Interview with Michelle Dwyer: Spring 2015 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up

Meet Michelle:

Michelle fell in love with writing after taking her first creative writing class in high school. She took a break from the craft to attend to life’s details, but soon returned to her writing desk. She received a Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M University Central Texas and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from National University in La Jolla, California. She writes novels, and has just completed her breakout work, Intimate Nightmares, written under her pen name, Krymzen Hall. She is an avid runner, fitness enthusiast, and a Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Corrective Exercise Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. She has overcome many obstacles and has the highest respect for every individual running down a dream. Michelle has a ways to go, not there yet, but believes in the saying: Success is the journey, not the destination.

She lives in Texas and has two sons.

If you haven’t done so already, check out Michelle’s award-winning story “Taken for a Ride” and then return here for a chat with the author.

WOW: What was the inspiration for your short story, or what prompted you to write this particular story?

Michelle: Some years ago, I was out one morning with my son, and we drove past a carnival. He wanted to go. I pulled into the parking lot of the plaza where the carnival was located. I knew the carnival was closed because it was very early in the day and no cars were parked around it. I just wanted to see if the operating hours were posted along with ticket prices, etc. When I looked around, it was kind of eerie, kind of mystical to think a place that gets so populated could feel so barren. I mean, NOBODY was there. I said to myself, "I don't know the plot yet, but a story is coming and it will be evil."

WOW: Ooooh, just reading that description gives me chills! What do you enjoy the most and/or the least about writing?

Michelle: I love the creativity involved in writing stories and lending my voice to a world where I think I have enough skill to contribute something worthwhile. I hope that makes sense. The rejections are what I like least. In fact, I don't like them at all. Who does, right?

WOW: Right! No one has to like them, but it’s undeniable that we learn from them. And your thoughts on what you like best make sense to me. Contributing something worthwhile make the hard work worth it. What can you tell us about your novel Intimate Nightmares?

Michelle: Intimate Nightmares is the story of a couple struggling with tremendous secrets and learning how to forgive. The title is a play on words (of sorts) that ties cleverly into the story. The novel also centers on a well-developed cast of secondary characters who are affected by the choices of their friends, the main characters. It is a mix of crime, mystery, and romance involving a diverse group of people. The protagonist is married to a person of another race, so there is some racial tension in the book; however, the story does NOT focus on race and interracial relationships as its main theme. It is simply an added element that carries a small yet poignant amount of weight in the plot. I don't think there is a book on the market like this one. Thirteen years in the making. It's good stuff.

WOW: Wow! Thirteen years! Your persistence is paying off! Let us know when it’s published. What are you reading right now, and why did you choose to read it?

Michelle: Well, right now I'm reading Intimate Nightmares again to make sure I've caught any remaining hard-to-find typos before final printing, lol. But in all seriousness, as soon as I'm done proofing my book, I will finish The Song Remains the Same by Allison Winn Scotch. In the story a woman struggles to regain her memory after a plane crash. I haven't reached the end obviously, but my guess is she is going to have a hard time processing the truth. It's hooked me.

WOW: If you could give other creative writers one piece of advice, what would it be and why?

Michelle: I don't think my answer to this question will ever change: Don't give up. I say that all the time. It's the best piece of advice any writer could receive. But, as I evolve as a writer, I also realize that there is something else that creative writers need to heed: Don't change a story simply because somebody tells you to. You have to create stories that you want told, from your heart, and developed by your own passion. You're gonna be criticized at some point by someone. As long as you’re writing a story from a good faith perspective, without trying to hurt anyone, write what makes you whole. Of course you should listen to opinions from experts who know their stuff, and revise accordingly if you think you should, but never change your story simply because a critic doesn't like it.

WOW: That’s wonderful advice. It’s so easy to get caught up in a critique, but staying true to yourself and your voice Anything else you’d like to add?

Michelle: When things go wrong, go write. ;)

WOW: Great advice! Thanks so much for your thoughtful responses. Happy writing!

Interview by: Anne Greenawalt

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Meet Flash Fiction Runner Up, Julie Kent

Julie Kent is originally from the small town of Ambler Pennsylvania, which is a suburb of Philadelphia; however, she made the move to Salisbury, Maryland 26 years ago and that is where she plans to stay. She works in a busy medical office but she is also working toward a master’s degree in English Creative Writing. She loves to read and write. Her passion for writing came later in life as a means of escaping the hectic life she lives. She writes a lot of poetry and short stories, but this is actually the first time she got the nerve up to submit to a contest. Her biggest supporter is her husband, Larry who tells her every day that she can do anything as long as she believes in herself.

interview by Marcia Peterson

WOW: Congratulations on placing in the top ten in our Spring 2015 Flash Fiction competition! What inspired you to submit, since it’s the first writing contest you’ve ever entered?

