Meet Lena Gibson – An Author!

If you’ve read this blog before, you noticed I try to give you a glimpse into writing from an author’s vantage point. I’ve introduced you to many authors so far, and several write in different genres, unlike me, for instance, who writes only in the thriller-crime-mystery genre.

Lena Gibson is unique from the other authors I’ve interviewed, except for perhaps Sharon Middleton. She is another author who does something like this, and you can find her interview on my website.

Most others write in one genre at a time, Lena does what is called, genre splicing. This means that within a story or book, there can be more than one genre happening at the same time. I might be viewed as being close to her in this aspect, because in each of my books, there is a strong coming-of-age thread running throughout the story.

I think you’ll enjoy this interview with Lena. It gives great insight into her work, and the way she goes about crafting and creating a story.

What was it that made you decide you had a story to tell and to become an author?

As long as I can remember, I’ve been an avid reader. While I read a little of many types, my favorite books were historical fiction and fantasy for close to forty years. In the summer of 1998, I ran out of things to read from my favorite authors, so I tried writing. At first, it was a hobby that I dabbled in during my school breaks. I didn’t know much about writing and noticed that when I worked on it more often. The ideas came more easily. In the early years of writing that first book, I had a full-time teaching job and small children, leaving little time for myself, so progress was slow.

Fast forward ten years later, to when I got a divorce and because of shared custody, I had time. I don’t recommend following that path, but it jump-started my writing again. I dusted off the book I’d always wanted to finish and reacquainted myself with the story. I wrote another 100k. When I didn’t know how to finish it, I got stuck and let it go. But the characters and the story never entirely left my mind, and I planned to finish it one day.

In 2017, I ran into a friend I hadn’t seen in seven years, and she asked about my writing. I didn’t like saying I’d stopped, so I went home and got back to work. I could have started something new, but that original story was the one I needed to finish. I kept at it, writing a 235k portal fantasy. I used this practice book (that became two volumes) to learn how to edit, revise, query, write a synopsis, and many other skills that accompany writing. My first book took 20 years to write. Since then, the draft of a book takes 4-6 months and I write every day.

As an author or writer, what sets you apart from others?

I hope my genre splicing makes me somewhat unique. Perhaps also my productivity.

I am not alone as a neurodivergent author, but I believe authors with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) are still underrepresented. I haven’t always known about my ASD, but learning about it has made a major difference in how I approach the world.

It allows me to not be so hard on myself to try to fit in. I’m not like everyone else and shouldn’t try to be. Neurodiversity isn’t my weakness, it is my strength. Many of the characters in my books are also on the spectrum and share experiences similar to my own in relating to people.

How do ideas for your stories present themselves? How do you know what story lines to follow and which to ignore?

I get flashes of story ideas or phrases I like. I write these snippets on Post-it notes to hang on my bulletin board, or if I’m out, I text them to myself to add later. Sometimes I realize that several of the Post-its fit together and seem like they could be the same story. That’s when map out ideas and create characters.

I have several ideas waiting to find their story.

I can’t plot an entire story, but I’ve learned to plot a chapter guide, then see what works as I write. I revise and add as I go along. The farther in a story I get, the more I have to write backward as well to incorporate insights about the characters. My sense of what a story needs goes back to reading so much.

What genre do you write, and why?

I can’t stick to a single genre because my favorite stories have always had aspects of more than one. I combine genres, often having aspects of magic, romance, action-adventure, or thrillers, within dystopian or women’s fiction stories.

Within my published books, there are three overlapping types of stories: apocalypse romance, women’s fiction with speculative elements, and dystopian train hopping adventures. So far unpublished and on the shelf, I have a dystopian women’s fiction, a dark fairytale, and a portal fantasy. The next project I will pitch is women’s fiction centered on motorcycle racing and my work in progress is romantic women’s fiction with a time slip.

Besides writing and telling a good story, do you have any other talents?

I think my biggest talent is persistence and hyper-focus, so that’s helped me with whatever interests I have in my life.

An example of this: I have a black belt in karate. I started karate in 2016, close to the same time as returning to writing.

I have a great memory and long ago, I used to it to learn all the NHL hockey players and their stats. In the last fifteen years, I’ve turned this interest and talent to MotoGP motorcycle racing. I love following racers as they move through the levels to the premier league at the top.

I’m also a fast cross-stitcher, as I use both hands. My left hand does the needlework where I can see on top of the cloth and my right hand does it underneath where I do it by feel. My grandmother called me a cross-stitch sewing machine.

