Rebecca Stirling is the Author of The Shell and the Octopus and this week’s Author interview.
Rebecca Stirling lives between Aspen, Colorado, and Kauai, Hawaii, with her two children. She teaches creative art and writing classes to help spread the knowledge and ingenuity of world cultures. She continues to sail and travel, read and write, and has a love for the stories individuals, cultures, and our earth have to tell.
What do you hope other people will take away from reading your book?
The examples of my parents and those who influenced my life gave me the strength and power to change and be a better example, to the best of my abilities, for those I might influence. I knew that if I did not, negative habits would only continue to affect further generations, namely my children, my sisters and their children. No matter how difficult, small, or personal, a troubled situation is, I am a champion for self-change for the big picture, as the implications of negative habits and misunderstanding become global, as our current geo-political climate attests to. I hope that readers will take this message with them after reading my book.
Who are your favorite authors (and why)?
I love and have been greatly inspired by: Cheryl Strayed (greatly for her writing and community presence), Lidia Yuchnavitch, Doris Lessing, Mary Karr, Pam Houston and Edna Obrien for their honesty and insight into worlds and situations I may not be privy to; Kaitlin B. Curtice, Wade Davis, Jamaica Baldwin for their exploration of cultures, identity, relationships, religion, and identity. I love Catherynne Valente, Alice Monroe, and Ursula Le Guin for their creativity and their offering of perspectives and ideas I may not be able to reach on my own.
What do you know now that you wish you’d known at the beginning of your writing journey?
I know more about the business of publishing, and that writers really need to be an advocate for themselves to make sure the message they want to portray is clearly conveyed. This takes a lot of time and revision and support. I wish that I had reached out for more support to understand the entire perspective of what my story might convey. At the same time this is challenging because at the beginning I did not have the insight or resources! I continue to write on my own and in writer groups.
What’s next for you?
I am working on two novels. One a continuation of the sailing adventures of our family friend who inspired me to write my story. The second a novel investigating the interactions of cultures, lands, religions and business practices in an increasingly global community through a story line of characters. I also am preparing to begin online and in person writing groups, targeting the beginning 2023.
How can our readers get a copy of your book?
IndieBound, Barnes and Noble, Amazon : Almost anywhere books are sold!
What is the best way for our readers to connect with you?
Facebook: Becky Stirling (Rebecca Stirling), Website: Rebeccastirlingwriter.com, instagram.com/rebecca.stirling/
