What genre do
you write and why?
I’ve been fascinated by mysteries every since I was a kid,
real mysteries, fictional mysteries. There is something endlessly inviting
about stories filled with questions that stretch the imagination yet seem real.
I remember reading Umberto Eco and John le Carré
early on and being riveted by the world they created, the incredible twists,
the sharp characters, the danger. Growing up in Romania, where everything was
controlled by the state, I didn’t have access to information, but I had access
to books.
Once I put pen to paper and began shedding my thoughts, it
was inevitable that my stories would emerge in the form of mysteries.
Tell us about your
latest book.
In Stranger or Friend, Zoe Sinclair leaves her small town behind in
favour of a life and career elsewhere. Years later, career attained and life
changed, she returns to care for her ailing mother. But home is no longer the
place she remembers. It is a collection of cloister mentalities, the scene of
two murders, strangers passing through, and a sheriff with his own agenda. Zoe,
the big-city lawyer, starts pocking around, and before long she knows that she
must unravel the mystery of the crimes to keep it all together or watch it all
fall apart.
The story is set in Midwestern U.S.A, but
the implications reach far outside our borders. It explores misgivings and
fears, the distances we create from one another as a result of such fears. It
might take a long time and various influences to reach this point, but the
danger is real.
Here’s one of Zoe’s internalizations on
this very topic:
The forest’s nocturnal noises—creaking branches and
the call of winter birds—unnerved her, but it wasn’t what made her shiver. And
it wasn’t the darkness either, although that didn’t help. No. It had to do with
a new kind of fear, the chasm between now and six days ago when everything had
seemed almost normal. It was a gaping abyss between past and present that took
her to this moment.
What's your favourite
quote about writing/for writers?
Michael Connolly said that mystery, or crime
novels, are an incredible barometer of the society in which they take place,
partly because crime is such a barometer of the society there. For me, having
relocated to a different part of the world brought about a new understanding of
this world’s mysteries, its different cultures, shifting mentalities, what
could push people over the edge, if you will, and how such acts affect those
who commit them as well as those around them.
I also like what
Stephen King said: I try to create sympathy for my characters, then turn the
monsters loose. This quote speaks to conflict, emotion, and character -- the
most important elements in crime mystery.
Where can people find
out more about you and your writing?
On my blog, Silvia Writes
(silviatomasvillalobos.wordpress.com) where I pour out my thoughts, engage in
introspections, and share behind-the scenes snippets.
In addition, I have a website:
strangerorfriend.com and can be found on Amazon where aside from the book
itself, I share dates of events and story-related news. I am on Goodreads and
have a presence on both Facebook and Twitter.
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Silvia Villalobos |
Who is you
favorite character in your book and why?
Zoe Sinclair. I spent
little time describing Zoe because I wanted her actions and thoughts to do the
work. I wanted someone who is completely and totally her own person. Someone
flawed. She is not conventionally beautiful, yet can’t be ignored. I wanted
intelligent, complicated. Intense.
A lot to ask of any character. To accomplish this, I gave Zoe the entire
emotional, psychological, and moral weight of the story, since Stranger or Friend is written
exclusively from her viewpoint. I didn’t want her role pushed to the
background, become incidental or one-dimensional compared to other characters.
The reason for this is two-fold:
First, characters, I think, are the most important element of almost all
fiction.
As a veracious reader myself, I
respond most to compelling characters facing distinct challenges in memorable
settings.
Second, the challenges ahead would break her to pieces. Intensity
mattered. In order to complete the journey, she’d have to put the
pieces back together. This story had been developing for years in my
mind. Now, it was Zoe’s journey. She couldn’t be bothered with small
things.
Did you learn anything
from writing your book that was unexpected?
I learned that
writing is addictive. Like a good
roller coaster, the second you get off you want to hop back on. When I finish a
big project, my brain's packed with so many ideas that I can't keep track of
everything. I don't need to execute on those ideas, but I do need to write them
out so I can come back later.
A reliable critique group is essential, as no author can do it
alone. My critique group is The Internet Writing Workshop. I’ve made life-long friends there.
Expect
everything to take longer than you think it will. A schedule is great, but be prepared for the process to
take considerably longer. Be prepared to make lots of adjustments to previously
scheduled timelines. Let the story develop. In the end, it’s all about the story.
Where can a
reader purchase your book?
The primary source is Amazon.com, but the novel is also
available on strangerorfriend.com and solsticepublishing.com. A couple of local
bookstores carry it; one among them is The Open Book bookstore in Santa Clarita,
California.
Who inspires you?
The creative process brings me to
a place of being totally present and that process itself is inspiring. Reading also
gets my inspiration going. A good book is a place of introspection and
inspiration.
People who inspire me are many, from
my mother who worked harder than anyone I know to keep everything together
after my father’s passing. My favorite aunt, Mary, who refused to let me make excuses,
and more recently my husband, who takes the time to listen to my crazy ideas
and shares his own creative process with me, and of course my son whose smile
makes my heart smile.
What is your work in
progress? Tell us about it.
I am actively working on the next Zoe Sinclair novel. As I mentioned
above, writing is addictive, and Zoe is talking to me now, has a lot to say, so
I’m taking furious dictation. The story will jump from California, to Wyoming,
to Europe, then back to California. I am doing my best to allow each place its
time with the reader, and make the present day as well as the history of each
place memorable.
When you’re not
writing, how do you spend your time?
When
not taking long walks through the local paseos or hiking the Santa Clarita
Woodland Park trails, I prepare and give speeches for Toastmasters
International. Mostly, I look for inspiration by reading and letting nature hold
me. I love spending time with friends and family, letting my inner child out. I try to remember there’s more to life
than writing. In order to write well, I have to live.
author interviews
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Interview
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Jo Linsdell
mystery
Reading
Silvia Villalobos
Stranger or Friend
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3 Comments
Thank you, Jo, for having me on. Really nice talking to you.
ReplyDeleteVery nice interview! Thank you two, Silvia and Jo.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Denise.
ReplyDeleteI love to hear from you. So feel free to comment, but keep in mind the basics of blog etiquette — no spam, no profanity, no slander, etc.
Thanks for being an active part of the Writers and Authors community.