February 25th, 2008 - Exclusive Interview: Q & A with Ryan Phillips (Pt.1)
In a previous post, I’d written about Ryan Phillips a successful, young, nationally published author. For some it was an introduction, for others a reiteration of a great read. Known to humbly interact with fans, Ryan agreed to a Q&A with yours truly. My questions, her words and a brief sneak peek about her new book, Ciao, Bella. For excerpts and more check out http://www.phillipsryan.com/]
Q. Who inspired the character of Grace?
A. That would be me! Saving Grace is my life thinly veiled as fiction. Some authors are coy when it comes to divulging the inspirations behind their stories and characters. But everyone who grew up with many and anyone who’s ever met my family knows the truth. When it’s all said and done, I think that Grace is a wittier, more confident version of me.
A. No. I was never the kid, who, at age 8, decided she was going to be a doctor or a lawyer or a teacher and then went off and did just that. I knew I leaned more toward the creative side of life – 12 years of violin, 5 years of voice lessons, notebooks full of poetry, etc. I also knew I had a proclivity for writing from the feedback I would get from my English teachers, but I was a bit aimless, flighty. I tried a little bit of everything in college. I was a French major, a Secondary Education major, a Journalism major and then finally an English major. Up until very recently, my grand plan was to earn my MFA in Creative Writing and then teach the subject at the university level.
Q. What’re some of the goals you’d like to accomplish with your books?
A. I think first and foremost I want to create really entertaining fiction that’s edifying. As someone who is an avid reader, I know that those sorts of books are getting harder and harder to find these days. I also want to push the Christian Fiction envelope. I think the genre often errs on the side of “fluffy.” My goal is to portray flawed characters – and not the, “I-always-forget-to-take-out-the-trash” brand of flawed, but people with real, relevant issues. I think the best literature is the literature in which we can see ourselves. Therein lays the catalyst for hope, which is ultimately the catalyst for change.
Q. How long did it take to completely finish your first book Saving Grace?
A. It took 4 months. I’ve never since had a book come to me so quickly or effortlessly. I think that’s because Grace’s journey is basically my journey. Also, at the time when I wrote the story, I was incredibly depressed. I had just broken off my engagement; I was feuding with several family members; and was bedridden from complications with my Type 1 diabetes. So it was a very low point in my life. When I started writing, it was out of desperation; I needed to purge myself of some pretty debilitating emotions. The story poured from me and finishing it quickly became an obsession. I was holed up in my room for days at a time. I slept very little and ate even less. It truly was a cathartic release. Selling the manuscript was just a bonus.
Q. Some writers have certain hours of the day they choose to write, like only
A. I hadn’t really thought about it, but yes, I guess I do. For instance, I can’t write anywhere other than in my home, by myself, in absolute silence. I also can’t write at my desktop – has to be on my laptop. And yes, I’m one of those weird, “by a window” people, unless the weather is nice in which case, I have a private rooftop deck, and I got up there to write. I don’t know that it’s so much a foible, but I find myself writing usually from
February 29th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
wow dat was a great interview!!! she’s very inspiring to aspiring writers and women everywhere. keep up the good work with your awesome interviews and who knows maybe one day someone will be interviewing you about your bestselling book!!! good luck