Author Interview - Eleanor T Beaty ~ Pandora Poikilos

Saturday, 23 March 2013

Author Interview - Eleanor T Beaty

Tell us a bit about your family. My family is of mixed cultures. My father was American born in Pennsylvania, came to Brazil during the war. My mother was born in Brazil of American and Italian parents. They both married several times. I was born in Brazil. I am the youngest of six, but not all children are from the same marriage. Quite complicated. I went to different schools in different countries until my last years in high school. I am both Brazilian and American and confused because of it, as neither country sees me as one of theirs.

What is your favorite quote, by whom, and why? Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference – Winston Churchill. I love all his quotes, the man had so much wisdom it amazes me. Our acts shows people who we truly are, especially the spontaneous ones.

How has your upbringing influenced your writing? In every possible way, good and bad. Having a multicultural upbringing in a non-conventional family has given me a much more broad view of life and the world, which reflects in my writing, in my characters, in my desire to show the readers other points of views and other cultures. And the down side, it makes it difficult to fit within one culture, so not all readers understand my vision of the world.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated? With poetry, at age ten, but I wasn’t very good at it.

When and why did you begin writing? As a teen. I began as an outlet for feelings I couldn’t explain nor knew how to deal with. Later when I turned to novels, I was drawn to writing because of my desire to be transported to far away places. While writing I escaped all that I didn’t like, or situations I was living. I love reading books and watching films that have the magic to transport me and remove me from reality. That’s what I feel when I write and that’s what I want my readers to feel.

What inspired you to write your first book? I wanted to created a special world for children. A place where magic and consciousness of others was a central theme. Also respect for the wisdom of elders. It was meant to be a place, an actual place for them to come and play but it became a book.

What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general? The most challenging about writing a novel to me is the need to constantly renew themes and style. Not falling into clichés and managing to write fun dialogue. I love humor, so that is also a challenge for me, writing mystery and action novels with a pinch of humor.

Did writing this book teach you anything and what was it? Every book teaches me something about myself. In each one there is a part of my life that, at the moment of writing the book, needed attention. Most times I work it into the novel unknowingly and only realize it when reviewing. My first novel dealt with the loss of my father, I wrote it just after he died.

Do you intend to make writing a career? Yes. I hope to never stop writing and being a writer, no matter what. It is what I live for. Creating a new and amazing story with an original take and theme at every opportunity.

Have you developed a specific writing style? No, I don’t think I have a set style. I could be wrong, and some of my readers my identify a style. I’m a bit hyperactive and I think that affects my writing in the sense that I want to be different people in very different stories. That affects genres too. I’ve had very different reactions to the three books released, but the one aspect that all readers find in common are the memorable characters. Makes me jump with joy when they say that.

What is your greatest strength as a writer? Plot lines and characters. I love off the wall plot lines, sometimes I get to carried away and find myself in a complicated bind.

Have you ever had writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it? I did. After I wrote my first trilogy, which was also my first set of books, I didn’t think I could write anything else. My block didn’t last more than a few months as I turned to writing adult novels, which I never published, but it got me out of the funk and not long after I was back to YA. I guess when you’re stuck you have to walk in the opposite direction and allow life to lead you to where you are meant to go.

Will you write others in this same genre? I will always write paranormal and mystical. That is my passion.

What do you do to unwind and relax? I hit the treadmill with my favorite TV series for an hour everyday.

What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing? Doing workshops with children. I just did one in February at the International school in Curitiba and loved every minute of it.

When you wish to end your career, stop writing, and look back on your life, what thoughts would you like to have? I would like to think that I planted seeds in people’s heart to help them deal with life. That something I wrote, or a character I created, gets them through a moment of pain.