Interview with D. C. Elmore Reader Views welcomes D.C. Elmore, author of “A Season of Change.” D.C. is being interviewed by Juanita Watson, Assistant Editor of Reader Views. Juanita: It is great to have the chance to talk with you today D.C.. We are happy to hear that you’ve just released your new novel, “A Season of Change.” Would you start by telling your readers the storyline of your new book?
Juanita: How long have you been writing “A Season of Change,” and what was the inspiration of this story? D.C.: I started writing A Season of Change about five years ago because the two main characters were chatting up a storm in my imagination. After six months, I had a decent first draft but it was missing that certain something that would draw the reader into the characters’ lives. I decided to put it away for awhile and work on other projects. In 2004, I met my partner and realized that what was missing from the story was exactly what was missing from my life, infinite love. After our amazing first year together, I took out A Season of Change, sat back down with my laptop, and started going back through the story. I ended up re-writing the entire novel, but it was definitely worth it. Juanita: Would you give us little more insight into your two lead characters, Sierra Stanton, and Asha Amin? D.C.: Sierra and Asha are very strong women. They’ve been extremely successful in their chosen careers. Sierra is a best-selling author with a place right across the street from the beach in Florida. Asha owns a circuit board company in Southern Cal that affords her the time to take four months off during the year to fulfill family obligations. Sierra and Asha have also had their share of what they perceive as personal failures. This plays a significant part in their blossoming relationship and forces them to confront past demons that threaten to destroy the endless possibilities that they see in each other’s eyes. Juanita: Sierra encounters writer’s block and heads to Vail, Colorado for a month of rejuvenation. What exactly is writer’s block and why does she find herself in the grips of it? Did you take this aspect of your novel from personal experience? D.C.: The best way to describe writer’s block is to compare it to an athletic event. Let’s imagine that the top figure skater in the U.S. is working on a complicated maneuver and falls during the landing. She is rushed to the hospital and is informed that she has a horrific break in her femur and must sit out the rest of the season and possibly longer. Writer’s block is a lot like that. You see the computer screen, you know how to type, but there is something that has crippled your mind and halted the natural flow of your imagination. I’ve never experienced the extreme cases of writer’s block that some authors talk about, but maybe it’s because I know what triggers it for me. My heart is directly linked to my imagination. If my heart suffers, so does my writing. Sierra experiences this same emotional constraint with her mother dying and two other significant figures in her life betraying her. Juanita: Why was the snowy mountain atmosphere of Colorado the perfect setting of your novel? D.C.: Simply, I love snow. I grew up in Indiana and enjoyed having four seasons. Christmas time was always my favorite. It is truly the one time of year that people are usually a little nicer and take the time from their busy schedules to spend it with cherished loved ones. Plus, I’m a die-hard romantic. I love being snuggled up with my partner beside a fireplace and watching it snow outside. Since we reside in San Diego, we have to travel to snow, but its well worth it. Juanita: What does Asha represent to Sierra who has lost all faith in happy endings? D.C.: Asha represents the possibility of it and I think that’s what makes this story so endearing. We all want that happy ending even if the definition of happiness varies from person to person. For these two characters, all that they have achieved financially cannot afford them what they truly want and there within lies the struggle. Juanita: How does a person from Asha’s past risk sabotaging the trust that Sierra has started to feel towards Asha? D.C.: When Asha’s former lover, Vivian, shows up in Vail, Sierra is an unwilling witness to some compromising situations. This brings forth the insecurities that course beneath her skin like venom. She tries not to let it consume her, but she can’t stop the freight train of pain barreling into her. Is what she seen a true representation of the situation or is her imagination blowing it out of proportion based on a horrific betrayal from her past? Sierra will inevitably have to choose whether to confess that she has fallen totally in love with Asha or run away without ever knowing what might have been. Juanita: D.C., what does your title “A Season of Change” represent? D.C.: I think all of us have come to a crossroads where we have to decide to either change the course we’re on or continue trudging forward. For Sierra and Asha, they’re at that same crossroad. They can either trust what they feel in their hearts or succumb to their fears and miss the chance of having true love. We’ve all made mistakes and have our regrets, but I don’t think any of us would pass up the opportunity to be with our soulmate. Juanita: Do you believe everyone has a soulmate? D.C.: Absolutely. I think we all get in a hurry to find the ‘one’ and we rush into relationships based on convenience, demographics, finances, etc. No one wants to spend their life alone, so a lot of people settle. I can say this with confidence – I always believed I’d find the one and I have. Juanita: What thoughts does your novel convey regarding betrayal and trust? How common do you think it is for people to let the pain of past betrayals cloud their present and future relationships? D.C.: The novel conveys that betrayal and trust are part of life’s journey whether it is caused by a third-party, circumstance, or the individual’s own desires or screw-ups. For example, in A Season of Change, Sierra was betrayed by two people she held dear to her heart, but it’s her lack of trust in Asha that almost dooms the relationship. As humans, we’re bound to make mistakes. Sierra has to realize that Asha wasn’t the one who betrayed her and trust herself enough to open back up to love. Otherwise, she’s betrayed her own heart’s calling and will ultimately lose the trust between her and Asha. I think this a common theme among people in relationships. Almost all of us have been hurt at one time or another. