~Calinda B~ Author of the Wicked Series
It's my pleasure to have Calinda B as guest on my blog today.
About this author:
The Fun Part: Calinda B was told early on that she should be
a writer. She heard frequent praise for her writing, as well as her sense of humor. Scoffing at
such admonitions and praise, she went on to pursue her life of adventure, chock full of the
things that make up a well-rounded adventurous life: music (yup, she was a singer in a rock and
roll band), dance (even performed hip hop in Russia), rock climbing (ever hung from a rock
wall a few stories up? Yikes!), fire walking (taught high-ranking Moscow fire officials how to
walk the coals), kayaking, scuba diving (she's in love with sharks), travel, and falling in
love again and again.
Living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with the love of
her life and her two cats, she has now chosen to put fingers to keyboard and write - when she's not
in pursuit of another adventure!
The Daily Grind: An award-winning web designer and certified
SEO specialist, Calinda B has worked in the Internet industry as a web page
designer/developer since the early 1990's. She has also taught web site design and computer graphics at
community colleges in Northern California. In addition to writing, Calinda B creates fine
art and music, and enjoys scuba diving, kayaking, and bike riding. Calinda B makes her home in the
Pacific Northwest with the love of her life and her two cats. She is currently working on the
third book in The Wicked Series, A
What is something that surprised you about being an
author?
First, how much fun it is. I really enjoy the process of
writing. Second, how much I learn about the world, both inside and out, through
the art of crafting fiction. This was an unexpected surprise and benefit. I find
that I have integrated parts of my own psyche through writing (inner evolution!),
made amazing new
friends, become part of a greater community of supportive
authors and learned interesting things about shamanism, whales, star people,
relationships and more. I am quite happy with all of this.
What one word describes how you feel when you write?
Happy.
Do you ever write in your PJ’s?
Er, since I don't wear PJs, no. I do wear grunge bunny
clothes to write, each and
every day!
So do you like to cook?
I love to cook and excel at creating simple, tasty,
elegant, healthy food.
Do you normally eat breakfast, or do you skip it and get
straight to work?
Since I get up so early, I drink green jasmine tea until
my sweetie pie gets up.
Then, we eat together.
Do you have pets? Do you have a picture of them you can
share?
We have two fine Abyssinian cats (picture attached). They
are smart as whips and will do tricks if there is something in it for them.
Otherwise, they can’t be bothered. People who read my books and come over to visit
think their names are Mac and Jack, like the cats in the books. I tell them
those are their pen names. I had to protect their identity.
Calinda, I wonder if these two know how cool they are.
Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?
I get up early (between 4am and 6am), when the spirits
are still whispering and the stillness of the night is in its final state of
lingering fullness. We have a light and bright front room that I have taken over as my
writing room of choice. It’s the most peaceful room in the house. I put the laptop
in my lap, my tea at my side. I can gaze out the huge arched windows in front at
trees and water (when the dawn arrives); and stare at the flowerbed, long
stretch of lawn and neighbor's house out the back double doors. We live in
paradise.
What are your thoughts on receiving book reviews - the good and
the bad?
I love to get the good reviews - who doesn't? The so/so
ones can be useful if constructive. The bad, snarky ones I can truly live without.
I have only received a couple of those and I want to say: "SOMEONE has
his/her panties in a bunch, doesn't s/he? Go back to bed and try for a new beginning to
the day." If you can’t say anything useful to the author or the readers,
don’t bother saying anything.
What’s your bucket vacation?
As in bucket list?
Yep.
We love to scuba dive. Wakatobi
(Indonesia) is in our future, as is Bonaire and La Paz.
Those sound awesome!
Okay, so what’s your favorite quote?
I used this quote in an art project long, long ago in
Junior High. I didn’t know it at the time but it has always had deep meaning for me and
represents the manner in which I live life: "I would rather be ashes than
dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be
stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in
magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is
to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall
use my time." Jack London, Jack London's Tales of Adventure.
Check out information on Calinda B's novel's. Her newest Wicked book is Wicked Whispering.
www.calindab.com
http://blog.calindab.com
www.facebook.com/calindabauthor
Twitter @calindab1
You can buy the Wicked Series on Amazon:
http://amzn.to/suhC66 , or go to the calindab.com
website for more options.
Thanks for the interview, Calinda. I loved learning more about you.