1. When did you first realize you wanted to
be a writer?
I was about 15 when I decided that I wanted
to be a writer. My 8th grade Creative Writing/English teacher took
great interest in my creative writing assignments and encouraged me to continue
with it.
2. How long does it take you to write a
book?
It took me eight years (give or take a
year) to finish my novella “Wiccan Lies”. My short stories take me about 3-4
days (if RL doesn’t interfere much lol).
3. What is your work schedule like when
you're writing?
I have a day job for about four-five hours
a day, so I don’t usually get any writing done or even get on the computer
during the week until around eight at night until about midnight. My weekends
are free from the day job but I have five children so I try to do as much
writing as I can on Saturdays and Sundays during the day, as well as at night.
4. What would you say is your interesting
writing quirk?
I chair dance. I know that may sound weird
but I listen to music more often than not when I’m writing and if a good song
comes on and I’m stuck in a particular scene, I will dance in my chair until I
get past it.
5. How do books get published?
Well, I’m still pretty new to this whole
published thing, but the best way I know how to explain the process is this:
You write it, edit it, revise it if needed, submit to many publishing
companies/publishers and wait to find out if it will be accepted. After that
I’m kind of lost. I was fortunate to come across an amazing independent
publishing company, Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly when I was researching
and looking for places to submit “Wiccan Lies”. I hadn’t finished my manuscript
yet so I knew I couldn’t submit it to anyone yet, so I submitted for two of
their anthologies and my stories were accepted. I also submitted a story to Hot
Ink Press (an Imprint of CH&BB) for one of their anthologies and it was also
accepted. These anthologies are available now on Amazon: “Sinister Seductions”,
“Darkest Desires” and “Grim Vengeance”. I have a total of four short stories
out there right now.
6. Where do you get your information or
ideas for your books?
Information for my books, I do research on
certain aspects of my stories and books.
Ideas I get everywhere. If someone says
something I feel is interesting, instant idea. Or I can see a certain picture
that will get my creative juices flowing and give me ideas as well.
7. When did you write your first book and
how old were you?
I started writing “Wiccan Lies” when I was
about 26 years old. But I have been writing poetry and short stories for longer
than that. I just hadn’t been brave enough to show the world until recently.
Usually only close friends and family had seen my work.
8. What do you like to do when you're not
writing?
I
like to read, dance and sing. I like to play with my five kiddos as well when
I’m not writing
9. What does your family think of your
writing?
My family is a huge support for my writing.
They are all very happy to see me doing what I have been striving to do for a
few years now. Writing is something of a passion for me and I can’t ever
imagine myself NOT writing
10. What was one of the most surprising
things you learned in creating your books?
The depths of my imagination. I knew that I
had a very vivid imagination but I didn’t know that I could dig so deep as to
write some pieces that I never thought I could. Two of these pieces are in
“Grim Vengeance” and that is when I learned that I could be just as dark and
scary as I could be romantic and erotic.
AUTHOR BIO:
DJ
Shaw belongs to the part of the Unseelie Sidhe that lives in
Albuquerque, NM with her husband, The Vengeance Demon, Terminal, the
beast who stole her heart, and together they have spawned five
children. She loves to write about her experiences of her Dark
Brethren, and some of her own. Please enjoy some of her adventures.
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