Julie: First of all, let me just say thank you. I am so excited to have placed in the top ten with my story. Honestly, I was just looking around on the internet for journals to submit some of my work to for publication when I came across your contest. I knew I wanted to be a part of it right away because this was the first thing I had come across that was just for women and it was for people of my age. My biggest inspiration was my husband but WOW's open prompt was right up my ally. When you are told to write about whatever you want, you jump on it. I have to say that I was nervous with this being the first time I submitted anything, but when I started writing my story I became more confident. I was only hoping for a publication. I didn't think I would win anything but now that I have, I am submitting to other places and entering more contests. Thank you for giving me that confidence.

WOW: So glad it worked out for you! What encouraged the idea behind your story, “What Is Your Emergency?”

Julie: It's funny because this story just came to me. I like to read and write suspense/ thrillers and my husband spent a lot of time working for an ambulance company and the fire department, so I thought an emergency call would be easy for me to write about. I used names of people and streets that I am familiar with and from the first line of the story, the words just happened on the paper. I also watch a lot of police shows on the television. I think these emergency situations get our attention on the television and movie screens so I wanted to see if I could do it on paper. I know a good "hook" always grabs my interest; I'm glad I was able to get yours.

WOW: You mention that working toward a master’s degree in English Creative Writing. Could you share a bit about that experience, and why you chose to pursue that path?

Julie: My choice to go to college at this stage of my life was primarily to get an English degree in Linguistics and/or Literature because, ultimately, I want to teach a couple of college courses. As I was getting further into my studies I noticed that the classes I liked the most were the writing classes and when your teachers tell you that you have a talent, it encourages you to pursue it. I changed my major to creative writing and that is where I want my focus to be when I have my own classroom. My ultimate goal is to publish a novel.

WOW: We’d also 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?

Julie: My writing rituals vary depending on what I am writing. I write a lot of poetry as well as short stories. When I am writing a poem I listen to loud hard rock music. I know it's weird, but the music and the lyrics of my favorite artists create something inside of me that I can't really explain. My passion for poetry actually came from music. When I write a short story the scenery is very different. I need quiet. I will either sit in my house or outside on my swing. My husband put the swing up just for my writing. I don't have any special time of the day that I write. It is just something that strikes me. I get the urge and just do it.

WOW: Those are interesting writing rituals! Thanks so much for chatting with us today, Julie. Before you go, can you share your favorite writing tip or advice with our readers?

Julie: You're welcome! It was my pleasure and thank you for everything. I think the biggest bit of advice I can give the readers and aspiring writers here would be to just do it. What I mean is; when you are scared or shy and feel you are not ready to share your writing with everyone, just do it! Once you start submitting your stories for other people to read and you get feedback from professionals, you will gain so much confidence. I would like to wish the best of luck to everyone. Thank you.

***

Our Fall 2015 Flash Fiction Contest is currently OPEN
For details, visit the contest page.

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Interview with Cheryl Eichar Jett: Spring '15 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up

Meet Cheryl Eichar Jett:

Cheryl Eichar Jett is a historian, author, and blogger. Currently working on her sixth nonfiction book for Arcadia Publishing, she is also a regular contributor to several regional publications including a monthly column “Along Route 66,” in the paper-plus-online www.thebuzzmonthly.com. She blogs about her adventures at www.route66chick.blogspot.com as the Route 66 Chick, a mostly lighthearted look at her travels, Route 66 and other history, and Route 66 events and tourism.

She is the Conference Director of Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference in Edwardsville, Illinois, October 29-31 of this year. This new event is featuring Route 66 authors, artists, historians, collectors, and celebrities from around the world.

As a small child, she learned how to read road maps from her parents and soon put this skill to work in the back seat of the family car on road trips. Many years later, she began writing about history, Route 66, and travel and found herself published. She believes there’s a connection between the two.

Between then and now, this daughter of professional musicians/music educators worked as a salesperson, bookkeeper, music teacher, professional musician, grant writer, and nonprofit executive director. Cheryl holds undergraduate and master’s degrees in history from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and has done additional study at the Santa Fe Screenwriters Conference (in person) and from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (online).

