Featured Interview With Teresa Edmond-Sargeant
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in northern New Jersey, and now I live in the Orlando, Florida area. I am a journalist, fiction author, poet, and blogger. I am also a wife, mother, volunteer worker, a lover of chocolate, a hater of pistachios, and a fan of “The Twilight Zone.”
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I had a great teacher in elementary school who was adamant that her students read at least 30 minutes at day. So right around nine years old was when I realized my fascination with books. Also when I was nine, she had us do a show and tell. For that, I wrote a poem entitled “Colors” and read it to the class. In doing this project, I realized I wanted to pursue writing as a career. I wrote my first poem “Colors” at nine years old, my first piece of fiction (a short story) at 10, and my first newspaper article at 16.
I graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a degree in communication. I have been a journalist since my high/school college days and was a staff writer for several North Jersey newspapers.
I also blog, edit books and have done freelance writing. I am now a staff writer for a community newspaper in Central Florida.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My taste falls mainly in the speculative fiction category. Elements that draw me to reading such a book are a dark atmosphere, a quirky premise, witty dialogue, and satirical elements. Some of my favorite novels are “Wuthering Heights” and “Frankenstein;” favorite authors include Edgar Allan Poe and Dorothy Parker. I also like other types of fiction, such as literary classics, as well as books on spirituality and history.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
My upcoming ebook is entitled “But a Walking Shadow.” It’s about a selfish, obnoxious man who claims he has become enlightened and so pursues the proverbial “meaning of life.” Yet he gets more than he bargains for when a woman from his past literally shows up at his doorstep.
The idea for this ebook came from an author friend who proposed an idea for a horror-comedy short story anthology. When he brought it to my attention, I liked the premise so much. As a matter of fact, at that time, I had on file an outline for a short story I wanted to do. That outline was about a man seeking the meaning of life at the dawn of Armageddon. I wrote and revised the story to fit the anthology’s premise.
Then for personal reasons, my friend decided to drop the project. Yet I already wrote my contribution. With his blessing and the blessing of our collaborators, I decided to expand my story with plans to publish it as a standalone ebook.
I will announce the publication of “But a Walking Shadow” by social media.
Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles
Teresa Edmond-Sargeant’s Website