Joanna’s note: This is the first of a new feature. Each month I hope to introduce my readers to my author friends.
Name: Julie Seedorf
Website: julieseedorf.com
Facebook info: http://www.facebook.com/julie.seedorf.author
Name of your series: The Fuchsia Minnesota Series and The Brilliant Minnesota Series
One line that describes your series: Mystery and mayhem in a wildly unusual community whose crimestopper is old and wrinkly and leaves no stone overturned to get her man or…woman.
Name of most recent book: Granny Pins A Pilferer or not in a cozy genre, Two Little Girls.
Buy link: the series: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01K7Q4A20
1. What gave you the idea for this series?
I have strange ideas and this one happened accidentally. I started a silly story on my blog and it turned into a tale about a fictional community in Minnesota with an over-the-top Granny. The ideas kept coming as I was writing. Each book gives the characters more depth. I never planned on five and soon six. They just happen to fall into place.
2. Which character is most like you?
I would like to say Granny, Hermiony Vidalia Criony Fiddlestadt, but not because I am like her but because I would love to become her. She has grit, determination, believes old age doesn’t exist, has a deep love for her kids but is cunning and funny.
3. What’s the hardest part of writing?
Finding a time when I do not get interrupted. It happens often and the world intrudes. It is hard to balance column writing time too, along with my freelance newspaper gigs so it slows me down. I get impatient when I can’t work on my book because I can’t wait to see how it ends.
4. What inspires you to keep writing?
My readers and my imagination inspire me. I see a story everywhere but not the same story everyone sees. I see goofy and how things could be different. I feel constricted by rules and regulations. Not the rules we need to be able to have a civilized society but by the ones imposed upon that are a little ridiculous. I remember when there were no rules on what you can have in your yard or what color you could paint your house. So when I see something so restricted I want to throw silly into it.
5. What would you say to other would-be writers who have yet to get published?
I would tell them to believe in themselves. I had a point after I was accepted by a publishing company and had a contract, where I questioned my writing style and the way I write when I am planning a book. I can’t do an outline because they restrict me and I felt as if the way I was writing was wrong because it was different from all my author friends. And then I couldn’t write. An artist friend told me while critiquing one of my paintings, that we had to be true to our talent and not try and change to another’s standards. We can learn and hone our craft but we are each unique in the way we do things. Because of that someone will like my paintings even though they are not as polished as hers. The same can be said for writing. We don’t all read the same type of books. There is room for everyone. So keep going and know who you are. If you can’t find a publisher, find a good editor and publish yourself but beware of vanity presses. Once you are out there a publisher may find you.
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