Author Interview - Terry Hooker

Terry Hooker is a jersey girl from the shore turned Florida farm girl. She has way to much
education, but loves the idea of getting more. Terry is a best selling author who generally writes paranormal or fantasy stories with a hint of historical fiction. Before she wrote fiction Terry wrote academic papers which she presented all over the United States. She has also published in magazines and academic journals. Terry lives on her farm with her husband, two kids, and a plethora of animals.

---

1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I always wanted to be a writer but honestly didn’t think I could be. It never occurred to
me that other people don’t have stories in their heads. When the pandemic hit, my
business pretty much went under, I am not good without having something to do even
though we were OK with my husband working. I started submitting articles and one of
them got accepted. My sister then suggested that I look into a few small publishing
companies and submit some stories.

2. How long does it take you to write a book?
It depends on the length of the book and what I have going on in my outside life. If I
want to I could write a novella a month, but usually it takes about three months for a first
draft.

3. What is your writing process like? Are you more of a plotter or a pantser?
I start with a rough idea, usually I get images of different scenes throughout the story,
sometimes the end sometimes the middle, rarely the beginning. Then I just let the story
tell itself.

4. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
I am a sprinter not a marathoner. I set a word goal, 300-1000, write it, get up and do
some chores, set another goal and repeat the process.

5. What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I sit on the couch with paranormal TV shows on, headphones so I can’t hear the TV show,
and always have a snack.

6. What do the words “writer’s block” mean to you?
Time to clean the rabbit barn, usually the monotonous work and the fluffy bunnies help
me work through the block

7. What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?
LOL, I write in the middle of the living room with the TV on and music. I have two
teenagers who are constantly singing, playing instruments, making food, or bringing in
random animals. Focus is not my strong suit.

8. If you were to write a spin-off about a side character, which would you pick?
Crow from Coyote the Imposter. That would be a fun story to write!

9. If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose?
Andra Dill, all day.

10. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
The ideas just show up, I can’t explain it. The information comes from research, I have a
masters degree in library science and have contacts within a few universities so I have
access to a lot of different search engines that help with the historical research.

11. How do you develop your plot and characters?
Mostly I wing it, the stories tell themselves inside my head, I see the characters before I
write them. I know where I want each plot and each character to go, I just have to make
it work.

12. Do you play music while you write — and, if so, what’s your favorite?
Always. It depends on the story. I create playlists for each story as I go, if I am writing
non fiction I listen to reggae.

13. What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I live on a small farm, so I am usually working around the animals. I love to watch
paranormal and true crime TV shows. I walk a lot with podcasts

14. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
I learned that people liked my way of storytelling, again I thought everyone had stories in
their heads. It never occurred to me that people don’t have characters and plots floating
in their brains everyday.

15. How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
I have written two full novellas, three stories for anthologies, and a few flash fictions. I
have to say I love Darkness and Dawn and Clio and the Missing God. Both of the female
leads in these have elements of my daughter, so I love each one.

16. What do you think makes a good story?
A great character, a good plot, not to much sex, and a great connection whether love or
friendship

17. What advice would you give to help others create plotlines?
Just write. You can go back and correct it later, get the story out and read it to someone
you trust. If you’re like me you think its awful until others hear it and like it.

18. Whom do you trust for objective and constructive criticism of your work?
My daughter, Andra Dill, and my ex husband. lol

19. What are you working on now?
I am working on a short story based on Peter Pan. I am struggling a bit due to the fact I
have two novellas due next year that I am chomping at the bit to get writing, but my brain
can only do one story at a time.

20. As a writer, what would you choose as your spirit animal?
A cat. I have 8 so there is usually a few sleeping with me as I write