Vicki Ann Bush, Author of The Garden of Two

Your novel, The Garden of Two, published with Solstice. How did you discover Solstice Publishing?

Searching publishers that accept unsolicited manuscripts on the internet.

Where did your inspiration come from for this book?

It is based on the man I fell in love with at the age of sixteen, was married to for over thirty years and the garden in our backyard.

Was there a character that just had to be heard? Yes, Lillie. She shares many of the same emotions that I did as a young girl.

Was there an event that inspired you to start writing? When I was thirteen, there was a city wide contest for creating and writing a book. From binding to pages to story. I fell in love with the process and was hooked.

Does your background (in terms of job, family, geographic location, etc.) play into your writing? What kind of research went into your story?

My family, friends, town—they all play into my stories. They are all in some way, a part of each character.

Since the story takes place during World War I, I watched many documentaries, read stories and articles about the war and the soldiers. In addition, I researched the terrain and the neighborhood for Long Island, N.Y. In 1916.

Describe the genres in which you write (paranormal, contemporary, westerns, etc.) If write in more than one genre or area (poetry, non-fiction), do you have a different process when you’re writing different kinds of fiction or non-fiction?

I tend to lean toward the paranormal, although The Garden of Two, is not paranormal at all. They seem to have all have one common thread—romance. Whether it’s the focus or an underlining tone to the surface story, they all have romance in common. As for the process, no. I write each story as it flows. If there are facts to check, I do so. But the rest is just putting it down as it happens in my thoughts.

What is your mind set or process as you sit down to write?

I always begin with a title and then go from there. I never know where I’m going, until the characters tell me.

Do you have a playlist going? Sometimes I do. With The Garden of Two, I played the song Viva La Vida by Cold Play, over and over. And with the sci-fi I just finished, it was the soundtrack from, Thirty Seconds to Mars.

Do you need complete silence? Once in a while. If I’m writing at night I like it quiet.

Are you a 6 am writer or an 11 pm writer? Whenever I can get the time, but mostly in the early am.

How do you balance writing with work and/or personal life?

I only work part time, my kids are grown, so scheduling lunches, dinners, etc. around my writing is fairly easy. But keeping my head in the game when life is going on around me takes discipline at times. I love to write, don’t love to edit. So I must give my self time to do what is necessary.

Do you have any other projects you’re working on?

Yes. As I stated earlier, I just finished a sci-fi with a romantic under tone. It takes place in Las Vegas and at state line in Nevada—The View from Room 629 and promotion for my last release, The Dusk Chronicles and the upcoming release of The Garden of Two.