What was the craziest thing you have ever done?
Weeeeell. . . Once upon a time I started dating this guy. We
had been friends for a while and he flew up from California to visit me in
Idaho. Our relationship immediately switched from friends to a whole lot more, and
when it was time for him to go home he said that we should date long distance
and see how it goes.
But, I knew what I wanted—and it did not involve long
distance dating. So me, being insane at the time, told him no. I told him I
knew what I wanted and he needed to figure it out. We could either get married
or not date at all; I wasn’t going to waste my time with long distance
nonsense. Yes, I really did—and it totally worked. Been married ten years to
the most amazing man I know. ;)
What impact does a bad review have on you?
In the beginning it was really hard. I would look back at my
writing and try to see what I could have done differently to make that person
happy. And then. . . I woke up. I realized that everyone was hating or loving
different things and whatever someone hated on Tuesday, someone else would love
on Wednesday. I can’t make everyone happy, and that is normal. If I get a
particularly stinging review I usually read back over my positive reviews. Then
I head over to Amazon, pick out one of my favorite books, and read one of their
nasty reviews. That always helps put it in perspective for me.
How would you describe your protagonist?
She is sensitive, can be emotional, but has a well of
strength within her.
What is your dream for yourself as an author?
I love doing this. I would like to bring in enough income
that it can be my only job. I think we should all get to do what we love.
Do you believe in love at first sight?
Yes and no. I believe in an initial and immediate draw at
first site. It happened to me. But love develops. However, those initial
feelings can still be powerful.
Do you have a favorite author? Why is he or she your
favorite author?
Gah! Most dreaded question ever. I am not a ‘favorites’ kind
of person, and I really don’t become obsessed with things. I don’t have a
favorite food, band, book, etc. I do however really enjoy Cinda Willams Chima
and Cassandra Clare, to name a couple.
What inspired you to write Wings of Arian?
Wings of Arian was inspired by our societies exposure to
things that would have made people horribly uncomfortable 100 years ago.
Murder, rape, sex—everything we see coming though our television on a day-to-day
basis. I wondered what it would be like to be exposed to all of this at once
instead of being slowly desensitized—how traumatizing that would be. Wings of
Arian is the story of a society who had known no evil for a thousand years and
what happens as it suddenly returns.
Do you have a favorite YA novel?
Oh no! Here we go again with the favorites. ;) No, I really
don’t. The Mortal Instrument series is up there though.
If you could have only one wish, what would it be?
My immediate response was, to be a successful author. I then
of course immediately felt guilt for not wishing for something nobler.
What was your most embarrassing moment in life?
Uh—I am not sure. I tend to block out particularly
traumatizing events. Truly—it’s kind of freaky. But here is a funny one: I met
my husband when I was twenty-two. He walked into a meeting we were both
attending with a bag of candy. I proceeded to ask him if he was going to share
his booty with me.
For those of
you completely at a loss as to why I would say that—I was thinking pirate’s
booty. I swear, I was!
He paused, slowly swiveled to look at me, (mind you, this
was the FIRST time we had ever met) and with a smirk says slyly, “I don’t think
you can say that to me.” I turned about fifteen shades of red stammering about
pirate’s booty while he grinned and walked to his seat.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
Europe, starting with Germany. My mom was adopted from there
and I have always wanted to go.
If you could go back in time and change something in your
past what would it be and why?
Nothing. Truly. There was a time where I wished I could. I
was horribly bullied in middle school. But one day I realized all of the traits
I truly loved about myself had been learned through one experience or another.
To go back and change them would change who I have become.
Now that you read criticisms about your work, do you wish
you could re-write it and start over or not and why?
Yes. There is
for SURE some work I would do on Wings of Arian. I just understand so much more
now. But, it is done and I will always be learning more so I can’t look back.
However, I am much happier with the next two in the series, Wings of Tavea and
Wings of Nestor.
Can readers expect more books from you in the future?
YES! Now that I have turned on the center in my brain that
has allowed me to do this I can’t shut it down. I turn into a lunatic if I
can’t write. Literally, I have paced around my house like a caged lion if I
don’t have something I am working on. It is kinda out of
control.
About the author
Devri Walls lives in Kuna ID with her
husband, two kids and one very bouncy lab. After suffering from an abundance of
creativity with not enough places to put it, she turned to writing. Which in
the end, turned out to be exactly where she should have been putting it all
along.
No comments:
Post a Comment