Linda Rettstatt Interview

by

Peggy Parsons

 1. Ms. Rettstatt, would you please tell us about yourself? Do you have other hobbies on interests outside of writing?

I grew up in Southwestern Pennsylvania, but I currently reside in Memphis, Tennessee. I'm a musician, though I don't play as much as I used to. I enjoy nature photography. My newest book, The Year I Lost My Mind, is actually dedicated to a place in the Laurel Mountains in Pennsylvania where I hike when I'm up north and where I shoot many of my photographs.

2. Tell us a little bit about your book.

The Year I Lost My Mind is the story of one woman's experience of facing life at fifty--looking back at what has been and coming to terms with what she is missing. The title came from a group I ran for women at midlife. One of them said, “Sometimes I think I'm losing my mind.” It's a story about coming to terms with life and with oneself, and claiming a passion set aside for other life choices. And it has a happy ending!

3. Is The Year I Lost My Mind your first Wings book?

No, it's my third. And the Truth Will Set You Free was my first, released in July, 2007. Pieces, my second book, came out this past January.

4. Are you working on another project?

Yes--on three--at the same time. lol

5. If so, what is it about?

The one I'm working through with my critique group right now is titled Wake-up Call. It's a bit of a departure for me. I've written women's fiction, but this book is pure contemporary romance. At least, that's the intent.

6. Why did you write this book? What inspired it?

Some of my friends tell me my books are all semi-autobiographical. This one is no exception. I'm sure the inspiration came from my own pursuit of my passion for writing later in life and from work I've done with women as a psychotherapist. I think the middle years of life are a fascinating, exciting time filled with potential and opportunity.

7. Why do you write? Why did you begin writing?

I write because I can't not write. It took me a long time to embrace my passion for writing, and now I simply cannot stop. I began writing five years ago. Well, I wrote music, lyrics, theater reviews for a small newspaper. But I started writing seriously just to see if I could actually do it--write a complete novel. Apparently, I can, since I'm currently working on number ten.

8. Where do you get your ideas?

My ideas come from life, from observing people and their behaviors, listening. And they come from within myself, sometimes expressing the questions I have about my own life. If we pay attention to what's going on around us and take good notes, we'll never run out of story ideas.

9. How do you come up with your characters? The names?

My characters pretty much present themselves to me, give me their names, and tell me their stories. I listen. I love to see the way characters unfold and evolve through a story. Occasionally I'll do an internet search of men's names or women's names and try out a few to see what fits the character. He or she will usually let me know when I'm right.

10. Why this genre? Have you considered trying another genre? If so which one(s) and why?

I love writing women's fiction. It allows for delving into the psyche, showing what makes the heroine tick; for presenting a problem or conflict that takes her legs out from under her, then giving her the strength and courage to get up again. I started to write a murder mystery and, a few chapters in, realized how much work that can be. I'll go back to it some day, when I have the time to do the research. My novels all contain an element of romance. But I'm trying my hand now at writing a contemporary romance. We'll see how that goes.

11. Is reading important to you? What do you read? Who do you read?

As a child, I read voraciously. And my grandfather would read to me. In my teen years, I got away from books and reading. A friend gave me a copy of the first Harry Potter book, and I was once again hooked. Now I can't stop. I have an ebook reader I carry around, and I have a collection of books on CD for my forty-mile drive every day to work. I read women's fiction, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and some mysteries. I love the writing of Sara Gruen, Elizabeth Berg, Luanne Rice, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Elizabeth Buchan--to mention a few.

12. How much time do you put into your writing? The creation? Research? Editing? Marketing?

I work four days a week as a social worker. I write on my lunch hour, and just about every other waking hour I can find. I'm a pantser, so I don't put a lot of time into outlining and creating a working synopsis. I do a short bio of my characters and their physical descriptions so I don't have to keep going back in the story to check their eye color--lol. I research, as needed, usually via the internet. My critique group is a godsend. My first edit reflects their feedback. I don't tend to rewrite over and over. I find that when I do, I lose the fluidity of the story and it becomes stiff and stilted. Marketing--well, there's my downfall. I need to find a way to spend much more time marketing, and that's my current goal.

13. What do you find most difficult about the writing/publishing process?

Securing an agent. It's one of the biggest challenges, I find. Second to that, the perseverance to continue to work with a manuscript to refine it. I lose interest in the work after a while and want to move on to something new. It takes a lot of discipline for me.

14. Do you have any sage advice for beginning writers? For first time published authors?

Don't be afraid to play with your writing until you find your own voice. And find yourself a really good critique partner or a group. Then, let them help you. Once you are published, it can be a temptation to ride the wave of exhilaration of having that first book in your hands. Well, do that, but don't let the keyboard get cold. Keep writing.

15. Lastly, do you have a website or blog where readers can find you and your work?

My web site is www.geocities.com/lindarettstatt and my blog is www.lindarettstatt-author.blogspot.com/

16. Is there anything you'd like to add?

I want to thank Wings ePress for the opportunities they have given my writing. And I thank you for this opportunity to talk about my work and myself.