Lynn Rush works it like a dog on ice. That’s a lot, for those who don’t know about husky dogs and the Iditarod. Or if you haven’t read Jack London. She’s White Fang dynamic.
Her first book, Wasteland, came out in September, 2011 from Crescent Moon Press, and the sequel, Awaited, is due out in May, 2012. We even have a sneak peek of the cover for book #2. It’s wicked cool, yo. She’s a former speed skater and Minnesotan, and she’s lived in Castle Rock, Colorado for four years. Now she works at a bookstore, writes, and works it like a Saint Bernard in the Yukon.
Lynn’s bio.
Her book, Wasteland, is full-on demony:
Bound by the blood contract his human mother signed four centuries ago, half-demon David Sadler must obey his demonic Master’s order to capture fifteen-year-old Jessica Hanks. But as he learns more about her, he realizes she may be the key to freedom from his dark enslavement.
So, here is the interview. I interview. You interview. He\she\it interviews.
Aaron: Lynn, so you came to the writing game a short five years ago. Tell us what happened. What was the first day of writing, in your life, as a novelist, like for you? Were there angels singing? Dogs barking? Tea brewing?
Lynn: Ha! Angels singing! That’s a good one. I barely remember writing that first novel other than just typing like a mad woman. Seriously. I just know that in late November 2007 I had an 87,000 word novel with NO CLUE what to do next. It was a blur. Now, the second book, that I remember. Because I had finally found a writers group, so I was going on a critique or two by then, so I had some directions.
Angels might have sung on that one. ((LOL))
Aaron: How do you handle the overwhelming amount of work? Writing, social media-ing, editing, et cetera? Any tricks? Tea? Coffee? Illegal substances that I can’t spell?
Lynn: I try and lay off the illegal substances since I’m a recovering former Addictions Therapist. For the most part, I have TONS of extra time because I don’t have kids. I’m not sure how I would navigate all the demands if I did have little munchkins to chase around to tell you the truth! Plus, I only work about 30 hours a week at my “day” job, sooooo, I get to spend a lot of time doing what I love. WRITING!
Aaron: You write all the time, but is there a time you prefer for writing? Under the dark of the moon? In the morning’s red glare? In the rocket’s red glare?
Lynn: Anyone who follows my Facebook or Blog knows I LOVE sunrises and sunsets. I tell ya;, though, with writing, I’d have to say sunset on my patio. I just love the serenity involved with that type of setting. But you’re right when you say I write all the time. Really, if I have an idea, pretty much it’s GAME ON and I’m writing every free minute to get that story done. Otherwise, the voices in my head just get too loud and keep me up. And I get grouchy without sleep!
Aaron: Which do you prefer? The rough first draft or the three hundredth edit? And yes, there are people who love to fiddle with every word for the three hundredth time. You know who you are.
Lynn: FIRST drafts are my FAVE! There’s nothing like the rush of sitting before a blank page and typing CHAPTER ONE…LOVE that. I really enjoy the editing, too. Like, when I get a crit back from one of my crit partners, I’m all shaking and stuff while I open it, crazy excited to see what they said. I know it won’t all be sunshine and roses, but that’s okay, because I know it’ll help my story get better. And that is the point! To make our stories shine!
Aaron: What was the inspiration for Wasteland?
Lynn: While I was writing it, I never really thought about it to tell you the truth. But I looked back once I got asked that question by an interviewer once and this is what I came up with. It was December 2009. I was in my fourth month of unemployment. I didn’t asked to be laid off from my job. Didn’t want to. Couldn’t control it. As I looked back, I noticed that DAVID, the hero in Wasteland, is in much the same situation. He didn’t ask to be half-demon. He couldn’t control his mother’s actions (selling his soul) before he was even conceived. And mostly, he didn’t WANT to be half-demon tied to the devil to run souls. So, I could see some similarities coming through there.
Aaron: Did the Wasteland series colonize your head all or at once, or was it book by book? Put another way, was it War of the Worlds all encompassing, yes, I have all the books in my head. Or was it more like Invasion of the Body Snatchers, piece by piece, bit by bit, you imagined the books? Or did you forget the original question with the sci-fi references?
Lynn: ROTFLOL. Believe it or not, I remembered the question! But yeah, I’d go with Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Don’t laugh, but I don’t always know if a book will be a standalone or trilogy. I write books as they come to me. I don’t think I’ve ever written a first book, then the second, then the third right after one another for any of the trilogies I’ve written. I just start with the first then as I go along, if more ideas come in, I’ll write that second and third book. I have four trilogies done. Two are contracted for publication, the other two are not. One might be battling dust bunnies under my virtual bed because it was one I wrote WAY WAY in the beginning (it’s really bad).
Aaron: If Wasteland has an antonym, what would it be? For example, for my novel The Never Prayer, the antonym would be those cute, chubby, naked, cheruby angels you see on greeting cards. Yeah, my novel, the exact opposite. What is an antonym for Wasteland? Could be another book, a movie, an image, or an idea. You’ll be graded on accuracy and originality.
Lynn: Fluffy white clouds, cute little puppy dogs, and shimmering rainbows.
Aaron: Okay, for this next one, big lead-up. Picture your typical movie-type biker bar on the outskirts of Barstow, California. Whiskey dark and leather tough. Okay, the hero, the heroine, and the villain of Wasteland walk into that bar separately at midnight on random Saturday nights. What would happen to them? To the bar? To Barstow?
Lynn: Okay, so you said separate. So, if they don’t meet up with one another, all would be well. If they happen to…”mingle” Have you ever seen that little mushroom cloud from a nuclear explosion? You know like in Terminator 2 when Sara Connor has that dream? That’s what I envision happening. **just kidding** sort of. Guardians and demons don’t mix. Lots of swords swinging and some heads rolling. But Beka would be working to preserve human life through it all.
Aaron: Are you more demon, or more angel? Would this change for you in your home versus if you were in a biker bar, outside of Barstow, California, on a random Saturday night?
Lynn: Angel. Nope. I’d stay with the Light through it all. There’s strength in that and I’d kick some demon butt right beside Beka!
Aaron: Last question. Make it a good one. Hit me baby one more
time. Would you want to live in the world of Wasteland? Why or why not? You’d be there as a character, living your life; however, the paranormal aspect would be in full swing. Could you deal with it? Could you turn and face the strange?
Lynn: Their world is pretty much this one. Same technology, luxuries, etc. But to be a part of their supernatural battles…hmmm. That’s a little scary. But if I could have Beka’s confidence, sword handling skills, and strength in battle, I’d say BRING IT!
Thanks to Lynn for being a willing victim…er, participant! Check out her awesome, ubiquitous web presence at these links!
Lynn’s website.
Lynn on Facebook.
Twitter.
Goodreads.
