Just Heard, Just Read, Just Seen

Some weeks, a girl just gets lucky. This week is one of those weeks with Just Heard, Just Read, Just Seen able to post an interview with yet another great Indie writer. It’s a fantastic time to be reading (and writing) with so many great stories out there.

So with no further ado, let’s meet the fabulous Sylvia Hubbard, author of Hope is Love:

Just Heard, Just Read, Just Seen (JH, JR, JS): First of all, thanks for talking to Just Heard, Just Read, Just Seen. Can you tell us a little about Hope is Love, without giving away too many spoilers and what inspired you to write it?

Sylvia Hubbard (SH):Hope Is Love was inspired originally by a true to life character i actually met in life. From this character, derived a very different character “Jona.” The street life was all she knew and refused to live a “normal” existence. She used to say, I’d rather live a life where I can see the evil before the evil sees me. I found this philosophy very intriguing and really wanted to create someone the readers could really relate too and understand why this individual choose a life living on the street as opposed to living normally. For the male protagonist, I find men who are mean or evil so darn attractive. James Black was a character from Love Like This that everyone hated. My challenge as a writer was to find a way to endear the reader to a man like James. Through in steamy love scenes, an attempted murder and the plot really thickens

JH, JR, JS: Which character do you like the most? Why?

SH: I must say it was James and seeing his gradual transformation with Jona’s help. Through the whole book, their love story proved that you should never judge a book by it’s cover.

JH, JR, JS: When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

SH: According to my mother, I’ve been a writer since she made it her mission to stop me from lying to her at six. When I would tell her a lie, after punishment, I would have to write my lie down. I found that the lie looked so much better on paper than it did saying it, so my pain became my passion.

Now I love to write stories down, but I can’t lie verbally as much anymore. (Probably why I don’t have a lot of “close” friends. LOL)

JH, JR, JS: Who or what has inspired you?

SH: Well, of course, initially it was my mother, but when I decided to be an author, I have to say it’s always been my children. I didn’t want to be hypocritical when I told them in order to be happy they needed to follow their dreams. It’s always been my dream to be a published author and I needed to follow my dreams in order to tell them to follow their own.

JH, JR, JS: What books have most influenced your life most?

SH: Almost any book I have to say. I’ve been an avid reader even beofre I was a writer. I would say my mother gave me the benefit of studying the classics before I read current literature and that’s why I believe I do have a unique storytelling method and “old style” plot set up.

JH, JR, JS: What book are you reading now?

SH: I just finished 30 Day Notice by Kai Mann and now I’m reading The 50 Shades of Gray.

JH, JR, JS: Are there any new authors who currently interest you?

SH: Of course there’s E L James and new favorite Monica Marie Jones. There are so many authors popping these days, I’ve been a little bit overwhelmed. Oh yeah, there’s Sean H Robertson as well.

JH, JR, JS: Do you have any little ‘things’ you do or traditions you follow when you write?

SH: Oddly yes.

1) If I’m writing in a notebook, I have a superstition about writing in the front of the notebook. I have to start at least ten pages and I refuse to write on those sheets no matter what.

2) When I’m typing at story, I must sit at a computer. I get the most work down when i’m sitting at a desk with my feet under the desk (firmly planted on the ground), back straight and looking at the screen. I must have a movie playing I’ve already seen before for distraction and in one of my ears I have a playlist of music going that I have to listen to. I know that sounds crazy and chaotic, but I work so well like that.

JH, JR, JS: Where do you write? Do you have a dedicated space, a particular office or piece of machinery?

SH: I don’t have a dedicated space. I’m so proud though that I did build a small desk on my own from Ikea furniture that combines my make up stand and work space right by my bed. Small enough not to overwhelm my room and big enough to accommodate my laptop and all my make up too. I can work on a computer or a laptop, but the screen must be larger than fifteen inches to really pour work out of me. A friend of mine just gave me a 22 inch monitor and I’m in heaven.

JH, JR, JS: Do you ever write longhand?

SH: Whenever I can when I’m not around electricity. I have no problem with longhand. When I’m writing in longhand, I must use gel pens because it feels so good to my hand.

JH, JR, JS: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in Hope is Love?

SH: Nope. James and Jona’s love story is so unique I knew I could not make anything between two very diverse people any more perfect. (Well, maybe another hot steamy love scene, but I didn’t want to overwhelm anyone.)

JH, JR, JS: What do you love most about writing?

SH: The joy when readers come back to me and say “That was so good” or “I loved it.” I’m always tickled to death that people like to read what I write because I only write what I like to read.

Find Sylvia Hubbard online:

Visit Sylvia Hubbard’s website

Visit Sylvia Hubbard’s blog 

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