin'.
Margaret: How about blogfests? Do you participate? If so, do you write new scenes for the fests or use scenes from your WIPs?
Courtney: I love blogfests! I try to write new scenes to make it into a little writing exercise, but sometimes time works against me. If I have to use a prewritten scene, blogfests are a great place to gauge reader-reaction =)
Margaret: Most of us write part time. How do you spend your time when you're not writing?
Courtney: I work as an after school teacher for an elementary school, five days a week. When I’m not working —or writing— I spend time with my fiancé, with my family, and (as much as I can) reading.
Margaret: Would you like to share a favorite line from one of your books?
Courtney: This is a line from Nightlings. The Dark Goddess Sarelle is heading down to the dungeon to work off a bit of steam…
“The smell of rot and feces permeated the air, reminding Sarelle why she hated coming down here. Waste buckets and blood soaked mattresses did not make for pleasant air fresheners. Not to mention that her captives hadn’t bathed since…well, since before they were captured.”
Margaret: Well, we'll end the interview on that...um...ahem...note. It's been awesome getting to know you better, Courtney!
Don't forget to check back in next Monday for another author interview!
Thanks for doing my interview M! xoxo
Love it. You're super awesome CP! Also, you spelled my last name wrong, but everyone does! :)
Wow. The line from Nightlings is pretty dark... I cannot wait for the day when I can read the whole novel. Are you almost finished writing the novel?
I've been kinda stuck with mine. It's the weather. Too hot to write. 91 degrees F. Well that's what the widget on my mac says. It's probably hotter.
-Kayleigh
Woohoo! I love creating words, too!