Romance at Heart Magazine Author Interview: Clay Renick

Interview with Clay Renick:

Hi Clay. Thank you for doing this interview. I would like to welcome you to the Romance at Heart Interview and Author Grilling session. *bg* We are interested to find out as much about you as we possibly can, so lets get started...

- Please tell us about your latest book.

The title is Oregon Re-released and it’s about the people who suffer from Chronic Fatigue or immune disorders. Most people wouldn’t expect to see romance in that, but the problem can make you feel desperate. (About 800,000 Americans suffer from this and the cause and cure are still not clear.) The main character is a young internist who studies the disease and then gets involved with a writer who has Chronic Fatigue. That also leads to questions about life and hope—which can be typical for someone with this problem.

- What truly motivates you in general? In your writing?

William Wordsworth was a poet from the late 1700’s and would take long walks every day as a way to get ideas and reconnect with life. That’s wonderful advice. I run several miles with my dog at night and do my best thinking in those moments alone.

- Where do your ideas come from?

Dr. Rollo May was a psychiatrist who wrote a book about creativity called The Courage to Create. It’s a fascinating look at a topic that really isn’t covered much in the research. Dr. May claims there are several steps in any creative process. That can apply to painting, sculpture or anything. First the artist will have an “encounter” with the subject. They will notice the object, person or idea and something will happen inside them. An example is an oil painter who looks at a landscape and then develops some feelings because of that. This happens with writers when they feel “inspired”. I know a poet who gets ideas when they go to a pecan orchard in the mountains. That’s just the place that dredges up feelings or ideas.

The next step in the process is the “product”. You have this encounter and feel an urge to do something with it. The product is not a reproduction of the object—but something new based on your reaction to it. Flannery O’Connor was a writer from Georgia who believed you need to let the “product” come out in a way that seems to fit. For some people, that works best in song lyrics. Others seem more comfortable with short stories or novels. I wrote essays and columns for years. That form seemed to fit best. But some ideas seem to have a life of their own. Those, in my experience, developed into longer stories. It’s interesting to look back and trace the development. Most of my novels came from an encounter with a setting, character or problem.

- Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing?

My mother was a national essay winner in high school and painted all her life. She’s been one of my biggest encouragers. My wife continues to be a source of inspiration and ideas.

- How long have you been writing - have you always wanted to be a writer?

I started as a feature writer in college and took a job after graduation that put me on the road for a year all over the U.S., into Canada, Puerto Rico and Hawaii. The assignment was to write feature stories about volunteer missionaries. That’s how I met my wife. She worked in Jackpot, Nevada for a church.

- Which comes first, the story, the characters or the setting?

I start with the setting and characters. Usually they’re people at odds who struggle to find their way through problems that are beyond them.

- Are you in control of your characters or do they control you?

Scott, in this latest story was a complete surprise. He entered the story as a minor character and took over. I’ve never experience anything like that before. It was a shock but made perfect sense after the story was finished.

- What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?

There are a lot of readers who are hurting and need hope. I’ve talked with them. They find themselves in difficult problems (like health struggles or relationship trouble). And they wonder if anyone cares or if life is a random act in a universe that doesn’t make sense. I’ve been there. And I’ve experienced the kind of comfort that can help. My characters go through all those disasters and yet find the connections and insight to pull them through.

- Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?

Work from your heart. Follow your dream. Take a risk. Don’t play it safe. There’s so many people out there with advice that won’t help. Just get started and follow that path from within. You’ll know it when the story “works”. Hemingway said that no one can teach you how to write. You teach yourself.

Thank you very much Clay for taking the time with us and answering our questions. I really appreciate this interruption to your busy schedule. Good Luck, and we will be looking forward to the next delightful creation from your talented imagination! Oregon Re-released should be out from Romance At heart Publications in the New Year.

Yours in good reading,
Rose!

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