Featured Interview With Pamela Q. Fernandes
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Kuwait. I graduated in the Philippines. I’ve worked in India and now I live in New York. I don’t have any pets though I’d love to get a husky some day.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I loved books in school. I wasn’t a very popular girl so books became my friends. I started writing fiction about ten years ago. nothing ever got published. Five years ago, my first novella won a competition and SEOUL-Mates was published. From then onward, I’ve been steadily accepted by publishers and now 13 books are out ten years later!
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite author is George Elliot since I first read her in school. I also love Anne Cleeves, her voice is just so amazing even though it’s too brazen and honest. Then there’s Lisa Kleypas and Arundhati Roy. Roy writes very evocative prose and Lori Roy who’s book, Let me die in his footsteps, I’ve just finished reading is very similar. Arundhati is a Booker Award winner and Lori won an Edgar. Their words come alive on the page.
I love reading women’s fiction and romance.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
Painting Kuwait Violet was the second book I started writing ten years ago. Back then the book focused on the relationship between the women. Two years ago, I submitted this for a pitmad competition and two agents were very interested. Carrie Prestritto gave me amazing feedback and I reworked the novel. When I submitted the book, my editor, John De Boer worked with me to focus on the side-stories and so we honed in on the thriller aspects of the novel.
By then the Filipino president had recalled all his workers from Kuwait and there were huge human rights issues in the country. I was inspired to finish this story and I’m so glad that I did. Women keep writing to me, saying their so grateful they’re born in the West….
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