I’d like to introduce you to the ninety-second interviewee in my ‘Meet the Author’ series. She is Viv Drewa.

viv-drewa

Hi, Viv! Welcome to Susan Finlay Writes blog site. Can you tell us a bit about your background as a writer?

I first discovered I wanted to be a writer in 1963 after reading a novel by JR Green entitled The Whistling Sword. I was an avid reader but this novel planted the seed to my love of writing.

Your latest novel, The Angler and the Owl, was published in January 2014. What is the book about and what is the genre?

A snippet on the novel: At France’s camp two jaguars attack one of the boatmen severing his left leg. The other two boatmen, they all have rifles, shoot at the jaguars killing one. The other escapes with the boatman’s leg. Doc and the others wake to the noise and he and Tony go to where the boatmen are camping. In the ruckus the canoes become untied and go eastward down the shore and the sat phone is destroyed. Now they have no way to get help and will have to wait for John’s team to come back, which could take three or four more days.
Will help get there in enough time?

There are two genre’s: action/adventure and light romance.

Your previous novel, The Owl of the Sipan Lord, was published in December 2013. Can you tell us about it? Are your books connected?

No, they’re not connected. I just love owls and make them a part of my novels.

A snippet on the novel: Martin and Clare Montgomery worked as an archaeological team until Martin’s accidental death at a dig they were working on in Peru. Clare swore she’d never go back, but after having a dream about the dig that didn’t add up to the finds of the area, and the help of the Peruvian Pygmy Owl and a blue-eyed spirit, she did.

This one is a paranormal/thriller/light romance.

What is it that you like about owls? Years ago I saw an owl sitting on our next door neighbor’s roof and was really excited about that. Do you plan to write a whole series of books with owls in them?

I’ve loved them as far back as I can remember! Don’t know why, though. Yes, all my novels will feature a specific owl. My first two novels take place in South America and the owls are indigenous to each specific area.

Would you give us a brief excerpt from one of your books?

You twisted my arm: This is from The Angler and the Owl.

CHAPTER 1

France Hunter was excited about her first trip to the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee. Her family planned camping trips here in the past and she just loved it. Now that she graduated from the University of Michigan, with a degree in ornithology, she was more than ready to study her favorite bird: owls.
After setting up her tent and campsite she grabbed her camera case, notebook, and then headed into the forest. France came across a female Screech-owl, who was sitting in its nest, and started taking pictures. Since the owl held itself still, she did not need to use the video option on her camera.
She smelled something foul, and then heard a low growl. As she slowly turned, she saw a small black bear standing behind her just to her right. She could not help wondering where its mama was. The bear growled harder, and she felt herself freeze in place. France was sweating because of the hot day, but started to feel cold. She slowly went to reach for her bear spray that was in her belt on her right side.
Suddenly that is when the bear got a hold of her right forearm. She had to reach for the bear spray with her left hand. She turned toward it and sprayed. That only caused the bear to shake its head while biting down harder on her arm. It pulled her so hard she fell on her knees almost facing the bear. France heard a snap! She prayed that the bear had stepped on a branch, and that it was not her arm breaking.
She thought she was dead, for sure. The bear was not willing to let go. France did not feel any pain yet. She was just scared, very scared, and started shaking. She kept telling herself not to panic. Once feeling in control she decided to spray the bear again, thinking only to aim directly for its eyes and nose.
The bear finally let go France got up and ran like hell.
She was starting to feel a little light headed but knew if she stopped she would definitely be dead.
France kept going, running into three men who were out hiking that day. When they saw her, they ran to her. She noticed one had a rifle, which made her feel safe.
One of them took her behind a large boulder and started working on her badly damaged arm, while the other two, Tony and Andy, followed and asked what happened.

Do you have a favorite review of any of your books?

It’s hard to choose just one. I’ve received wonderful reviews from everyone.

What books or authors have most influenced you in your own writing? Do you have a mentor?

JR Green was my biggest influence. I love the way he wove the story actually making you feel like you were in the Middle East and the characters were real.

Do you have a writing routine?

After I get the idea for my novel I do any research needed. I’ve gone as far as to interview an Archaeologist, and a Medical Examiner for the novel I’m working on now. Next I create my characters. This I do by interviewing them which I read about in one of my writers magazines. Using this method helps keep the characters from changing their minds. Outline and write.

What is your favorite or least favorite part of writing?

I love every aspect of writing from the research to the “The End”. There’s nothing I could say is my least favorite part.

Please list any websites or social media links for yourself or your book. Thanks!

FaceBook: http://facebook.com/vivdrewa.author
Twitter: http://twitter.com/@vivdrewa
Tumblr: vivdrewa.tumblr.com
Amazon: amazon.com/author/vivdrewa
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/author/780070.viv_drewa
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/vivdrewa
Google+: https://plus.google.com/111517233233824739640/posts
WordPress: http://theowlladyblog.wordpress.com

Links to my works:

EBooks:

The Angler and the Owl
US: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?rh=n%3A133140011%2Ck%3Athe+angler+and+the+owl&keywords=the+angler+and+the+owl&ie=UTF8
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?rh=n%3A133140011%2Ck%3Athe+angler+and+the+owl&keywords=the+angler+and+the+owl&ie=UTF8

Paperback:

The Angler and the Owl
US: http://www.amazon.com/The-Angler-Owl-Viv-Drewa/dp/1494965410/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1397854756&sr=1-1
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Angler-Owl-Viv-Drewa/dp/1494965410/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1397854756&sr=1-1

The Owl of the Sipan Lord
US: http://www.amazon.com/The-Owl-Sipan-Lord-Drewa-ebook/dp/B00HFDIXK4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387573936&sr=8-1&keywords=the+owl+of+the+sipan+lord
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Owl-Sipan-Lord-Drewa-ebook/dp/B00HFDIXK4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387573936&sr=8-1&keywords=the+owl+of+the+sipan+lord

From the Pages of Grandfather’s Life
US: http://www.amazon.com/From-Pages-Grandfathers-Life-Drewa-ebook/dp/B00I3PNX76/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391011816&sr=8-1&keywords=from+the+pages+of+grandfather%27s+life
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/From-Pages-Grandfathers-Life-Drewa-ebook/dp/B00I3PNX76/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391011816&sr=8-1&keywords=from+the+pages+of+grandfather%27s+life:

Ashtrays to Jawbreakers
US: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_8?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=ashtrays+to+jawbreakers&sprefix=ashtrays%2Cnull%2C403
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_8?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=ashtrays+to+jawbreakers&sprefix=ashtrays%2Cnull%2C403

AUTHOR BIO: By Carol Goodin

Viv Drewa is a Michigan native who has enjoyed reading and writing since 1963. Though she studied medicinal chemistry at the University of Michigan her passion has always been writing.

She had been awarded third place for her nonfiction short story about her grandfather’s escape from Poland. Later, she rewrote this story and was published in the “Polish American Journal” as “From the Pages of Grandfather’s Life” and has republished it on Amazon.com as a short story.

Viv took creative and journalism courses to help in her transition to fulfill her dream of becoming a writer. She worked as an intern for Port Huron’s ‘The Times Herald”, and also wrote, edited and did the layout or the Blue Water Multiple Sclerosis newsletter “Thumb Prints.”

She also teaches sewing to physically and mentally challenged adults. A cause close to her heart.

Viv, her husband Bob and their cat Princess, live in Fort Gratiot, Michigan.

Viv also writes for several blogs.