AT2 Sisters Wave...to AT3 Finalist Linda Thomas-Sundstrom

We continue our American Title III interviews with Linda Thomas-Sundstrom who finaled with her book, Barbie and the Beast.

AT2 Sisters: Where were you or what were you doing when you found out?

Linda: I was getting ready to write something brand new, going through emails to check if my agent had any news for me - and hoping there would be some. I noticed Liz French of Romantic Times Book Review Magazine's email address and, eyes flying to the subject line, read the words I'll never forget, "Congratulations! You've won!" Top ten finalists ! Man, that was sweet. And then the rush was on!

AT2 Sisters: What is the best part of writing for you?

Linda: I am compelled to write. Absolutely. I feel stressed if I can't get to the computer and type away for at least an hour a day. That's pretty much all the time I get most days, since I'm a teacher the other 99 percent of the time.

I love being creative. I love the act of typing the words. I get a kick out of the way ideas and streams of thought just FLOW out, seemingly miraculously.

I dream stories and have to get up a night to write the ideas down. I keep a tape recorder in the car to record ideas and words and sentences and titles, so I don't get in a wreck trying to write and drive at the same time. I keep the "Post-it" company in business, and have them all over my office, my home, my computer, and even stuck into notebooks, so I won't forget any small bit of creativity that strikes me.

AT2 Sisters: What do you do when you're not writing?

Linda: If I'm not writing, I'm thinking about writing. Besides the need to create on paper, I get to create in the classroom, thus balancing myself pretty well. I'm a teacher at a major university. I teach dance and wellness. Movement part-time, and lecturing part-time. I write in movement, actually. Using similar principles. It matters to me how a written page looks. How it sounds when you read it aloud. I have a particular rhythm to my typing. I try to get the most out of several sorts of creative endeavors and find inspiration everywhere.

AT2 Sisters: What is one piece of advice you'd give other aspiring authors

Linda: Keep at it! Write as much as you can, as often as you can. Finish a book. Then start another by utilizing what you've learned about what worked and didn't work on the first one. Edit lots. Polish lots. And read other books. Support other published authors by buying them. Join writing groups like Romance Writers of America, and your local chapter. This helps heaps! And the energy of being around "like minds" inspires.

AT2 Sisters: Name three of your favorite books.

Linda: The Lord of the Rings trilogy by JRR Tolkien, The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.

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The AT2 Sisters would like to thank Linda Thomas-Sundstrom for taking this time with us and wish her the best in the coming weeks! For more information about Linda, check out her website at: lindathomas-sundstrom.com