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Smoking With Louise Jackson

Art by Marty D. Ison
Art by Marty D. Ison
Your story, "Tea and Biscuits," captures the inner dialogue of your character so well. Does that come easy for you?
Sometimes, if the character has a story s/he wants to tell. If I can't get into the mind of the character and stay there for the duration then the story ends up on the unfinished pile. I have a very big unfinished pile.

Details are woven in with ease throughout your piece. Would you like to share a little of your writing process? For example, do those details show up right away, or do you add them as you revise?
My stories are character driven and usually emerge complete with far too much detail. It's all about knowing when to shut up, but most of my characters don't have that skill.

Who are some of your favorite characters you've come to know through other authors' work as well as your own?
I fell in love with Heathcliff a long time ago.

We all have days when it's difficult to maintain our identity as a writer. How do you carve out enough space and time to write?
Harry, our genius pet hamster, came up with an exceptionally good writing schedule for me. If I don't produce, he starts eating my fingers. It works. Have you ever tried to type with two thumbs?

Read Tea and Biscuits.
Issue Three (March 15, 2004): The Lunchbox by Rebecca Marshall-Courtois «» Does It Please You? by Ellen Meister «» The Last Summer by John Mantooth «» Black Mollies by Jayne Pupek «» Mille Fleur by Bunny Goodjohn «» Holy Water by Rhonda Belt «» Jewel by Gary Cadwallader «» Fog by Maryanne Stahl «» The Floating by Brandon Hobson «» Metallic by Ellen Parker «» The Beekman Hill Window Box Contest by Patti Weisgerber «» Raptus Brisk by Brian Gaolor «» Salinger Pays Caulfield a Visit by Terry DeHart «» The Circle of His Arms by Wayne Scheer «» Streetlights in Rome by Aaron McQuiston «» Tea and Biscuits by Louise Jackson «» Mere Oblivion by Jane Sales «» Thirty-Nine Years of Carrie Wallace by Jeff Landon «» The Old Man Who Made Whistles by Tom Sheehan «» For Rent by DJ McDougle «» Interviews: Rebecca Marshall-Courtois «» Ellen Meister «» John Mantooth «» Jayne Pupek «» Bunny Goodjohn «» Rhonda Belt «» Gary Cadwallader «» Maryanne Stahl «» Brandon Hobson «» Ellen Parker «» Patti Weisgerber «» Brian Gaolor «» Terry DeHart «» Wayne Scheer «» Aaron McQuiston «» Louise Jackson «» Jane Sales «» Jeff Landon «» Tom Sheehan «» DJ McDougle «» Cover Art "Lady Considers" by Robert Dornberg «» Letter From the Editor
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