June Ahern
San Francisco, CA
USA
Good morning, June, and welcome to Vision and Verse. What have you written?
Two novels and two non-fictions. The non-fictions are parapsychology and paranormal subjects. And also two screenplays
What is your favorite genre to write?
Women’s fiction that has strong, intelligent women with sensitive caring undertones.
Favorite food.
Salmon
Tea or coffee?
Tea
Pizza or ice cream?
Ice cream
Wine or beer?
Wine
Where would you like to visit?
Petra, Jordan and south of Spain. My goal to do within the next couple of years, maybe even 2020.
Favorite musical artist.
Many, but mostly Motown music such as Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, and the late great Aretha Franklin. Also, I enjoy Latin beat such as Cuba’s Buena Vista Social Club and San Francisco’s Carlos Santana (we went to the same high school and shared friends.) I love to dance and still do!
Do you listen to music when you write?
Yes.
What?
Often pieces relating to the era of the story. For my non-fictions a bit of “New Age” or ocean waves sounds.
What makes you laugh?
Life, kids, animals, husband, my brothers and sisters – a funny irreverent group.
Favorite work of art or sculpture.
Vincent van Gough’s The Night Café, Starry Night and self-portrait.
How old were you when you started writing?
First acknowledged piece, 14 years old. I won first prize in 8th grade writing contest titled, Coming to America.
Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? Or just write?
Mostly, just start write. Although, to keep me on track, I’ll jot down an outline of sorts, especially with the fiction dates of events or characters’ ages. I attempt to keep notes in a reasonable postcard order. I really like words so I keep notes of those words to use in the books.
Describe your perfect evening.
Bath, ice cream, or wine or tea & cookies and a good movie.
Where do you get your inspiration?
All of my book were encouraged or asked by others to write. My first novel came to be after I finished the screenplay. An author friend read and advised me that a screenplay had a better chance of selling if it was a book. My second screenplay that also later became a book was written upon the request of a young Scottish actress I met in Los Angeles when doing a stage play for my first novel. Both non-fictions were also requests from others.
What do you do when you get a writer's block?
Pace, take a walk, eat chocolate, groan a lot, sit and look at the screen, and get frustrated.
Who is your favorite author?
Difficult to pin down to one as there’s so many talented writers. But, I do look for new books by and also reread books by Michael Connelly and Anne Perry.
Best book you ever read?
Aztec by Gary Jennings.
Last book you read.
I usually have two books going at once: “Voices of the Ancients & The Shining Ones by Moonwillow and a polar opposite genre by Tami Hoag’s “Kill the Messenger”
What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer?
Continue with my psychic medium, paranormal investigator and public speaker careers.
Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?
My mother and son. My mother for her creative personality and kindness. She loved having an author daughter and helped me with my first two books by proofing (she was a stickler for proper grammar) and reading aloud with me. My son also has been my little buddy from day one. He’s calm and practical (my opposite), and naturally funny. Plus, he believes his mom is cool.
If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?
Jacqueline Kennedy also known as Jackie O. She truly was a lady (like my mother), so very elegant and intelligent with great social manners. Plus she loved horses and I too love them and rode, like she had. I’d like to talk with her and ask how did she navigate through marriage to John Kennedy and later, Onassis? I don’t think she was as valued with love from either as I felt she deserved.
What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?
Create or join a support team like a writers’ group on-line and/or in-person, take writers’ classes or workshops, and find a good editor to champion you on a published book.
Do you have some links for us to follow you?
Latest Ghost Investigation
Introducing my 4 books
