During our Friday Indie Q&A, author M.K. (Madonna) Wood discusses the importance of submitting, and how creating becomes the air you breathe along with the importance of being yourself. Read Madonna’s inspiring Q&A!
Memories
Indie: Congratulations on your 3rd place win in our 2nd Annual Microfiction Contest! The Napkin is incredibly nostalgic that feels a bit like “drugs on napkins”! How did you come up with the idea for this microfiction story?
Madonna: I saw your post on IG with the title Napkin microfiction and giggled out loud. In that moment, your post triggered memories of my father and his constant use of the napkin. Memories of us sitting in an old diner, as my father explained life by way of the napkin.
No Fear, Just Enter
Indie: What did you learn about yourself and the craft of microfiction while writing The Napkin?
Madonna: To not be afraid of entering contest. That if I want to write my story badly enough, I will write it. And to tighten up! (“That’s what he said”)
The Air You Breathe
Indie: How do you stay consistent creating art?
Madonna: You’ve seen my IG page right?! Self explanatory, right there (lol). I stifled my creativity for too long that it ended up exploding out of me… at least when I finally let go. Creativity became the air I breathed, and the worlds I painted with a brush and pen; my safe haven. To quote an amazing woman on Instagram: “It’s where the mind and body takes you. Who knows?!?!” Leisa Greene
Creativity became the air I breathed, and the worlds I painted with a brush and pen; my safe haven.
-M.K. Woods, Author
Visions
Indie: Ha ha! I agree it is where the mind and body takes you. 😉 In your bio you discuss “Piper’s Pond, which was inspired by her children, Skyler and Brody, she was often approached by readers wanting to learn about the pond’s origins, and so, Piper’s Pond; the Unwritten Fairy Tales was born-a prequel to the popular first book.” Can you talk a little more about the creative process with this book series?
Madonna: My Piper’s Pond series, started off as a bedtime story when my children were little, now, they are in their twenties. I remember envisioning my book and saw three book covers so clearly. Right now, I’m currently cleaning up the third in my series to be sent in to the publishers. These magical worlds, came to me, possessed me, spoke to me, and I had to write them. (The characters were talking way too loud and taking up too much space in my head!)
Be Yourself
Indie: Please share with our readers some sage advice about being a creative.
Madonna: Hmmm… quit trying to be someone else. You are you for a reason, discover your reason and own voice. Childlike wonder, always works for me!
When M.K. Wood published the first book in this series, Piper’s Pond, which was inspired by her children, Skyler and Brody, she was often approached by readers wanting to learn about the pond’s origins, and so, Piper’s Pond; the Unwritten Fairy Tales was born-a prequel to the popular first book. Having always been inspired by the outdoors and nurtured by the beauty of nature, M.K. has been creating unique worlds and artwork her entire life, with stories, poems, paintings, and photos that bridge the distance between reality and fantasy. She currently lives close to her very own fairy garden, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, with Tomasz (her king), and their two cats, Calvin and Moka.