If you were to name one or two books that you deem unforgettable and that had a major impact on you, what would they be, and why?

I have so many different types of important books from different times in my life, but two of the most influential stories of my childhood were the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. They were the first stories I lost myself inside. I was turning eight when my second-grade teacher suggested I try them. The second childhood book was Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. I received it as a gift from my grandmother the summer my parents split up when I was eight. It had small print and was much harder than the Little House books, but it transported me to another time and place the same way. I have probably read these books fifty times each.

Later, the Dragon Riders of Pern series by Anne McCaffery, The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley, and Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay replaced them as my go to books to re-read.

Recently, the books I read the most often are The Hating Game by Sally Thorne, Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey, and Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia.

The books I most love to read aloud to my fifth graders are: Holes by Louis Sachar, The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I love being able to sweep my students along with these stories and show them something new.

Most of my favorites are read every year.

What authors do you read regularly? Why?

I read several local indie authors and Black Rose authors because I want to support other new writers. As far as favorite authors elsewhere, I read everything by Susanna Kearsley, Kate Morton, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Emily Henry, Ali Hazelwood, Alix Harrow, Justin Cronin, V.E. Schwab, and Guy Gavriel Kay. They never disappoint.

If you were to have dinner with 5 individuals living or dead, who would they be and why?

Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters. I’d love to talk to him about synesthesia and music. Plus, he has the gift of storytelling and can hold a conversation with anyone.

Marc Marquez, my favorite MotoGP motorcycle racer. I’d love to talk to him about recovering from injury and racing.

Susanna Kearsley. I’ve met her several times at my favorite writing conference (SIWC) and done blue pencil sessions with her, but I’d love to sit and chat about books and movies.

Queen Elizabeth II. Strange as it sounds, I kind of miss her. Until recently, she was the Queen for my entire life and, as a Canadian, we have strong ties to Britain. I’d like to talk to her about all the changes in the world throughout her lifetime. Her perspective would probably be very similar to in some ways and very different from that of my 96-year-old grandmother who grew up on a ranch in Wyoming.

My husband Rob Gibson, because without him around, I probably wouldn’t have the courage to be myself and actually talk to these others.

What is your writing routine? When you write, do you plan or outline ahead or are you a “pantser”?

I make a rough plan, often using a calendar or a map to have a guide of when and where for my story. Then I make main characters, usually 2-5 of them. Of the ten books I’ve written, only one has a single point of view. Once I feel like I know them a little, I start writing. I try to do at least one writing related activity every day, which can include beta reading/critiquing, editing/revising, writing, a workshop or podcast, or promotional work. I keep track of the time spent on each activity with a check mark, marking time in one-hour increments with a different color of pen. I find a checklist like this helps me feel productive.

As mentioned above, despite my plan, a lot of my story is discovered as I write and learn about my characters.

When writing, how much do you read? Do you read in or out of your genre?

I read every day. Sometimes it’s only for forty minutes at night. Other times, I have to ration my reading time to ensure I have time for other things. For example, when I am not teaching, I often let myself read for the morning and write for the afternoon. Of course, I try to be aware that I also need to spend time with my family and allot time for going for walks and eating. I can even be forced to be social and enjoy playing mah-jong with friends.

For over thirty years, fantasy with a smattering of sci-fi accounted for ninety percent of my reading. Good books of any genre could always be worked in too. The last few years, I have been partial to reading romances and quick, predictable stories. This might be so they don’t compete with space in my brain for my own stories. It also might be because if I’m reading things that are wonderful, that’s all I want to do, day and night, which means less time for writing.

Is there something you set out to do, but somehow, it didn’t work out for you? (In writing, or something else you felt was important to you at the time?)

I tried very hard to get a literary agent. I queried my first four stories after my practice book for 3 years continuously, starting in 2020. I had some interest, but nobody offered representation. Some of the more interested agents told me they weren’t sure where they’d put my stories in the bookstore—a common problem with writing multi-genre books. One of my critique partners suggested I might want to try a small publisher that wouldn’t need an agented submission. I pivoted, submitting to Black Rose Writing, where I was soon offered a contract for what was my newest story, The Edge of Life: Love and Survival During the Apocalypse.

What tips would you give to new or even experienced writers?

What I’ve learned the most from is attending workshops, critiquing other writers, and continuing to read and write every day possible. The more you practice, the better you get. Keep working.

How did you “teach” yourself to write or did it just come naturally? What lessons would you pass on to others?

