Interview with Cameo Renae

Hey all you readers and writers! Emma Michaels here to introduce our guest author of the day:

Cameo Renae

Hello Cameo and welcome to The Writers Voice!

Have you ever gotten an idea for a book or part of one of your novels from something or somewhere unexpected?

 

My first (completed) novel, In My Dreams, was born from a dream. Well…it wasn’t a sparkly, lovey-dovey dream, it was actually a nightmare. Really. It rattled me. I shook my husband out of his sleep and told him about it. He was still in “sleep mode”, but thought it was pretty cool. (Yep.) So, I ended up writing it down, and it became the first part of Chapter 1. 

Did you always know you would write a novel? Why did you finally decide to write one and when?

I’ve always wanted to write a novel, but never really had the time. About seven years ago I took a writing course, then became part of a writing community, and started writing short stories. I had so much great feedback that I decided to take on a novel. I wrote my first 90 pages of a MG fantasy, and then… I had the nightmare that started In My Dreams. 

What are five things that are must haves when you are writing?

(#1)- Coffee. At least 2 cups before my brain kicks in.

(#2) – My laptop.

(#3) – That little thing that plugs into your computer to save your stuff… that Scan Disk thingy. I need that! My computer crashed once, and now I’m saving everything.

(#4) – A notebook. I finally got one! I get ideas at the craziest times, so I finally got a pretty book to write them in.

(#5) – My muse. Some days my muse goes missing and doesn’t even leave a note! *so frustrating* But most of the time she’s with me, filling my head with wonderful ideas.

Is there one book that has had an impact on not only your writing, but on you personally? 

Yes, C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. His books sparked my love for reading. 

What is the hardest emotion for you to convey?

I think the hardest emotion, for me, would have to be sadness. In My Dreams was the first time I’d had to really deal with that emotion. It took me a while to come up with words to portray how someone feels when they’ve lost someone they love, and make the reader really feel it. 

Tell us something most people don’t know about you!

I’m very random. Things could pop out of my mouth that will just throw people off. My husband usually cracks up, but my kids will roll their eyes and sigh. hehe BUT… in public I come off as shy. 

Which came first for you--the characters, the idea for the setting, or the plot?

The setting came first, and set the tone for the rest of the novel. I actually didn’t have a plan or outline for In My Dreams. I just wrote and it all just came together. Amazingly. But, I don’t write like that now! Now, I totally have an outline, characters and some kind of plot (which seems to change a lot).

Thank you for having me! I had a blast! ♥

Thank you for joining us!