LaToya: Hi
Sylvia, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about
yourself and your background?
Sylvia: Born and raised in Detroit, I
am a happily divorced mother of three children. I’ve been writing since I was
six and I stepped out to the Indie Book Market in 2000. In that same year, I
also started my online /offline writing and reading network, MotownWriters.com,
which helps writers to their literary goal and connect readers to Michigan
authors.
LaToya:
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
Sylvia: To just write stories that
millions of readers wouldn’t find anywhere else and have the reader walk away
with the lesson, be careful what you wish for and there is love out there for
everyone.
LaToya:
Which writers inspire you?
Sylvia:
My shero of all time is Beverly Jenkins. Others that gave me inspiration is
Johanna Lindsey, Virginia Henley and Octavia Butler.
LaToya:
What are you working on at the minute?
Sylvia:
I’m currently working on a blogged story on my site, Three Ways To Pleasure and
coming up in October, I’ll be doing a blogged book called The Murderer’s Lover.
LaToya:
What genre are your books and why?
Sylvia:
They are categorized in Suspense and Romance. Why? Because I like to kill
people and hide a lot of things, but in the end I like a good love story. A
better name would be Sensual Noir, but that’s just my opinion.
LaToya:
In 10 words or less can you create a quote that describes you and your writing?
Sylvia:
What’s Zane and James Patterson mixed together? Sylvia Hubbard
LaToya:
When did you decide to become a writer?
Sylvia:
According to my mother, I’ve been a writer since I was six when I used to lie
to her and after my butt whooping she would make me write my lie down. I saw
that writing the “story” down was so much better than telling it, I began to
write more of my “tall tales” in journals and in notebooks. When I was
seventeen, I skipped school to go out to a free woman’s expo and I saw Beverly
Jenkins surrounded by her books. I spoke with her for an hour and when I walked
away, I knew then I wanted to be a writer.
LaToya:
Do you write full-time or part-time?
Sylvia:
It
feels like full time, but I actually write part-time. I’ve produced over 35
books in fifteen years and I have about seven more to come in this year alone.
LaToya:
Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?
Sylvia:
I don’t have a special time to write.
Due to a 40 hour a week mind draining job, a single mom of three and head of my
household, plus running an organization, marketing for myself and others, I
rarely have a moment of sleep, so I get in where I fit in to my writing
schedule. I keep paper pencils, pens, and even a Bluetooth keyboard in my purse
to attach to my phone so I have no excuse not to write.
LaToya:
Do you aim for a set amount of words/pages per day?
Sylvia:
I try to write at least 2500 to 10,000
words a day.
LaToya:
Where do your ideas come from?
Sylvia:
EVERYWHERE!
I Literally suck up life and mold it around a story. I’m a virgo so I remember
details – lots of details and I love to put those characteristics, situations
into my story weaving these elements around each other to bring out the best or
the worst.
LaToya:
Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes
you?
Sylvia:
I’m an insane pantser. I hate to outline
unless I have a story that has to do with a time table and I want to get it
right for me and the readers.
LaToya:
How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?
Sylvia:
I’m
always a work in progress and I still get scared every time I start a story;
even after 35 books, but I believe I’ve evolved into a great writing machine.
LaToya:
What is the hardest thing about writing?
Sylvia:
Finishing.
LaToya:
What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?
Sylvia:
Justifying lust. I know that sounds weird,
but there was a lot of lust going on in this book and I wanted my main
character to come out smelling like a rose. Whew!
LaToya:
What is the easiest thing about writing?
Sylvia:
The setting. Most times it’s in Detroit
and it’s a city I love and know so well.
LaToya:
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
Sylvia:
About three to four months when I put my
butt in a chair and write daily.
LaToya:
Where can you see yourself in 5 years’ time?
Sylvia:
At least doing web series or even
getting that sweet publishing deal that works for me, and not for them.
LaToya:
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Sylvia:
Don’t stop, no matter what life throws
at you.
LaToya:
Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?
Sylvia:
Mary Magdalene. I think her story really
needs to be put out in the open so people can stop bad mouthing her.
LaToya:
If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been
and why?
Sylvia:
Pride and Prejudice. To know I wrote the ultimate guide to How to Write a great
love story would be an honor.
LaToya:
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Sylvia:
Your
mess is your message. Put it out there and don’t worry about other people
judging you.
Connect with Sylvia:
Website: www.SylviaHubbardcom
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sylviahubbard
Twitter: www.twitter.com/sylviahubbard1
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/sylviahubbard1
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sylviahubbard.com
Periscope: www.periscope.tv/sylviahubbard1
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/sylviahubbard
Smashwords: www.bit.ly/smashhub
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/sylviahubbard
Purchase Links
www.sylviahubbard.com/fictionbooks
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