Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
As an attorney, I’ve written countless piles of documents that are best suited to putting you to sleep. As a novelist, though, Forbidden Woman is my first publication, released in 2020. I am currently working on two more books in this series and have outlined stories for two more books, which are not part of the series.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Forbidden Woman. I initially planned to write a book loosely based on my father, who became a 13 year old runaway when he discovered his brother had been murdered. He was also a career Army man and WWII and Korean War veteran. In short, his story alone would make a great adventure. But when I started writing, the story grew into a family saga spanning four generations, with Forbidden Woman telling the matriarch’s side of things.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Being an attorney (and engineer) taught me to REMOVE all emotion from my writing, but emotion is exactly what is needed for a novel, so, to draw myself in, I drink a glass of wine and spend time in the hot tub or bath tub visioning myself in the place of the character or scene I’m currently writing. Doing this helps me feel what the character feels, and once I feel it, I can write it.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve always been a fan of the old Russians, like Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy. I like to think that my writing tackles many of the societal problems that they address – but in a faster-paced story.
What are you working on now?
Running Bull is the second in the current trilogy. Running Bull tells the story of Russell, who is the grandson of the main character in Forbidden Woman.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Constantly talking about my work, whether that’s online or in person.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be persistent and keep your eye on the prize. And pay a LOT of attention to dialogue and editing. I’ve started many Indie books that have promise, but are so poorly edited that I can’t finish them. Most recently, I gave up on page 7 of a book because the author messed up his timeline.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Paraphrasing Neil Gaimon: You need to have a certain audacity to believe your story is one that must be told, but humble enough to accept the criticisms that come with it.
What are you reading now?
I’m currently researching a lot of articles about the Vietnam war, which takes a prominent role in Running Bull. It is important to really understand the nuances of those days.
What’s next for you as a writer?
The plan is to turn writing into a full-time job in 2027!
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Being stranded like that means I will need something that will entertain for years. As a result, even though I’m not religious, I would take the Bible and the Koran with me. These are collections of stories possibly told by unreliable characters, which I love. And the conflicting accounts of the same events make it even better. These books could entertain me for many years.
I would also take a dictionary so I could write my own epic work while stuck on an island, which would place me at risk of forgetting the difference between “complement” and “compliment”…
Author Websites and Profiles
Blair Bronwyn Website
Blair Bronwyn Amazon Profile
Blair Bronwyn’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account