1. What is your occupation?
I am a professor and currently I work in University Administration. My professorship is in Leadership and Policy Studies and I specialize in the area of multicultural education, literacy, bi-literacy, second language acquisition, and leadership.
2. What do you like most about it?
I truly enjoy the freedom to co-discover knowledge with my students that we share with each other. The ability to influence policy in education in many different ways.
3. Who are some of your favorite writers?
I like Latina authors, especially in the genre or Chica Lit. Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez is one of my all time favorites, as well as Linda Powell-Nieves, Jamie Martinez, and Mary Castillo.
Check out my good reads at: http://www. goodreads. com/review/list/1174308 to see some of my all time favorites.
4. What genre(s) do you like and why?
I love all genres…fiction and non-fiction alike. In fiction, I especially like chick lit, romance novels. In non-fiction, I enjoy memoirs, self-help books, spirituality, and educational books.
5. How did you learn of myspace and what made you decide to join it?
I’ve learned of myspace from the media. My son helped me set up my first myspace page (as a Harry Potter fan) and then I discovered my writing friends and companions on myspace and started my writer’s page.
6. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I have very little spare time…but when I do have a moment to myself, I love to scrapbook, bike ride, take walks on the beach, travel, and visit with my children.
7. What makes you decide to pick up a book and buy it?
Usually a recommendation or the author. There are certain authors that I read religiously and when they have a new book out, I will get it and read it. My chica lit authors are in this column.
Secondly, recommendations from friends, colleagues, public figures (love Oprah’s picks) and book club recommendations.
I also read reviews and will pick up a book that appears to be interesting.
8. Who or what inspires you the most?
Powerful writers with a strong message—whether in fiction or non-fiction. I like books that tell a story, teach a lesson, make a point, or inspire others to do more, do better, be better human beings, or better world citizens.
9. What has been the best book you ever read?
Wow…so many books, how can I pick just one? It would have to be The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It is the first book that truly inspired me to believe in the magic of my dreams, the power of the mind, and the case for serendipity.
10. What's the most important thing for a writer to keep with them?
A spirit of fun and enthusiasm. You cannot take yourself or your craft too seriously. You have to let your muse out to play on a regular basis.
11. What made you pick your career field?
I love kids and I love education and I wanted to do something that combined both. I started as a kindergarten teacher and have been in education ever since. Now, I am an educational consultant, working to start my own company, EZ Bilingual to promote bilingualism through literacy, and I work for the Cal State System in California.
12. What has been your biggest accomplishment within your career field?
Achieving my Ph.D. and becoming known in the field of second language acquisition. I have numerous published articles and have worked very closely with schools to help them implement effective programs, especially for Latinos.
13. What are a few of your favorite websites?
I love MySpace for the friendship and camaraderie I have found there. I also love
In the Company of Sistas: http://www. inthecompanyofsistas. com/index. php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
Blacktino: http://www. community. blacktino. net/profile/Zulmara
Latinsonline: http://www. latinsonline. com/profilefamily. php?id=latinsonline/Zulmara&familyname=latinsonline&flag=
ABLA: http://arteabla. ning. com/profile/Zulmara
Goodreads: http://www. goodreads. com/review/list/1174308
They are all top notch sites for social net working and meeting AWESOME individuals.
And, of course, my own site, EZ Bilingual: ezbilingual. net
14. Have you written anything available to the public?
I have numerous published articles that come up with you google my name, Zulmara Cline. I also have a story published in Chicken Soup in the Latino Soul…English and Spanish.
15. What issues touch you the most?
Today, Immigration and the plight of immigrants touches me the most, especially the unfairness of it all to our children. I truly believe we are all God’s children and that there is a certain amount of greed from corporate execs who keep illegals, illegal. While the companies that exploit the workers are given a free ride.
I am also very interested in the presidential race and helping to elect Obama…he is AWESOME and we need change and hope. The taking from the rich to give to the poor we have experienced lately…has to come to an end.
