Friday, March 30, 2012

Interview with Tobi

Today I'd like to welcome the winner of the last Knights of MicroFiction for the year, Tobi Summers from Chock Full of Words.  Check out Jess's blog for her interview with other lucky winner Stephanie at Word by Word.

Congratulations on your win and thanks so much for joining us today Tobi.
Let's get down to business.  My first question for today is:
When did you know you wanted to be a writer?


I think I was somewhere between three and six years old when I told my parents I wanted to be a writer, and I've been working towards it ever since.  (Somewhere, I have short stories I wrote when I was about six years old and a novel(la) I finished when I was 12.)


Ooh I'm sure those would be interesting to look at, like a window into your younger self.  I have a few of those hidden away myself.   What project are you working on at the moment?

I'm actually working on two, editing one and writing the other.  The one I'm editing is the currently untitled first book of the Capitoline Hill Chronicles (formerly called Rosetta).  It's about a girl named Quinn, who left her werewolf pack five years ago to escape some bad memories.  But after her brother takes off, she returns home.  Just in time, it turns out, because things are getting a little crazy both inside and outside the Pack, and Quinn winds up being a huge help in restoring order. (My pitch still needs some work... :) )

Wow, I love the idea!  I can't imagine what it might be like to be part of a werewolf pack.  Sounds like Quinn is well on her way to becoming top dog though.  What else are you working on?


The one I'm writing is tentatively called Defenders.  The story centers around a team of six girls, all 16 years old. They're one of many teams of all different supernatural species who are tasked with defending their city from internal and external attack.
 

Oh that sounds great too!  I've never been good at coming up with paranormal plots, but it looks like you've got it down.  So with all these projects, have you set any specific goals to keep them all on track?

This is the first year I've ever set writing goals for myself, so I can actually answer this question! :)  I'd like to finishing editing Capitoline Hill by the end of May and begin querying agents in June.  I want to finish Defenders by the end of the summer, and I want to use NaNoWriMo to write the first 50,000 words or so of the second book in the Capitoline Hill Chronicles.


Looks like you know exactly where you want to be. That's great! Good luck with them.  What about blogging?  How long have you been a blogger?  


I've had a blog since October 2011, but I only really started using it in February 2012.  So... two months.


Well, welcome to this great supportive community of writers.  I know I have gained so much by being a part of it.  What do you think blogging has done for you so far?

I think the best thing blogging's done for my writing is hold me accountable.  As I blog more, I'm meeting all these wonderful, fantastic authors at all different stages in their writing.  And because, like many writers, I have a deep desire to be accepted by everyone, I feel like I need to be a serious writer to keep up with them.  So instead of just writing whenever I get a whim, I'm writing almost everyday, even if it's just a blog post or flash fiction story.  



With all those great blogging challenges out there we sure have lots to write about!  What do you like to do when you're not writing?


I watch a lot of television.  It's actually kind of embarrassing how much television I watch (at last count it was over 30 currently airing shows).  For a long time, I thought I wanted to work in television, and I had a freelance gig writing about crime TV, so at some point I decided that watching TV was the same as working... and it's all downhill from there.

LOL. I don't know, TV and movies are definitely a great resource for story ideas so maybe you can count it as work after all.
    
Is there anything else we should know about you?


Hm, let's see... I have the best, most supportive family I know; I'm an unrepentent chocoholic; I've often considered mainlining Vanilla Coke; and blatantly bad grammar sometimes makes me twitch and correct people inappropriately.Thanks so much for choosing my story and for featuring me on your blog!

I'm a chocoholic too!  Thank you Tobi, for participating in Knights of MicroFiction!  It's been fun to have you here today.  Good luck with all your projects.  


Unfortunately that's all the time we have for today.  Thanks for stopping by.  Make sure to check out Tobi's blog here.

Have a great weekend!

Kathy :)      

5 comments:

  1. Hey, the comments work again. :) So fun to learn more about you Tobi. Your books sound awesome--so good luck. And I'm impressed with your goal setting. I have writing goals, but they aren't that specific. Thanks for the fun post.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by. Tobi has some great stuff going on doesn't she? :)

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  2. Tobi, your book sounds great. I'm a sucker for werewolves and I love the connection with Rome.

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