When all is said and done, I look at this novel and smile, for I truly am proud of what it has become, and the riveting story it tells.

Rusty Blackwood – 21 January 2016

The Back Flap

The path each person walks is entirely their own.

The pitfalls along that path, as well as the way in which they are dealt with are entirely up to the individual. But Willow Sutherland Crosby walks a far-different path, and with her own agenda.

Abuse, deception, intrigue, and a never ending quest for happiness and love – will she find these, or will her blind determination be her downfall?

The 5-star romantic fiction drama, Willow’s Walk, is a gripping new tale, certain to hold readers captive from the very first page. Set in the beautiful city of Ottawa, Canada in 2003, this touching story centers on the life and times of a woman determined to prevail at all costs, regardless of what is set before her, the result of which is certain to leave the reader reeling in its wake.

About the book

What is the book about?

The romantic fiction drama, 5-star award winning Willow’s Walk is a 490 page trade paperback, published by Create Space Publishing Platform. This riveting story centers on the life and times of Willow Sutherland-Crosby, a head-strong, middle-aged woman on an endless quest to find love and acceptance, who is determined to walk her own path and with her own agenda, which often gets her into more trouble than she is capable of handling, the culmination of which will leave the reader reeling in its wake. Set in the beautiful city of Ottawa, Canada in 2003, Willow’s Walk is not only a page turner, but an intriguing tale the reader won’t soon forget.

When did you start writing the book?

I began the book in 2005, but because of personal setbacks it got shoved on the back-burner – at times totally shelved with the intent of not finishing it at all – but through determination to not leave a started piece unfinished; it finally came to fruition in the late summer of 2015. It originally began under the title Net of Lies with entirely different story content, but as time lapsed I chose to not only redirect the story-line, but to choose an entirely different aspect as well as title.

Where did you get the idea from?

As with a lot of my work, I drew ideas and guidelines from things I have experienced firsthand, and after somewhat embellishing them, incorporated them into a fictitious story.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Yes, very much so. As I said in answer to the second question, there were times when I felt like abandoning the project altogether, but I’m not one to turn away from a challenge, or leave a novel unfinished. Some parts came easier than others, but they too got a bit sidelined if my recall was off, or my emotions not in sync with what was in my head at the time of writing them. I have stated many times that when I write I draw from my emotions and the way I perceive what I’m writing, and that is not always an easy task, or as simple as one might think. I have to feel what I write, otherwise it’s simply padding word count in order to fill a page and that, in my opinion, is neither writing nor creating something worth continuing with.

What came easily?

I believe the answer to this question would simply be the message I was trying to get across. Some fiction is written as purely that, whereas some can contain a message or something that the author is trying to state by what they write. This in itself could be questioned, because not everyone would perceive things in the same way as someone else might, but it’s my hope that the content in Willow’s Walk will help to define that what happened to her need not have happened at all, or to anyone who might find themselves in a similar situation.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

I think any author when creating a character – myself included – borrow from people they know or have met, and sometimes they are total fabrications or inventions derived from imagination. You might even find different aspects of several people in one character, possibly personality traits, possibly characteristics, the way a person presents themselves to others. There are many sides to inventing characters and one of the most difficult is keeping them three dimensional and believable. I love character creation; it’s my favorite part of putting a novel together, even more so than plot-line or story creation. I like to think I would enjoy meeting my characters, or at least remember them, not have them simply fade into the woodwork from lack of interest. It also depends on their use, and their required presence throughout the story. A main character must be able to hold your interest, where-as a secondary character may not be required to do this, at least to the extent of a main character, but even they should have interest and be able to be remembered by the reader.

 Do you have a target reader for this book?

I like to think that all readers are targets for my titles, but of course that is not the case as not all genres are the same, nor are an author’s reading public. My favorite genre to write is romantic fiction drama, and most of my novels have a contemporary flair, but because they are primarily dramatic romance, often with a touch of intrigue and suspense, my romance titles are geared more to women, probably ages thirty to possibly seventy five. But then again, it depends on a reader’s experience in life and what they would relate to in a story they are reading, and in this case Willow’s Walk would no doubt fall into that age group and gender, but I have had men read and enjoy my romantic fiction drama, Passions in Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary. So it’s anybody’s guess really, but whoever reads it, I hope they enjoy it and I’ve not one doubt they will.

How was writing this book different from what you’d experienced writing previous books?

Every piece of written work you attempt is different than anything previous. At least it should be, and in my case it is. There may be flavors or nuances that may compare to something I’ve previously written, but the entire story is different. As I stated earlier in this interview, the original concept of Willow was not what it became, and looking back I am glad it took a different route. I believe the end result far out-weighs the previous in more ways than I could state. One should never write a piece out of anger or resentment, for that is not – or at least should not be the basis for writing a book – any book. Though Willow’s Walk is a work of fiction certain areas borrow from my life – at least it reflects it in certain ways – and the reader is given a privileged opportunity to peer into it. This is not always easy to do, and in many cases require turning a blind eye while you open your soul to prying eyes, in this case, the reader. As a writer, all I can do is hope what I offer can be enjoyed, but mostly respected for revealing what many would never consent to expose.

What new things did you learn about writing, publishing, and/or yourself while writing and preparing this book for publication?

I feel anytime a writer undertakes a new piece, whether it is a short story, poem, or an entire novel, there is always something new to discover along the way, especially in the world of independent publishing. Requirements change, publishing platforms change, and you have to adhere to different guidelines that can change overnight. Nothing remains the same it seems. But then that is how things improve, hopefully. The main aspect I discovered while doing this novel was the extent of my determination to see it through. I began this novel in 2005, and it was not published and released until November of 2015. The novel suffered many setbacks, and I had to cope with personal issues in my life while I was writing it, but I was determined to see it through to the end. At the time I began this project I was still immersed in writing Passions in Paris, so in the beginning there was not a lot of free time for what was to become Willow’s Walk, but perseverance truly does pay off. The hardest to endure while finishing it and definitely most heart-breaking was the loss of my mother this past September. I had originally planned to release Willow in June of 2015, but through circumstances beyond anyone’s control that was not to be. So instead of a spring release, it released online in the fall, and is slated to be launched throughout the winter and spring of 2016. When all is said and done, I look at this novel and smile, for I truly am proud of what it has become, and the riveting story it tells.

I would very much like to take this opportunity to thank the Administrator of The Indie View for conducting this in-depth interview with me, as well as featuring, and promoting my newest release, Willow’s Walk. Popular, well-patronized online forums, like The Indie View, are invaluable to Indie authors, for without them, our voice would be greatly diminished. 

End of Interview:

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Get your copy of Willow’s Walk from Amazon US or Amazon UK.