'I’ve found the growth I’ve been looking for'
Sci-fi author Rebecca Zornow talks about the 'stressful delight' of self-publishing, how she develops her ideas, and saying 'yes' to more writing time
Wisconsin is home to so many great writers and it seems somewhat inevitable that we will gravitate toward each other. When I came across the name Rebecca M. Zornow—I reached out and say ‘hi!’ because we sci-fi authors always need a crew. We chatted via zoom this January to get to know each other, and later Rebecca invited me to be a part of a local author book fair, coming Saturday, July 29, 2023 at the Downtown Appleton Farm Market, where we’ll be selling copies of our books with about 15 other authors.
Rebecca’s engaging storytelling style draws readers into the worlds she creates. With experience publishing her own stories, Rebecca shares her know-how as a book coach through Conquer Books, which she operates her sister, the writer Nicole Van Den Eng. They’re big supporters of writers in the community in other ways, too, even planning a new science fiction and fantasy convention. While the pandemic unfortunately meant that inaugural event couldn’t be held, they’ve been planning an interactive fantasy ball near Halloween (stay tuned for details)! In this Q&A, we chat about the value of travel, why sci-fi is such a versatile genre, and how sometimes our own beliefs about ourselves can impact our success.
Where is your hometown? Where do you live now? I grew up and still live in Appleton, Wisconsin. The only time I lived outside Wisconsin was as a Peace Corps Volunteer working in Southern Africa.
How did where you grew up influence your creative work?
My local public library played a huge role in fostering my love of reading. I remember checking out grocery bags of early chapter books.
I also had great experiences at school, attending two charter schools, one that focused on building a global understanding of literature, art, language, and sciences, while the other was a project-based charter school called Valley New School. There, I decided what to study and developed my own projects before presenting them to my teachers/advisors. It was a wonderfully collaborate environment that challenged me.
I was eager to skip out of my quiet, Midwestern town and applied to colleges across the country, but ultimately decided to attend Lawrence University—which is located in Appleton. I was shocked I decided to stay, but I’m glad I did. I continue to be inspired by the other creators in my city and the nearby wild spaces. I feel like I can have an impact here and stay connected with family.
I think I’m a better writer for my experience as an editor, and a better book coach because of my experiences as a novelist.
Tell me a little about what you do or are working on currently?
I write science fiction and try to always have a project going. I’m working on prepping my third book for its launch this fall which will conclude a duology.
I also work as a book coach with Conquer Books. We specialize in science fiction and fantasy novels. I think I’m a better writer for my experience as an editor, and a better book coach because of my experiences as a novelist.
What’s one of your first experiences of creativity or imagination?
You might expect a writer to have fond memories of her first short story, or the journal she kept since kindergarten, but I loved organizing my room. I filled many summer days with graph paper and pencils as I sketched out the perfect layout. And then organizing everything once my few furniture pieces were moved was a treat. I still enjoy prepping my space for writing and I think my well-honed organizational skills help me run my businesses.
(Science fiction) gives us space to contemplate our society and our ways of thinking, and it helps me better understand myself.
What draws you to the sci-fi genre? What inspires you to write?
I’ve always enjoyed speculative fiction (fiction with something magical, futuristic, or otherwise out of the ordinary), but I didn’t consider writing until I was preparing to leave for the Peace Corps. My sister suggested we keep journals and turn them into a book when I got back.
We did and that lovely little book is in a drawer until the right time. That experience opened a door for me. I had always thought authorhood was elusive. This helped me see that one’s writing craft got better with time.
I began writing a wide variety of things—blog posts, book reviews, magazine articles, short stories—and found that I was coming back to science fiction again and again. The genre gives us space to contemplate our society and our ways of thinking, and it helps me better understand myself.
Talk about writing your first novel, It’s Over or It’s Eden. What did you learn from writing it? Was your process for writing your second novel Dangerous to Heal any different?
I started writing It’s Over or It’s Eden in the early days of the pandemic. It wasn’t my first book. In fact, I had written a few books by that point, but they didn’t feel ready for readers. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get something published.
Then, I was in the shower thinking about alien movies and how Earth always manages to win. I was struck with a vision of a soldier who instead lost everything—her planet invaded, no hope for the future, no home to return to—and had to find a way to keep going. I wanted to know the rest of her story. She took me to a remove corner of the Rocky Mountains where a group of survivors lived, a group that had split from society long before aliens came.
I wrote it quickly and learned a lot about balancing two character POVs. It was a shorter book than I tackled in the past which gave me space to hone my words.
I knew I wanted this story in reader hands and worked like mad to make it happen.
Then something lovely happened. Once it was published, I returned to a previous manuscript and found my efforts had paid off. I had grown as a writer and was able to see more clearly how to shape that story, what would become my next book, Dangerous to Heal.
Being an independent author is a rewarding but sometimes lonely path. It takes great sense of vision and commitment.
What was the process of self-publishing like? What advice would you share for those who publish & promote their own books?
Being an independent author is a rewarding but sometimes lonely path. It takes great sense of vision and commitment.
I knew my strange little book about aliens and religion would likely not have mass market appeal, but I believed in it whole heartedly. I knew this was the novel I wanted to debut.
