It gives me enormous pleasure to wecome Regina Puckett onto the website today. Regina is a prolific multi-genre author who has been writing for 48 years. She has a stack of awards to show for it and simply can't stop. "The only way I can shut my characters up," she says, "is to write their stories."
Alex: Tell me a bit about yourself, Regina.
Regina: I was raised in a small town in middle Tennessee. I didn’t really become much of a reader until the seventh grade. That was also the year I knew I wanted to become a writer. But sadly, as much as I wanted to become one, I thought that was nothing more than a pipe dream.
A few years later, after I graduated from high school, I married my high school sweetheart. It wasn’t until my daughters were both born that I tried my hand at writing a full-length book. Unfortunately, those first two books were weak on substance and quality. Of course, I thought they were masterpieces, so I submitted them to a few publishing houses. But alas, it didn’t take long for the rejection letters to arrive.
While those books might not have been great fiction, they were excellent practice runs. I have to admit those rejection letters weren’t any fun to receive either, but they helped to thicken my skin.
After my youngest daughter entered the first grade, I enrolled in classes in a local university. Between helping my daughters with their schoolwork and my own studies I had little time to write, so I didn’t pick it up again until after I graduated from the university. Those years helped to reshape my outlook on life and that in turn improved my plots and skills. It still took a few years to receive an acceptance letter from a publisher, but it was such a sweet victory when it finally happened.
I had no idea when I started my writing journey that I would succeed. While it is true, I’m not a famous writer, I have several books published. I’ve held them in my hands, and I have been lucky enough to have a few readers who loved reading them. I believe everyone needs a dream. I don’t care how impossible you believe that dream is. You still need something outside of your nine to five life to strive toward. I don’t care if anyone else around you believes you can ever accomplish that dream, dream it anyway.
Alex: Tell me a bit about yourself, Regina.
Regina: I was raised in a small town in middle Tennessee. I didn’t really become much of a reader until the seventh grade. That was also the year I knew I wanted to become a writer. But sadly, as much as I wanted to become one, I thought that was nothing more than a pipe dream.
A few years later, after I graduated from high school, I married my high school sweetheart. It wasn’t until my daughters were both born that I tried my hand at writing a full-length book. Unfortunately, those first two books were weak on substance and quality. Of course, I thought they were masterpieces, so I submitted them to a few publishing houses. But alas, it didn’t take long for the rejection letters to arrive.
While those books might not have been great fiction, they were excellent practice runs. I have to admit those rejection letters weren’t any fun to receive either, but they helped to thicken my skin.
After my youngest daughter entered the first grade, I enrolled in classes in a local university. Between helping my daughters with their schoolwork and my own studies I had little time to write, so I didn’t pick it up again until after I graduated from the university. Those years helped to reshape my outlook on life and that in turn improved my plots and skills. It still took a few years to receive an acceptance letter from a publisher, but it was such a sweet victory when it finally happened.
I had no idea when I started my writing journey that I would succeed. While it is true, I’m not a famous writer, I have several books published. I’ve held them in my hands, and I have been lucky enough to have a few readers who loved reading them. I believe everyone needs a dream. I don’t care how impossible you believe that dream is. You still need something outside of your nine to five life to strive toward. I don’t care if anyone else around you believes you can ever accomplish that dream, dream it anyway.
Alex: How would you describe your writing, and are there particular themes that you like to explore?
Regina: I write in several diverse genres. So far, I’ve penned a number of contemporary romances, historical romances, children’s picture books, steampunk, poetry, and horror tales. It is always a challenge to see if I can shake things up a bit. It helps to shift my perspective and helps stir the creative juices.
Alex: Are you a writer that plans a detailed synopsis or do you set out with a vague idea and let the story unfold as you write?
Regina: In the beginning, I did try to my plot out my books, but it didn’t take long to figure out it worked out better if I merely did a loose summary in my head and let my books go where they wanted. I’ve discovered that my fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants style might not be for everyone but it’s perfect for me. It gives me the freedom to change my mind in mid book and I usually do since it takes a few weeks of writing before I fully understand my characters.
Alex: Tell us about your latest novel.
Regina: My work in progress is a sweet Christmas romance, A Christmas Wish. If all goes well, I should have it finished by Christmas 2022.
Alex: What was the first book you read?
Regina: I don’t remember the very first book, but I do know when I first started reading for the pure joy of reading. In the seventh grade I discovered autobiographies and biographies. I really enjoyed reading about other people and their struggles and successes.
The first work of fiction I read was Gone with the Wind. That was the first book I truly fell in love with and couldn’t put down. I wanted the story to go on forever.
Regina: I write in several diverse genres. So far, I’ve penned a number of contemporary romances, historical romances, children’s picture books, steampunk, poetry, and horror tales. It is always a challenge to see if I can shake things up a bit. It helps to shift my perspective and helps stir the creative juices.
Alex: Are you a writer that plans a detailed synopsis or do you set out with a vague idea and let the story unfold as you write?
