--interview by Marcia Peterson
WOW: Congratulations on placing as a runner up in our Winter 2026 Flash Fiction competition. What prompted you to enter the contest?
Breeann: Thank you! I love writing short fiction stories, but I never write them as often as I’d like. Over the past seven years, I’ve been working hard on a personal memoir-style book about my experience as a foster parent, publishing personal essays on my Substack page, and, more recently, writing a children’s book. These have been wonderful projects, but they have been very all-consuming creatively, and I haven’t written much fiction while working on those other projects. I found this contest online, and I thought it would be a good motivator to write a fiction story and have some fun.
WOW: Can you tell us what encouraged the idea behind your story, “Aromas, California, 2007?”
Breeann: Sure. I was actually reading the guest judge’s biographical information, and in her bio, she mentioned she enjoyed CrossFit. I also loved CrossFit for a number of years, so it sparked my interest as a setting for a story. What I really wanted to focus on from my own CrossFit experience was how empowering it felt as a woman to lift heavy weights and become stronger; an important part of CrossFit gyms is that there are rarely mirrors in the gyms. The focus is on getting stronger and improving your own skills, not on losing weight or having a certain aesthetic. I had done a lot of types of exercise leading up to CrossFit, but CrossFit was certainly the most empowering activity that I had participated in up to that point. While the story and characters are entirely fictional, the feeling behind the main character’s journey is inspired by my own journey. Oh, while the current-day CrossFit Games are a big, polished production with money, sponsorships, and professional athletes, the inaugural Games in 2007 were, as described in the story, casual, low-budget, and open to anyone who wanted to try. Ultimately, this story is about a woman who knew she had to try–for herself.
WOW: We’d love to know more about your writing routines. Could you tell us when and where you usually write? Do you have favorite tools or habits that get you going?
Breeann: I’m a mom of three children, so typically I write during my toddler’s naptime. I like to use my lap desk and write from bed. Although sometimes writing during naptime just can’t happen due to other responsibilities, so I will often also write in my Google Docs app on my phone while in appointment waiting rooms, in my backyard while my kids play, or while I have a few extra minutes here and there. My favorite tool is not very exciting: it’s a piece of notebook paper with a bunch of checkboxes drawn on it. I check off one box every day that I write for any amount of time, and I try to get as many consecutive days as I can. For me, I’m a task-oriented person, so it’s motivating to see all the boxes get checked and a project start to come together, box by box.
WOW: Can you tell us what encouraged the idea behind your story, “Aromas, California, 2007?”
Breeann: Sure. I was actually reading the guest judge’s biographical information, and in her bio, she mentioned she enjoyed CrossFit. I also loved CrossFit for a number of years, so it sparked my interest as a setting for a story. What I really wanted to focus on from my own CrossFit experience was how empowering it felt as a woman to lift heavy weights and become stronger; an important part of CrossFit gyms is that there are rarely mirrors in the gyms. The focus is on getting stronger and improving your own skills, not on losing weight or having a certain aesthetic. I had done a lot of types of exercise leading up to CrossFit, but CrossFit was certainly the most empowering activity that I had participated in up to that point. While the story and characters are entirely fictional, the feeling behind the main character’s journey is inspired by my own journey. Oh, while the current-day CrossFit Games are a big, polished production with money, sponsorships, and professional athletes, the inaugural Games in 2007 were, as described in the story, casual, low-budget, and open to anyone who wanted to try. Ultimately, this story is about a woman who knew she had to try–for herself.
WOW: We’d love to know more about your writing routines. Could you tell us when and where you usually write? Do you have favorite tools or habits that get you going?
Breeann: I’m a mom of three children, so typically I write during my toddler’s naptime. I like to use my lap desk and write from bed. Although sometimes writing during naptime just can’t happen due to other responsibilities, so I will often also write in my Google Docs app on my phone while in appointment waiting rooms, in my backyard while my kids play, or while I have a few extra minutes here and there. My favorite tool is not very exciting: it’s a piece of notebook paper with a bunch of checkboxes drawn on it. I check off one box every day that I write for any amount of time, and I try to get as many consecutive days as I can. For me, I’m a task-oriented person, so it’s motivating to see all the boxes get checked and a project start to come together, box by box.
WOW: Great tips to try! Your first book is set to debut in July 2026, which is exciting. Can you share a bit about the book? What was your writing and publishing journey like?
Breeann: Yes, it’s so exciting! The book is an ABC rhyming picture book for children called “B is for Bonner: The ABCs of Bonner, Montana.” Bonner, Montana, is where I live, and it’s a tiny gem of a town that I wanted to write a book about, so I could share it with my own children first and foremost, and then share the beauty of our town with others. Ultimately, the book features nature, animals, music, history, and other local highlights, but encourages each reader to find joy, wonder, and beauty wherever they are in the world. The idea for the book mysteriously came to me as I was walking through a local bookstore, having a little pity party for myself about a completely unrelated creative failure! Funny how that works, isn’t it? I went home and immediately began to write my first draft. I went through many, many drafts, rewrites, and edits. I had others read it and give feedback on each version, and then I was lucky to find a local illustrator who does gorgeous work. She brought the book to life in a really magical way. I chose a printing company, and in just a couple of months, the books should arrive! As with most creative endeavors, the process took longer than anticipated, and the book will debut a couple of months later than planned. The process from first draft to publication has taken about one year total, and it has been so much fun! My next step will be sharing the book with local bookstores, schools, and anyone else who is interested in an adventurous and fun book about a trip through a Montana town.
WOW: Good luck with your book promotion, and thanks so much for chatting with us today, Breeann. Before you go, do you have a favorite writing tip or piece of advice you can share?
Breeann: My most proven tip is to never underestimate the power of taking even the smallest steps forward. Patience and perseverance win the race every time. Stuck? Add page numbers to your draft and walk away for the day. Come back tomorrow. Write one sentence. Change one word. Literally, take a single tiny step forward. Keep doing that as consistently as you can, and it’s amazing what you can create over time.
WOW: Good luck with your book promotion, and thanks so much for chatting with us today, Breeann. Before you go, do you have a favorite writing tip or piece of advice you can share?
Breeann: My most proven tip is to never underestimate the power of taking even the smallest steps forward. Patience and perseverance win the race every time. Stuck? Add page numbers to your draft and walk away for the day. Come back tomorrow. Write one sentence. Change one word. Literally, take a single tiny step forward. Keep doing that as consistently as you can, and it’s amazing what you can create over time.
* * *
No comments:
Post a Comment
We love to hear from readers! Please leave a comment. :)