Author Interview - Deidre Havrelock

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Genre - Paranormal, Non-Fiction
Rating - PG13
More details about the book 


Connect with Deidre Havrelock on Facebook
Blog http://deidrehavrelock.wordpress.com/
Website http://www.deidrehavrelock.com/

If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose? 

First I’d like to spend some time with Jesus…learn as much as I could about whatever he wanted to talk about. But then, I’d really like to meet Joan of Arc. That would be cool. We’d hang out in my back yard and sip iced coffee and tell God-stories where crazy stuff happens. I think we’d get along. Yeah, we’d be best friends.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.

There are things that go on, strange supernatural things, that for your own safety—or the safety of your children—you should know about.

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects? 

I’m working to finish part two of Saving Mary…The Deliverance. The story of how I became unpossessed. I am also working to edit a book about the femininity of the Holy Spirit, The MotherHeart of God: Biblical Evidence for the Femininity of the Holy Spirit.

What inspired you to want to become a writer? 

My imagination, plus my mom read a lot. At a young age I wanted to write something for her to read, so I wrote The Bloody Dagger in grade three. I’m sure my story of a guy who hides in the shadows and chops up people impressed her. I know it impressed my teacher, Mrs. Whalen, who asked, “Don’t you have any happy thoughts?” I have a lot of happy thoughts now (so don’t worry).

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.

Just getting finished…getting the editing done, getting the file uploaded to Amazon—without weird formatting errors. Actually, there are still a few weird formatting errors. But still, I’m happy. Oh, and today my first reviews started coming out. It’s sinking in that people are actually going to read my book—and some of those people will like it! That’s rewarding.

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world.. which would it be? 

I Robot, that was a good book. I’d like to live in a world with robots and all those robot logic problems. I’d like to travel in space, too.

What is your dream cast for your book?

Hee-hee! That’s a good question. I’d want William Shatner to play my dad and Shirley MacLaine to play the overbearing spiritual leader who kicks me out of meditation group for having bad karma. Oh, and Christian Slater should play my brother, except he’s too old now. We’ll have to dump Christian Slater.  Drat!

What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen?

I read all sorts of gothic romances. That’s about all I read. Looking back, I was obviously obsessed with being saved.

Is there a song you could list as the theme song for your book or any of your characters?

How about “Can’t Cry Today” by Saving Mary  http://www.myspace.com/savingmaryuk

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?

Finish your book. Keep working. Enjoy the process. Cry a little. 

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? 

Medicine Hat, Canada. My dad lives there, and the weather is nice. I’m missing family these days.

What is your favorite Quote?

“Theology in the hands of the Holy Spirit is a beautiful science.” I don’t know who said it. Although, I think it was St. Hildegard. Email me if you know who said it! But I also like … “Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and I thought to myself, where the heck is the ceiling.”

Which authors have influence on you most.. how? 

I can’t say there’s been one author who has influenced me most. I have been influenced by genres. I like to read memoirs. True stories of people’s lives have always fascinated me. Favorite ones are Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes and Cartwheels in a Sari by Jayanti Tamm. But I’m also a fan of the gothic classics: Rebecca, The Monk, The Mysteries of Udolpho. If anyone is a fan of gothic they should read Art of Darkness by Anne Williams, where the male and female gothic traditions are discussed. Like this author, I don’t see the female gothic tradition (which includes the need to “be saved”) as intrinsically weak and pathetic. I see both traditions (including the male gothic model—which includes the need for punishment) as deep spiritual issues inside all of us. I could talk about gothic for hours. My favorite Christian book is Surprised By The Voice of God, by Jack Deere. (Read my book and you’ll understand why.) I also liked The Interior Castle by Teresa of Avila. And another favorite of mine is Scivias by St. Hildegard…it’s a book of visions that nobody has probably read.

In your wildest dreams, which author would you love to co-author a book with?

I’d like to write with Margaret Atwood—can you imagine? That would be awesome! Half the book would be great and the other half would be written by me!

What are your current literary works?  Any sneak peaks?

I’m currently working to finish part two of my memoir Saving Mary: The Deliverance. The story of how I got myself unpossessed. To prepare for this book, I contacted a bunch of my friends from high school including most of the ones who were present the day I became possessed (which happened during a transcendental meditation session). None of them were surprised that I had become possessed on that day. My friend Winston remembers us being told to make an “egg made of pure light” to protect ourselves with (which obviously didn’t work). The first thing my friend Rose said was, “I thought you’d be a Satanist by now.” My friend Doug (who also became obsessed with the spirit world) actually went to the same elementary school as me, and he’s in the picture on the front cover of my book (only he’s to the far left, so you can’t see him); his story of getting out of the occult is probably more fascinating than mine and maybe one day he’ll let me tell it!

 What is your favorite scene in the book and why do you love it?

 My favorite scene is at the beginning of the book when I’m in my room playing barbies and suddenly my dad screams out bloody murder, making my mom sprint down the stairs to save him. I like this part because my dad remembers the event so well. While lying on the couch, a tall and extremely thin man appeared to him; the spirit pointed one of its long bony fingers at him as if to say, “You’re coming with me.” My dad says he had never been so terrified in his life. The spirit he describes, by the way, sounds exactly like the spirit I call Fred (in the book)…who appeared to me in my dreams. Even though this isn’t a great memory for us, my dad and I feel connected through the event. The fact that we both saw the same spirit helps us to feel not so odd…or crazy.

Quickies:

   1. Favorite place? With my family.

   2. Best christmas present? I once got this toy dog that did back flips—that was pretty awesome.

   3. Favorite book(s)? Memoirs, Gothic, theology, Bible.

   4. Favorite author? Margaret Atwood, maybe.

   5. Favorite smell? Smoke and also flowers.

   6. Favorite series? Star Trek.

   7. Nickname? Let’s not talk about that.

   8. Favorite writing spot? Bed.

   9. Favorite movie? Anything Star Trek.

  10. Favorite dish? Curry or Japanese.

  11. Favorite color? Red, black, white, yellow, green…I like color.

 12. Favorite quote? “Theology in the hands of the Holy Spirit is a beautiful science.” But I also like… “Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and I thought to myself, where the heck is the ceiling.”

 13. A bunch of small gifts or one big expensive one? I’m a simple girl; I’d like a bunch of small gifts: a trip to Greece for just two, a million dollars in small bills, a small island.

14. Your best trait? Ask my husband…hopefully he knows.

15. Your worst trait? Ask my daughter…she’ll tell you, no problem.

16. Skittles or M&Ms? M &Ms with peanuts. Love ‘em.