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An interview with Madison Scott author of Reba
Hello and welcome to 10 Quick Questions with Dave, I am your host Dave Tallman and chatting with me today is Madison Scott, author of Reba..
Me:
I’d like to say thank you Madison for agreeing to be interviewed. I like to begin interviews with a bit of background. So let’s start with a few questions about how you came to be such an accomplished writer as such an early age. When did you first find you had an affinity for writing?
Madison Scott:
When I was about nine, I think, I had this sudden urge to write a story. I don’t know where it came from, but I think it probably had something to do with listening to my mother read Anne of Green Gables to me. So I wrote a story. I find it quite…odd, now, but at the time I was so proud of that story. I enjoyed that like I had never enjoyed anything before, and since then I’ve continually been writing down my thoughts, the little plots that pop into my head when I’m trying to sleep, the characters that I meet, the way I think things should have happened, etc. There’s something calming about making this world where you’re in complete control of everything that happens.
When I was about fifteen, I started thinking, you know, I could do this!
And so, I did, much to my surprise.
Me:
I noted on your bio on the Authors Den that you were home schooled. How much influence do you feel that being home schooled had on your writing skills?
Madison:
My mother is of the belief that you’ll learn better if you teach yourself as much as possible. She taught me to read, then provided books, resources and any help I might need for my education.
If I was interested in it, she helped me find about it.
That’s how it went with my writing. I devoured English books, every one of them either of us could find on the subject. I wanted to know where that semi-colon went; I wanted the spelling to be right, I wanted people to be able to read what I wrote as I intended it to be read. So we found the books, and I read them. If I went a little past school time reading those English books that was fine. I wasn’t under any pressure to be like any other kid which I think probably helped me more than I realize even now.
There aren’t many thirteen-year-old girls out there that I know, anyway, that prefer reading and writing to almost anything else. Plus, I had the time to just write, and write anything that my little heart desired.
Me:
You have a Novel out now, what is it? And where can we find it?
Madison:
My first novel, Reba, is the story of a girl who is different from every other little girl around her, very much like I was (and still am, depending on whom you ask). Girls can be harsh creatures, and it is by no means easy to be that odd girl out.
Reba is about being happy to be that different girl, realizing what wonderful friends you can find among your own siblings, and doing your best not to care about what other people think as long as you and those you love are happy..
It can be found at Amazon.com, ordered at Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, or Hastings.
Me:
Is Reba a self publishing effort? And what do you think of self publishing in general?
Madison:
No, it is not. My publisher, PublishAmerica, did what I think is a fantastic job with my book, despite the very negative press that they have received very much of.
Self publishing is I think, revolutionizing the publishing trade. It is making it possible for all of those people who have dreamed for years of having their stories in print and being able to share them with their friends, families and people they scarcely know, able to realize their dreams. However, I don’t think it is for everyone.
I, for one, don’t have the drive to push and market all on my lonesome. For me, just the knowledge that I’ve got that publishing company behind me, expecting me to make good, helps tremendously.
Me:
Your novel Reba is a period piece, what area is the setting in? And how much research did you have to do in order to create that backdrop?
Madison:
The area is actually the west, circa 1880.. I had no idea how much research the book would entail when I started it. I was just trying to get these people out of my head so I could think of something else! As I was writing it, though, I would come across something that would raise a question and I’d go dig the answer out. I can’t count the number of times I put the book on hold to find out how things really happened.
Me:
Your main character comes from a large family, was it hard to create so many variations of siblings?
Madison:
It wasn’t really for me because I’ve got seven siblings myself, and as I wrote it, Reba’s siblings took on parts of the characters of my siblings. Her three sisters are almost identical in their behavior to my three sisters, and I think my brothers divided to fill the characters of Reba’s brothers, too. People have their little quirks, the little things they do that make them into them, but unless you’ve known a person for a very long time, you’re not going to know every one of those things. I unknowingly at the time incorporated that into the story, and I think it makes the characters more real. I don’t know off the top of my head what those characters would do in a given situation.
Me:
What strategies did you employ to manage your plot and track you characters? Do outline your chapters or utilize a Timeline approach?
Madison:
I tried everything.
