Monday, January 28, 2013

With us Today is....


Heather Titus!

Heather. Welcome to Homeschool Authors! Tell us about yourself.
Thanks Sarah! The first thing that anyone meeting me for the first time will notice is that I'm an introvert with a bit of a bohemian/eclectic taste in clothes. Then they discover that I'm a fairly active person (notice I did not say athletic) who quickly gets bored with things that do not engage her brain continually. I'm also an absolute nerd about anything science fiction and fantasy and I have a bit of a sarcastic sense of humor.


What was/is your favorite part of being homeschooled?
My favorite part about being homeschooled was that I got to help tailor my curriculum to things that interested me. I also appreciate that my parents taught me to think for myself and not blindly accept anything I was told.


When did you start writing?
 I started writing when I was about 8, but began to seriously consider it as a career when I was 12.

What kept you writing?
A combination of things...my parents and siblings were very supportive, and I tended to get grumpy if I didn't get the stories in my imagination out on paper. Few things make me happier than when I'm creating a new story or new characters.
 
How did you get involved in Avenir Eclectia?
I was browsing the Internet and ran across the website, which was run by one of my favorite small Christian presses, Splashdown Books. I'd been wanting to try my hand at short stories (before 2011, I wrote mostly novels), so I wrote a story and sent it in. The publisher asked for more, and before I knew it, it was 2012 and an anthology was coming out with some of my stories in it. :) 

Who will enjoy Avenir Eclectia: Volume 1?
Anyone who likes science fiction or fantasy. The world of Avenir Eclectia is very diverse, with lots of storylines going at any given time, so I bet that anyone who checks it out is bound to find at least one story or character they like. 
 
What is you favorite book and why?
My favorite book...that's a hard one! I think that out of every book I've ever read, The Lord of the Rings has stayed my favorite. It is beautifully written, with an intricate history and story, and it's what drew me into writing fantasy in the first place. 
What inspires you to keep writing?
Curiosity. I have a lot of characters in my head clamoring for attention, and I really want to find out their stories. My husband Justin also plays a big part in it--he's constantly encouraging me and helping me wrangle my way out of plot holes, even though he's not a big reader himself. 

What is the biggest lesson you have learned it writing for Avenir Eclectia?
Writing tight. The word count is very short (150-400 words), and at first, I didn't know if I could do that. But I've learned how to edit my words for precisely the right choice. I think it has made my writing a lot better.

Do you have any final thoughts?
Thanks for hosting me here, Sarah! It's always fun to visit this website and read about other homeschoolers who share my passion for books and writing. :) If anyone is interested in hearing more about my writing, you can visit my website (where I also ramble about my life, favorite tv shows, and anything else that catches my interest) or keep up with me at my Author Facebook page. I look forward to hearing from you! 

1 comment:

  1. Hey Sarah! Love your blog design. I've nominated you for the Liebster award over at my blog. Can't wait for your post!
    ~Sarah Faulkner

    http://inklinedwriters.blogspot.com/2013/01/liebster-award.html

    ReplyDelete