Dragon Soul Press took some time to interview S.J. Walker, an author featured in The Hunt, Malice, Crime Wave, and Beautiful Darkness: Vol Three.

---

Hello! I am S.J. Walker and I am deeply honored to be part of the Dragon Soul Press community! I work as a full-time mother of two cute, little ones. Sleepless by night, coffee enthusiast by day, I graduated summa cum laude with my B.A. in Psychology. When I’m not navigating parenthood, I’m drawing, painting, reading and, of course, writing. I love to be creative and I encourage my kids in their artistic endeavors as well. Our house is practically a canvas because the fridge ran out of space to hang artwork. 

1. What prompted you to begin writing?
   • I fell in love with writing as a preteen when I first read “The Tale of Emily Windsnap” by Liz Kessler. As an impressionable little girl, I was captivated by fantasies of being a mermaid and going on mythical adventures! I loved reading so much I kept going and this made me want to write my own stories. One of my teenage favorites was “Impossible” by Nancy Werlin. I’m constantly inspired to create narratives as captivating as my favorite books. I want to provoke the same feelings in others that I experience from reading them.
2. Do you have a favorite story or poem you’ve written? What’s it about?
   • I wrote a short story called “Isolated,” which is published in the “Crime Wave” anthology with DSP. The story is about a character who suffers from loneliness because everyone he touches shatters like shards of glass. When I wrote it, I loved delving into the deepest darkest parts of the mind. Majoring in Psychology, I love to study human behavior so stretching my imagination to how a human being might react in such an extreme situation was a fun thought experiment. I was also a big fan of “The Twilight Zone” growing up, and this story made me think of something similar to that show.
3.  How many projects do you have planned over the next few years? Tell us about one.
   • I will continue to write short stories as ideas pop into mind. My big goal is to write and complete a novel. Every time I pick up a full-length book to read, I think this is someone’s crowning achievement and “wow.” Books are amazing things! I wrote a novel back in 2017, but it wasn’t good enough to published. I looked through it recently and cringed! I’ve practiced a lot with the craft since then so I’m hoping I’ll make something better in future, or perhaps rewrite the original one. 
4. What is your writing process like?
   • I am very much a pantser, though I am making an active effort to be more of a planner. Sometimes, I’ll write certain scenarios or fantasies that play through my mind. Some of my best ideas come to me when I’m in the shower for some reason. My story “Stay Calm,” published in the “Beautiful Darkness” anthology, is one story that randomly came to my mind while I was showering. I try to jot these ideas quickly before I forget so that, when I sit down to actually write, I have a starting point because I don’t like that isolating feeling of a blank word document. 
5. Where do you draw inspiration from?
   • My inspiration mostly comes from books. I also like to read literary journals and magazines. Sometimes reading one story will give me the inspiration and “boost” I need to work or start my own stories.
6. Who is your favorite author / what is your favorite book?
   • I love the book, “Dark Matter,” by Blake Crouch. When I finished reading that book, I was amazed and inspired to write something equally as great. I love thriller stories with a touch of love/romance. “Things that go bump in the night” are fun too!
7. What is one goal you have for your writing future?
   • In the future I would like to compete a novel that is ideal for publication. While I have been writing short stories, I’ve been thinking about and planning to write a novel. I may start with something smaller like a novella and work my way up.
8. What do you hope readers enjoy most from your work?
   • I hope my readers will feel something from my work, whether it is positive or negative. If my reader is angry at my main character it will be a compliment, as decent as if my character is loved. I hope my work provokes a reaction – good or bad – that makes the story memorable. I would also be honored if my readers read my work and felt compelled to write their own. I would love to inspire other writers the same way other writers inspire me. 
9. Where can readers learn more about you?
   • Right now I’m most active on my author Facebook page. I post whenever I have a new story getting published.