Regina: In the beginning, I did try to my plot out my books, but it didn’t take long to figure out it worked out better if I merely did a loose summary in my head and let my books go where they wanted. I’ve discovered that my fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants style might not be for everyone but it’s perfect for me. It gives me the freedom to change my mind in mid book and I usually do since it takes a few weeks of writing before I fully understand my characters.
Alex: Tell us about your latest novel.
Regina: My work in progress is a sweet Christmas romance, A Christmas Wish. If all goes well, I should have it finished by Christmas 2022.
Alex: What was the first book you read?
Regina: I don’t remember the very first book, but I do know when I first started reading for the pure joy of reading. In the seventh grade I discovered autobiographies and biographies. I really enjoyed reading about other people and their struggles and successes.
The first work of fiction I read was Gone with the Wind. That was the first book I truly fell in love with and couldn’t put down. I wanted the story to go on forever.
Alex: How much research do you do and what does it usually entail?
Regina: The historical romances take more research than the other genres I write. The Regency period has so many eccentricities and idiosyncrasies to understand. There are so many things to figure out before I can write about them. How far a horse and carriage can travel in one day? Who do you call a Lord or Lady? Even after all of that research, I still struggle with the different classes and how they treat each other. My editor tells me I’m too American. I never thought that was a bad thing until I tried my hand at Regency romance. I’ve read this genre for many years, and I thought I knew what I was jumping into, but I didn’t finish writing the first page before I discovered that I didn’t know nearly as much as I thought I did. It helped to have a brutally honest editor.
Alex: Do you ever base your characters on people you have encountered in real life?
Regina: All of my characters are bits and pieces of everyone around me. I don’t know how anyone could ever write a story and not include the people who influence their lives.
Don’t tell anyone but some of my characters are even based on my own quirks and oddities.
Alex: Which was the last book you read that blew you away?
Regina: I’m in love with everything Charles Dickens writes, but my favorite book is David Copperfield. Mr. Dickens's characters and stories are so realistic. He’s not afraid to write about the liars, the naïve, good people and he doesn’t mind throwing in a few evil ones just for good measure. I feel like people haven’t changed much since Mr. Dickens’s time. We might have a few more gadgets but we still have the same failings as the people who lived during his period.
Regina: The historical romances take more research than the other genres I write. The Regency period has so many eccentricities and idiosyncrasies to understand. There are so many things to figure out before I can write about them. How far a horse and carriage can travel in one day? Who do you call a Lord or Lady? Even after all of that research, I still struggle with the different classes and how they treat each other. My editor tells me I’m too American. I never thought that was a bad thing until I tried my hand at Regency romance. I’ve read this genre for many years, and I thought I knew what I was jumping into, but I didn’t finish writing the first page before I discovered that I didn’t know nearly as much as I thought I did. It helped to have a brutally honest editor.
Alex: Do you ever base your characters on people you have encountered in real life?
Regina: All of my characters are bits and pieces of everyone around me. I don’t know how anyone could ever write a story and not include the people who influence their lives.
Don’t tell anyone but some of my characters are even based on my own quirks and oddities.
Alex: Which was the last book you read that blew you away?
Regina: I’m in love with everything Charles Dickens writes, but my favorite book is David Copperfield. Mr. Dickens's characters and stories are so realistic. He’s not afraid to write about the liars, the naïve, good people and he doesn’t mind throwing in a few evil ones just for good measure. I feel like people haven’t changed much since Mr. Dickens’s time. We might have a few more gadgets but we still have the same failings as the people who lived during his period.
Alex: What are your interests aside from writing? And what do you do to unwind?
Regina: I love to read, but that comes with its own problems. Once I allow myself to take the time off from writing, it is hard to start again. Don’t get me wrong, I love to write, but it is hard work. There are days I feel like I’m trying to brick up a wall. Each sentence I write is like another brick in that never ending wall. You have no idea how many sentences it takes to build a book until you agonize over every single word.
I also love to paint landscapes, sew and I’ll never say no to a good nap. It seems like I can find a lot of reasons not to write, but fortunately I find even more to do so.
Alex: Thank you so much, Regina for sharing your writing journey with us and giving us a peek into your world. It's heartening, too, to hear it for the great Charles Dickens whose genius should never be overlooked.
Regina: It's my pleasure, Alex.
Regina: I love to read, but that comes with its own problems. Once I allow myself to take the time off from writing, it is hard to start again. Don’t get me wrong, I love to write, but it is hard work. There are days I feel like I’m trying to brick up a wall. Each sentence I write is like another brick in that never ending wall. You have no idea how many sentences it takes to build a book until you agonize over every single word.
I also love to paint landscapes, sew and I’ll never say no to a good nap. It seems like I can find a lot of reasons not to write, but fortunately I find even more to do so.
Alex: Thank you so much, Regina for sharing your writing journey with us and giving us a peek into your world. It's heartening, too, to hear it for the great Charles Dickens whose genius should never be overlooked.
Regina: It's my pleasure, Alex.
