Author Christine Hardy is a member of the South Jersey Writers Group
Stories: The Gargoyle Cat and Radiance
Tell Us a little about yourself.
I'm a marketing data analyst and a soccer mom. I used to build doll houses and still have several of them getting dusty in the basement.
What got you interested in writing and when did you start?
I've been writing stories since I was old enough to hold a pencil, but stopped during my 20's due to the demands of college and career. I picked it up again when I was a stay-at-home-mom.
What type of stories do you enjoy writing?
Everything I write ends up having some kind of fantasy element in it. I can't help myself.
Where do you get your inspiration for your stories?
Anything can trigger them, usually an interesting place or object that implies something mystical, like a little statue of a gargoyle cat in a museum shop.
Why did you pick this particular story for our anthology?
I wanted to try a flash piece, as I haven't done it before. This was written specifically for the anthology.
What advice can you give to our readers who are interested in writing and getting their book published?
Learn all that you can, everywhere you can, but don't let yourself get paralysed by too much information. When you start to feel overwhelmed, take a break, disconnect from the internet, and then get back to the heart of your writing-the story. Many times I would curl up in a mental fetal ball from reading all kinds of agent and writing blogs, because I felt so much pressure to be polished and perfect. That was so detrimental to my process as a writer. Don't do that.
Is it important for new writers to join a writer's group and why?
Yes, because you need people who will encourage you when you feel like giving up. However, pick the right group. They should be supportive, not overly critical or judgmental, and there should be at least a few people who write the same genre you do who can give you feedback. The important thing is to keep learning and improving.
Thank you Christine for your valuable insight into the world of a writer. Please follow Christine at:
www.christinelhardy.com
Get your copy of Tall Tales and Short Stories from South Jersey from Amazon.com today!
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