Welcome Dorothy Thompson to Fallen Angel Reviews!! Dorothy Thompson is a freelance writer, author, editor and anthologist. She is also the author of Romancing the Soul—True Stories of Soul Mates from Around the World and Beyond available from Zumaya Publications. Thanks for being here today, Dorothy! Would you please tell us a little about yourself?

It's a pleasure to be here! I'm the editor/compiler of a new book that is about to be released from Zumaya Publications called Romancing the Soul--True Stories of Soul Mates from around the World and Beyond that is going to shake up the way we have been been thinking soul mates are supposed to be. In the book, I explain the different kinds and the stories that I have collected from around the world exemplify the three different categories--karmic, companion and the coveted twin soul relationship. I'm also a syndicated "soul mate" relationship columnist and editor of an online writing site called, The Writer's Life.

When did you first start writing?

I started getting real serious about my writing only about three or four years ago. I learned how to use a computer and I was hooked. I was exploring everything there was to know about writing, submitting to publishers, how to write queries and proposals...the basic stuff that writers should do before they even think about sending anything out. My first published piece was for Writers-Exchange.com...I think it was a "how-to" piece for beginning writers. It sold for a whopping five bucks and even though that isn't a lot of money, to me it was a pot of gold. It meant that I was finally being paid for my work. After that, my children's book, No More Gooseberry Pie! was published by the same publisher that published my first freelance article. So, not only had I made great strides in freelancing my work, I was now a published author. It was about that time that I decided to try my hand at freelancing and my first newspaper article made front page, not only in our local paper, but the neighboring paper in the next state. This paid more and it was a great boost to my self-esteem as a writer. The more I was published, the better I got and I am now syndicating my work to various websites across the net.

Did you always know that you wanted to be writer?

Yep. When a blank piece of paper looked better to me than anything anybody could give me, that had to mean something. I would write and write all day and never get tired. When I was a child, I wrote skits and plays for the neighborhood children and charged our mothers admission to pay for penny candy at the local 5&10 cent store. I enjoyed writing so much, I would hole myself up in my room and do nothing but write stories. Looking back, I knew that that had to be a sign of what I would become today.

Describe a typical day in the life of Dorothy Thompson.

LOL, a typical day, huh? Well, I'm afraid a typical day is spent on the computer doing nothing but checking out ways to promote my new book. Endless hours are spent researching websites to submit my book link to, scouring the web for radio talk shows and other media outlets, and writing "soul mate" relationship articles for various online publications. I also review books for Plume and Romance Junkies, which keeps me tied up on the computer all day. I take breaks to walk my dogs and try to clean a little, but after that, I'm back online. I'm also a member of an awful lot of writing groups and I try to touch base with them, too. I don't stop until it's time to go to work, then I'm back online again. I try to get to bed around 2 a.m., then I get up the next morning and do it all over again. It's what I call my "obsessive passion."

You seem to have a very full work load. Is there a certain schedule that you keep to get everything accomplished?

No set schedule really. I keep a notepad beside me to remind me of certain things I must do that day, but I usually just wing it. I have trouble with getting side-tracked a lot of times and never finish what I should have accomplished for that day, but I don't worry about it. I know, eventually, everything will get done. I'm a relentless workaholic when it comes to my writing, but you never know when it's time to meet your maker and I feel like it's a race against time. This is the reason I spend so much time doing what I do. I feel a little guilty that I may be missing out on everyday life things, but I've been doing this so long, I wouldn't know what I'd do if I suddenly found myself unable to do it. I'd probably go crazy, LOL.

Are you working on anything right now?

Right now, I'm doing a lot of PR work for Romancing the Soul which is taking up most of my time. I've already written another book which I'm about to submit, but I'm dying to start on my next book. I'm trying to find the time to get all this other stuff done so I can start on it, but it seems like there's just not enough minutes in the day. I've also co-written a paranormal with Heide Kaminski and Pam Lawnizak which is with a publisher and am in the middle of writing an internet relationship book with Maureen Allen, a wonderful woman from Scotland. So, between those books and my columns, I'm keeping pretty busy!

Is there one particular person or author who as inspired you?

Easy. Nicholas Sparks. I do have to give a lot of credit to my English professor, Mr. Nicholson, for giving me the confidence to go on with my writing life, but Nicholas Sparks has got to be my motivation to write nowadays. I read his book, "The Notebook," and noticed that his writing style was so similar to mine. Now, if I can duplicate his success, then I'll say I've had a good life.

What do you enjoy most about being a writer?

I think the most enjoyable thing about being a writer has got to be getting positive feedback from my peers and the literary world as a whole. I was interviewed recently by Delores Thornton on her radio show, "Around2It," and afterwards, I received such positive praise from her. Now, that does a body good. She is a wonderful lady and made my first radio interview so enjoyable.

Where do you hope to see your career five years from now?

Five years from now, I want to see the results of all this promo I'm doing for myself. I'd like to see my books become bestsellers. That is the one thing that would really do it for me. I'd like to have Nicholas Sparks over for pizza to discuss our next collaberation. I'd like to wine and dine with the top writers in the field. I'd like to say to myself, "I've done it; I'm there; now, how should I spend the money?" LOL

Have you ever experienced writers block? And if so, how did you overcome it?

Writer's block usually doesn't happen for me and I'm not sure why that is. If I ever get stumped, I just get up and go do something else. Cleaning is the best remedy, at least it is with me. I'll get up and start doing dishes or something and whamo, bammo, I'm back at it.

Could you tell us who your favorite author is?

LOL, well, I guess I've already mentioned him. My idol, Nicholas Sparks. My inspiration. I also admire Mary Higgins Clark and V.C. Andrews. Talented authors. And, of course, Edgar Cayce, my biggest mentor. His views on soul mates are very similar to mine and I enjoy the comparisons.

In your spare time, what do you enjoy doing the most?

Spare time? What's that? Seriously, when I get the spare time, I love to travel, with mountains being the preferred destination. Oh, how I love them. The last trip I went on, I traveled to the Smokie Mountains with my family. It's something about the mountains that rejuvates the soul and gives new meaning to living. I've always said that one day I'll have my own cabin in the Smokies and do nothing but write all day and night.

What words of inspiration would you give to aspiring writers?

Number one, never, I say NEVER, give up on the dream. Explore your creativeness and find your niche. Don't force yourself to write in a genre that you're not comfortable with...relax...go with the flow and listen to your innerself. And read. Read everything you can get your hands on in your preferred writing genre. Do your research. If you want to write romance, for example, take several romance authors, put them in www.google.com and see how they got to where they are today. Follow their path, but create new paths along the way. Keep going, never stop. And, never forget to dance.

Is there anything else you would like to add to this interview?

I'd just like to add one more thought. There has never ever been a better time to be a writer than now. With the internet, you can go places you'd never dream of going. And don't forget the one thing all writers must possess: determination, perseverance and to be able to get back up after you get knocked down. Only the strongest survive and you must find it in yourself to take a deep breath and never let anyone take your written word for granted. After all, there's a Nicholas Sparks in all of us. Let's find him and be successes in our own right. ;o)

Thank you so much, Dorothy, for taking the time to interview with us today. If you would like to learn more about Dorothy, please visit her website.

Interviewed by: Jennifer