Interview with Minerva Ree Vera
Published 2015-05-25.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
Reading, of course. Haha, yes I read a lot but if I'm not writing I'm spending time with my family and friends. My daughter keeps me on my toes, so my days are never boring. I love watching movies (horror and musicals are my favorites) and often have something playing while writing. I like having background noise.
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
I tend to go straight for romance and poetry so a I'm always open to suggestions. It keeps my literary palette fresh and exciting.Also, thanks to social sites and blogs, I've met many incredible writers who have not only become some of my favorite authors, but wonderful friends as well.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Yes! I wrote it in grade school for an assignment on religion. It was called Stairway to Heaven. It was about a young Christian girl living in an post apocalyptic time, who chooses to die for her faith rather than renounce Christ. I really wish I still had a copy, though it's been lost for years now.
What is your writing process?
Besides the preference for background noise, I really don't have one. Usually an idea will pop into my mind and it snowballs from there. I try sticking to one story at a time. Try being the key word there. My vast collection of notebooks say otherwise. Sometimes I'm blank for days so I edit and read. I hate when that happens so when inspiration strikes and the voices speak, I write.
Describe your desk
I don't have one. I know, I know! That's like a writer sin, but I can't write sitting down. I need to be sprawled out somewhere (usually on my bed or out on the grass) with my writing stuff scattered around me.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in various places. We moved a lot at first but a lot of what influenced my writing is my actual life. So much has happened to me in less than thirty years that I feel as though I've lived a dozen lifetimes. I draw from my experience, and that alone gives my imagination a wild head start.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
Seeing and hearing the joy it brings to my readers. If I can draw a gasp, a tear, laughter, goosebumps or even a simple smile...it's the best feeling in the world.
What do your fans mean to you?
SO much. They're the ones I write for. Readers are the biggest critics and often hard to please. So when someone tells you they're a fan, you know you're doing something right. My fans are the fuel to my motivation.
What are you working on next?
I'm currently working on the final edits of Yours for a Day, the first in my Lancaster series, and one that's been a long time coming. However, I'm hoping to publish Loving Lovalie first.
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