Gloria Beanblossom embarked upon her writing career after receiving her degree from Parkland College in Urbana, Illinois, and is the published author of two novels, The Tamarisk Tree and Byron’s Corner. Her new release The Wishing Stone will be published in February, 2011

Muse: First of all, Whispers of the Muse welcomes you to the site. Tell us a little about yourself. What part of the world do you live in? Tell us about your background?
Ms. Beanblossom:  Thank you, Deborah. I grew up on my grandfather’s farm in Southern Illinois. I married my childhood sweetheart and my soul mate when we were really still children. That has been the most lasting and enduring decision I've ever made. And it is to John that I give the lion's share of the credit for whatever good my life and my books have been. I returned to college when my son was three years old. Those were hard, challenging days. I always knew that I had a talent for writing, but in my youth, it simply wasn't the time or place. I needed to work. I needed to make a living. I needed to help my husband and son, who sacrificed so I could go back to college and get my degree. Writing is wonderful, fulfilling and brings its own special joy, but it is not always lucrative. Now is my time. If not now, then when?  I want the reader to sense the truth and life and innate honesty of my characters. I want my work to make you happy, angry, joyous, sad and outraged! I want to touch your heart.

Muse: Who are your favorite authors?
Ms. Beanblossom: That’s such a tough question. I enjoy such a diverse range of authors, but if I had to make a list, I think I would include Philippa Gregory, Anne Rice, Dean Koontz and Michael Connelly as my favorite comtemporary authors. 

Muse: Why do you write Paranormal Romance?
Ms. Beanblossom: I write paranormal romance because the mysteries of life, the things that go bump in the night, as it were, fascinate me. To quote the bard, “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy”. In my own modest way, I explore some of those mysteries and philosophies. 

Muse: What is your writing regimen? How often do you work on a book? Do you set daily time or word goals? What keeps you meeting your deadlines?
Ms. Beanblossom: I know many writers have specific times when they write. I must admit that I don’t necessarily follow a strict regime. I find that once I start on a project and the more I formulate my ideas, there is a point where I “fall in love” with the book. There isn’t a day the book, the plot and my characters aren’t with me. Working simply becomes automatic. On my best day, when the Muse speaks I have written 20 good pages – on other days when trying to get from point “A” to point “C” and the solution eludes me, I may write a paragraph – but I never abandon a project. The book is with me every day until I write the last word of the last paragraph. As far as deadlines are concerned: they have to be met. I learned many years ago that what must be done – I can do. I simply don’t allow myself the option of not meeting my obligations

Muse: Does the way you personally look at life reflect in your writing style?
Ms. Beanblossom: Oh yes! I write from my own emotional data bank. There are “universal truths” which every reader identifies with in one form or another. I try to tap into those truths within my own realm of experiences.

Muse: What are the creative jumping off points for you? Are you inspired by dreams? Music? Nature? The occasional black nightmare? What triggers your imagination?
Ms. Beanblossom: What triggers my imagination? People. I know that may not sound as exciting as when Thoreau went to Walden Pond and was inspired by the beauty and wonder of nature. But it’s quite true. Everyone in the course of a lifetime is a walking, breathing story, with dreams and aspirations. For example: the eighty year old woman sitting by herself in a nursing home – that frail shell isn’t who she is. What were her happy times, her sorrows and adventures? That’s what triggers my imagination – the wonder in what at first seems so ordinary and commonplace.

Muse: Tell us about The Wishing Stone. What was your inspiration?
Ms. Beanblossom: The inspiration for The Wishing Stone came from a visit to a rural cemetery in Beanblossom, Indiana, which is named for one of my husband’s ancestors. When the troops of General William Henry Harrison marched through the Indiana Territory in 1811 on their way to the battle of Tippecanoe, in what is now Brown County, Indiana, Captain George Beanblossom had the misfortune to drown in the creek that flows through that part of the country. The creek and little village that sprang up next to it subsequently became Beanblossom, Indiana and Beanblossom Creek. The creek has a wonderful covered bridge, which was erected in 1880. While we were walking through the cemetery looking at the old gravestones, we happened along a rather lonely little grave nestled back against an old barbed wire fence. The inscription on the stone read: Elizabeth, consort of James Yoder. That intrigued me; what did “consort” imply? Was she engaged to him, was she his wife or were they “consorting” in another way? From those speculations sprang The Wishing Stone and the ghost child Lilly, who haunts the covered bridge waiting for her Good Samaritan to save her and all the other lost children

Muse: What is your favorite scene from the book and why?
Ms. Beanblossom: My favorite scene from The Wishing Stone would have to be when Paul Trefzger, my somewhat reluctant hero, is confronted in a nightmare by the vision of Lilly O’Dell’s mother. Lilly is the little ghost who haunts the Cherry Blossom Bridge. She waits year after year for a Good Samaritan to save her from her murderer, Old Jim Bast. In this dream Paul is escorted down the road to hell and given a guided tour, so he can see first hand why it is so vital that he do the right thing. I loved writing this scene. Who wouldn’t? It was dark, it was scary and a touch comical too, when Paul tries in vain to convince himself that he’s dreaming

Muse: Have you written other books?
Ms. Beanblossom: Yes. I have two other novels, The Tamarisk Tree and Byron’s Corner.

Muse: Tell us about your other books?
Ms. Beanblossom: The Tamarisk Tree is the story of one courageous woman's struggle for peace and acceptance. Raised by the Fellowship of the Brethren, Abigail Hoffman is forced to shun the material comforts of the modern world and live in a tight-knit society of extremes where sin  and imperfections are not tolerated. Overnight Abby's world  is shattered--she is suddenly torn between her community and twenty-first century American culture when she falls in love with an outsider to the Brethren. One night's passionate encounter leaves her pregnant and alone, forcing her to deal with the consequences of her sin when she is deserted by her lover and disowned by the Brethren.
Byron’s Corner, is the story of two girls who were abandoned by their mother.Dora and Stephanie awake one hot June morning to find themselves alone. Mommy left, but she didn't come back. Lost, frightened, with nowhere to turn, they call Grandma and Grandpa, which begins their journey to "Byron's Corner". The girls are haunted by unanswerable questions. "What is wrong with us? Why are we so unlovable that mommy left and daddy hurt us so badly?'" Journey with them, perhaps you will see yourself mirrored in the eyes of two lost little girls who only wanted to love and be loved in return. "Byron's Corner" will touch your heart.

Muse: How do you feel about the current publishing marketplace?
Ms. Beanblossom: There have been so many changes in the publishing market place, it’s really been a challenge to keep up and stay current. The rise of the e-book has a lot of publishers rethinking their options, add to that the downward spiral the economy has experienced in the last few years and you have a recipe that spells “hard times”. The recession has impacted everyone. Money is tight. That’s a fact and publishing is a business with one goal in mind and that is to make a profit. It’s very hard to get publishers to risk thousands of dollars and thousands of man-hours on a project that isn’t a sure thing. Needless to say writers have their work cut out for them. Finding a reputable agent and getting published is no walk in the park. A writer has to be talented, persistent, tough and lucky – lucky is very important. But it can be done. Follow your heart.