Who are you?
My name is Colleen Oakes, and I’m an author and librarian who lives in Brookfield, CT.
What do you write?
Currently I write young adult paranormal, contemporary and fantasy. I have two fairy-tale retelling series (The Queen of Hearts and Wendy Darling), one revenge contemporary (The Black Coats), a paranormal standalone (Sister of the Chosen One) and I just released my first middle-grade in April (The Second Favorite Daughter’s Club). My writing is known for being atmospheric, dark, plot-precise and creative. I love high stakes, nature-based fantastical settings, creepy woods and big female feelings. Eleven Houses is available now.
While I always had a gift for writing, it wasn’t until I was in my mid-20’s that I wrote my first novel, a romantic-comedy for adults. After that, I leaned into more fantasy-oriented young adult novels and found my happy place.
I hate the word “Got.” A friend’s mom once remarked that “got is a weed in the garden of words” and I’ve never been able to shake it. I also have to go through my manuscripts and lookout for the word “just.” It’s just my Achilles heel.
There are certainly tropes that I don’t love, like the miscommunication trope or the one affair justifies another trope. That being said, the right book will justify anything if done correctly!
I love what I do, and even though my passion is spread between writing and working for the public library, I consider myself very lucky to live out my best literary life. I could wish nothing more for my professional life than for my book to find the right reader.
Where do you write?
After many phases of this answer (coffee shops, my husband’s office during COVID, my kitchen table), I can now say that I have found the best possible solution: my own home office. I have a built-in desk that’s just the right height, a comfy (expensive) writing chair, a keyboard and monitor to enhance my text, and lovely art on the walls that speaks just to me. I cuddle up with a tea and creamer, clear off the desk and I’m good to go for a few hours every day.
When do you write?
A typical writing session for me occurs on a weekday while my child is at school, the only way it will work, and I usually write for about four hours a day. That’s enough for me to complete one book a year and have one additional book in edits during that time. Morning hours are crucial, as my brain is functioning at its peak and declines at two pm, when afternoon sleepiness creeps in. While I don’t track my work with word counts, I usually aim to write half an eight-10-page chapter a day and keep my eye on the overall word count.
Why do you write?
I write because I’ve always had the passion for writing and stories to tell. I’ve loved writing my entire life, but it was only when it was harnessed into the right medium – novels – that I truly felt I was using my gifts in the right way. Getting to tell stories like these is what fuels and motivates me and in that, it’s a cycle of self-fulfillment and soothing; this imagination has got to go somewhere! If I don’t write, I am prone to anxiety; it is part of self-care making sure that the thoughts and feelings inside of me are getting the outlet the need. I am inspired to tell stories that only I can tell, stories of revenge and family and creepy islands dripping with ghosts.
How do you overcome writer's block?
While I don’t get writer’s block, I do get busy or unmotivated occasionally; it’s more a problem of getting to the computer then actually experiencing a plot-blockage, I find that quiet is usually what I need. If I’m overstimulated, I’m less likely to write, but if I have the quiet, I need in the environment I’ve created, than I find those creative pathways opening up the doors I need – in this world and beyond. Let’s be honest: caffeine also helps.
Bonus: What do you enjoy doing when not writing?
What do you enjoy doing when not writing? When I’m not writing, I enjoy nature walks with my family in gorgeous New England (where I just moved), reading and organizing my reading lists, spending time traveling with friends, walking the goldens, drinking coffee-adjacent drinks and swimming.
My thanks to Colleen Oakes for today's interview.