So I spotted Lynn early in my venture into social marketing. She has a presence that is fun and professional at the same time, and I totally thought she was already a PRO... you know... 6 or so books under her belt. She just carries herself that way—with confidence.
So how lucky am I that it so happens I got to read her DEBUT book!? (And it's a great one—very well done), and then I sent her some interview questions, and so THAT is what you get today! (you know the deal:
me in purple, Lynn in blue)
Without further ado,
WELCOME, LYNN!
You did a couple things with Point of View that I found really interesting. Your narrator is both MALE and DEMON. It seems to me as a woman on the side of the good guys, neither of these decisions would have felt most natural to me (even though I definitely see how this is the most interesting angle to tell it from)—did you ever conceive of this story from a different viewpoint, or was this the way it came to you? Can you talk a little about that decision?
This is actually how it came to me. I love reading first person stories, so I’m not surprised I enjoy writing first person stories. Taking it from the male POV…now that was a bit of a surprise to me. I find men and how they process things so very interesting, so it was a fun challenge. You can bet I pulled on all my resources for help: asking my husband and drawing from my educational and occupational backgrounds as well. But it was fun and I had a blast writing it.
Your female love interest is TALL!!! As a tall woman, I'm very aware this doesn't seem to happen that often. Are you tall? Most of Beka's appearance has what seems to me, symbolism to it, but this feature I found particularly interesting. Was there a reason for this, or was it just sort of how you pictured her?
I’m actually not tall. I’m barely five foot five. But, I love surprising characters. By that I mean, I wouldn’t expect someone super tall to be super agile. I wouldn’t expect a big muscular, tattooed and pierced guy to be super cuddly and sensitive. Or a super wimpy-looking guy to be able to pick up a car. Now, not all of that is in Wasteland, but I mentioned them to prove my point. Beka is surprising to me. As her character unfolded, I liked where it went. I love that about characters. What did you find symbolic about her? I’d love to hear it (as long as there aren’t any spoilers**LOL**)
[Tart response: Her fairness--the blonde hair and very fair skin all were symbolic of what she represented.]--shout if that's too close to spoiler.
This was my first angels and demons story I've read and I was very interested to watch the line—flirting with religion and religious mythology without ever really getting into religion. Do you feel like you had to be careful here? Is this book fairly representative of the sub-genre, in your opinion. [on a side note, I think you did this very well—I think delving deeper into religious issues would have pulled me out of the story, but ignoring it entirely would have felt wrong, too]
Consciously careful…not really. I pretty much write what’s on my heart. I’m a Christian so some of that leaks into my writing through symbolism, things like that. Anyone who knows me knows I’m not really a preacher-type person. However, they do know about my faith in God, but you’re not going to be steamrolled with finger pointing, preaching, and judgment by me. That’s not what I’m about. That’s not what my writing is about. I just want to write books for an age group who doesn’t really have much out there to read: the after high school age but not into the steamy adult novels age. That’s what they’re calling New Adult. Some term in Upper YA, too.
Wasteland is your debut novel, but I remember spotting you—already established and networking—when I started blogging two years ago. How long have you been writing seriously, with the intent of publishing? And how long ago did you start social networking?
I started to write seriously May of 2008. I can remember it specifically because it was when I found my first national writing organization, found a critique group, and survived my first critique. I was hooked then. I absorbed anything and everything and kept on writing.
I started my blog around September of 2008. I’d dabbled a bit before that, but didn’t know what I was doing. It was after a social media lecture I’d attended that I jumped into it full steam. I’ve never looked back. I love blogging, Facebooking, and Tweeting. Not sold 100% on the Google+ yet, but we’ll see where it leads.
I'm interested in Jessica. The immortals—the guardians and angels, are in agreement that this mortal girl is a greater treasure than they... and it seems to me her high power is one of forgiveness (or is it perception?)... I'm curious if your conception of her is different, and I'd like to hear your views on what truly makes one 'divine'--is forgiveness central there? Or is this more how the character played out?
I mentioned earlier how I like to give people surprising power. This applies with Jessica as well. We first meet Jessica and she appears quite weak. She’s a child. Barely fifteen. But when things get rolling, she turns out to be a powerhouse. Something I couldn’t have expected. I love doing that with characters. I didn’t really have Forgiveness in mind while writing Jessica, more it was her releasing people from the confines of lies and deception. But I can see how someone would see forgiveness. That’s what I love about books. People can see different things in them. Love it.
Oh, back to the question.
Like David. His mother bound him to something he never wanted. He was trapped into doing evil, killing, bringing humans to his demonic Master. So, Jessica’s more about releasing someone from supernatural bondage than anything.
And as to geography... I know you are located in Phoenix... and your story happens in Arizona, California... there is mention of Utah... is this strictly a familiarity element, or were there additional reasons for location?
I love Arizona. The desert provides a wide variety of obstacles to throw at characters. It’s really fun, actually. The rest of the states mentioned were just because I’ve either been there or I know people who live or have lived in those states. It’s a built in resource knowing people who live in the climate you’re writing about.
And finally-- do you have another project currently in the juggernaut? Where is it in process? And how similar or different is it from this one?
I do. Actually, I signed a three-book deal with the same publisher, Crescent Moon Press, for my Violet Night Trilogy. All three books are already written, and I’ve first round edits on book one (Violet Midnight). I’ve written book two to Wasteland (tentatively called Awaited) and it’s going through the critique process now. Crescent Moon Press hasn’t bought that one, but they have first right of refusal since it’s based off Wasteland. So, we’ll see how Wasteland does. Maybe things will go well enough that they’ll want book two as well.
Impressive! So you've really been seriously writing and polishing--a note to all of you--I think that is about where we ought to BE when our first is published--have a passel lined up and nearly ready to go in case you cause a publisher to swoon, which it sounds like Lynn has!
Thanks so much for having me here today, Hart. I really enjoy your blog!!
And thank YOU, Lynn! For the great read and fun interview! Good luck with book sales!
Short Bio:
Lynn Rush began her writing career in 2008. She has both an undergraduate and graduate degree in the mental health field and has enjoyed applying that unique knowledge to developing unique characters.
A former inline speed skater and mountain biker, Lynn has been known to test the limits of her athletic endurance. So, when she's not writing, she spends time enjoying the Arizona sunshine by road biking nearly 100 miles per week with her husband of fifteen years and going on jogs with her loveable Shetland Sheep dogs.
