Hello everyone and welcome to this week’s fabulous Author Interview! It’s Friday, it’s December, and it’s time to talk to Ellison Blackburn! First, though, I would like to thank you all for your participation. When I started this segment,I was afraid we wouldn’t have enough authors participating to last through September. Now look at us, into December and more to come! I couldn’t be happier with it. I hope you feel the same!
Now that I’ve gushed about you a bit, let’s see what Ms. Blackburn has to tell us!
- What name do you write under? Is this a pseudonym? Do you use more than one name when you write?
Ellison Blackburn, it is not a pen name—rather a variation of my real name and so far I have only used this one.
- Tell us about the first time you realized that you were an author or were going to be an author.
Last year, my husband and I were just talking about our careers and this idea popped into my head, “In hindsight, …” and Regeneration X was born.
At the very beginning when I started writing Regeneration X, I wasn’t even cognitive of it becoming a novel. The characters just took over and it evolved into a ninety-thousand-word story.
- What genre(s) do you write in, and why?
Literary, Visionary, and Medical/Science fiction
Science Fiction allows me to be a part of a world of my own making, and one that incorporates the past, present, and future of my imagination—a skewed reality. Regeneration X, book 1, is rather on the soft science fiction side as the technology doesn’t exist but the advanced world is not as apparent through the protagonist’s viewpoint.
Regeneration Chronicles have/will have multi-generational characters and could be classified in a variety of ways—Literary / Medical / Visionary / Science / Contemporary / Psychological / Women’s / Young Adult Fiction. There is also a touch of urban fantasy. It’s complicated.
Cross-genre tomes are almost always more interesting (for me anyway). This sounds like a lot of fun!
- What genres are your favorites to read? Why?
I often find myself leaning toward historical fiction and romance when looking for something to read, that or science fiction of the Harry Potter more so than the close encounters kind.
- Tell us about your two all-time favorite characters: 1 that you wrote and 1 that someone else wrote.
Cassidy McCrae, from my upcoming second book in the Regeneration Chronicles, Progeny. Cassidy is my imaginary best friend, supportive with a realistic backbone, and complex herself, but has a way of simplifying things for everyone else.
I have loads of favorite characters. They vary as time passes and I discover/meet new favorites. Most recently I’ve discovered Diana Gabaldon’s Jamie Fraser from Outlander. Beyond his incredible sex appeal, he is a fantastically intriguing character.
Jamie Fraser is one of my favorite characters as well. His evolution over the series is amazing, but his charm and humor remain throughout it all.
- There is a lot of controversy about allowing books to be made into movies (especially when they cut or change large portions of the plot). Would you be willing for your books/stories to become a movie? Why or why not?
Yes, I’d be willing. Regeneration X requires the reader to delve into the concept of altering life choices already made and then dealing with the good and bad that comes with those new choices. A large part of the main character’s personality is internalized. It would be interesting to see this translated to film. I also think the current cinema offerings could use a mental film like Regeneration X. Psychological films do not always need to be thrillers do they?
Definitely not! In fact, some of the most intriguing (and down right mind-messing) movies I’ve seen were psychological non-thrillers…and scared me more than the thrillers.
- How do you handle writer’s block?
I keep on keeping on at it. I try to write a little bit every day. Once that first sentence is down, my flow usually builds. I haven’t therefore experienced a block and I can’t really say it exists until I do. I have however boxed myself into a storyline and had to find my way out.
- What inspires you?
In life, writing inspires me; in writing, travelling provokes fresh ideas.
Perfect!
- How do you respond when people ask what you do, then make that face if you say, “I’m an author”?
I don’t say I’m an author when asked about my profession per se. I wish it were, but I’m not there yet. Authorship is something I fell into. For now it’s not a career insomuch as it is an act of personal fulfillment.
If it is what you love, then maybe it should be on the resume too? 😀 Sometimes the joy a hobby brings can help create your career in ways you could never have imagined.
- Finally, tell us where to go to find you
Website: http://ellisonblackburn.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ellisonblackburn
Author Central: http://amazon.com/author/ellisonblackburn/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ellis_blackburn
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellisonblackburn
Google+: https://google.com/+EllisonBlackburn-Author
Thank you so much for sharing with us today Ellison! I think I can speak for our readers in saying we look forward to seeing more from you.
Remember, if you would like to be featured in your own interview and are an author, illustrator, artist, photographer (yes that is an art, yes I’ve been asked specifically), agent, publisher, songwriter, etc. please let me know! We’ll get you set up with your very own feature.
Have a great Day!
Here there Be Dragons! 