Interview with Marina Flanigan
Published 2017-02-04.
Describe your desk
My desk is actually my bed :P I generally write and edit while sitting down on the bed in my bedroom because it's a very peaceful, quiet room and I'm never disturbed there. Also, I like sitting on my bed.
When did you first start writing?
I first started writing when I was in primary school. I used to write short stories and essays but I started writing more seriously in high school.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
I always wanted to write a book and I wanted to do it my way. I wanted to write about what I wanted, edit it my way and I didn't want someone else telling me how to adapt my ideas to their opinion. My writing is an expression of me, it's a creative process and I believe individuality and creativity should be honoured and respected, not limited. So I decided to do it myself.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
The process of verbalising how I feel. It gives me a sense of understanding. I write for myself as much as I write for other people; it's like therapy to me; like a very good conversation with an old friend.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
All the small, beautiful things in life: a nice cup of coffee, a nice walk by the sea, a loving kiss from my man.... But also the knowledge that I can make a difference today; that what I do matters.
What do you read for pleasure?
I read good self-help books, good complex novels and lots of spiritual books (about yoga, meditation, energy work...)
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I do yoga a few times a week, I work on my other projects, I'm currently starting a business so that's a lot of work. I spend time with my lover and my friends, I take long walks in nature... Lots of stuff!
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
Mostly through Smashwords or through friends who recommend books for me.
What is your writing process?
I usually think about something for awhile, trying to figure it out for myself. Then when I sit behind a computer, I just start writing. I see a blank page and I just start talking to myself in the form of text. Not really much to it.
How do you approach cover design?
I have a general idea about what I want; more about the feeling I think would be appropriate, the feeling that I'd like the cover to elicit. Then I talk to my designer, I explain to him what it is that I'm aiming at and we try different things out, see which one feels best. And that's it, really.
Smashwords Interviews are created by the profiled author or publisher.
