I am so excited to share this next author interview with you! Magdalene Dietchka, from Conquest Publishing, recently sat down with me for an interview about her writing process. Her novel, The Physician, launched just a few weeks ago and is steadily rising on the supernatural #Romance charts!
Magdalene, thank you so much for taking some time to speak with me today! Why don’t you tell us a little about yourself.
Thanks S.E.! Well, I was born and raised in a rural town in Western Pennsylvania. After graduating high school, I studied International Relations with a concentration in Eastern European Studies and had a minor in Russian. Later in life, I returned to school to study computer science. I lived in Moscow in the late 1990s and saw the aftermath of the fall of communism in the country. When I returned home, I met my husband online before it was a thing normal people do. It was love at first sight; we've been married for over 20 years.
What type of material do you usually write?
My books are supernatural romances, but I have another project that I hope to finish, which is a Sci-Fi Romance.
What does your writing and revision process look like?
I'm what they call a pantser. I know my book's beginning, middle, and end, but the paths taken to those points are driven by the character's personalities and how I feel they would react to a situation. My characters tend to take a life of their own and I've had arguments in my head with a character or two that changed the course of a particular scene. These characters are something I've breathed life into, and I take them very seriously. My revision process cleans up the scenes, and this is where I really polish the story.
What is the hardest part about writing, in your opinion?
Finding the time to focus on my writing. I work 40+ hours a week as a manager for a quality team at a software company. Early on, I found that I had to discipline myself to set aside time to write.
What is your favorite thing about being a writer?
Seeing my ideas take shape on the page. Like I said, my characters are cherished creations; seeing them on paper with their struggles and triumphs is satisfying.
What advice do you have for new/debut authors?
Just write. Treat it like a second job. Grab your coffee (or whatever you drink), find your zen space, and focus on your writing. Don't be afraid to take a break to regroup if you find yourself stuck, but give yourself a specific date to return to the project instead of letting it languish unfinished.
Do you have any links or resources you’d like to share about writing or for your own materials?
There is a program called World Anvil that I use. It's designed for tabletop roleplaying games, but it is useful to flush out characters and creatures. If you follow the character builder, you can really dive deeply into what motivates each individual.
And lastly, just for fun, who is your favorite author?
My favorite author is Sherrilyn Kenyon (now McQueen) and my favorite book is Born of Legend. I love the depth of her characters and her world-building. She's also very active with her fanbase and truly cares about her readers. That is something I can respect.
xo
S.E.