Today’s author interview is with Bethany Gates, an author of comedy and drama. I found Ms. Gates on Kindle Vella, and I’m so glad she has joined us for this interview!
Seriously (or not) why a series?
How did you know you had this series in you?
Many career choices are cut and dry. Go to school, get a degree, land a 9:00am-5:00pm job.
Some writing careers fall in this vein like copywriting, technical writing, and proposal or grant writing. However, creative writers, such as authors, screenwriters, and bloggers, face an unpredictable beast. To make ends meet, an alternative route may be needed, such as a full-time job. While a full-time job satisfies the money need, it and other life obligations cause another coveted currency to be hemorrhaged…time. “Help Wanted” explores this delicate balance.
It is a very difficult balance. And then adding in family or pets, puts on even more strain.
Why did you choose to use a series format?
Some may categorize my style of writing as biography or memoir, but I refer to it as creative nonfiction. Likely because I have always felt awkward with fiction and nonfiction writers. My head is not in the clouds like the fiction kids who are immersed in fantasy, romance, and science fiction. But my feet are nowhere near the ground like the nonfiction peeps with their cookbooks, how to’s, and war stories. I fall somewhere in the middle with the best of both worlds. When I began writing creative nonfiction, I wrote in essay format. Serials to an essayist are as natural as a book to a librarian or porn to a library pervert.
This completely makes sense, though I had never considered it.
What is your greatest challenge in writing?
Writing a long story. If a publisher were to contact me about a book, I would be positively thrilled on the outside. Shouting “yes, yes! A thousand times YES!” from the mountain tops but having a major meltdown on the inside while rocking myself under the covers. With that visual in mind, to any prospective publishers…call me!
Let’s talk process
What surprised you in the writing process?
Oddly, the ending of “Help Wanted” came as a shock to me. It was not until I finished writing it, that I realized just how big an impact that experience had on my life. However, it took penning the story to connect the dots.
Sometimes we are so immersed in our life, that we just don’t see the whole picture.
Is there something in particular, (a tool, a song, a planner,) that you found particularly helpful?
While I wished I had an editor, Grammarly is a good substitute. The only issue with Grammarly is it acts like a needy girlfriend if you stop using it.
“Hey Bethany…you didn’t write last week. What’s going on?”
“Hi Bethany…did you forget?”
“Bethany…OMG! Whyyyyeee aren’t you writing?!?!?!”
lol
What else can you describe in your writing process?
My writing style is not a straight line where I pen from beginning to end. Sometimes I start with the ending and work my way backwards. Other times, I start in the middle. Or get hooked on the first act, which is really a symptom of rewriting the climax. Sometimes I wish I wrote between the hours of 9:00am-5:00pm, but in actuality, it’s more like 3:00pm-7:00pm and/or 9:00pm-2:46am.
I sometimes feel like i spend all day in front of the screen (darn marketing) but in reality my magic writing hours seem to be 7-10pm
Let’s talk readers
Who is your expected audience?
An adult with a pulse who is allergic to *snowflake syndrome.
*Snowflake syndrome. Also referred to as a control freak, an individual who is easily hurt or offended by the (non-violent/non-hateful) statements or actions of others. Symptoms include venting grievances on the Internet, rather than seeking help from a qualified healthcare professional to examine why some random jackass controls their happiness level. Other symptoms include expecting others to change, inept at changing the channel, and an uncontrollable urge to play Wordle.
Hey now, Wordle isn’t bad when you’re stuck waiting somewhere but expect to be interrupted at any minute.
Who has been your strongest supporter?
My brother. That ravenous zombie cheerleader demands to know when my next “latest and greatest” will be ready…even though my answer is the same as it was 30 minutes ago.
If you could have any author (alive, dead, or fictional) read your book, who would you like to read it?
William Shakespeare. I imagine him finishing “Help Wanted,” looking him square in the eye and asking, “now who’s Fortune’s Fool mother-f@#$%^?!?!”
Lol. Good for you!
What author, or book, or series most influenced you?
The Happy Hooker by Xaviera Hollander. Some bitches have all the fun.
Ok, we want to know more about you as a person
Like the rest of the world, the pandemic radically changed my life. After I lost my contract to Covid19, I had no idea if I was coming or going. Regardless of talent, skill level, or the number of reads, likes or shares, if any at all, I could not die without publishing SOMETHING. Had the pandemic not occurred, I may never have come out of the writer’s closet.
I’m glad that you are one of the ones who found a benefit in the pandemic (although losing a contract is terrible, I’m sorry)
What else is important to share about your book?
“Help Wanted” was inspired by true events. As unorthodox as my experience was, I have the utmost respect for eccentric intelligence.
When can we expect more from you?
Like the theater masks, Comedy is not without its companion, Tragedy. While “Help Wanted” and “Attack of the Mattress!” are comedies, drama is in the works. It is slated to be released sometime this year (2022).
Where can we find your book?
“Help Wanted” and “Attack of the Mattress!” can be found on Kindle Vella.
Links:
Help Wanted
“Help Wanted” is about finding the balance between art and work. As a starving artist, I needed to find a full-time job. With my foot in the door for a temp role, I had to get the attention of an eccentric boss to land a position. Even if that meant following all his requests, including hitting him in the face!
https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B09VYKWFVM
Attack of the Mattress!
“Attack of the Mattress!” is about my journey to conquer insomnia. After many failed attempts, it occurred to me that the culprit was the bed. However, buying a mattress turned out to be an absolute nightmare in this short comedy.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09M7WG6HD/
Bethany W. Gates
https://www.instagram.com/bethanywgates/
https://www.facebook.com/bwgwriter/
https://twitter.com/bethanywgates
