About Lynn Voedisch
Lynn Voedisch is a Chicago journalist and fiction writer with many years experience working for newspapers and magazines. She is a member of the America Society of Journalists and Authors and the Society of Midland Authors, where she is one the board of directors. She started out as editor of her college newspaper at Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa, and went on to work for WBBM-TV, Chicago; Pioneer Press in suburban Chicago, the Los Angeles Times, and spent a 17-year stint at the Chicago Sun-Times. She was an entertainment reporter and technology reporter there and helped develop the newspaper’s fledgling Web site. The site and staff won Best Innovation from the Inland Daily Press Association and the Dvorak Award for Web content.
She has been on television (“Chicago Tonight”) and radio (WBEZ-FM) talk shows, discussing arts topics that affect the city. After leaving the Sun-Times, she pursued a freelance career where she was published in the Chicago Tribune and in the Industry Standard, Grok and Connect-Time (all technology magazines). She also did arts stories for Dance Magazine and the Tribune. A short story of hers, “Wili,” was published inFolio literary magazine in Winter, 2001. She is now working on fiction. Her first novel, “Excited Light” (ASJA Press, $14.95) is available at Amazon.com, bn.com,booksamillion.com and can be ordered at any Barnes & Noble store. Her current novel, “The God’s Wife” (Fiction Studio Books, $9.99 e-book, $16.95 paperback) goes on sale Aug. 9.
Visit her website at http://www.lynnvoedisch.com/TheGodsWife-LV.com/Welcome.html
About The God’s Wife
The women of ancient Egypt were the freest of any civilization on earth, until the modern era. In several dynasties of ancient Egypt the God’s Wives of Amun stood tall, priestesses of wealth and power, who represented the pinnacle of female power in the Egyptian state. Many called The God’s Wife of Amun second only to the Pharaoh in dominance. THE GOD’S WIFE follows the adventures of a 16-year-old girl, Neferet, who is thrust into the role of The Gods Wife of Amun without proper training. Surrounded by political intrigue and ensnared by sexual stalking, Neferet navigates the temple, doing her duties, while keeping her family name pristine and not ending up like her predecessor-dead. Meanwhile, a modern-day Chicago dancer, Rebecca, is rehearsing for a role in an ancient Egyptian production and finds herself blacking out and experiencing realistic dreams about life in Egypt. It’s as if she’s coming in contact with Neferet’s world. Are the two parallel worlds on a collision course? They seem to be, for Neferet has just used an old spell to bring protection to her world, and Rebecca meets a mysterious Egyptian man who says he’ll whisk her away to Alexandria. Magic and realism mix for a powerful ending in THE GOD’S WIFE .
The Interview:
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
I used to read the Nancy Drew mystery series when I was a kid and I decided that I was going to be a mystery writer when I grew up. I loved to read and was a total bookworm as a child. In fifth grade, my teacher had us do timed creative writing assignments and I always got A’s on them. He told my parents I had a special talent for writing. I was glowing after that and always considered it my life’s goal to be a writer.
When and why did you begin writing?
I began writing in earnest in high school. I wrote for the school newspaper and did poetry for the literary journal. In college, I was the editor of the school newspaper, rather lost my interest in poetry, but still did short stories. After graduation I pursued journalism, because I couldn’t figure out how you’d get paid to be a fiction writer. I was a successful journalist and landed at a large metropolitan daily newspaper, but I got sidetracked from fiction.
How long have you been writing?
A long, long time. I don’t want to date myself…but easily 30 years or more.
When did you first know you could be a writer?
I never doubted it. I knew it when I was that kid in third grade getting that praise from my teacher. Writing has always come easily and naturally to me.
What inspires you to write and why?
Sometimes I’m inspired to write by other novels I’ve been reading. Often I’m inspired by nonfiction, often by science books on quantum physics! I am inspired by animals quite a bit for they have a way of communicating with each other that fascinates me. And sometimes dreams inspire me.
What genre are you most comfortable writing?
I think that I write magical realism, but my publisher says it’s urban fantasy. The novel that’s out now, The God’s Wife, is a blend of historical fiction and urban fantasy. I’d say everything I do has magic in it.
What inspired you to write your first book?
I had had an “angel encounter” and I wanted to write a book about that in a non-sappy way. In a way that would make people think and not blow off spiritual encounters completely. I think I succeeded, although getting the book published was like fighting a war. The book has its flaws, but it was a reasonable first effort.
Who or what influenced your writing once you began?
When I began I only had the work of other authors-Alice Hoffman, Isabel Allende, Neil Gaiman-to guide me. It took quite a while to meet other writers I could relate to. And making the jump from journalism to fiction was harder than I thought it would be.
Who or what influenced your writing over the years?
I have a support group of writers who have been with me for several years. We critique each others’ work and keep each other going. Also, I read quite a bit and draw from the great styles and inspirations of other authors.
What made you want to be a writer?
Didn’t I answer this already? LOL. I was an avid Nancy Drew reader and wanted to grow up to be a mystery writer. Funny thing is I can’t figure out how to write mysteries.
What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general?
Starting. Putting those first words on the blank page. The novel just takes off from there and then I don’t have a problem with it. But somehow I keep procrastinating about starting the darn thing.
Did writing this book teach you anything and what was it?
One thing it taught me is “never be sure you are done copyediting.” I swear there were mistakes in God’s Wife until the hour I handed the ms. in. Mistakes like “his firm, taught stomach.” ARGH! Stuff you’d die before you’d admit you typed it. I also learned more about Egypt than I ever, ever thought I’d know. And I still would like to know more.
Do you intend to make writing a career?
Counting journalism, writing has been my career for some 30 years now. With this book, I’m now accepted into Fiction Studio Books, so I have a place to send my next ms. The trauma has gone out of finishing a novel. My first ms. had 96 rejections. No more of that.
Have you developed a specific writing style?
You can’t be writing for any length of time without developing a style. Mine has a definite narrative flow with strong verbs and direct action. I don’t go for loopy literary silliness. I think clarity is the most important thing a writer can impart, because communication is what writing is all about.
What is your greatest strength as a writer?
A smooth clear style. Characters that readers like.
Have you ever had writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?
I can’t honestly saw I ever had it. I think journalism, where you MUST write every day on deadline, cured me of any of that. My problem is procrastination. I can walk around for a week with a chapter in my head and even dream about it. I’ll have the dialog all mapped out, but I still won’t sit down at the computer. Then one day, I’ll sit down and type the whole thing out in one go. Usually 2,000 words in one sitting. I don’t believe in word counts per day and won’t do that. I also don’t outline. I dream the story up in my head, walk around and elaborate on it. Then I sit down and write like a demon.