An Interview with Content Producer DrDevience

Hello and welcome to the first of several articles highlighting interviews with some the AC Content Producers whom I find most intriguing. You'll hear from writers whom many of you already know well, like DrDevience and MarinDavid, as they talk about their lives and their writing.

You'll also hear from writers who may still be unknown to you, like Dick Van Vector and Jason Bauer, as they tell about their achievements and why they write for AC.

All in all, I think you'll find an engaging mix of seven very interesting AC CPs who have very good things to share about life and writing. Read on!!

Introduction to an Interview with DrDevience

DrDevience is an intelligent go-getter who takes on the world by grappling it by both antlers. Having forged a successful career in psychological counseling, she is now blazing new trails as a writer...and it all started with reviews at Epinions.com!

Hear Dr Devience tell her story and talk about her path to becoming a successful and sought after writer. Be prepared to be awed, saddened, and finally overjoyed for DrDevience. [Links take you to some of DrDevience's articles.]

DrDevience Speaks:

Codie: 1) What is your background and experience, including your previous association with writing?

DrDevience: We haven't got enough room here! Seriously, I'm 50-years old, and pre-college I was everything from a waitress to a vacuum salesman. In college, I went for Criminology, then took Psych 101 and loved it... and was shocked to see that I had taken so many classes that I also ended up with a sociology degree on top of the other two.

I loved learning and college, so I double majored on my master's also. After seeing there was zero pay differential between the Master and the PhD in the area I wished to go into, I decided paying the money to go further would be stupid.

So, I went into a Group Home setting dealing with abused kids, then the same in private practice... expanding to Adult Abuse Survivors. When it got to be too much for me, I quit and put my criminology to work in the field of Serial Killers. (That is not as far removed as it sounds...)

Codie: How did you decide to apply for such a job, and in what ways is this "not as far removed as it sounds..." from your previous work?

DrDevience: The job came to me...a colleague was retiring from the position and suggested me into it. I took it. To be blunt about it, fucked up issues are fucked up issues. They're all just different shades of the same color when you step back and look at the bigger picture.
Eventually I got fed up with the politics of the whole thing and retired.

That's where the writing comes in. I have begun a number of books, but have a hard time with endings. A really hard time.

So I found a site called Epinions one day and began doing product reviews. I found I loved it, and expanded into travel reviews. As I developed a following, I began to see the possibilities.

Codie: Do you find that your difficulty with endings of novels has anything to do with what is called "writer's voice"? And if so, do you find that writing for Epinions.com (as it preceded AC) gave you an avenue to clarify, practice, and develop your "voice"?

DrDevience: ...As far as the novels go, I just suck. I know what I need to do is start with the ending now, and then go back from there. I just haven't had the time to do that lately. Epinions absolutely gave me a platform to get comfortable with my writing.

Just as I was about to leave Epinions.com over internal politics, the editor of Teen Trend Magazine (TTM) emailed me a short 'ya want a job?' note. I was floored. Given my background, I took over their He Said/She Said advice column on top of the travel articles and occasional other stuff, like interviews. I...interviewed Astrid Young for the Oct/Nov [2007] issue and am very excited about that one.

Well, once you're published, it's like dominoes. You gain credibility. Other offers came in. I now write for 4 magazines.

Codie: 2) With your credentials, you obviously don't need to write for AC for financial reasons. Why do you choose to write for AC, particularly in light of motivations, objectives, goals and inspirations?

DrDevience: Nobody ever thinks they have enough money... and the truth is all of my savings are gone. I have been dealing with cancer for over 20 years, and early on the Insurance companies in the U. S. decided to no longer insure me. All my medical expenses have been out of pocket since... when I could even get an appointment at all.

Luckily, I live in Sweden now, so the health care is no longer an issue, and the doctors are much better. But the bank account did not regrow ;). My husband and I are comfortable, but not rich.

My editor at Teen Trend actually found AC and sent me an invite. She knew how much I love to write, and magazines only buy so many articles per issue. She then gave me permission to reprint my TTM articles to AC as long as I put a link to the TTM website at the end... free publicity for the magazine ;).

So, I write for AC for the extra money and to keep my writing addiction fed.

Eventually I'll finish one of my snarky horror novels, and I want to have as many feet in the door as possible when I do...

Codie: Do your snarky horror novels relate to and derive from your adventures as a Serial Killer hunter?

DrDevience: Not at all. That job was actually quite boring and consisted mainly of politics. If you have ever read Christopher Moore, then you would see what I mean about snarky...To give you a sneak peek: When I do finally get back to my favorite book and rewrite [it] from the end, it will be about gods with some major issues. Gaimen and Pratchett produced genius with "American Gods," but I plan to take a bit of a different slant to that theme and explore other areas ;).

Codie: 3) What benefit or reward, either personal or professional, do you derive from writing for AC?

DrDevience: There is always another opportunity waiting out there and now I have been approached about writing a humorous travel book based on what those folks read of me here. This is why I tell folks that no writing anywhere on the Internet is wasted effort. Editors are people too, and they have computers....

My reward is feedback and money... and the ego boost of more writing offers doesn't hurt!

Conclusion

Thank you, DrDevience, for your candid replies that elicit a whole gamut of emotional responses. As I said to MarinDavid, "You ask a seemingly innocent but interesting question and discover diamonds and tears...." I and all your readers are wishing you the very best and looking forward to hearing about your upcoming travel book!