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FEATURED AUTHOR JUDITH TRACY
Cover art copyright 2001 Michael Apice
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Judith Tracy is a published writer with Padwolf Publishing Inc., a small
press. Most recently, they released her first novel, Destiny's Door (science
fiction). It made the Tri-States Best Seller list (Number 2) in April of
this year. Padwolf will release a young adult series, The Wildsidhe
Chronicles (fantasy) and are in negotiations with Random House. She has
written two out of the six. Also, she has been published in Hot Blood X (an
erotic horror anthology with Pocket Books) and the Dead Inn (another horror
anthology, hardback) along with many E-zines.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Destiny's Door is about Donald Thurman, a nerdy kid who loves computers, has a couple of friends, but no luck with the ladies unless he cybers with a gal on the 'Net. One day, while surfing, Donald meets up with a species of extra-terrestrial electron beings on a search for God, who call themselves THEY. THEY hope to find out why they are on this planet, what their names are and how they came to be. THEY look to Donald for help, and he goes all out to help his newfound friends.
Donald helps the beings create a web page called Destiny's Door where people can make wishes and They can help those people, essentially moving closer to God. While this is going on, Donald befriends one of the beings and names her Ariel, allowing her to penetrate his body and take control of it, allowing her to learn all there is to know about human beings.
After Ariel leaves Donald's body, the group attempts to create a human body to live in on the outside world. However, their early attempts fail and now the only way to be like humans is to take over their bodies. Unfortunately Donald knows too much and is a targeted by several beings of THEY, but Ariel comes to his safety. Ariel, who is deeply in love with Donald, decides that in order to be with him she has to occupy the body of a past infatuation to win his love. This opens up a whole new can of issues concerning her species and her own ambition for survival.
,
When did you first start writing?I've written all my life. Even had a few things published in High School
Literary Books, but I only turned serious about eight years ago. My
husband's promotion took me to Lexington and I admired the fact he had
accomplished his goal and felt depressed that I hadn't. At fourteen, I
promised myself I would do two things, write a novel and play piano. (Still
haven't purchased a piano. Those babies are expensive.)
Why do you write?
Because I can? Because I can't imagine not writing? Because there is
something about putting ideas to paper--the power of words and
imagination--a little voice inside me that screams, 'let me out'.
What sort of books do you like to read?
Whatever hits me at the moment. I love horror and King, sci-fi and Card, and
lately, Carl Hiaasen.
Who is your favourite author or has influenced your writing?
All the above and more. I can't imagine a book that didn't have some
influence on me. Since I've been writing seriously, I tend to read more like
an editor. I notice a sentence, or a word, or a simile, and admire it out of
the framework of the story. There is a lot to learn about pacing, style, and
flow from all the authors I've read.
If you could meet any character from a book, who would it be and why?
The romantic in me would love to meet Rhett Butler. (I'd make him give a
damn or die trying) Santiago from Hemingway's, The Old Man And The Sea. My
daughter is reading that book, and I remember hating it then, as she does
now. For her and all the other students forced to trudge through the novel,
I'd kill Santiago off in the first chapter and save them the boring read.
Who in the world decides what is a classic and what isn't? Give me Asimov,
Heinlein, or King any day.
What are you currently working on?
Two things. I've begun the revising and editing for my new novel, "Valley of
Anjels." It's fantasy and I tell the tale about three mutant women who have
the ability to become the "perfect woman." (Now, if that isn't fantasy,
nothing is.)
I'm also about half finished on something really different. Something
humorous, mainstream, and fun. It's about a fictional town, Griswold,
Michigan, and the descendants from Griswold's founding father. All the main
characters have the first name, Ted, and most share an offbeat, and funny
way of looking at life.
What have you found to be the best way of promoting your book?
I'm still learning. I do as many signings as I can, attend writer's
workshops, sci-fi conventions, and word of mouth.
And finally, what advice would you give to writers starting out?
Don't give up and write, write, write. When you think you're done, put it
away for a couple weeks/months, and rewrite. Then send it out. You'll never
feel it is ready. There is always something you could word better or change.
You never finish a work. You abandon it.
Visit Judith's web page:
Visit her publisher:
http://www.padwolf.com and read the first chapter of Destiny's Door online
Read the review of Judith's book on Twisted Tales: Destiny's Door