Theresa Snyder Interview Published on: 15, Jul 2016

I grew up in a very large, loving family. I have two natural born brothers and twenty-three foster and adopted brothers. There was never less than ten of us in the house at one time. I have lived in every state west of the Mississippi. In the twenty-five years I lived with my parents, as a child, we moved twenty-nine times. I learned to make friends quickly. Twenty years ago I moved my elderly parents in with me. I was caregiver to my mother for fifteen years until her death five years ago. I am still lucky to have my father living with me. He will turn 90 in August. I have held down three jobs for the last 20 years, an 8-5 running a printshop at the local community college, a caregiver to my parents, and an author writing and actively marketing my work.

I am so passionate about writing that I not only write my own books, but I have a business “Affordable Proofreading & Editing Service, LLC” where I help other authors make their work shine.

I can’t remember ever ‘not’ writing. My mother gave me a journal at a very early age. She encouraged me to write down my thoughts. I also had many pen-pals when I was young. My first published work was writing a column for the local newspaper in the mid-1990s. From there I started writing books and eventually became self-published in 2013.

My first book was “The Helavite War, the first scifi in my Star Traveler Series. I truly believe I had been working on the idea since my youth. I used to lay in bed as a child and tell myself stories. Jake, Arr and Kay-o were my main characters. I have always loved ‘buddy’ books and movies. When I broke my foot in 1990 the doctor told me to stay off of it. I bought myself a dedicated word processor and started channeling. It was amazing. The first draft was completed in three months. It was finally published in 2013.

I always want a name my readers can pronounce. I hate a book where I stumble over the names or have to give them a shortened name in order to continue reading it. All of my character’s names derive from their looks, actions and sometimes relations to people I know or have known.

I don’t know about other authors, but my series are not planned. I find myself interested in a character or situation I did not fully explore in the current book and that leads to another, and another, and another.

I tell them all, or intend to one day. It is just a matter of what order I write them, or which characters scream the loudest in my head.

On occasion my mind puts on the breaks, but I can’t say I ever had writer’s block. I usually just take a nap and when I arise the breaks are off and my mind is back in gear. I know it continues to work on the problem as I sleep because I have often awakened with an idea for a book. That time during half-sleep just before waking is a very creative time.

No, I write to tell the story that is running through my head. I hope there is someone who wants to read it once it is completed.

Usually my father reads the first draft as I write them, chapter by chapter.

I ask for reviews at the end of all my books. If someone tells me on Social Media that they have read one of my books I ask them to sprinkle a few stars over the book, if they feel so moved. I am blessed with many 4 and 5 Star reviews. I can’t really pick out one in particular. I appreciate the ones who notice my work is deeper in meaning then it appears at first glance.

A story is an invitation for my mind to escape. I suspend all preconceived ideas and dive into the story with no thought of coming up for air until it is over.

I write in four genres currently, so I would say, ‘no’ an author should not be bound by a genre. I also write paranormal that is not typical of that genre as it has been laid out in the past. I believe an author who breaks down barriers is admired. I would never want to be stereotyped as an author.

I am currently working of two of my own projects, a fantasy, ‘Farloft, the Younger Years,’ and a paranormal, ‘Shifting for Better or Worse.’ As I said above, I am also always working on other author’s work as well.

I work best in the morning if I am free to do so. If it is on the weekend, I can work all day uninterrupted. I often get so involved I forget to eat or drink. I have a reading and writing room, called my Moroccan Room. It is all done in jewel tones and a peaceful place to work.

I promote actively on social media, Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus. I take all offers to do podcasts, guest blog posts and interviews. I have both a YouTube and a SoundCloud Channel. I do book fairs, readings and signings locally. I hope QuotesRain will help me reach more readers with their connections, which might be different then mine. I would refer my fellow authors to your website.

I enjoy hearing from my friends and readers, whether it is via my blog, my website or any of my social media links. I hope folks drop by and stay for a chat.