Author B.W. Green Interview

booktalkwithbookis
Jul 29
6 min read

What is something unique about your writing process?

Two things come to mind: a strange obsession with making my story better and organic writing > outlines. I didn't really mean to write a book to begin with. I just love stories and decided to write down a story that I couldn't get out of my head. And then I became strangely obsessed about making it better. I say “strangely” because obsessed with perfection isn't how I get to operate as a mom of two littles. No meal, no diaper job, no response to my screaming child has time to be obsessed over. It's as good as it gets. And then I have to move to the next one. It's maddening and messy and it's my reality. But here I am with some perfectionist obsession I thought I lost back in grad school, determined to make my little story better. To learn what makes a story a story. To learn how that thing might actually work. What that person might really think. How to write it to pull you, the reader, into my story with me.

When I started writing, I wrote an outline, but only after I wrote the story. To me, the fun of the story was not quite knowing where it was going. Of course that got a little unwieldy pretty fast. When I started my obsession with making it better, I picked up a book by Steven James (whose fiction I already loved) called Story Trumps Structure. He introduced me to a whole new world of understanding storytelling. It isn’t “pantsing” but writing organically–following the character’s logical next decision, deepening the struggle, and increasing the tension until it reaches a crisis point and the logical and yet unexpected resolution. Organic writing fits with how I love to write while making story so much better.

Lifeblood mostly takes place in NYC, where you also lived for a time. What about The Big Apple drew you for the setting?

New York City is not quite like any place else I've lived. I lived in the busy city for ten months as a newlywed in a 250 square foot Brooklyn apartment. I loved it.

The city is both modern and historic, cutting edge but a little dirty and worn out. It is full of people, and yet it's easy to go unseen there.

It was simply the best place for a character who is different to blend into the crowd, the best place for people of wildly different backgrounds to coexist, and the best place to live if you'd prefer to remain in the dark while searching for answers.

Why did you choose to focus Lifeblood on friendship, rather than a romantic relationship?

My story’s main struggle starts with something bad happening to a person, and then unfolds as he searches for answers and a way to escape it. It’s a good sci-fi/fantasy plot, yes? But people are relational beings. Nothing happens without relationships, so those must be included in a good story. Romantic relationships are often the primary relationship explored in fiction. For reasons intrinsic to the central struggle, my main character has some romantic issues, but they aren’t the central relationship I chose to explore. In my experience, friendship is a vital relationship, but one that is sometimes overlooked. I wouldn’t be able to overcome or achieve what I have without a few great friends, and friendship might just be just as important to my main character.

What songs or type of music did you listen to the most while writing?

Music is my way of getting into the mood of my story, whether I’m actively writing or doing other life while thinking about it. Some songs really became synonymous in my mind with a scene or a character. I started a Spotify playlist with whatever fit the mood or tone of the scene I was contemplating. The result is quite the mashup of instrumental soundtracks, theatrical pop, some indie pop, and probably a genre that I don't know the name of! I’m sharing some of the songs that became my own personal soundtrack to the book on Instagram, but you can have a sneak peek below.

Lifeblood Part I - playlist by BethanyGreen | Spotify https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6xucS6qj3KTxyNm3t7eary

What sort of research did you do for your novel?

My main character is a geneticist. And I am not. So I did quite a bit of online research about various genetic topics and followed a lot of rabbit trails that spurred a lot of new ideas into topics like virology and hematology. I do have a master's degree in nursing and experience researching for my master's paper, and the familiarity of reading research articles was definitely an asset.

When I realized I was actually publishing this book, I finally worked up the nerve to ask a geneticist I know to read over some of my scientific scenes. Besides giving the amazing feedback that she loved my premise (!!), she gave me invaluable feedback on the academic scene in general and specific pointers on some of the science that I eagerly adapted to be more accurate.

Otherwise, my favorite research tactic is talking with people who are experts on something I am not–such as pouring over pictures from my friends who went to Romania, asking to my husband who worked as an EMT how the back of an ambulance is stocked, or asking my counselor friend if I got my trauma responses believable.

How long did it take you to write your debut and how did you find time in your busy schedule to write?

The whole process took me two years. I have two young girls and work part time, so of course alone time is at a premium. I started imagining my story while playing blocks with my toddler. I think up ideas and fix plot holes while cleaning the bathroom, on walks, while driving the kids around, in the shower (all the big decisions were made in the shower!), and while trying to go to sleep. I often jot ideas down in quick snippets on my phone so I don’t lose them in between all the other things. When it comes to actually writing, that has mostly happened during nap time. I am quite protective of that time. I do housework and cooking at other times, usually with my girls involved, and sit down with my computer, notes, my tea, and sometimes my cat every day at 1 p.m. Sometimes it's difficult to avoid distractions as I start, but as soon as I get going, there's nothing I'd rather be doing than working out how this story unfolds. By skipping TV, scrolling, or other distractions (sometimes other hobbies and home projects!), I’ve also been able to snatch up odd times such as when the kids have gone to bed and my husband is working late or a couple hours at a coffee shop after I drop off my oldest at co-op to write and edit.

What are the best ways a reader can support indie authors?

I’m just starting out, but it seems that one of the biggest hurdles for an indie author is the lack of validation that a big publisher can give. There’s no one saying “this is a good book, try it” for me right out of the gate. My validation comes from my reader community. So I think the best way to support an indie author is first to take a chance on the book–and your time is valuable, so I know that is a big ask. And then, if you like it, tell the whole world. Like, everyone. Write a review on Amazon, on Goodreads, on whatever review site you like (and tell me if Lifeblood isn’t there yet!). Recommend it to your friends. Interact with my posts on social media. If you have a local Indie Bookstore you like, support us both at the same time by requesting they order Lifeblood from IngramSparks (they can look it up by title and author or by ISBN - 979-8-218-68080-0).

What format(s) is Lifeblood available in & where can readers find the book?

E-book on Kindle and paperback on Amazon, IngramSpark, and Barns and Noble online, on shelves in Albertville, Al at Shades of Pemberley Bookstore (and your local bookstore if they order it!)

You can find the author on Instagram @bwgreen_author

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