Conversations With Colleen: Meet Author, D. Avery

Posted on by Colleen M. Chesebro

Hello everyone! This week I’m thrilled to bring you an author I met through my participation in the flash fiction challenges at the Carrot Ranch Literary Community (carrotranch.com). Her name is D. Avery, and I just call her D. because I think it suits her. 

When I asked D. to pick three or four questions from my huge list HERE she was ready to jump into the world of becoming a published author, once again. We all aspire to be successful authors and the best way to learn some of the tricks of the trade is to ask questions. I knew D. would share her experiences.

First, please meet my guest, D. Avery. 

D. Avery (196?-20??) has long been a compulsive poet. Despite a very important day job educating public school children, she is often distracted by this compulsion, as well as by life’s great questions, such as “Kayak, or bike?” Though she has come to realize that nothing difficult is ever easy, she believes that it’s all good.

Amazon Author Page

Hi, Colleen. Thanks so much for this interview. I’m really looking forward to our chat.

Hi, D. I’m excited that you’re here! I love your flash fiction at Carrot Ranch. Do you project your own habits onto your characters?

I would never do that! But I have noticed that beer and bars show up in a few of my short stories and even in some of the “ChickenShift” poems. Bars are more than a place to indulge a habit; there is usually a cast of characters there and some good storytelling going on.

If anything, I need to be careful that my characters don’t project onto me. Marge and Ernest are not based on anyone in particular but they, like me, enjoy beer, though we do not enjoy the same kinds of beer. However, I have found myself lately having a beer with my husband, us sitting in camp chairs in the garage as those two are often found doing. Hmm…

Pixabay.com

Your humor always shows through your writing. So, what, according to you, is the hardest thing about writing?

The hardest thing about writing is publishing, and yet, I always do so too impulsively. Formatting was a nightmare; I am not good with computers anyway so there was a lot of frustration and time-sucking mistakes and inefficiencies.

And, I learned a lot. I probably should have paid an expert but then I wouldn’t have learned anything. I did pay for the cover and I love it. 

The other great difficulty with publishing, besides formatting the book, is putting myself out there. I want people to read my work and hope they appreciate it, even as I desire privacy and quiet. I have yet to come up with a decent explanation for going through with actually publishing. I am pretty sure it’s not for the money.

I get that. I’m more introverted than extroverted and putting yourself out there is hard. But, you’re here! Tell me, have you ever left any of your books stew for months on end or even a year?

I should probably let everything stew longer, but-squirrel! (Or was it a dust bunny, forgotten and neglected?)

Squirrel! Pixabay.com

I have only three books, two books of poetry and now a collection of flash and short fiction. “After Ever” is largely comprised of fairly recent flash fiction pieces, but there are some other short stories in it that began years and years ago.

Writing flash fiction helped me build skills for revising those older, longer pieces. I am learning that what I might think of as finished and pretty good really isn’t.

When writing for a prompt just having come up with an idea and making a deadline is sometimes so satisfying that it blinds me to the fact that it was rushed and is still a raw and flawed piece.

I’m slowly learning that maybe all of my writing needs to have some time out before I have the right eyes for it. If I ever stop chasing squirrels I might have a better routine for writing and revising and considering the difference between a product and a process.

Thanks for stopping by D. I can’t wait to read your newest book. ❤

Thanks, Colleen. I had a great time. 

How to contact Author, D. Avery

Blog: https://shiftnshake.wordpress.com/my-books/

Twitter: ShiftnShake @daveryshiftn

k luv u bye

 Thanks for stopping by to meet D. Avery. ❤

102 thoughts on “Conversations With Colleen: Meet Author, D. Avery”

  2. Lovely interview with D!
    I get that whole not publishing for the money, especially for my poetry book.
    I did that all myself too apart from the cover!
    But deep down we all want out words read, don’t we!?

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

          4. No, just a rumor. I started mine from scratch, rejuvenated it once with some brown ale yeast and Champaign yeast. It’s a deep topic, but eventually it all converts over to the wild yeast in your area.

            Liked by 1 person

        3. Not sure if I am replying in the right spot but how cool is Tutuba?! My starter is from a friend and is only a couple years old or maybe older, the friend is older and can’t remember. I also want to start my own strain without yeast just for fun. Yes, I am already finding that you must listen to the starter. It’s a character who has their own ideas of where they’re headed. Sourdough johnny cake? Ok. I’ll try it.

          Liked by 2 people

          Reply

  11. A lovely interview, D and Colleen. I always enjoyed your flash fiction, D. Thank you for being helpful when I had questions, you jumped in to answer before Charli read my questions. Nice to get to know you a little bit more.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

          2. It’s all so hard. I lost a sister I never knew well when she was 55 and I was in my late 30’s. Surprisingly, I’ve felt her presence when I really needed her many years later. Sister love is always there. ❤️❤️❤️

            Liked by 1 person

          3. It’s so true, that blood connection. I’m glad you felt her presence. It’s surprising, isn’t it? I have many sisters. No matter how many years not seeing each other, when we do, it’s like we just saw each other yesterday. I made that connection with Yolanda on the same day I arrived Hong Kong. ❤ ❤

            Liked by 1 person

          12. I requested to switch back to the classic editor for WordPress. The agent showed me how to use old or new editor for different posts.
            I then went on my trip. When I came back, my blog is now switched to the classic editor. I’ll leave it like that for a while. ❤ ❤

            Liked by 1 person

      1. I am speechless.
        What do you suppose was being represented for you? The burger, or the king? Or a branded franchise? Was Anne Godwin there?
        We good transform the franchise; from fast food to flash fiction- special orders, write on time.
        Charli?

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

  16. D. Avery and a chicken walked into a bar…

    Actually, D ‘s sense of humor is no joke. She’s worry and prolific and chases down all her chickens. Every week she writes Ranch Yarns, personifying the real people who gather at the imaginary campfire to tell stories. She’s one author I’d love to sit down and have a beer with!

    Great questions, Colleen. Great answers, D.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

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