May is our month of visitors, and today’s is the multi-talented CHE GILSON, one of Black Opal’s newest authors. Her debut release, DOG FIGHT, will hit shelves soon, so keep an eye out. In the meantime, we thought we’d share the wild worlds in her head by asking a few questions!
Whether we’re plotters or pantsers (outlines not needed), creating our stories takes us on very memorable journeys. Sometimes we may be part way through before we realize some major aspect of our story is just not working (plot, character, setting). Have you ever hit this sharp, pointy snag and if so, how did you escape? We’re you battered and bruised or a bloody mess?
This usually doesn’t happen to me if I outline! I had to make a conscious decision to start outlining after this happened one too many times. I have a novel which I’m currently editing which completely died in the middle. I had the ending in mind so what I did was skip the entire middle section and write the ending. Only after I was done with that did the middle occur to me. Then I cut and pasted the middle into the book and had to paste in all the ending scenes I wrote in order. It’s not something I recommend!
After that nightmare I finally decided to start outlining again. I found a great little novel development plan another author uses and started using that. I used the development plan for a Middle Grade novel and it went off without a hitch! The middle is where I tend to start failing so the outline helps get the whole arc down.
But some projects have been unsalvageable.
–Yep, I love to say I’m a pantser, but as I keep writing, I find I’m sneaking in outlines on the side. So, perhaps I’m a closet plotter? Hmmm…
What’s the one genre you won’t ever try and why?
Historic fiction. Because I am a lazy, lazy, researcher. I like my history in documentary format and that doesn’t really lend itself to in depth knowledge. I’m also not much of a reader of historic fiction, though I can see the appeal.
–I’m with you on that one, Che. No way do I want to delve into worlds where if I’m off just a little on my history, it’s all over.
Growing up, what was your favorite book, comic, game or movie and did you create a character/player that might resemble you?
OMG. This question! I can’t even… Okay, here goes; I LOVED Star Wars as a kid and I did invent a character to insert into the world. However my “fan” characters tended to be more what I wanted to be, a badass, then resembling myself (who is a wimp). So my fan character for Star Wars was a female Admiral named Admiral Darkstar who had run a fowl of Darth Vader and been kicked out of the Empire. She was a bounty hunter for Jabba the Hutt.
–(handing over a paper bag) It’s okay, I totally understand…
What is some of the best advice you were ever given?
One good bit of advice I received from Cat Rambo in one of her writing classes. The class was short stories and she said “Don’t say no for them”. She was talking about submitting your short stories to magazines, but it really applies to everything. Even if you don’t think your story is perfect or even if you think it’s awful, a lot of writers, like myself, don’t know when we’re actually doing well. So submit that story, or book and let the editor say “no”. Don’t just stick it in a folder, because if no one ever sees it, it’s a guaranteed rejection.
–I like that!
We put Che front and center, and she’s dodging our bullet list like a pro…
Blades, guns, fists or feet?
Fists or swords in books, guns in movies.
Favorite Fairy Tale of all time?
Maybe “The Snow Queen”. I suddenly realize I haven’t read a lot of fairy tales…
–May I suggest starting with the original Brothers Grimm? (wiggles eyebrows)
Three titles and their authors sitting on your nightstand/bookcase/table/floor waiting to be read?
“A Passage To India” by E.M. Forster, “Sakuran” by Mayocco Anno, “Mortal Engines” Philip Reeve
Greatest one liner of all time?
“I can’t promise I’ll try, but I’ll try to try.” -Bart Simpson
–Ahh, the wisdom of The Simpsons, may it wax on eternally…
Sarcastic witticism, Southern sweetness or Geeky disdain?
Sarcastic witticism.
Strangest item currently taking up space in your writing cave?
Probably dolls… I collect Asian ball jointed dolls and they are all over the house! And a ton of art supplies.
Favorite supernatural creature?
Witches. I write about them the most.
Want to learn more about Che…
Che has been drawing her whole life and creating numerous worlds of her own. She has taken classes in art and attended the Savannah College of Art and Design majoring in Sequential Art. She has variously done oil painting, etching, and drawing. Her biggest influence is manga and anime. In recent years has settled on the computer to color her art. She uses Photoshop 7 for all her color work.
After a brief career in comic books and three graphic novels later ( Avigon: Gods and Demons, Dark Moon Diary vol. 1 and Dark Moon Diary vol. 2) she has begun writing novels. She has even had a few short stories published in e-zines online.
Che is an avid collector of Asian Ball Jointed Dolls which consume quite a bit of time. She has a pet lovebird that is a star in his own right. She reads, writes and draws.
Currently she draws for Queen Kat Designs, reviews manga for Otaku USA magazine, and is almost done with a humorous paranormal novel called Tea Times Three.
She hates writing bios and if anyone is really interested in getting to know her she has a Livejournal found here http://spiderling.livejournal.com/ a Deviant Art Gallery where she posts art http://spiderliing666.deviantart.com/ and a writing blog http://chegilson.blogspot.com/