Interview with Winter Austin (aka Winter Peck), Part One:
Winter, give us some background on you and your writing journey.
I’ve always wanted to be an author, as far back as the fourth grade when I learned that my all-time favorite author, Walter Farley of The Black Stallion fame, had become an author while he was in college. Granted, I never accomplished being an author that early in life, but the dream never died. Most authors will tell you that they have been complimented most of their lives with their writing abilities, and I’m no exception. I had teachers and countless others who noticed, and a few of those teachers tried to push me in that direction—and this shy small-town Iowa farm girl was petrified at times with going out in the big wide world with her talents, so I almost sabotaged my own dream with my fears. It wasn’t until I had a few people tell me I could never make a living doing it and that I shouldn’t waste my time after false hope that set the fires. Introvert went into hiding and the extrovert came out.
I started the serious journey to publication after the birth of my twin sons. Two more kids later, several moves, learning with each step of the way, a deployment, I reached a level that got me noticed by an agent, and finally I made it to my first writers conference. With a few more years under my belt, I landed my first book contract with the help of three other published authors, then there was a change in agents. But it was the four book contract with my publisher that I’m most happy with that happened in October of 2012. By that time the decision was made to leave the CBA market and join the general market where my style of writing was more accepted. The accumulation of years from the birth of my sons to publication was 14 years. 14 years of never giving up and never giving in when there was opposition. And I don’t regret one step.
Today I fight more with finding time to write while working, being an integral part of my kids’ lives, and all the trappings of promoting and marketing my books while people demand my time.
What kind of novels do you read?
I do have a short range of genres I love to read from, but you’ll always find suspense/mystery/thriller books on my nightstand or on my Nook. Far back as I can remember I’ve loved the mystery/suspense genre. I don’t read straight romances any more unless its from a certain author, if it's a romance it's always a romantic suspense or a paranormal or futuristic. Depending on the author, I will read some fantasy and young adult novels. And here as of late, thanks to my sons, I’ve fallen in love with the superhero/comic books.
Your female protagonists tend to be tough, smart, and sassy with hardship and/or sorrow in their pasts. Does that have any resemblance to personal history?
About the only thing my heroines might get from me is sass. I didn’t exactly have the hardships and sorrows in my life that I put my gals through. But I do draw from some things around me, that have happened, or what I’ve observed. I like to think of myself as tough in certain aspects, but I’m still a woman and I don’t make no bones about being that.
Winter's novel Born to Die became available on March 28th. To get the best preview to this novel, read Atonement first.
Lord, please continue to inspire Winter, direct her every step, and keep her safe from all harm. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.