Books I read about writing said that every good author outlines, so I tried that. Couldn’t make it work to save my life. When you’re fifteen, you can get discouraged easily and that had it sealed. I wasn’t supposed to be a writer. I couldn’t plot, I couldn’t outline. But those ideas just wouldn’t go away.
So finally I just sat down and wrote it, letting what would happen, happen. I did write down the names of the characters at first, how many years were between them, that sort of thing. Other than that, I let the story take me wherever it was going to. I had no idea what would happen next, and it was just as much of an adventure for me as it is (I hope) for those who read it.
Me:
Speaking of your family, how supportive have they been of your writing career?
Madison:
I don’t think they could be more supportive, at times I would have been grateful for a little constructive criticism! Now, though, I’m beginning to see that they are my support. I can get criticism from anyone, but not just anyone will show me that unconditional support that they do.
Me:
You have a sequel to “Reba” in the works, what is its title and can you give us a brief summary about it?
Madison:
“Chester-Shaw” is the sequel’s title, and it’s the story of Reba’s continuing life. She’s now married, with a son, and dealing with a whole new set of problems while still trying to retain that spirit and unwillingness to fit in that she possessed throughout her childhood.
Me:
I like to end with one common question, what’s next for you? Where do you see yourself a year from now, in five years, and beyond?
Madison:
What’s next for me?
Well, at this point, I’d say that almost anyone could make a fair guess. I know what isn’t in the plans right now, and that’s college, because they can’t teach me anything about writing books that I don’t already know.
I’m nineteen and so far all I’ve figured out is that I have to keep writing, just because I can’t stop.
I’m playing life by ear for the most part, but a year from now, I’m really hoping to have a good agent. Five years from now, I should have that good agent, and I’d love to have signed for a series. That’s one of my uppermost dreams. Beyond that, I don’t have any idea.
A best-seller would be pretty amazing, and I’d love to have one of my books made into a movie. Even more than that, though, I sincerely hope that my books end up as classics.
Madison Scott can be contacted at:
www.freewebs.com/madisonscott
www.authorsden.com/madisoncscott
Me:
I’d like to say thank you Madison for agreeing to be interviewed. I like to begin interviews with a bit of background. So let’s start with a few questions about how you came to be such an accomplished writer as such an early age. When did you first find you had an affinity for writing?
Madison Scott:
When I was about nine, I think, I had this sudden urge to write a story. I don’t know where it came from, but I think it probably had something to do with listening to my mother read Anne of Green Gables to me. So I wrote a story. I find it quite…odd, now, but at the time I was so proud of that story. I enjoyed that like I had never enjoyed anything before, and since then I’ve continually been writing down my thoughts, the little plots that pop into my head when I’m trying to sleep, the characters that I meet, the way I think things should have happened, etc. There’s something calming about making this world where you’re in complete control of everything that happens.
When I was about fifteen, I started thinking, you know, I could do this!
And so, I did, much to my surprise.
Me:
I noted on your bio on the Authors Den that you were home schooled. How much influence do you feel that being home schooled had on your writing skills?
Madison:
My mother is of the belief that you’ll learn better if you teach yourself as much as possible. She taught me to read, then provided books, resources and any help I might need for my education.
If I was interested in it, she helped me find about it.
That’s how it went with my writing. I devoured English books, every one of them either of us could find on the subject. I wanted to know where that semi-colon went; I wanted the spelling to be right, I wanted people to be able to read what I wrote as I intended it to be read. So we found the books, and I read them. If I went a little past school time reading those English books that was fine. I wasn’t under any pressure to be like any other kid which I think probably helped me more than I realize even now.
There aren’t many thirteen-year-old girls out there that I know, anyway, that prefer reading and writing to almost anything else. Plus, I had the time to just write, and write anything that my little heart desired.
Me:
You have a Novel out now, what is it? And where can we find it?
Madison:
My first novel, Reba, is the story of a girl who is different from every other little girl around her, very much like I was (and still am, depending on whom you ask). Girls can be harsh creatures, and it is by no means easy to be that odd girl out.
Reba is about being happy to be that different girl, realizing what wonderful friends you can find among your own siblings, and doing your best not to care about what other people think as long as you and those you love are happy..
