1. What were you
in your life before you became a writer? Did this influence your writing?
That is a very
hard question to answer. I’ve been an administrative assistant, computer programmer,
systems analyst, technical writer, historian, museum director, feature story
writer... Whew. I’m out of breath, so I’ll stop there.
The varied
jobs influence my writing in two main ways. The technical fields gave me an
appreciation of logic and flow, and writing in different styles. The historical
work gave me the knowledge I use to add realism to my fantasy worlds and
accuracy to my historical westerns.
2 Are you genre
specific or general? Why? I don't mean genres like romance, mystery, fantasy etc.
There are many subgenres of the above.
Although I’ve
been published in both non-fiction and several genres of fiction, lately, I’ve
been hanging out with mages and dragons. My most recent releases are fantasy
that straddle the fence. There’s so much romance in the stories that romance
fights with adventure to determine their category. It’s a coin toss whether
they should be in the fantasy sub-genre of romance or the epic shelf of
fantasy. As to why I haven’t settled in one area, I blame it on my Gemini sign.
3. Did your reading
choices have anything to do with your choice of a genre or genres?
Definitely. Maybe it is my Gemini sign, but my favorite authors are direct
contrasts. Ann McCaffrey and Barbara Hambly call to the fantasy in my soul while
Louis L'Amour takes me back to the past. Of more contemporary authors, I reach for
Carol McPhee, Judith Griffith Gill, and Kinley McGregor. The tradition of storytelling,
action, strong heroes and heroines, all call to me.
4. What's your
latest release?
My latest
release is Windmaster, published by
Books We Love. Ellspeth, captain of the Sea Falcon, is determined to make her own destiny, but fate decrees
she has to decide between the sea, magic... or love.
5. What are you
working on now?
I’m finalizing
Windmaster Legacy, the second book in
the Windmaster Novels, and First Change: Legends
From the Eyrie, a companion book to the Dragshi Chronicles. First Change is
a collection of novellas and short stories of duty
and honor, love and loss, happiness and despair from the world of the dragshi. Unlike
the Dragshi Chronicles which journal the paths of the trader girl Anastasia,
Lord Branin, and his dragon soul twin Llewlyn, the tales in First Change come from their history and
legend. And, when the book stops
fighting me, the Windmaster Novels are to continue with the telling of a legend
from that world’s past.
6. Where can we
find you?
Author Page – http://helenhenderson-author.webs.com/
Facebook – http://on.fb.me/1LyTqJ8
Thanks for having me. The interview was fun.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being here, Janet
ReplyDeleteGood to learn more about Helen, and her fascinating stories.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. I've read one and enjoyed
ReplyDelete