Interview with Honor Cummings

by

Pat McCain

1.                  How long have you been writing, Honor, and how did you get started?

I’ve been writing forever, I think. I remember in fifth grade our English teacher asked us to write a description. I wrote some big long thing about a magical cave full of gems. After that, I walked into every English class hoping to write something.

2.                  Where do you get your ideas for your books?

Hmmm. Would you believe I belong to an idea of the month club?? Seriously, usually, I don’t know. The idea for this story came from a role-playing game my husband created to help a friend learn how to play these games to impress a guy. She and I went through four adventures with these characters and Attack of the Queen came out of the last one.

3.                  How do you develop your characters and do they often take on a life of their own?

These characters were pretty easy. They were developed, as I said, over the space of four adventures. I have been told, however, that my interpretation of them isn’t exactly the way the creators thought of them, so I think they did take on a life of their own as I wrote.

4.                  Do you write on a schedule and do you have a favorite time to write?

Lately, I’ve been writing at night after the family goes to bed. My son is two and doesn’t really like Mommy to sit on the computer when he’s awake! I also have an AlphaSmart and I take that places where I think I might be able to get some writing done. I have taken it to softball games and cheerleading competitions!

5.                  What is the toughest part of writing for you?

I’m no good at writing descriptions. I would rather write just dialogue and some narrative, but to have to describe the room or a character is very hard. I’m also terrible at titles. Frankly, I thought for sure the publisher would change the title of this book, but I hear it’s not bad! I also have a hard time with plotting. That’s what I really have to work at.

6.                  Do you have other books in the works and, if so, are they in the same genre?

I have two contemporaries finished and in the final editing process, but they are written under a different name. I have a couple more fantasies rolling around in my head. Moonrazer needs a book, and I’m thinking that Olaf does, too, and then I have the beginning of a book about Moonrazer and Adazzra’s children.

7.                  Have you published anything other than by electronic publishing?

Wings gave me my start, so no.

8.                  Have you ever tried to find an agent to represent you, and if so, what were your results?

I sent this book to one agent I’d met at a conference, but she’d gone out of business. After that, I figured I’d wait until I needed one. So far, I haven’t.

9.                  Who are some of your favorite, or most read, authors?

I love Meg Cabot. That’s a recent favorite. My teenage daughter started me on her. I read a lot of different people, so it’s hard to say, though. I try to read people I’ve met, other Wings authors and members of my local RWA chapter.

10.              Last but far from least, what are the most pleasant parts of writing for you?

Having the characters come alive for me, seeing the book in print, having people tell me they like it, and there’s a moment when you’re “in the zone’ and the writing just flows and feels right. I love that. It’s like a drug. Another time is when I read something I wrote a while ago and I realize that it’s pretty good. That’s a high, too.