What’s your
name, and where are you from?
Lora Rose Rivera (the middle
name is my grandmother's). I was born in Camden, New Jersey, but was raised and
spent most of my life in Daytona Beach, FL. Living there isn't nearly as cool
as visiting (or Spring Breaking), btw.
How long
have you been writing?
All my life. My aunt who
lived in Miami would send me these snail mail coupons: "One 100-word story
about your weekend entitles you to your Beanie Baby of choice, to be redeemed
by the end of the month." Are you kidding?? Sign me up STAT! I'll tell you
all about my lame weekend :D
What
genre(s) do you write?
I write Middle Grade and YA
fantasy and sci-fi. Also, adult literary fiction.
What’s your
current WIP? Can you tell us about it?
My WIP's being
all persnickety with me, genre-wise, but I'll do my best. So it's YA
urban fantasy (that reads more like a literary sword & sorcery) with a
splash of Gothic ghosties… Um. Yeah.
What’s your
current day job? How does it help or hinder your writing?
I'm thrilled my day job is
with Aviva Children's Services in Tucson, Arizona, where I write Life Books for
kids in foster care. Life Books are scrapbook biographies, telling a child's
story from the beginning to their present circumstance, and involve a lot of
research and compassion.
I do expend a lot of creative
energy writing these books that could otherwise be injected into my writing. On
the other hand, the process is personally fulfilling and is also stimulating,
creatively and intellectually… I think it's a great trade-off.
Who is your
favorite author?
I adore Orson Scott Card,
Ursula K. Le Guin, Neil Gaiman, Brandon Sanderson, C. S. Lewis (childhood
fave), J. K. Rowling, Michael Ondaatje, Erin Bow, Barbara Kingsolver…
Favorite
book?
I don't have one. Just can't.
What other
hobbies or activities do you do outside of writing?
Love eating! Hehe. But
seriously, trying new locally-owned, eclectic restaurants; baking/cooking
awesome new recipes, especially muffins and cupcakes :) Also, hiking, running.
I love meeting new people.
What is
something unique about yourself?
I have an Orion's belt of
freckles on my right leg. The freckles are only off by 1 degree—I know: I
printed a protractor and checked!
Do you have
a blog, Twitter, and/or Web site we can link to?
Find me on:
Twitter: twitter.com/lroseriver
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lroseriver
An urban fantasy sword and sorcery sounds fun. Also the Orion's belt of freckles is maybe a sign that you're supposed to write the next great space opera.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be opposed to that one bit.
DeleteYou printed off a protractor to check? hhahhaha! That's fabulous. I love your day job too. That's a winner all the way around. Keep going, Lora!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview series, Charlie. =)
Thanks for hosting this interview, Charlie. Just so you know, the WIP's genre is STILL kicking my butt!!
ReplyDeleteI have every confidence that you will tame the monster ;)
DeleteI love the interview. I bet her MG is awesome. I'm horrid at it. I'm also insanely jealous of her day job. Gah, I would kill for a cooler job like that.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview, Charlie! And when are you moving? So sad.
Moving in early August!
DeleteHaha! Yea, I have a hobby of eating, too ;)
ReplyDelete