Lynda Faye Schmidt Author Bio:
Lynda Faye Schmidt is a storyteller who writes from the heart. Her novels are emotionally impacting and character-driven. A huge part of her writing journey has been her daily journaling practice, and she has also written a guided journal.
Before becoming a writer, Lynda earned a Bachelor of Education. She taught in a variety of settings, sharing her love of reading, writing and creating with children.
After her move to the Middle East in 2015, Lynda kicked off her writing career with her blog, Musings of an Emotional Creature. She was also a contributor for DQ Living magazine.
Lynda has published two novels based on real life as a series, The Healing and The Holding. She launched her guided journal, The Holding & The Healing Companion Journal on October 23, 2022. Lynda’s third novel, The Rogue Scorpion, is set to be released on April 23, 2023.
What inspires you to write?
I’m a storyteller who writes from the heart. I’m motivated because I love the writing process and I’m compelled to share messages of love, hope, self-growth, transformation, resilience and overcoming adversity. Since I can remember, I’ve loved words. I take joy in language in all forms. Whether I’m engaged in meaningful conversations, reading or writing, I feel in flow with words. Journaling is my most effective tool for understanding my feelings and the space where I reflect on how I think and feel about myself and the world around me. I enjoy reading fiction in many genres, especially stories based on real life. I enjoy reading non-fiction that inspires me to take a leap of faith and try new experiences. In my monthly blogs, I explore a variety of themes that intrigue me. Since I started writing novels, I discovered what lights me up from the depths of my soul. I’m confident that being a writer is my life purpose and I plan to write a novel a year for as long as I’m alive and able.
Tell us about your writing process.
I’m a planner and I work best within solid routines. I have both long and short-term goals with writing, and they include the creative part as well as the marketing and social media aspects of being an author. Mornings are my best creative time, when I’m the most focused, so I dedicate that time to projects like writing novels or blogs. When I’m writing a novel, it starts with an idea and grows in an organic process that isn’t linear, but back and forth. I’ll free-style write a scene, then have inspiration for a section of an outline. I’ll write an in-depth character sketch, then get drawn into researching something about the character that I need to know more about. As I’m writing, the process itself informs which directions to continue and which to let go, which themes I want to build on, and what messages are whispering to be revealed. I write the entire first draft of the manuscript and then take a break from it so that when I’m ready to start editing, I’m fresh. I have an intense eleven-step editing process that includes developmental and copy elements. Then I send it my editor/publisher, Anne O’Connell at OC Publishing. I feel so fortunate that I get to work with her to improve and polish my writing; it’s one of my favourite parts of the process.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I can’t say I have conversations with my characters out-loud. When I’m writing a novel, they do get under my skin, especially the main characters. I’ll find myself thinking of them when I’m not writing. I’ll imagine their responses to things that happen in my life. I become attached to them, like good friends, or in some cases, they’re the kind of people you know it’s a healthy boundary to keep your distance from.
Who are your favorite authors?
I have so many favourite authors and keep adding more to my list. In high school, I read Sidney Sheldon, Danielle Steele, Jeffrey Archer, Stephen King. In university I studied literature as part of my degree in Education and Margaret Atwood became my idol. I’ve read almost everything she’s written. I love everything I’ve read by Miriam Toews. Eckhart Tolle’s non-fiction spiritual and philosophy tombs are in my essentials category. Rohinton Mistry’s A Fine Balance is one of all-time most treasure reads. Elizabeth Gilbert, Richard Wright, Paulo Coelho, Wally Lamb, Khaled Kosseni, Michael Ondaatje, Annie Proulx, Kazoo Ishiguro, Ian McEwan, Lawrence Hill, Anne Marie MacDonald, Guy Vanderhaeghe, Emma Donahue, John Bemrose, Daniel Quinn, Celeste Ng… like I said, it’s a massive list that keeps growing.
What genres do you write?
I have written two novels based on real life as a series. The Healing is a women’s fiction and The Holding is a family drama. I’ve written a non-fiction guided journal as part of the series, The Holding & The Healing Companion Journal. My third novel, The Rogue Scorpion, which launches April 23, 2023, is another women’s fiction title and the manuscript I’m working on right now is a psychological drama. I would say that my novels lean towards literary fiction, as they are all highly character-driven stories that describe how people grow, change and transform as they navigate life’s triumphs and trials.
How did you choose the genre(s) you write?
I don’t choose to write by genre. I have an inspiration to tell a certain story and then after I finish writing it I have to determine to the best of my ability what genre it best fits into.
What three things are on your writing desk at any given moment?
My Apple MacBook laptop, a ballpoint pen that was a birthday gift from my husband, and stacks of notepads.
What hobbies do you have when you need a break from writing?
When either my body is stiff from sitting at my desk or my brain is drained from an intense writing session, I like to engage in physical activity to clear the cobwebs and loosen tight muscles. Often that means rolling out my yoga mat outside on our deck by the pool for an hour of hatha or yin postures. Sometimes I join my husband in our home gym for a solid treadmill and weights routine. And once in a while it’s a short switch up; a household chore, preparing a meal, or leisure time curled up with a good book.
What formats are your books in?
eBook, Print
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All information is provided by the author and is presented as it was submitted so you the reader get to hear the author’s own “voice” in their interview.
