GUTGAA: Meet and Greet

Deanna has organized GUTGAA and it is a great event for writers to meet each other and pitch their work.

Hi, I'm Sheena-kay Graham and I am a writer. While I have only been published in a literary supplement for poetry so far. I feel that I've done much to get myself ready to be a published novelist. The supplement was in The Sunday Observer and named Bookends Magazine. I was a paid contributor between 2007-2011. I stopped after months going without acceptance after changes in their line-up phased out poetry. But I enjoyed that experience and will only look forward to accomplishments like finally creating a blog that keeps me in contact with aspiring novelist and writers like myself. I look back on my first blogpost October 25, 2011 and find this quote very self-fulfilling.

My real name is Sheena-kay Graham and my nickname (and now my blog's name) was self given and inspired in part by the movie  Sheena: Queen of the Jungle. Also my love for Africa, my skin and believing in fact that we can take hold of our destinies. My nickname symbolizes this for me and creating this blog furthers plans for professional success.

I believe by writing and now having several w.i.p.s in the works and a novella Sacrifice Her to be self published late October that I have followed my path as a writer and will only improve. My writing path is to both self-publish and submit my manuscripts to traditional publishers whether by myself or through an agent. GUTGAA is great in that it gives us all an opportunity to meet others at different points in their journey. Before this I've met several like myself who are either still writing their book or submitting it to agents and publishers if they're not self-published. And yes there are those who have had their work accepted to be published or have gotten an agent. I am happy for all of them. 

Now straight to the questions:

Where do you write?

Mainly in my bedroom. I also do a bit of writing at the library. Sometimes I make notations while on the road.

Quick. Go to your writing space, sit down and look to your left. What is the first thing you see?

I see a chair blocking the dresser. Sorry no great secrets to enthrall you with. That's what my books are for. *Winks.*

Favorite time to write?

Whenever I'm least bothered. I used to fear whether it was day or night but noticed when I'm in my element I can write at anytime. Including day, night and even early hours. 

Drink of choice while writing?

It depends. I love fruit juices and HATE coffee. No disrespect to coffee drinkers. 

When writing , do you listen to music or do you need complete silence?

Silence is best for me. I have given in to temptation to write with music on before and always get the job done a lot slower. Even when typing up something from what I've already written by hand.

What was your inspiration for your latest manuscript and where did you find it?

I'll speak about the inspiration for my latest W.I.P. Nevermore was inspired by a call by Entangled Publishing for Halloween novellas with a zombie twist. While I have decided not to submit to them. I have picked a few other publishers I will send it out to when it's fully polished. I'm aiming for a small press for this one.

What's your most valuable writing tip?

Never give up. In the past I often wrote to a point then stopped. I have a pile of unfinished novels. While they used to be a great regret, now they're a huge inspiration. How inventive I've been to have work still waiting to be completed as I come up with and write new work. Some writers can only create a few works in a lifetime. I have a nice load and am very proud of it. As I go on my journey, I will have huge well of creativity to accompany me. So I say to all of you keep going and turn what you might consider a negative into a positive. If you can't don't let it keep you from your writing or life destiny. The only fate we can't get away from is death. Life is a choice, live it.

So there you have it. I have introduced myself and hope you will go out and do the same or visit others and let them know you've read their post and create new relationships of your own.