Up In Smoke Reviews: #OBBigBang Orangeberry Big Bang

Updated on 28th December 2012

What is your favorite quote, by whom, and why? “I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.”

When I was in the 7^th grade we were asked to create a poster with a meaningful quote. This quote, credited to Jack London, moved my little adolescent soul. I was a shy, awkward, gawky young thing at the time of this art project. Little did I know that the quote would actually resonate with my life journey – I have lived, and continue to live, a remarkable life.

What inspires you to write and why? You know, if I knew the answer to this, I could bottle it and make a fortune! All my friends ask me the same thing, adding, “My, you have a creative way of looking at things!” or, “It’s sure busy in the brain of yours!” I find inspiration everywhere. My current WIP was born on the Sea of Cortez in La Paz on a recent scuba diving adventure.

What genre are you most comfortable writing? I loves me the paranormal, like to write a saucy, sexy story. The weirder the better; the hotter the more fun.

Did writing this book teach you anything and what was it? I always learn from writing. Writing helps me integrate struggles I might be facing, issues I might be having. It helps me see the world differently as I craft each character. I often develop characters that I am least likely to give a second glance to in real life. Writing about them, I get to know them in a different way. I also tend to focus on one or more animals in my books. For instance, in Wicked Whispering: Book III in the Wicked Series, I met a humpback whale researcher and learned a lot about these fascinating creatures (the main character became a whale whisperer). Each book is a journey.

What is your greatest strength as a writer? Hmm, I’d have to say both my quirky mind, as well as the ability to take constructive feedback to heart (when given by trusted advisors). I am a sponge when it comes to learning and growing.

Can you share a little of your current work with us? Sure. This is the one mentioned above, born on the Sea of Cortez. Tentatively entitled “The Beckoning of Beautiful Things,” it’s about a young woman, born to an opera singer and a conductor. Her parents are killed when she’s 12 years old and she becomes a recluse of sorts. At age 28, she drifts from job to job and has a total tool of a boyfriend – the guy’s a real loser. She meets a most intriguing man and from there her journey begins. He tells her that she’s a powerful bruja (sorcerer) and that she must learn how to develop her skills, lest she fall prey to one of the most powerful brujos in the world – the demented sorcerer El Demonio de la Muerte – The Demon of Death. I’m having a great deal of fun writing it.

How did you come up with the title? It just came to me. It plays nicely into the book.

Can you tell us about your main character? Marissa Engles, age 28, has two older sisters. She works as a graphic artist in West Seattle and thinks of herself as an ordinary woman (don’t we all!). She’s not sure whether or not she even likes her boyfriend, a slacker, surfer dude named Jason Harmonia Brown she met at a Tantra workshop, but he’s good in bed (A friend goaded her into attending the workshop and she wants nothing to do with the practice). Jason likes to exploit her abilities as an intuitive – she’s a gifted seer, something she thinks is no big deal. It’s just something passed on from female to female on her mother’s side. She has a dog – a big Doberman Pinscher named Sober Dober. Sober will play a key role in her growth as a bruja. She’ll travel through time to shape her skills as well as wreak mischief on her current life.

Why did you choose to write this particular book? The idea just came to me in La Paz. It is a departure from my highly erotic series, The Wicked Series.

Will you write others in this same genre? Yup, I have a whole series planned for the Beckoning. I also have A Wicked Ending: book IV in the Wicked Series underway.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? I always want to remind my readers that they’re so much more than they might think. A beloved teacher of mine told me once: “Your dreams are inside of you for a reason – you are to manifest them.” At the time she told me this I thought she was crazy. Now I know she was right!

Have you included a lot of your life experiences, even friends, in the plot? Oh, sure, my crazy life experiences leak out all over the place in my books. And, I admit it, I often use people I have loved and loathed as characters in my stories. It’s just something writer’s do. ;-)

How important do you think villains are in a story? My villains are some of my favorite characters! Angela Myers and Jill Primcott are the mental, crazies in the Wicked Series. El Demonio de la Muerte will be my Villain in the Beckoning Series. They add tension and depth to a story.

Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)? We travel a lot to scuba dive. Each new place inspires something in the books.

Have you ever considered anyone as a mentor? AJ Nuest and Arial Burnz of Mystical Press Services are rock solid mentors! Both of them editors at publishing houses. They also have their own business (mysticalpressservices.com) designed to help you get your work published. Tell them you know Calinda B and make them smile!

Can we expect any more books from you in the future? Absolutely!

What contributes to making a writer successful? First off, being a good writer. I think it’s important to keep honing your skills. Don’t get complacent and think you know all there is to know – keep learning. After that, you need to be persistent and courageous in getting your book out there, whether you’re going for a traditional publisher or want to go indie. Don’t take bad reviews seriously – unless that’s all you get! If that’s the case, you might want to try something different! ;-) Networking with other authors helps me – we celebrate one another’s successes and support one another when needed.

What do you do to unwind and relax? I write! Seriously, it’s very relaxing to be in my creative mind space. Other than that, I scuba dive, kayak and occasionally bike ride.

What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing? Writing books is not something I ever wanted to do – I just started it on impulse a couple years ago. Having done it, I find that I have learned so much about myself, I’m amazed! I’ve networked with all kinds of cool people, my self-confidence has soared, I’ve discovered new things about myself – it’s a very personal journey that has taken me to places I never expected to go.

If you could leave your readers with one bit of wisdom, what would you want it to be? Have fun. Loosen up. Laugh a lot. Do something that scares you. Before you know it, this party’s over – you may as well enjoy the ride.