AuThursday – G. A. Anderson

Tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I’m a self-employed behavioral health consultant, mom, and wife. I’ve been writing since I was in college and just had my debut novel published. South of Happily, a light-hearted story about the secrets and pain that send the life of a first-generation Hungarian American sideways.

How do you make time to write?

In between work, family, and caring for my aging mother. It’s taken me 20 years to write this book.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

Yes!

Tell us a bit about the genre you write and why you love it.

Fiction and humor. I believe people like to read stories they can relate to. Not too close, but bits and pieces need to touch you in some way. Humor, dry humor—it’s how I think, I have no way to keep it out of my writing. I recently got a review saying: “I laughed, I cried, and my cheeks hurt by the end of the book.”

How are you publishing your recent book and why? 

Published by Black Rose Writing. No agent. The book is available at all the usual booksellers.

Are you an Introvert or an Extrovert?  How does this affect your work?

Introvert. I’m more comfortable writing down what I think than telling you or making a speech. Working on this…as I’ve had to make a few speeches and I’m going to be on a few authors’ panels this spring.

What is your favorite motivational phrase?

There was an old Michael Jackson song about being backed into a corner…having nowhere to go and needing to just stand up and do it. I still remember hearing that when I was about 15, and it stays with me today.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Don’t do it for the money.

Where can readers find you on the World Wide Web?

www.anderson-author.com , Facebook, TikTok and Instagram

Do you have an excerpt you’d like to share with us?

Wrinkled, white-haired people, who in my youth, told stories about some mysterious past while Mom shushed them and covered my ears. My grandmother was the exception. She’d smile, pinch my cheeks, and say in broken English, “go finding your happily”.