Best of Family & Relationships
Best of Family & Relationships
"So Many Books, So Little Time!"
Exclusive Interview with
Rebecca Wells Phillips
When did you start writing?
I first fell in love with writing in high school in 1987, but I didn’t publish my first book until November 2023.
What makes writing your passion?
With a history of depression and suicidal ideation, writing has been a way to escape the pain and heal from the pain.
How long have you been writing?
Almost 40 years
What was the feeling when you published your first book?
I was ecstatic and relieved that I’d finally done it. I’d written Hating Self by Boo Black, but I didn’t publish it for 10 years.
What’s the story behind your choice of characters?
My characters first come to me through my dreams.
What annoys you the most in pursuing a writing career?
All the scammers and losing money to those scammers have almost made me quit writing, but I’m not a quitter!
How do you get over the “writer’s block”?
I work a 12-hour shift job, so I can only write on my days off. However, if I don’t feel like writing, I just don’t do it. I never force it.
We all know the writer’s path is never easy, what makes you keep going? What advice would you give to new authors?
Don’t ever quit, but if you need time away, take it. There’s no shame in putting your needs first.
If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you say?
Keep writing and ignore the naysayers. Stop comparing your writing and skills to other authors. You’re not the same.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with the bad ones?
I read reviews to understand why someone likes or doesn’t like my books. If there’s something I can change that will make my writing better, then I do it. If I disagree, I just file it away.
What is the feeling when you get a good review?
I have a difficult time accepting that I’m a good writer. When I see a stranger’s glowing review, I have to read it multiple times to believe what I’m seeing.
Have you ever incorporated something that happened to you in real life into your novels?
All of my writings have a piece of me and my truth in them.
Which of your characters you can compare yourself with? Did you base that character on you?
Sally Renee Grace in Butterfly Blossoms by Rachel Bleu discovers that she is lesbian. I divorced my husband of 32 years because I finally accepted the same about myself.
What do you think, the book cover is as important as the story?
Definitely! That first glance at your book cover pulls the reader in and it really can make or break you.
Do you connect with your readers? Do you mind having a chat with them or you prefer to express yourself through your writing?
I always connect with my readers through social media, emails, texts, and phone calls. I love talking to people!
How do you feel when people appreciate your work or recognize you in public?
I love it when someone stops me and says, “Hey, I know you. I watch your daily LIVE events!”
Who is your favorite author? Why?
Iris Johansen and her Eve Duncan series is my favorite because the protagonist suffers the horrible loss of her child, but she takes that pain and uses it to help other parents.
What’s the dream? Whom would you like to be as big as?
I want to be as big as Oprah Winfrey because she’s my idol.
Would you rewrite any of your books? Why?
Nope.
If you could switch places with any author – who would that be?
No one. I’m not them. I’m different.
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.
I have nothing to say about them. They’re not my concern.
What would you say to your readers?
Thank you for taking a chance with me.
Share a bit about yourself – where do you live, are you married, do you have kids?
I was born in East Tennessee, but I’ve been living in Asheville, North Carolina since 2015. I’m divorced, but I have one daughter and two granddaughters.
What is your day job if you have one?
Inspector Packer at a medical manufacturer.
What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time?
Read, write, ride motorcycles, participate in podcasts, and play with my three dogs, Smokey, Chaos, and Rylee Anne.
Did you have a happy childhood?
My book, Hating Self by Boo Black, discusses my traumatic childhood, so the answer is a definite NO.
Is there a particular experience that made you start writing?
I loved reading and writing because I was a little black girl in an all-white town and I couldn’t play sports. So, my best friend was books.
Do you have unpublished books? What are they about?
I’m working on Dragonfly Passion which is the sequel to Butterfly Blossoms by Rachel Bleu and its adult LGBTQ fiction. Lift Our Voice: Abuse Survivors Speak Their Truth is self-explanatory.
What do you think should be improved in the education of our children? What do we lack?
Reading comprehension
If you were allowed 3 wishes – what would they be?
Become debt-free, be able to write books/poetry/short stories full-time, and world peace.
What is your favorite music?
All music is my jam.
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