Interview with Isabelle Hardesty Author of Jades Awakening

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books? I get my ideas from my life experiences. No, I don’t know any real fairies, shapeshifters or witches, at least not yet. For the fantasy element, my imagination is key.  Reading, painting and music all feed my imagination.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

When not writing, I’m usually spending time with my family, painting or thinking of new ideas for my next book.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

I learned that I love writing dialogue. At first the idea was daunting, but as I began, I realized it was so much fun.

Do you Google yourself?  Yes, I’ve done this. It’s comforting to find there have been other women who have been named Isabelle Hardesty and they lived over a hundred years ago. I love that more than seeing information about me.

What is your favorite childhood book? I loved Wuthering Heights in middle school. I loved Charlotte’s Web in elementary school.

What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?

For me, it’s pulling the unnecessary  ideas to the side and letting the golden ideas shine. The possibilities are endless for a story or scene, but the writer has to get to the gold and ignore the other distracting shiny things.

Does your family support your career as a writer? Yes, I am happy to say.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

It varies. I wrote my novel, The Witch of Belle Fleur, in five months. The editing process took me until about February. That’s when I felt that it was ready. For my novellas, the process is about four months.

Do you believe in writer's block? Yes and no. I know it's real, but I also know that it can be overcome with hard work.

Do you have any rituals before writing? I have these two unicorn figurines that I place near my laptop. I may light a candle and there is usually a hot cup of tea involved in the process. While writing, I listen to music that fits my scene.

What is your biggest fear?

My biggest fear is a world without love and compassion.