At the beginning of this year, I had the privilege of being interviewed by blogger Andrea Huelsenbeck. She asked great questions, including ones which made me think in a new way about my book adventure. I enjoyed the process of sharing with her and the wider internet. Here, I wanted to share a couple of her questions and my answers.

What was the most difficult part of writing your book?

The most difficult part of writing my first book was the uncertainty of what to do with the story and when to do it. I actually had the idea and wrote the first draft years ago. After I took it to my writer’s support group for feedback, it sat, going nowhere, for years. (That is the purgatory where most of my stories and poems sit.)

What is the most fun part of writing your book?

The most fun part of writing and illustrating my book is just overall the adventure of it all. Some of the high points of the adventure are getting lost in the creative process, and learning of new (or previously unknown) helpful resources such as the Biteable app which eases the process of book trailer creation. I enjoy meeting new people at writers’ events or even on social media. It’s fun to encourage other writers and artists to find that spark within them and follow where it leads. And I love bringing my art and writing to the table in karate training, as well as bringing the most important lessons of traditional karate out into the world to help children, even those who may not train, improve their lives for now and for their futures. << End interview excerpt. >>

If you’d like to read the interview in its entirety, here’s the link. Andrea is a fellow teacher-at-heart, artist, writer and musician. You just might enjoy some of her other blogs on many other subjects as well.

-Jenifer Tull-Gauger