Fighting Prose Interview with Willow Winters

Sep 29

Sep 29 Fighting Prose Interview with Willow Winters

Welcome to my in-depth writers series Fighting Prose. Where I talk to authors in the industry on what their process is like and what it takes for them to keep on creating, through all the odds. This week we’re talking to Willow Winters. who has an IMPRESSIVE 30 Books under her belt!!!

How long have you been writing?

Nearly four years.

Of the books you’ve written, which is your favorite?

Oh gosh, that's difficult to answer. I have over 30 books. Merciless and Forget Me Not will always stand out in my mind. My newest is always my favorite though, so I have to say, Desperate to Touch.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Write?

Romance - any and all forms. From PNR to shortreads to gritty dark romance. Although I love to read Chick Lit as well.

Tell me about your process: how do you get in the mood to write? How do your characters come together? How do you get your ideas?

My ideas and characters develop in my head for months to years before I get a chance to write them. I'll go for a walk to break from writing and the ideas flood me. A few will be strong enough to return and flesh themselves out, until I have a full story in my mind. When I sit down to write a book, I know it very well already. As far as "getting in the mood"... I put my fingers to the keyboard. Always. It doesn't matter if I'm anxious to write or it's just time to write. The second I put my fingers to the keys, words flow. Having those words flow is the best mood ever.

What do you admire the most about the writing world?

Oh gosh! You ask very difficult questions. The writing world is HUGE and I admire a great number of people all for different reasons. I can't name just one person!

If you're not busy writing, what are you busy doing?

Chasing around my kids. I have a 3 and 5 year old and they are my world.

Have you ever had writers block? If so, how did you get out of it?

I've had very anxious moments when sitting down to focus on writing was difficult. However, the stories kept going in my mind. So it was just a matter of waiting for the anxiousness to pass, which it always does. Self publishing is stressful, but very rewarding. I keep in mind that I GET to write and I always write what I love to write and I'm desperate to read. So it's a rare day that I don't want to write.

For a writer starting out what advice would you give them?

Never stop writing. Hard times will come, hard lessons will be learned. Keep writing. So long as the book is good, there is no reason to stop. You know what a good book is. If you love your book and your stories, don't stop writing.

Have you always been creative? Has it always been writing?

I used to love art, scrap-booking and painting. When I had my first child, I took up sewing. I do love anything really with creativity and challenges.

What is your dream writing location?

On a beach. Although every time I go to a beach I don't end up writing.

In reference to your books, what question do you get asked the most?

The reading order! Everyone wants to know where to start, but I write all of my books so that any hero's story can be read at any time. Even my series that follow a timeline, it doesn't matter where you start, you can pick up at any point to begin.

If you could bring one of your characters to life who would it be? Why?

OOOooh that is a hard one. Seth King I think. My most recent hero. He's damaged and all sorts of lost right now (I left his book on a cliffhanger). I'd tell him it gets better. (It's going to get worse before it gets better but I may omit that if he were to ask!)