Author Spotlight: Interview with Local Author Bibiana Krall

For author Bibiana Krall, being a writer means writing, especially when she doesn’t feel like doing it. For her, being a writer is a state of mind… not how much money comes or how popular you are. It’s about facing her fears and giving hope to the next generation––to assure them that someone is there for them, listening and understanding. “Words are very powerful, and they can divide or bring people together,” she said to me. As a best selling author and fiction writer, Bibiana chooses to bring people together.

When Bibiana was a little girl, she believed that she was a mermaid, and her parents had found her on the shores of Lake Michigan. That vivid imagination paid off years later when she decided to become a full-time author.

During my interview with Bibiana, I attempted to cover all of the important aspects of being an author. I have to say that what started as a simple interview, turned out to be an incredible journey into the life of an amazing human being.

Tell us a little bit about, Bibiana, the author and writer.

I write and read every day, even if I am away from home. My inspiration comes from nature, tough lessons and a need to talk about strange dreams or difficult situations that would cloud my mind if I didn't release them. I offer this “cocktail” to my characters and step back to see what they will do with it. I am a mother and a wife, so part of my writing life is about seeking balance with my family. I adore culture, history, gourmet cooking, travel and wild beaches. I grew up on a farm in the Midwest and traveling to exotic places was a dream. I have more places to see, but books and a map of the world changed my life. The brilliant concept of "Take the road less travelled" has been an anthem and I think it shows in my writing as well.

When did you start writing? And, what/who inspired you? Tell us about the first piece/book you wrote?

I began seriously writing novels and short stories about five years ago. I had journals filled with terrible, angsty-teen poetry when I was younger, but in one of my many moves, I've lost them.

What really got me into writing was a ghost named Gracie. Yes, I know it sounds crazy and it makes no sense, but it's true. My first attempt was the coming of age novel “Carolina Spirit." The first chapter is basically what she told me. She was somehow caught in-between worlds, stuck on the edge of Hatchett Creek.

I was headed to the beach with my family, drinking a frozen Coke, and not thinking about anything when she arrived. I watched the plough mud slake off her bare feet, as she ran along the edge of a salt marsh next to us. She wasn't human, because we were driving about fifty-five mph. It was surreal.

She asked if I, "Wanted to see?" I followed her in my mind's eye to an abandoned plantation overgrown with moss and vines, and told my family about it. They had a chuckle at my expense. I was embarrassed and let it go.

Three nights later she came in a dream and asked, Are ya gonna do it?" I didn't feel like I could say no to telling her story. I still look for her on the islands near Beaufort, SC. I believe that she's finally free and this makes me happy. Gracie gave me an enormous gift and I hope that by listening and writing about her struggle and loss, I gave her one too.

Who is your favorite author? And why?

I admire many writers and styles, but my heart leans towards literary fiction written in the mid to late 1800s. It was a repressive time in society when people didn't express themselves, enjoy their food, talk about love, feelings, sex or say what was on their minds. Fiction held a deep earnestness, imparting an important truth that many eras seem to leave out in what literature actually says or doesn't say about being human. The Bronte Sisters gave me my romantic leanings and enthused the importance of showing women as strong, intelligent and capable on their own. Edgar Allan Poe inspires my dark, and gothic slant and Pat Frank (Alas Babylon) whom I believe was the first to create the dystopian genre, as we know it today. He talked about the state of being in the tumultuous and fragile world around us, while offering hope for new beginnings.

Briefly, walk us through a day in your writing routine.

I brew coffee and write, if a project is calling me. If not, I do writerly housekeeping, by looking for magazines or contests to submit to, check my book stats and decide what to focus on. I'm a mom, so I must get everyone else situated first. I take a walk, and then I write again. I avoid social media before my word count is met. The energy from others can overwhelm my thoughts and I have to keep the slate clean, until my goals have been achieved. After lunch I do marketing, help my friends and decide what my afternoon reading or review will be. If a writing project calls me to stay then I do, if not I don't sweat it. It's not a race and you can't push the art. I wind down after dinner with a glass of wine and read in the living room while my family watches TV.

If you could give a piece of writing advice to your younger writing self, what would it be?

It would be to journal every day. I am mad at myself for losing my earliest observations. Everything you see, experience and feel is fuel for your writing. If you feel like your work isn't strong enough, hit the pavement. Make mistakes, fall in love, take an adventure and listen to other people talk about what they know. Realize that you were always a writer. Don't worry so much, stop making excuses and get started.

There you have it, my friends. If you haven’t had the chance to read one of Bibiana’s books, I invite you to visit her Amazon author’s page and her website.

The truth is that, Bibiana’s long journey as an author is only getting better and better and we would be crazy not to tag along.

Author: Marielys Camacho-Reyes is a U.S. Army Veteran and a freelance writer. Marielys' book of essays Cleaning Out My Closet: My Road from Self-Discovery to Emotional Healing is currently available on Amazon. You can visit her website at www.mcreyes.com for more of her pieces.