Life at Open Heart Publishing

Hello Readers!

Our featured author for this post is Brittney Dillard.  Enjoy!

What made you want to become a writer?

Well I’ve always loved to write, but I didn’t really see it as a profession until I hit ninth grade and began planning my first novel.  It was around that time that I started really getting into Stephen King, and reading every piece of his work that I could get my hands on.  I learned somewhere or antoerh that he’d gotten his start at writing short stories, and I was like, why not me?  If this extremely talented, noted author started out small, why not me?  I guess it worked!

Is “The Gift” your first story to be published?

No.  As a matter of fact I have published one other story, “Lake Progress”, in a small magazine called The Moulin Review.

Have any of your stories been ideas from dreams?

Yes, actually many of them have.  But as of now, none of them have been published.

Tell us about other things you are involved in besides writing.

College, for the most part.  Right now I am giving school and writing the full extent of my focus, and most likely will until the day I graduate.  I am actively involved in a Christian sorority, Sigma Phi Lambda, where I have met some truly wonderful girls.  I also just learned last week that I made the Dean’s List, and that was really exciting!

Have you ever considered suicide as an alternative to procrastination?

No, never suicide.  Usually a cold soda and an hour of running will tide me over pretty well.

What do you feel are the most important symbols and/or icons of the 21st century?

I think the modeling industry has become a huge part of American culture, especially among adolescent girls.  We see these stick figures stalking down the runway and girls instantly want to be like them; are even willing to starve themselves to do it.  When you look at pictures from, say, thirty or forty years ago you see models up to a size eight or ten, and now it is rare to see even a size five.  I find it very sad.

On a lighter note, patriotism has had a vast increase in popularity ever since 9/11.  The election of Barack Obama as president has created an important icon, as well, because it indicates that we as people have moved past an issue that has been plaguing this country since it was founded.

Have you ever been a bed wetter?

Ha ha, yes.  Of course.  But a very long time ago.

 

Brittney Dillard is an undergraduate journalism student at the University of North Texas and thinks writing is a great way to afford a PT Cruiser.  She has lived in a small north Texas town with a cozy population of less than one thousand for five years now, along with her parents, twin sister, big sister, niece, and nephew.  She’s been writing since she was old enough to hold a pen and hopes it iwll pay all her bills some day.  Among her biggest dreams are publishing her first novel, being interviewed by Tyra Banks, and living a life interesting enough to write a memior about.