16. What advice would you give to someone wishing to go into your career field?
REAd, read, read, and read some more. you have to be knowledgeable and on top of your field to be a professor. It is the best job in the world because it allows you to follow your passions and to make a difference.
17. Are there any places that inspire you?
The ocean…I love the beach and I especially love the beaches in So Cal and Brasil…the two places I call home.
18. What would the title of a book be about your life?
Rewriting the Memories…I love the sound and freedom of that phrase…and Loving and Dancing her Way to Happiness
19. What keeps you going through difficult times?
Poems and poetry, journaling, and writing…I write through the good times and I write through the bad times, it never fails to make me feel better and take to that place for healing or celebrating.
It’s about truth
It’s about knowing
It’s about making your way
It’s about walking through
To the other side
And feeling at home there, too.
Interview with Rebecca Benston
Author of the Rona Shively series
Who or what inspired you to create Rona Shively?
Rona is actually a composite of some of my favorite characters. She’s also a little like myself. I’m an avid mystery reader and some of my favorites are Kinsey Millhone, Stephanie Plum and Lisa Scottoline’s Bennie Rosato. Rona has the quiet intensity of Kinsey, the sassy attitude of Stephanie Plum and the independent streak of Bennie Rosato. She get’s her sense of humor from me, though.
What do you like most about series writing?
I like having the opportunity to make my characters grow and evolve. I wanted to write a series that captured what it’s like to go through life with all of its ups and downs. Rona is a very real character who reacts to things in much the same way I might react to them. You’ll see more of this in book three when she is dealing with her father’s illness. Rona’s emotional side will be coming through loud and clear and I’m hoping that you’ll have to have a box of tissues beside you just to get through it.
When did you decide to start writing, and what made you want to write?
I have been writing for as long as I can remember. I started with poetry, and then evolved to writing songs, and finally, I began to create characters and plots that I just couldn’t let go of until I had them on the page. This has been almost a lifelong pursuit and I can’t imagine life without writing.
What other writers do you enjoy reading and why?
I read Lisa Scottoline, Janet Evanovich, Sue Grafton and Sarah Strohmeyer almost religiously. When I’m up to it, I tackle James Patterson, J.A. Konrath, and Patricia Cornwell. I really have to be in a good place to read the latter three. They can get downright scary. I’m never disappointed by these authors and I feel that I have learned a lot from reading their work. Anytime I can learn from something, it becomes something that I truly enjoy.
What do you do for writers block?
I let it ride. Sometimes, you just have to step away from it and wait for inspiration to strike again. It may take an hour; it may take a couple of months. I just try to do other things that are related to editing or promoting my writing while I’m getting recharged so that I never forget how important it is to me. I think that staying connected to your work in some capacity is the key. Even if you’re not actually writing new pages.
What has been your best writing experience so far?
I think that so far, my best experience was placing in a Writer’s Digest contest. Although I was only #23 out of the top 25, that’s something. The cool thing about it was that I did so with a story that came from personal observation. It meant so much for me to write it and then to be recognized for the piece. The only thing better than that is hearing someone tell you that they really enjoyed reading your book!
What’s next for you, and Rona Shively?
As I said, Rona is going through some emotional stuff in Keeping the Faith. It has been so emotional, in fact that I have had to step away from it a few times. My year hasn’t been so great personally and some of what I was writing was hitting too close to home. I’m sure that by the end of this year, we’ll both (Rona and I) be ready for number four!
Aside from that, I’m going to keep writing short stories and articles. I have lots of opinions and it’s not uncommon for me to be perturbed by something and then turn around and write an article over at Associated Content or on my blog. While I love writing mystery, I also want to focus my attention on getting some opinions out there and writing the occasional substantive article on women’s issues. I have a women’s self-esteem book in the works and some other autobiographical stuff I’m compiling. One day, I hope to write something that will not only be entertaining, but also helpful to others.
Thanks for your time Rebecca!
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