Welcome back for the conclusion in our chat with Terri Favro, author of Let Slip the Sluicegates of War, Hydro-Girl, which is a story in the steampunk anthology, Clockwork Canada.
Read part one here.
Read part two here.
Read part three here.
Airship Ambassador: Most of the authors I’ve talked with have some type of day job and that writing is their other job. What has that situation been for you and how has it helped/hindered begin a published writer?
Terri Favro: As I mentioned, I’m a copywriter for the marketing and advertising industries, and I’ve also written content for magazines and newspapers, both print and online. Those disciplines have made me a better writer, I think. You have to be economical with wording and consistently interesting. You also have to be able to withstand criticism and frequent rewrites. I think my day job has helped me more than hindered me, although of course it gets in the way of my real writing when I have to juggle tight deadlines. That’s just life.
AA: Looking beyond steampunk, writing and working, what other interests fill your time?
TF: I like to spend my free time being physically active because writing is so sedentary. Biking, hiking and long urban walks energize me, and also give me time to mull over stories. When I’m not doing that, I enjoy hanging out with my family –– my husband Ron Edding, our sons and their partners, and our extended families on both sides. We throw good parties, which has also helped me develop my aforementioned bartending skills. Oh, and I love music. I’ve given up on ever being a decent piano player but sitting and listening to music is a pleasure only rivaled by reading or hiking at Lake Superior.
AA: That’s plenty to keep you busy! How do those interests influence your work?
TF: I like to keep my characters in movement, showing them in active, physical situations. I want my characters to move through space; my stories are usually as external as they are internal. They are about characters who acting and doing, as well as thinking and being.
AA: There’s only so much time in a day – what interests don’t you have time for?
TF: Television. I just don’t watch it. One day, I’ll binge watch every show my friends and family keep telling me I’ll love. It’s a long list. It’s not that I have anything against TV, but given how much time I spend on writing, something has to go.
AA: It’s amazing how much time television, and social media, can consume if we let it. What other fandoms are you part of (as a fan or participant) ?
TF: I love: comic books, especially DC (Superman and Wonder Woman in particular); The Big Lebowski; anything related to The Godfather films, except Godfather III, which was painfully bad; the Alien quadrilogy; Bruce Springsteen; the American Splendor graphic novels by Harvey Pekar and various artist-collaborators; MAD magazine; and Star Trek, especially The Original Series, some of the original films of TOS, and the reboot films. I enjoy humming the Star Trek “fight music”, “Spock in love music”, and the “Kirk tugging on his boots after sleeping with a blue skinned alien music”.
AA: So, plenty more to keep you busy and occupied 🙂 Are there people you consider an inspiration, role model, or other motivating influence?
TF: My grandfather, Giovanni-Battista Favro, was a storyteller, mostly of dark fairytales from the mountains of northern Italy where he came from. He once told me that when they were snowed in in mountain passes for long periods of time, being able to construct stories was a way to keep their minds occupied –– to stay connected and sane in a stressful environment. In its way, for my Nonno, storytelling was as much a survival skill as being able to stay warm or find food. I’ve always liked that image of the storyteller as a craftsperson. I believe that storytelling is a fundamental part of being human. Nonno was the first storyteller in my life, so he was my first role model.
AA: What event or situation has had the most positive impact in your life? What has been your greatest challenge?
TF: I chose a very good life partner. My husband, Ron Edding, is a visual artist, and we collaborate on comic books, with a graphic novel almost completed and several more in the planning stages. We’ve also done some experimental film work together. For me, having a partner in life, marriage, childraising and art is just about the perfect situation, both emotionally and creatively. I highly recommend it –– if writing is important to you, it helps to live with and love someone who shares your passion for creation.
AA: Three quick-fire random questions – what is your favorite stone, food spice, and city you haven’t been to yet?
TF: Opals. Fresh Basil. Berlin.
AA: Any final thoughts to share with our readers
TF: It’s an honour to be part of the strong group of writers who contributed to this book. I hope you’ll read Clockwork Canada!
Thanks, Terri, for joining us for this interview and for sharing all of your thoughts. We look forward to hearing about your next projects!
Keep up to date with Terri Favro’s latest news on her website.
You can support Terri and our community by getting your copy of Clockwork Canada here.
Airship Ambassador 
Leave a Reply