Author Interview: Caron Rider

I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing Silver Knight, and Caron Rider was kind enough to answer some questions for me. You can read the review here: Silver Knight

~Author Bio~

Initially I started teaching computer software, hardware, and networking in the 1990s. After some years that morphed into tutoring high school dropouts for the GED. I found working with at-risk teenagers so rewarding that I changed my undergraduate major to Education. Upon graduating from the University of South Alabama with a B.S., I began teaching high school history. I now live in rural Missouri with my two kids, two dogs, two cats, and loving father.

Bio and picture taken from author’s site

Q: What inspired you to start writing Silver Knight?

I was used to being very busy and moved to help take care of my dad, which left me with some time on my hands. As a teacher, I was also used to a lot of interaction with my students, so after my move, I missed them. I felt like this book was a way for me to re-connect with them in a new and fun way.

Q: Can you describe Silver Knight in a sentence?

Silver Knight is an adventure where demons and heroes from the past blend with history and action with just a hint of romance.

Q: Is there any character you enjoyed writing the most?

Yes. I enjoyed creating the character of Bathsheba because she’s mysterious and the reader really has to be paying attention to catch everything about her. If the reader doesn’t, it’s okay because the reader will see more of her in the follow-up novel, Silver Demon.

Q: There is a lot of history woven throughout your story, which I thought was a really wonderful inclusion. Did you find it difficult to mesh the stories and scenes you created with what history tells us?

No, that was actually the easiest part of the story for me. I love history and love to play the “what if” game. So by taking those instances in history and adding my own twist was enjoyable.

Q: If you could be reincarnated like the characters in your book, would you want to?

That’s an interesting question. What fun would it be if you didn’t know about it? I think the best part for me was the knowing. So if I could know, then I think yes.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about being an author? Are there any cons?

There are absolutely no cons! My favorite thing is that I get to spend more time with my children and my dad.

Q: Have you always enjoyed writing?

I have, but unfortunately, I have had little time to do it until this past year.

Q: What are some of your favorite books?

The Witch World Series by Andre Norton and the Dragon Riders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey.

Q: If you could sit down and chat with one author (living or dead) who would it be?

It’s a toss up between two: Anne McCaffrey and Andre Norton.

Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

You have to write something, even if it’s just one page, every single day.

I want to thank Caron Rider for the great interview and I really hope everyone enjoyed it! For more information about Caron Rider and her book please visit her website: Caron Rider. She also has a blog one which you can get a taste for her next book Silver Demon, located here: Caron Rider Blog