Interview With Author Paula R. Hilton
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up on a farm in rural Pennsylvania and have been married to my high school sweetheart for 29 years. I’ve published a Young Adult novel, Little Miss Chaos, and a book of poems. I’ve baled hay, bottle fed baby lambs, had two beautiful children and been to Paris. It’s a good life.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
At Any Given Second is a collection of poems written between 1990 and 2020. The title and concept of the book was inspired by this Howard Bloom quote: “Almost every reality you ‘know’ at any given second is a mere ghost held in memory.”
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I read my work out loud while I write. I’m pretty sure my dogs, Wicket and Winston, think I’m insane.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Louisa May Alcott, C. S. Lewis, Neil Gaiman, Judy Blume, Lynn Skapyak Harlin, Mary Oliver, Stephen King, Amy Tan, Belle Waring, Sandra Cisneros, Nancy Zafris, Maya Angelou, Lewis Nordan, Thornton Wilder, F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald…. The list goes on and on. A book I recommend to everyone is Poetry Will Save Your Life by Jill Bialosky.
What are you working on now?
A collection of short stories called Nest that explores each character’s home life. Some nests are cozy. Some are not.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve found a supportive community of readers and writers on Instagram. It’s my favorite place to share my poems and to discover and be inspired by the work of new authors.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Please keep writing. Your words and perspective are important. Also, find an editor who isn’t a cheerleader, You need someone who cares enough to tell you the truth. My editor and friend, Lynn Skapyak Harlin, is a gift to me.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Create every day.” –Dan Blank. Even on a day when you have only ten minutes, if you treat writing as a habit as important as brushing your teeth, your body of work will grow faster than you ever thought possible.
What are you reading now?
The Perfume Burned His Eyes by Michael Imperioli.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m currently working on a short story set in Tennessee called “The Purple House.”
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?
If I’m stranded on a desert island, I need to laugh, so I’ll bring The Portable Dorothy Parker. I’d also want to escape back to my childhood, so I’ll add Little Women and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to the mix. For my 4th book, I’m always working to improve as a writer, so I’ll pack Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones.
Author Websites and Profiles
Paula R. Hilton Amazon Profile
Paula R. Hilton’s Social Media Links