The beautiful romance Concealed in My Heart by Regina Puckett won the 2014 Readers’ Favorite Award. She won the Children’s Literary Classic Seal of Approval for both her children’s picture book Borrowed Wings and her steampunk novel I Will Breathe.
I Will Breathe was a finalist for the IAN Book Awards and the Readers’ Favorite Book Awards in 2015’s science fiction category. Her poetry collection Fireflies received the 2013 Turning Pages Poetry Book of the Year, and her poem Memories took first place in the first WSBR International Poetry Contest.
An Official Selection in the Young Adult Sci-Fi New Apple 2017 Summer eBooks Awards is A Man Called Rat.
2017 children’s book If I Suddenly Became a Bumblebee is available.
Here is an interview with author Regina Puckett
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I am a 2014 Readers’ Favorite award-winning author for my sweet romance, Concealed in My Heart, and my historical romance, I Close My Eyes. My steampunk book, I Will Breathe, and my children’s picture book, Borrowed Wings, both received the Children’s Literary Classic Seal of Approval. I Will Breathe also is a 2015 winner in the science fiction category in the Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. It was also a finalist in the IAN Book Awards and won a Children’s Literary Classic’s award. My poem, Memories, won first place in the 1st WSBR International Poetry Contest, and my collection of poetry, Fireflies, won the 2013 Turning Pages Poetry Book of the Year.
How many hours a day do you write?
I work full time so the hours I write vary from day to day. If the story is going well, I write about five hours a day. If I have no idea what is going to happen next, I won’t force the words out. Last year I didn’t write much. I had a story I wanted to tell but every time I opened the document the words refused to come. Fortunately, this year I found my muse again.
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How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
I have seven books that are only partially completed. If I ever get stuck and walk away for any reason If I ever get stuck, I have a hard time picking the story back up again. Maybe after I retire, I’ll find the time to finish those. I hate to leave a good story hanging.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
It all depends on the book. Some of my books were easier to write than others. I Will Breathe and Love is a Promise Kept almost wrote themselves. It only took me a little over two months to write them. With each one of those books, I couldn’t type fast enough to keep up with what my characters were saying or doing. Most of my other books took anywhere from six months to a year to complete.
How did you develop your plots?
With my first book, Concealed in My Heart, I plotted out the entire book only to have it all unravel somewhere around chapter seven. The characters in that novel started talking and took my sweet romance story in an unexpected direction. So now, I begin each book with a general notion of how the book will end and then allow my characters to show me where they want to go.
What is your favorite childhood book?
The Secret Garden
What are you currently working on?
A couple of weeks ago I completed my Christmas romance, A Christmas Wish. Right now, I’m in the middle of editing it. With any luck, I’ll be finished with my part and have it ready for my editor to revise soon.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
I read all my reviews. The good reviews make me want to keep on writing and the bad ones make me want to do better. My books are like my children. Of course, I want everyone to love my books, so when they don’t, it hurts.
What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
My youngest daughter, Charity Parkerson, is a romance writer. She’s proved herself to be an excellent storyteller.
I have made so many writer friends on Twitter. Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to meet several of them at book signings and award ceremonies. I’m always amazed at how many great writers there are. There’s no way I can name them all, but here’s a few, Clive S. Johnson, James Paddock, Stacey Roberts, Ben Ditmars, Helle Soe Gade, Dinne Lister, Douglas Wickard, Derek Blass and Tamara Ferguson.
I’ve learned so much from all my writer friends. It is great having a group of people who understand the struggles of being an indie author.
What’s your advice for aspiring writers?
It’s easy to be discouraged but never give up.
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
A good editor is worth their weight in gold.
What’s the best thing about being a writer?
If I do my job right, I can make people laugh, cry, terrify them or enrage them, and I never have to leave my office to do it.
Read Also :
Interview with Author Bob Brill
Interview with author Jocie McQuade
Will you have a new book coming out soon?
I will release my Christmas romance, A Christmas Wish, later this year.
What is your preferred method to have readers get in touch with or follow you (i.e., website, personal blog, Facebook page, Goodreads, etc.) and link(s)?
Please come and visit me at
http://reginapuckettsbooks.weebly.com
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/154116.Regina_Puckett
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/reginapuckett1/
Twitter https://twitter.com/ReginaPucket
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/regina.puckett1
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Regina-Puckett/e/B004S3ORSG/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/regina-puckett-ab67ab51/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/154116.Regina_Puckett