I had a leg up as a book coach as I already had years of research and experience coaching writers through the self-publishing process, and it was a stressful delight undergoing it myself. One of my first moves was to assemble a team—other editors, a cover designer, even someone to help me write my blurb. I had a lot of decisions to make about the book itself, but also about the book production and printing, and how I would distribute the book.
There is so much to learn and do, but my greatest piece of advice for indie authors is this: THINK BIG. Push yourself in new ways, learn about new marketing methods, regard of yourself as just as valid as any author out there, and make choices in line with your greatest vision.
I’ve been reading Dangerous to Heal and love the premise and your writing style. What inspired this story, or how did you develop the idea?
Dangerous to Heal is about a woman with the ability to heal others, but a galactic corporation wants to monetize her for themselves. The idea grew inside of me for over a decade. That was one of the books I set aside, and then went back to after It’s Over or It’s Eden.
It’s an ambitious project—six point of view characters, multiple settings across the galaxy, and more than a slice of my own heart. I saw quickly I was trying to do too much in one book and split it into a duology. Then I honed the character goals and finally worked out the timeline of events. The writing came, if not easy, well enough after that.
You spent some time in the Peace Corps—tell me about that experience? And do you see the experience turning up in your writing?
I was a Youth Development Volunteer in eSwatini from 2011-13. That feels like a long time ago now, but I think about it daily. I worked at a remote primary school—remote being 17 KM from a paved road—working at the school library and starting an art club. 91% of my students were orphans or vulnerable children. The need was great.
I learned a lot about cross-cultural communication, something I see creep into my novels about civilizations from different planets. The Peace Corps broadened my perspective and made me more resilient.
Travel pushes us to grow in new ways and, like many others, I resist change and growth even as I seek it out.
You recently took a family trip abroad. What was that like? What did you hope to share with your kids on this trip?
I still enjoy travel though haven’t lived outside of the U.S. since the Peace Corps. My family went to France for a month this summer. Though I’ve decided to raise my kids in my Wisconsin hometown, I don’t want them to think that everyone lives the way we do. I want them to know about other languages and cultures. I want them to understand that the absolutes we see as Americans are negotiables to others. I want them to be comfortable as citizens in an ever expanding world.
It's easy to say France was a delight. The food was excellent (six-course dinner, anyone?), the weather was great, and I got to visit all the castles of my dreams. But it was also hard. Travel pushes us to grow in new ways and, like many others, I resist change and growth even as I seek it out.
I had to do a lot of work around my scarcity mindset. I realized I wasn’t seeing the growth I wanted to, and that motivated me.
Have you experienced any barriers to your creativity /or pursuing a creative career? (if so, please describe, as well as how you broke through them or are working to break through them)
Most of my barriers have been internal. The way that I have viewed myself and my limiting beliefs around money, success, and strength of voice were deep rooted. I am often not aware of these barriers until I ask myself why I’m not seeing growth in the areas I wanted.
I have two examples.
I used to not have time to write. I’m a mom. I have social obligations. A house to keep. I volunteer in the community. I was busy. But, oh, aren’t we all? I had to realize that I had an abundance of time and that I choose where to put it. So, I began saying no to some things and saying yes to more writing time.
I also used to run a string-shoe budget for my author empire. I only spent money on the absolute necessities. I would spend an extra hour of my time if that meant I would save $5. I had to do a lot of work around my scarcity mindset. I realized I wasn’t seeing the growth I wanted to, and that motivated me. I worked with a financial coach and still do. I began to get used to investing in my marketing. I honored my writing time and hired a house cleaner.
I took a lot of little steps to—and I say this with as much grace as possible—to get to the same level of financial confidence many men in America start at because we tell them they can do big things. It took Amazon 14 years to make a net profit—ha! Why then was I scared to invest in my business? Why did I see myself as a failure when I had netted green every year? As I’ve found answers, I’ve found the growth I’ve been looking for. If this resonates with you, I’ll leave you with a book recommendation: We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers, perfect for any creative person trying to make their business grow.
You create vision boards—What’s on them? How and why do you make them?
I make a new vision board every year with a group of friends. I find it’s a good way to summarize what my goals are, as usually by the time I sit to make the vision board, I’ve already done some prep like update my business plan and metrics for the coming year. It’s simple magazine cuttings and glue, but the ideas within it are big.
On the vision board for this year? More natural spaces. Stronger structures and processes in my business. More confidence. Intention behind my choices. And a trip to France.
Talk about the Local Author Book Fair coming up July 29—what was the first year like, and what’s new this year?
Author K.L. Mielke and I wanted to see more opportunities for local authors to connect with their community. I think most people in my city have no idea there’s a community of authors here! So, we partnered with our local farm market to host a Local Author Book Fair. Our first year was 2022. I believe everyone had strong book sales, and the networking and fun we authors got to have among ourselves was just as valuable.
I’m so glad to have you join us this year, Nikki.
For people who plan to come, it will be held 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Houdini Plaza at the Appleton Farm Market. We’ll have about 15 authors across a wide range of genres. Everyone who buys a book gets to spin our prize wheel.
Anything else that’s top-of-mind?
If you’d like to know more about my writing, you can get a free short story by signing up for my monthly space-side chat at RebeccaMZornow.com. You can find me on a variety of social media, but I’m most active on Facebook and TikTok.
Thank you for this opportunity, Nikki, and thank you, reader, for making this world a more creative place.