 Other than from writing itself, I learned the most about writing from reading. That

 includes the reading I’ve done my entire life, but also for the last six or seven years. I’ve changed how I read to pay attention to writers I like and what they do.

How do you handle a negative critique?

That depends on who you ask (laughing).

Honestly, it isn’t always the same. Sometimes I’ve gotten angry or upset initially. I do my best (after I’m done with the tears) to step back and look at why the person didn’t like what I wrote. Even when they’ve hurt my feelings or I think they’ve been too harsh, I can almost always improve my writing.

I don’t like everything I read, so why should everyone like what I wrote? We all have different tastes and different ideas, so I have to respect that. A friend (who was reading The Wish at the time) said that I’d done my job by writing the best story I could at the time and then I’d put it out into the world. Others would make of it what they would.

Is there a type of writing/genre that you find difficult to write? Why?

I find it hard to stick to one genre when I write because I just see story most of the time, not genre. I find reading literary fiction very difficult and don’t think I could write one. I also seldom enjoy short stories and can’t write them. I have too much to say to be contained by something as short as a few thousand words.

How important are the elements of character, setting, and atmosphere to a story, and why?

For me, characters are the most important part of a story. If I don’t like the characters of a story, or admire them, or think they are interesting in some way, I can’t be bothered with reading about them. In short, I have to care in order to read. Setting and how the characters interact with it is also important. I’m not sure I understand atmosphere, so I’d say I spend the list time worrying about it.

Do you see yourself in any of the characters you create? How/Why?

Many of my main characters have aspects of myself. None of them are me, but they are like bits of me. I also steal events from my life to give them stories and backstories. I mine my life deeply for these experiences.

Of all the characters I’ve written, probably Elizabeth in The Wish is the most like me. She’s the only character that is the lone point of view character in her book, and it’s the only book I’ve written in the first person. If people don’t like Elizabeth, they won’t like me either.

Is there an unforgettable or memorable character that will not leave your head, either of your own creation or from a book you’ve read?

The scene I’ve written that sticks with me the most and that I get the most comments about is from The Edge of Life: Love and Survival During the Apocalypse. My female main character is hiding in a drainage culvert. I had a lot of fun making it terrifying and horrible.

From other books, there are too many scenes that stand out. I smashed that slate on Gilbert Blythe’s head; Gollum ripped my finger off and slipped into Mount Doom; I volunteered as a tribute to save my sister; Old Dan and Little Ann jumped in front of a mountain lion to save me in the Ozarks; and I’ve had my heart broken a hundred times by a hundred different people.

Tell us about your most recent book. How did you come up with the concept? How did you come up with the title? From your book, who is your favorite character? Who is your least favorite character? Why?

My most recently published book is Switching Tracks: Out of the Trash.

My original ideas came from three primary sources that I combined. I didn’t consciously decide to do this, but that’s what my brain does. I make connections between things that might not otherwise be related. The first was a picture book I read to my class called Ada’s Violin about the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay. The members have instruments literally made from the giant landfill near their home. I also read an article online about Svalbard Global Seed Vault and the seed bunkers scattered throughout the US. The third source was my grandfather’s stories of riding the rails during the Great Depression, also known as train hopping. My story is a dystopian train-hopping adventure, the first in a trilogy.

The main character starts in 2195 Southern California, where she scavenges trash from the landfill to make a living. She finds a cannister containing maps and a key to the seed bunkers. The title comes from both the literal part of switching from one railroad track to another and the more abstract idea of changing the path of your life.

My favorite character in Switching Tracks is Elsa. She’s lived a sheltered life in Southern California in the generational work camp where she was born, but thanks to her granny, a feisty former rebel leader, she dreams of a better life.

My least favorite character is Jaxon, her brother-in-law, because despite being married to Elsa’s sister, he is one of the principal antagonists of the story. He knows the kind of life she wants to escape and is part of the corporation that enslaves people for profit.

I hope you enjoyed this interview as much as I did. As I wrote in my introduction, Lena gives insight into another way of crafting a story. And, if you enjoyed this interview, you can check out many other author interviews on my website located at www.jrlewisauthor.com under the author blog tab. You will also find writing tips and snippets of my work.

I’d love to know your thoughts, so please use the contact form below. As always, thank you for following along on my writing journey. Until next time …

Author Media Contact Information:

Website: https://lenagibsonauthor.wpcomstaging.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Buffy15

Email: lena.gibson15@gmail.com

Book links:

Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/ywazkzfe

Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/yf6cpxbk