AUTHOR INTERVIEW 

  Q. 1.  When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

       A. 1.  Writing has been intrinsic to my life from an early age—it’s part of me. I started journaling daily as a freshman in high school. And my mother was a wonderful writer of long, colorful letters that I’d read at her typewriter when she was off cooking or something. Through her, I saw the creativity in how she described the life of our family. She painted pictures and cartoons with her unexpected wording and quirky perspective. Plus she gave me a gorgeous, moss-green, compact, portable typewriter for Christmas when I was about 15, that really enhanced writing for me. But I always knew that getting published was a critical step I’d somehow have to manifest.

      Q. 2. What was your publishing journey like?

          A. 2.  My first freelance newspaper article was published when I was 35. That seemed miraculous, so I took the ball and ran, publishing over 100 articles in the next 6 years. Plus I always worked on my books and poetry. But back then, both female authors and memoir writers were practically non-existent. Next, I got into screenwriting—a tough and intimidating passtime. (Curiously, all 3 of my final screenplays are actually under submission right now. A nice thing about writing is that it often has a long shelf life!) In 2011, with numerous books close to completion, I spent a full year researching self-publishing, and decided to not only go for it but to do it right—a decision that cost me more hard work than I ever imagined. Producing a well-written, good-looking book by your lonesome involves intense solitude and a sorry dollop of disillusion. The first 4-5 years were among the most strenuous undertakings of my life. Now, 8 years since my first book release, I’m relieved the learning curve has finally curved. What carried me through, aside from Häagen-Dazs, was having a vast body of work to begin with and believing that ultimately I’d have 10+ books. Thus, navigating the technology and developing realistic expectations would one day be worth the duress.

      Q.  3.  You have five published books so far; is there a sequence in which they should be read?

      A.  3.  Actually, no. Each book stands alone. In fact, each book is so distinctly itself, I sometimes wonder if one consistent voice comes through my whole collection. And, although together they do comprise one huge book recounting a life, each has its own time, place and intention. And each serves the reader differently. "I Did Inhale—Memoir of a Hippie Chick" is pure adventure, audacity and fun; "Some Swamis are Fat" (under pen-name Ava Greene) is more of a spiritual quest; "Stars in Our Eyes" is true stories about Hollywood, the arts, romance, ambition, and coincidence; "Expedition Costa Rica" is a physical undertaking extreme; and of course "Silence of Islands—poems" is a full-on emotional dive. So there’s no required reading sequence, though obviously there was a chronology of events, as well as some maturing of the writer over time. But I’m big on attaching dates to most of my writing—helpful with memoir. But if you did want to read them in actual order, your best bet would be: 1) "I Did Inhale," 2) "Stars in Our Eyes," 3) "Expedition Costa Rica," 4) "Some Swamis are Fat," and 5) "Silence of Islands — poems." 6) And then my next one, "Nicaragua Story — Back Roads of the Contra War," will be out. But it’s just as much fun to grab them in any sequence, knowing each will be its own trip.

      Q.  4.  What are your other interests? 

      A.  4.  I love nature. That means ample time in my tropical garden and time with my cat and rooster. I immerse myself in the clean ocean, inhale tradewind magic, and lie in the grass under the star-studded sky—where I also do my yoga. I look out for the tiny creatures, rescuing spiders, insects, and baby birds on a daily basis—plenty of critters in the tropics! I love languages and travel (to anywhere and everywhere); yoga forever; and luxurious SLEEP. I relish being self-made and financially independent, and put energy into staying this way—even through the rigors of landlording! With the passage of time, I become more spiritual. As more friends and relations leave here, their souls abound in the ethers and I savor their offerings. They see us grappling with earthbound issues and they enjoy lifting us and lightening our loads. And…I’m a big fan of Survivor!

Q. 5.  What is your writing ritual?

A.  5. Unless it’s dead of night and I’m in bed or sitting out under the moon, in which case I use my laptop, for first drafts I normally drive to a beautiful and quiet spot nearby—beach, woods, or someplace with a river or mountain view. Once situated, I roll back the driver’s seat, stick my foot out the window, pull out my clipboard stacked with recycled paper, and write long-hand for hours at a time. It’s usually morning, often sunrise. Gazing upon nature’s bounty between writing bursts, I preserve my sanity and eyesight. A mocha frappé in summer or hot chocolate in winter are required fuel. My editing ritual is similar, but time of day is optional, as if caffeine. When editing, I print out the complete draft, double-spaced with wide margins; then, with extra pens handy, I approach the manuscript as a critical reader now. I’m a ruthless editor—when in doubt, throw it out.

      Q.  6.  What are your thoughts about the pandemic? 

      A.  6.  Without waxing political, I’ve felt strongly for well over a decade that you can no longer rely on the outside world for truth or morality or even credibility. I believe firmly in practicing and nurturing one’s own sanity, health, and spirit in one’s own way. Whether through nature, activities, animals, personal discipline, creativity, music, meditation, spiritual reading, giving and loving, all of the above…you’ve got to have your own beautful bubble to dwell in, to return home to, to restore yourself in, to expand and dream in, and to have complete faith in. Now more than ever. This is not the time to seek answers from media, government, or outside influences. Build your own strength and solace. It’s a CRAZY time! And you’ve got to have some home 'base' (even your special tree in the city park or your morning walk) that’s beautiful, real, and valuable that you can depend on daily.

      Q.  7.  Where can people find you?

      A.  7.  In Hawai’i. : ) Or at "WendyRaebeck.com". They can email me at 'wmraebeck@gmail.com,' can order all my books absolutely anywhere—on line or through book stores, or ask libraries to stock them. All my books are available in paperback and ebook, with audio in the works. My next book is "Nicaragua Story — Back Roads of the Contra War," ready in  early 2021. I’d love readers of your blog to join my email list! I send out a message every 2-3 months with updates about my new books, and occasional ditties about this or that, along with exclusive offers for only my list.

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Meet the Author:

W. M. Raebeck's trademarks are humorous candor, spiritual stretching, and frequent exits from the comfort zone. She lives in Hawaii, with regular Mainland visits. Her 5 books to date are true-life accounts, from the misadventures of a sugar-freak hippie chick ('I Did Inhale'), to 20 stories about art, Hollywood, and spirits ('Stars in Our Eyes'), to trekking through the Costa Rican rainforest ('Expedition Costa Rica'), to teaching yoga in Santa Monica ('Some Swamis are Fat'),* and now her poetry collection, 'Silence of Islands.' Before authoring, Raebeck was a film and television actress based in LA, London, and NYC. She went on to freelance journalism, contributing to the then-alternative world of green politics, environmental protection, U.S. involvement in Central American wars, socially conscious investing, and much more. Her articles were always accompanied by her own photography, including numerous cover stories for the LA Weekly and other papers like the East Hampton Star from her former hometown. In Raebeck's personal life, yoga and natural health (sugar notwithstanding) remain institutions. As is maintaining a zero-waste household. Animal rights and environmental activism are lifelong commitments, including all-too-frequent bird rescue. W. M. Raebeck's books are available in print and ebook worldwide, and can be ordered from any book store or library. Audio editions are in the works! For additional info, or to join the email list, visit WendyRaebeck.com. Her next book, 'Nicaragua Story—Back Roads of the Contra War,' takes a hard look at a people's war, and will be out in 2021. * 'Some Swamis are Fat' is under the pen-name Ava Greene.

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