Now about that fiction! Cheryl is thrilled to have placed in the WOW! Top Ten the second time in a row! This is her second placement in a fiction writing contest and she feels excited and inspired to aim for more. She has been writing short stories and parts of novels for 30 years. Her stories are usually framed by historical settings and she is drawn to themes of the impact of loss, ties between the past and the present, second chances, new beginnings, and travel (including time).

Cheryl lives in Illinois, where she is a member of Eville Writers (a play on her city, Edwardsville). In any spare time, she enjoys reading, genealogy, travel, music, and visiting her adult children and grand-dogs.

If you haven't done so already, check out Cheryl's award-winning story "Waiting Out the War," then return here for a chat with the author.

WOW: Congratulations on placing in the Spring 2015 Flash Fiction Contest! What was the inspiration for your short story, or what prompted you to write this particular story?

Cheryl: I am fascinated by the WWII era, perhaps since my parents, aunts, and uncles lived through that time period. Or perhaps because it's such an interesting time in terms of women's social history. Stories seem to take on a greater poignancy in times of war or upheaval. Anyway, fiction ideas often just pop into my head, and one day there was an image of a woman on a train waiting for her man to come home from the war. I wrote several versions before I was reasonably satisfied with this one.

WOW: We are glad you were able to harness the power of that image of the woman on the train and turn it into an award-winning story. What do you enjoy the most and/or the least about writing?

Cheryl: I love the research, the planning stage, and the blossoming of my idea on my computer screen. (I don't write well on paper.) I love it when the words come fast and furious but know that it seldom happens that way—writing is work like anything else. The part I like the least, whether a short story, magazine article, or book, is when I have to do the final edit, trust that I've done the best job I can at that moment in time, and let it go on its way.

WOW: It can be hard to trust and let go. I understand that you write a lot about Route 66. What fascinates you most about Route 66 and how does that inspire your writing?

Cheryl: Route 66 seems to embody a lot of memories, or maybe it's our collective American memory, of rock 'n roll and drive-ins, or the Okies, or WWII. For me personally, it's the memories of road trips with my parents, and then with my children and their father. Learning to read maps as a child and “co-piloting” with my parents in the car. A hamburger and a Coke with someone special in a tiny roadhouse, somewhere in Colorado, with no one else around besides the guy behind the counter. This fascination goes beyond Route 66 to include the old named auto trails, like the Lincoln or the Dixie Highway, or other two-lane highways. I think it inspires my writing because there is always another story to tell—in the next town, around the next bend, in that abandoned business building. There's a story there, and sometimes you're lucky and you can find it.

WOW: I love the way you’ve described that – it makes me want to look deeper into unexpected places to find their people and their stories. What are you reading right now, and why did you choose to read it?

Cheryl: I'm reading Father of Route 66: The Story of Cy Avery, by Susan Croce Kelly. I chose to read this book because of this one man's incredible effect on one highway, Route 66, and its history. It's a little bit like that now, during what you'd have to call a Route 66 revival. What one person does – opening a new business, restoring a historic building, sharing stories and photos –on one end of Route 66 impacts the rest of us. Also, I recently had the pleasure of meeting Susan Croce Kelly, and she will be one of the guest speakers at our upcoming Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference, for which I'm serving as director.

WOW: Wonderful! It’s fascinating to keep learning of all the different ways Route 66 has touched your life. If you could have dinner with one writer, dead or alive, who would you choose and why?

Cheryl: I would choose Erik Larson. I admire him tremendously, because he writes amazing nonfiction that reads like amazing fiction, because he shows incredible attention to detail and meticulous research while he clearly sees the big picture of the story, because he has a very funny dry wit, and because he appears to be as long-winded as I am. I think it would be a long and inspiring conversation.

WOW: Great choice with an excellent justification. Anything else you’d like to add?

Cheryl: I truly love both nonfiction and fiction. Whichever it is, there's certainly one thing in common – it's all about telling the story well.

WOW: I agree! Thanks so much for your inspiring answers! Good luck and happy writing!

Interviewed by Anne Greenawalt

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Interview with Carrie Hatland, Spring 2015 Fiction Contest Third Place Winner

Carrie Hatland lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada with her husband, two sons, foster sons, and a menagerie of family pets. Carrie’s passion for reading and writing was instilled in her by her grandmother, Ina, who exposed her to the classics at a very young age. Her short story, The MS Lord Selkirk, earned an honourable mention in the 2015 Soul-Making Keats literary competition and placed as a runner up in the WOW! Winter 2015 Flash Fiction Contest.