It can be found at Amazon.com, ordered at Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, or Hastings.
Me:
Is Reba a self publishing effort? And what do you think of self publishing in general?
Madison:
No, it is not. My publisher, PublishAmerica, did what I think is a fantastic job with my book, despite the very negative press that they have received very much of.
Self publishing is I think, revolutionizing the publishing trade. It is making it possible for all of those people who have dreamed for years of having their stories in print and being able to share them with their friends, families and people they scarcely know, able to realize their dreams. However, I don’t think it is for everyone.
I, for one, don’t have the drive to push and market all on my lonesome. For me, just the knowledge that I’ve got that publishing company behind me, expecting me to make good, helps tremendously.
Me:
Your novel Reba is a period piece, what area is the setting in? And how much research did you have to do in order to create that backdrop?
Madison:
The area is actually the west, circa 1880.. I had no idea how much research the book would entail when I started it. I was just trying to get these people out of my head so I could think of something else! As I was writing it, though, I would come across something that would raise a question and I’d go dig the answer out. I can’t count the number of times I put the book on hold to find out how things really happened.
Me:
Your main character comes from a large family, was it hard to create so many variations of siblings?
Madison:
It wasn’t really for me because I’ve got seven siblings myself, and as I wrote it, Reba’s siblings took on parts of the characters of my siblings. Her three sisters are almost identical in their behavior to my three sisters, and I think my brothers divided to fill the characters of Reba’s brothers, too. People have their little quirks, the little things they do that make them into them, but unless you’ve known a person for a very long time, you’re not going to know every one of those things. I unknowingly at the time incorporated that into the story, and I think it makes the characters more real. I don’t know off the top of my head what those characters would do in a given situation.
Me:
What strategies did you employ to manage your plot and track you characters? Do outline your chapters or utilize a Timeline approach?
Madison:
I tried everything.
Books I read about writing said that every good author outlines, so I tried that. Couldn’t make it work to save my life. When you’re fifteen, you can get discouraged easily and that had it sealed. I wasn’t supposed to be a writer. I couldn’t plot, I couldn’t outline. But those ideas just wouldn’t go away.
So finally I just sat down and wrote it, letting what would happen, happen. I did write down the names of the characters at first, how many years were between them, that sort of thing. Other than that, I let the story take me wherever it was going to. I had no idea what would happen next, and it was just as much of an adventure for me as it is (I hope) for those who read it.
Me:
Speaking of your family, how supportive have they been of your writing career?
Madison:
I don’t think they could be more supportive, at times I would have been grateful for a little constructive criticism! Now, though, I’m beginning to see that they are my support. I can get criticism from anyone, but not just anyone will show me that unconditional support that they do.
Me:
You have a sequel to “Reba” in the works, what is its title and can you give us a brief summary about it?
Madison:
“Chester-Shaw” is the sequel’s title, and it’s the story of Reba’s continuing life. She’s now married, with a son, and dealing with a whole new set of problems while still trying to retain that spirit and unwillingness to fit in that she possessed throughout her childhood.
Me:
I like to end with one common question, what’s next for you? Where do you see yourself a year from now, in five years, and beyond?
Madison:
What’s next for me?
Well, at this point, I’d say that almost anyone could make a fair guess. I know what isn’t in the plans right now, and that’s college, because they can’t teach me anything about writing books that I don’t already know.
I’m nineteen and so far all I’ve figured out is that I have to keep writing, just because I can’t stop.
I’m playing life by ear for the most part, but a year from now, I’m really hoping to have a good agent. Five years from now, I should have that good agent, and I’d love to have signed for a series. That’s one of my uppermost dreams. Beyond that, I don’t have any idea.
A best-seller would be pretty amazing, and I’d love to have one of my books made into a movie. Even more than that, though, I sincerely hope that my books end up as classics.
Madison Scott can be contacted at:
www.freewebs.com/madisonscott
www.authorsden.com/madisoncscott
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sheila Deeth on
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Sound like good dreams to me Madison. Reading and writing were always my favorite occupations too.
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Permalink Reply by Madison C. Scott on
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Thank you!
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