Bonus Episode with Nancy Christie

Hey friends! Welcome to another Indie Author Spotlight Bonus Episode! Hopefully you read the feature interview I did with the lovely Nancy Christie over on The Writer's Workout website, where I'm a volunteer. You should absolutely check it out! Nancy is not someone you want to miss out on. So do it now, do it at the end of this, but whatever you do... go and read that interview on the IAS page!

What does your writing ritual look like? 

I don’t have a ritual unless you can count making sure I have a cup of coffee handy! I’ve been writing for so long—I wrote for magazines and newspapers for years and then became a full-time independent writer—that I just sit down and go to work. 

While I have a lovely home office—the corner of my family room where I can look outside when I need a break—I have over the years written in less ideal surroundings. 

In the basement on a small desk where mice and spiders and centipedes would show up. At the airport waiting for my plane, on the plane, in a hotel room (once in the hotel bathroom because that was where the only working outlet was for my laptop—a fact I found out at 10 PM and, since I didn’t want to switch rooms at that hour, put up with it but did get a refund!), and on a very small student desk at my parents’ house. 

In hospital rooms on the pediatric floor, intensive care floor, and coronary care floor as well as in my father’s room in a nursing home—I count myself lucky that as a self-employed writer I was able to be with my family members when they were admitted and still work.

That being said, my most creative time is early in the morning. I usually get up around 4, start writing at 5 and write for a couple of hours on my books or short stories. By 9 AM, I’m either doing client work or book marketing or other admin tasks. 

What’s the worst advice you’ve ever received as an Indie Author? 

“Write what’s hot, what’s selling.” Bad advice for me because usually what was selling at any given point is either not something I would like to write or something I don’t feel qualified to write. And, being an Aquarian, I have to go my own way, march to my own drum, and all that. And that extends to the type of fiction I write. 

What’s your go to book, movie or musical artist when you need some inspiration (or just a break from the keyboard)?  

While I can’t listen to music when I’m writing, I do like it when I’m taking a break. Among my favorites are The Moody Blues, Queen, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, music from the Sixties, and most classical music. I’m eclectic in my choice of music! 

If you could snap your fingers and be “known” for one piece of your writing, what would it be? Is it something already published? Or is it something in your heart you’ve not yet written? 

“Annabelle”—a short story that is in Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories. It took me years to finish it because the character would only share her story with me a bit at a time. And yes, I know, it sounds very woo-woo. And when I finally learned (Note: not figured out but learned) about a specific event in her life, it all fell into place. That story breaks my heart every time I read it.

Any other tidbits you wanna share? 

I love reading fiction (as long as it isn’t gory, violent or scary), and nonfiction especially books about writing. Not craft books, but about the experience of writing and of being a writer. One of my favorite books is The Writer on Her Work, Volume 1. I love it so much I own two copies.

I subscribe to two streaming services—Acorn and MhZ—and for shows in foreign language, prefer subtitles in English to dubbed versions. (I’m trying to learn as many swear words in other languages as I can!)

I have published several short stories that are based on dreams I have had, and others that were inspired by what I have overheard in public places.

Do you have a newsletter you want people to sign-up for? Link it here: 

I have two newsletters that are writing-oriented: Nancy’s Book News and The Writing Life with Nancy Christie. People can subscribe here for either or both.