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but we move on with our lives because we hope that one day we’ll find true love. Without believing that there’s a possibility of it, I think most of us would be miserable. I feel like I’m one of the lucky ones. I’ve had my share of disappointments, survived my stupidity, and tried to never make the same mistake twice. I can honestly say that the person I’m with now is ‘the one’. I might not have seen that without the road I had to travel to get here. Juanita: What is the underlying message of your novel? D.C.: Never give up on love. It always prevails. Juanita: “A Season of Change” is categorized in the genre of lesbian fiction. What do you enjoy about writing in this particular genre? Is it a hard genre for an author to make a name for themselves? D.C.: From the time I can remember, there’s always been this need to prove that if something differs from the norm than it must not be right. I was always different than my friends because “hello!” I am different and so is everyone else. Our individuality is the most precious gift we have. When I write, it’s from my perspective and what I think is important. I don’t associate with the characters on HBO’s The L Word because none of the characters are in a solid relationship. In fact, no one I know lives the way the characters on that show do, so why would I write a novel that way. What I’ve learned by sticking to my beliefs is that my readers love a good story with passionate love scenes, a solid plot, and a great ending. I love that they write me and tell me things like “I read it in one afternoon”, “keep writing – loving every minute of it,” and so on. I’ve been on top of the world for the past three years and it’s in part to the wonderful people who pick up my novels and enjoy the journey into my imagination. I think I’m more a fan of theirs than the other way around. They welcomed me with open arms and haven’t let me down. I’m thrilled that I am part of such a wonderful group of people. Juanita: Would you consider “A Season of Change” leaning towards more of a romantic or dramatic theme? D.C.: A Season of Change definitely leans toward the romantic theme. From Sierra and Asha’s first encounter to the moment that they’re in each other’s arms, no one can deny the love these two characters develop for each other. I believe the reader will enjoy coming along for the ride on the emotional rollercoaster that Sierra and Asha are on and will be rooting for them to accept that they have found their soulmate in each other. Juanita: D.C., how long have you been a writer, and do you have any other books in the works right now? D.C.: I’ve been chasing this dream since I first learned to write the alphabet. I can’t really tell you the very first story I penned, but I can tell you the first one I remember. It was for my seventh grade English class. My teacher, Mrs. Chipman, handed out an extra-credit assignment to write a story using made-up characters in a Greek Mythology setting. The catch – we had to incorporate an animal that she assigned. Mine was the porcupine – ouchJ I’m currently working on two other novels. The first is The Vampire Within: New Blood under my pseudonym Drew Silver, which will be released May 31st, 2007. The other novel is the follow-up to Malicious INTENTIONS, which will be out in late October. Juanita: What would you say is the common thread that weaves its way through all of your books? D.C.: Love conquers all. Whether it is love for a person, a job, or whatever, we need to believe that love conquers all. Otherwise, why do we get up everyday? I get up because I love my life, my partner, my family, my writing, etc. My characters are subjected to my way of thinking so they are vulnerable to the very things I’m vulnerable to. If I didn’t write it this way, I’d betray my readers and that’s not cool. Juanita: Who have been your literary influences, and what books/authors are you enjoying right now? D.C.: Stephen King has been the biggest influence, especially the story of his life. I couldn’t believe that Alfred Hitchcock told him, in so many words, that he wouldn’t make it as a writer. I wonder if SK ever thinks about that and looks at his bookshelf and says “What did he know?” His book On Writing is probably one of the best reads a writer can buy for inspiration. I’m currently reading two novels, Dean Koontz’s The Face and Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell. Juanita: How can readers find out more about you and your endeavors? D.C.: They can visit my website at www.dcelmore.com and peruse the pages for my bio, pictures, latest releases, and book signing schedule. For fans of Malicious INTENTIONS, there is an interactive menu dedicated to expand the experience. Readers can learn about fingerprints, crime scene evidence, and other related topics. I, also, have a free e-newsletter that is sent out quarterly with a range of topics from tips for pet care to the Creative Spotlight that highlights other artists in their respective fields. Juanita: D.C., thanks for talking with us today. It has been great hearing about “A Season of Change,” and we highly encourage readers to look for this and your other books at local and online bookstores. Do you have any last thoughts for your readers today? D.C.: I’d like to express my sincere appreciation to all my readers, new and old, that purchase my novels. I’m very fortunate that they have been so supportive. The wonderful world of imagination is always better shared than cooped-up in one’s mind. Thanks for letting me share it with all of you. |
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