O.R. Flake Interview Published on: 24, Jul 2024

Moving and traveling to different states can be challenging for anyone. As a child, I would read on long road trips. When settling in a new place it was comforting to have a book to turn to if I was nervous or missing old friends.

Libraries were an immediate connection when calling a new environment home. Once we settled into a new town, my father would get a library card so that we would check out books. It was especially impactful when having moved during the summertime, before school had started. During those times I was even more excited to explore new stories.

One of my favorite books growing up was The Giving Tree. During my tween years I was fond of reading both the Sweet Valley High and The Baby Sitters Club series. In later years Terry McMillan Mama was a standout Throughout the different stages of my life I’ve been able to open a book and relate to its characters and learn from them.

It can be hard adjusting, but the upside is the amazing friendships and relationships that you are able to build and flourish, even after you move or a friend leaves. You meet so many people who can become friends, or at times, even foes. I pull from each experience and hold onto such memories. They are a strong source of inspiration when considering character development. Every person, like every character, begins as a mystery, but there is always more to them than meets the eye.

Charlotte's Web. I laugh thinking back on how invested I was in the story. I found it to be such an emotional story and I loved all the different characters.

My husband in particular was very supportive. I had written short stories previously, but I’ve always been hesitant to share out of fear of judgment and his encouragement helped me get past that fear. When I began writing A Path to Forget, I also had a friend who at the time was driving long distances and I would read her the rough drafts. She loved it, which encouraged me to keep writing.

I have always had the desire to write, but it was the support of my family which led me to seriously begin writing a book.

My husband has been a strong advocate for my writing and has encouraged me through this journey. As a mother I want to be an example and I want my daughter to feel empowered to accomplish her goals. Balancing the roles offered in life can be difficult, but it ultimately boils down to making the time for our priorities. Having a supportive family really helps as well.

The moment I began working on "A Path to Forget", I just couldn’t stop writing. Sometimes it's just the right moment and the right mindset occurring at the right time. It was one of those magical moments. It is a release from the whispers of doubt, a sudden feeling of freedom, almost as though being out driving for the first time on your own.

I find that I write based on what is inspiring me at the time. I might write a fun short story with inspiration from my little one, she has such an amazing imagination. Also, movies and songs can inspire me by triggering personal memories. Various experiences from my youth with my friends can lend itself to angsty or dramatic stories, which I must admit, I really enjoy.

As with all aspects of life, the more time spent in practice, the more confidence is gained. I was actually discouraged from writing in my youth, so it took me some time, but I eventually gained the confidence needed to put myself out there. As I continue to grow in my confidence, I find myself embracing more imaginative ideas and storylines.

Time could be an issue. Life is busy and ensuring there is time to write can sometimes be a balancing act. I found it important to dedicate time to writing each day, even when tired. Writing itself is a process. I found it useful to figure out who my characters are as people and then balancing that with the end goal of the story. Towards the end of the story, I started second guessing myself, but it's normal to be nervous and I had to learn that stopping and going back was not improving my story, it was just delaying my end goal.

I like to list all of my characters and give them back stories. It is also important to me to know the ending before I start writing the story. Music helps me to get into a proper emotional mindset for the kind of story I am writing. Billie Eilish was definitely on the list a lot for this book.

The current story I am plotting is a murder mystery. It's in the early stages. Funny enough, I was playing a game of Clue and it sparked my imagination. I'm really proud of the direction this book is going and I feel as though I am continuing to grow as a writer.

The AllAuthor community has been an amazing experience. I'm so new to the promotion side of things. There are so many benefits to joining All Authors, including connecting with other writers. The promotional opportunities provided really helped me get my book out there. There is a business aspect that comes into play after you’ve done the writing and if you are self-publishing it can be hard navigating it all on your own. The personalized mockup banners are a great promote confidently on social media platforms. All Authors really helped me to get started and keep going. I cannot say enough great things.