Q: Jessica, you'll be participating in NaNoWriMo this year from Turkey, where you're currently stationed with the Air Force. What made you want to participate while on duty? How do you think your current location will effect your writing?
A: As I write this, it's less than six hours away from NaNoWriMo launch at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. When my fingers hit the keyboard, my children and husband will be getting ready for Halloween and a fun-filled night of trick or treating. It's my daughter's birthday as well, so my mind wouldn't let me sleep even if I wanted to. To say I miss them is an understatement. But if I have ever learned anything, it's this: I am my own obstacle. I can write through the night, in snatches during a lunch break, while I get ready to turn in for the night and still make my goals. This book is for my kids and I can't let anything stop me.
Why participate while on duty? I love writing and I enjoy the challenge of penning a story I'd want to read again. Being on duty has its own challenges, but in the end, you can adapt to almost any environment. There are moments I'm going to be tearing my hair out in frustration or banging my head against the desk to release the next word (figuratively, of course). NaNo is not for the faint of heart!
This year is a special treat for our family as my husband will be NaNo-ing with me on Pacific Time, halfway across the world. (I'm on Istanbul time). We have a year to go before I can come home, so sharing something like this is amazing.
How do I think my location will affect my writing? All around me there are amazing wonders and a fascinating culture so unlike America. I miss the states, but I can pull on the environment around me to help create my world/situation. We've reached the rainy season so I think there are going to be some drenched characters in my story. Turkey is also a bartering culture and I've taken up haggling as my favorite shopping pass-time, so maybe some of that will make it in there as well.
Besides, I've got a strong team of fellow writers willing to give me a swift kick if I lag behind. Good writing, all!
When Jessica Russell isn't dropping her characters in the middle of their worst nightmares of screaming metal and steam, she spends her days keeping hospital equipment working at peak condition. In her heart of hearts she's counting down the days she gets to see her family again and uses her love of storytelling to keep the children laughing when they can sit still long enough during their skype sessions.
