Recently, the prolific author,
P.C. Zick was our guest on Writer’s Night Out. She agreed to an interview for
our Netwest Writers site. Thank you so much, Pat, for this interview. We know
you are a busy person and our readers will learn that, too, when they read this
post.
GCB: Your bio says you have a home in Tallahassee, Florida.
Are you from Florida originally?
PCZ: Anyone who hears me speak can
tell after about five seconds that I was not raised in the south because I’ve
never lost my Michigan nasal twang. I was born and raised in a small Michigan
town but moved to north Florida forty years ago.
GCB: You have a series of books set in Florida. Will you tell
us about them?
PCZ: I have three books in my
Florida Fiction series. They are a series because they address the same themes
about Florida’s environment, wildlife (both human and animal), and impacts of
development upon the landscape. Setting plays a huge role in all my novels as I
use it to move plot, set mood, and characterize the folks populating the
fiction. All three books contain elements of my life as a journalist, feature
writer, and public relations director for Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
as I used research done for assignments as the seed for the plots in these
novels.
GCB: When did you begin spending your summers here in Western
NC? Why did you choose this area? Which books did you write that are inspired
by this region?
PCZ: We bought our cabin in 2015 in
the Peachtree area outside Murphy, NC. Around the same time, I was under
obligation to write a Christmas romance for a multi-author boxset. I hadn’t
chosen a setting yet, but when I sat on my front porch overlooking the
surrounding mountains, setting chose me. I loved the community of people I
created for that book so much I continued to write three more sweet romances
set in the fictional town of Laurel, NC, in western NC. These four books make
up my Smoky Mountain Romance series.
GCB: Have you always been a writer or wanted to be a writer,
or did you come to writing later in life?
PCZ: A little bit of both. I’ve
always wanted to be a writer, but I wasn’t able to admit it to anyone until my
late forties when my first book was published.
GCB: You wear many writerly hats, Pat. You write and publish
in many genres. Do you recommend writers be more diverse in their writing? What
are the advantages?
PCZ: I believe it’s a personal
decision, neither right nor wrong. For me, I diversify to keep me from being
bored. Other authors have great success with either keeping to one genre,
writing to market, or using different pen names for each genre. It’s more
difficult to create a “brand” for marketing when writing such diversified
books.
GCB: You have
published romantic fiction, contemporary fiction, and creative nonfiction as
well as short stories, articles, columns, and essays. You are a busy writer. Do you ever feel you
have to take a break from writing? If so, what do you do with your time?
PCZ: My writing takes a break from
me at times, but I do not adhere to the concept of “writer’s block.” If I’m on
deadline, I force myself to write using various techniques such as leaving my
routine and writing space to do something different. When not on deadline and
writing not coming easily, I read voraciously, watch movies, and even some
reality TV. But I’m still a writer as I read, watch, and listen carefully for
dialogue, plot devices, and literary techniques. It’s all prewriting!
GCB: You also are known for helping other writers. In what
ways do you pass on your knowledge about writing?
PCZ: So many people from teachers
to editors to other writers have assisted me along the way in my career that I
feel I have a responsibility to help others. I encourage others to contact me
via my website, email, Facebook, Twitter, or phone. I meet folks for coffee or
talk on the phone and answer questions. I also have an editing business and
help beginning writers take a rough draft through to publication.
That’s why when COVID hit, I
decided to pull together all my knowledge on writing and publishing into one
reference book, The Author’s Journey: A Road Map for Writers – From Draft
to Published Book. It can be used by beginning writers and more
experienced writers both as a handy reference. If I don’t answer the question,
I provide an extensive bibliography for further information.
GCB: That is a wonderful book for any writer, but especially
new writers. I recommend it to my students.
GCB: We always want to know the writer’s method of writing
and publishing. Do you have certain times of day you write? Do you write every
day?
PCZ: When I’m in the throes of
writing a novel, I write every day after I clear my desk of emails and social
media marketing. Even if I only spend a few minutes on the book, I consider it
something. It might be research or tweaking what I wrote the day before, but I
feel it’s crucial to keep at it, so time isn’t wasted going back and trying to
remember what has happened previously. I consider everything I put to paper a
form of writing, so in that way, I’m constantly stretching and practicing my
craft. I even handwrite cards I send via snail mail to cheer folks or share
news in a creative way.
GCB: Where are your books sold, Pat? Can we find them
locally or where can we order them?
PCZ: My books are all available on
Amazon in both eBook and paperback. Some are available for wider distribution
with other major online retailers. Also, most of my books are now available on
Audible. Folks can search “PC Zick” on Amazon and other retailers. Just click
on my name and it takes you to my retail page. Also, visit pczick.com and all my books and their
purchase sites are listed along with access to my editing website, The Manuscript Doctor.
GCB: Thank you so much for being with us, Pat. We always
enjoy learning more about our members of NCWN-West and we look forward to
hearing more from you on Mountain Wordsmiths with Carroll Taylor, Thursday,
June 24.
PCZ: Thank you, Glenda. Your
support of local writers is greatly appreciated. I’m looking forward to
Mountain Wordsmiths on June 24 where I will read from my current work in
progress, The Grateful Fates.
