Exclusive Interview with
Birdy Rivers
When did you start writing?
I started writing in my teens as a way to cope with depression and anxiety. In college I wrote my first book which started me on my path to becoming an author.
What makes writing your passion?
Writing has been a coping mechanism for me to help with depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Writing has helped me so much in my life as a healthy outlet.
How long have you been writing?
Since my teens. Professionally, a few years.
What was the feeling when you published your first book?
Surreal. It was a huge accomplishment.
What’s the story behind your choice of characters?
I like to write characters that people can relate to so you will see my characters deal with a variety of things. Examples are anxiety, depression, PTSD, body image issues, and other struggles that many experience
What annoys you the most in pursuing a writing career?
No one tells you the amount of work that goes into it being an author. Many think you just write words and that's it. It's so much more. Authors are editors, promoters, need a social media presence, and so much more. It's something you have to love or else the hassle of it all might not feel worth it.
How do you get over the “writer’s block”?
Sometimes. Depending on the project I might take a step back from it and focus on something new. Come back with fresh eyes later on. Sometimes I will listen to music or take nature walks to help fuel inspiration.
We all know the writer’s path is never easy, what makes you keep going? What advice would you give to new authors?
I love writing and being an author. While it' snot always easy and sometimes you get discouraged, if it's something you love you will keep fighting for that dream. For me this a dream I'm giving my all to this because nothing less is acceptable to me. This is my dream and I will chase it.
If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you say?
I would say everything works out the way it supposed to.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with the bad ones?
I do. I take the bad ones with a grain of salt. The reality it is my book won't be for everyone who reads it, it's just something you have to accept because it makes those not so good reviews not so bad.
What is the feeling when you get a good review?
Excited and happy. It's always great to see how my stories have positively affected my readers.
Have you ever incorporated something that happened to you in real life into your novels?
Yes. A good portion is based off of my life experiences, events, and even dreams.
Which of your characters you can compare yourself with? Did you base that character on you?
I honestly put a little touch of myself in my main female leads. Sometimes it's a personality traits, something that happens to them, or even a hobby.
What do you think, the book cover is as important as the story?
I think book covers help draw readers, but at the same time we are all taught not to judge a book by it's cover.
Do you connect with your readers? Do you mind having a chat with them or you prefer to express yourself through your writing?
I love connecting with readers. Some have even become good friends of mine. I'm always open to chat to readers who reach out to me. My readers are important to me because I know without them I wouldn't have a career as an author.
How do you feel when people appreciate your work or recognize you in public?
It feel amazing to be appreciated. No one has recognized me in public, yet.
Who is your favorite author? Why?
I have far too many authors to list as they all have played a part in my journey as a reader and author.
What’s the dream? Whom would you like to be as big as?
I'd love to be a big time author, to have the recognition and fan base. However, I'm not in it for fame or money. While those things are nice they aren't goals of mine. Writing is something that helps me and allows me to help others in the process. I'm much happier knowing that I've helped or touched someone's life.
Would you rewrite any of your books? Why?
No, not published books. I do rewriting before I publish to insure that I have the story I want out in the world.
If you could switch places with any author – who would that be?
Oh man, that's a tough one. I'm not so sure I'd switch places, but I'd love to sit down and have a chat.
What would you say to the “trolls” on the internet? We all know them – people who like to write awful reviews to books they’ve never read or didn’t like that much, just to annoy the author.
The trolls are there and you will run into them if you have an online presence. This is one of those be the bigger person moments. It's sad when people give false bad reviews for silly reasons, however there isn't much you can do about it. Author pour their blood, sweat, emotions, and tears into their books, at least I do so it's hard when you get a bad review that you know you didn't deserve because of a troll. Book reviews are a lot like movie reviews. You need to read or watch it yourself to see how you feel about it.
What would you say to your readers?
I greatly appreciate my readers and their support. It means a lot to me and my little author heart thanks you all from the bottom of my heart.
Share a bit about yourself – where do you live, are you married, do you have kids?
What is your day job if you have one?
What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time?
Did you have a happy childhood?
Is there a particular experience that made you start writing?
Do you have unpublished books? What are they about?
What do you think should be improved in the education of our children? What do we lack?
If you were allowed 3 wishes – what would they be?
What is your favorite music?
Share a secret with us 🙂