This summer, Carrie was accepted into Yale’s sixteen-day writer’s conference and attended the Writer’s Digest conference in New York. She looks forward to completing her historical fiction novel, Byzantine Dusk.

Carrie placed third in our Spring 2015 Flash Fiction Contest with her emotional entry, "The Statue of Laocoön." Read the story here and then come back to learn more Carrie.

WOW: Tell us a little about the process of writing ‘The Statue of Laocoön.’ The sensory details really made the story come alive. Have you personally travelled to Italy?

Carrie: I toured Italy six years ago and, for me, this story started with a sketch. When I was exploring the Vatican museums, I was drawn to the statue of Laocoön and decided to draw the three figures that comprise the statue in my sketch pad. It seemed to me that the sculptor was trying to portray a struggle against death that all of us will face at some point in our lives. If you look at the anguish on Laocoön’s face you will sense a universal human emotion. There is fear, horror that he cannot protect his children, and grief. Laocoön is fighting for his life and losing.

In my story, I wanted my character to seek personal meaning in her life. She travels to Italy to find the beauty of discovery and a sense of wonder in the world. I drew upon my own experiences in Italy because I found my time there to be completely enchanting. What surprises me is that the sensory details from that entire trip stand out more to me than the historical sites themselves, which supports the point of Robin William's monologue. To find meaning, you must get out and live.

The sketch that inspired Carrie's winning entry.

WOW: What a beautiful sentiment! I love how the sketch led to the story. Speaking of being inspired by history, how did you get the idea for Byzantine Dusk, the historical novel you’re working on? How is the process going?

Carrie: I was standing in St. Mark’s square in Venice, looking up at the Triumphal Quadriga that sits on top of the basilica. There was a tiny blurb in my tourist book that indicated the Venetians had looted the famous statues during the sack of Constantinople in 1204. Something about that fact niggled and when I got home I began to research it out of curiosity. I found it extremely interesting, and read everything I could find on the Byzantine Empire. As with most topics I get interested in, it had no relevance to real life so I left it behind for a few years.

Last fall I was reading ‘The Talisman’ by Sir Walter Scott and the characters and plot for Byzantine Dusk began to emerge in my head. I was compelled to follow the trail of breadcrumbs and begin writing.

The process is both exhilarating and challenging. I’ve been going to writing conferences and am currently taking long distances creative writing courses through Stanford, Cambridge, and the University of Toronto in effort to bring Byzantine Dusk to life.

WOW: What are some of your favorite classic novels and how have they influenced your own writing?

Carrie: I grew up reading Jane Austin, Emily Bronte, Charles Dickens, Edith Wharton, Tolstoy, and Victor Hugo. I’ve found something to love in all of them. In the past year, as I am learning the craft of writing, my favourites are evolving. For example, I am impressed by how Daphne du Maurier wrote the entire novel of Rebecca without ever naming her protagonist. I pull books out of my bookshelf and read the first lines, and was recently captivated by the first line in Pride and Prejudice. I've read these books multiple times, but am now reading them differently.

The classics have influenced my writing by instilling in me a love for beautiful prose. My goal as a writer is to share the beauty of words, without letting my readers get lost in the language. I want to paint pictures in their heads as they move forward in a compelling story.

WOW: Your acceptance into Yale’s writing retreat this past summer sounds so exciting. What was the experience like?

Carrie: The program ran in New Haven from June 6-21. It involved panel discussions with agents and publishers, presentations from best-selling authors, and daily workshops to develop our individual writing pieces. I had the opportunity to take a master class with Colm Toibin, discuss writing with Christina Thompson from the Harvard Review, and attend sessions with speakers such as Cheryl Strayed. To gain access to such highly knowledgeable presenters and hear their opinions on what constitutes good writing was extremely valuable.

WOW: Do you have any tips for writers who are on the fence about attending a writer’s conference?

Carrie: Yes. Go to them. I haven’t found any one source where someone can go to learn how to be a writer. For me, this process is like a treasure hunt and I never know where I will find the next piece of the puzzle. The information is out there, but you have to search for it. The more sources you explore, the more you learn. Simply put, go.

WOW: Thank you again for joining us today and sharing the inspiration behind your writing. We look forward to reading more of your work in the future!

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