esthermitchell.com Blog

BarbaraS:  I began writing almost as soon as I began reading.  I used to entertain my friends with stories and short plays.  My first memory of pleasing an audience is when I had a play I wrote and produced and acted in “go on the road.”  After presenting it to my fifth grade class, the teacher sent us room to room to put it on for other classes.  I don’t remember the title but it was about a mad scientist who had miniaturised and smuggled Hitler out of Germany.  

 EM:  What has been your greatest challenge as a writer?

BarbaraS:   I hate it when a book full of characters I love comes to an end and I have to start a new one with new characters.  It’s like moving out of town and having to make all new friends. 

EM:  How do you cope with writer’s block?

BarbaraS:  I’ve taken a number of online classes and attended workshops that offer solutions for writer’s block.  They are full of inspiration and the writer’s who do them are generous to present their solutions.  But nothing works to get past writer’s block except the bulldozer of your own will power.  You have to put down one word at a time until you shove past it and do that everyday.

EM:  How much of your own life ends up in the books you write?

BarbaraS:   Only vignettes, attitudes, and minor characters, thank God.  I’ve had no major trauma, murders, betrayals, treason, or imprisonment in my life, but these things play major roles in my books.

I do like to sneak people I know into stories, disguised as police, neighbors, or general busybodies. 

EM:  Do you draw inspiration for books from movies, TV or music?  If so, what kinds of each inspire you most?

BarbaraS:  I’m a fan of movies and see at least one theatrical release a week.  I’m not a snob and I find myself fairly easily entertained by action, drama, romantic comedy, kid’s movies, almost anything but crude comedy and slasher horror.

        On TV, I’m ashamed to admit I get addicted to competitive reality shows like Top Chef, Hell’s Kitchen, and Project Runway.  I even saw every episode of Groomer Has It.  Unfortunately,  there aren’t many dramas or comedies that are can’t miss for me lately, unless you count Meerkat Manor or Jon & Kate Plus 8.

       Music?  I’m a sucker for good lyrics.  So much pop music today is repetitive.  They stick in your head and batter around but they don’t say anything.

EM:   Do you have anything you’re currently working on?

BarbaraS: I have a Western historical and a contemporary that are well along and a few others that are just nuggets.  At the moment, I’m struggling deciding which one to bring to the front burner.

 EM:  What sub genre of Romance do you most identify with?

BarbaraS:   I love to read historicals and big, mainstream contemporaries such as those written by Susan Wiggs and Mary Alice Monroe.  Long and detailed is my preference.  I like to chose what to read and what to skip in a book. I’m not a fan of having that choice forced on me by publishers who put out screenplays disguised as novels, all dialogue bones and no meat.  I’d rather watch the movie.

EM:  Can you give us links to your website, and anywhere readers might find out more about you? 

BarbaraS:  My website is http://www.barbarascottink.com

EM:     If you had to pick one character from your book that you’d be most interested in seeing come to life, who would it be, and why?

BarbaraS:  That’s an interesting question.  I guess it would have to be Anthony Linville.  He’s the antagonist in Haunts of the Heart.  I’ve now been through three books with him and I still don’t know if he’s happy with the ending I gave him.  I’d like to sit him down and ask him just what is it he wants.

I’d like to thank Barbara for being here, and for sharing these insights into her writing and life.  Look for more from Barbara by visiting my webgroup,

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/emreadergroup any Tuesday this month, or check back here on Tuesdays as I find out more about our guest!