Camille Frazer

USA

Age 43

Romelia: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE UNDER-APPRECIATED NOVEL?

Camille Frazer: A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. I think it is appreciated by those who discover it.

Romelia: HOW DO YOU BALANCE MAKING DEMANDS ON THE READER WITH TAKING CARE OF THE READER?

Camille Frazer: I appeal to their sense of humanity. 

Romelia: AS A WRITER, WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE AS YOUR MASCOT/AVATAR/SPIRIT ANIMAL?

Camille Frazer: I see dolphins as my spirit animal. They are joyful, intelligent, wise and good communicators.

Romelia: WHAT DO YOU OWE THE REAL PEOPLE UPON WHOM YOU BASE YOUR CHARACTERS?

Camille Frazer: My latest work is a children’s book that has a message of acceptance of all people regardless of their skin color. The book was inspired by the inequity in treatment of black and brown people, many who were killed in interactions with law enforcement.

Romelia: HOW MANY UNPUBLISHED AND HALF-FINISHED BOOKS DO YOU HAVE?

Camille Frazer: Two.

Romelia: WHAT DOES LITERARY SUCCESS LOOK LIKE TO YOU?

Camille Frazer: It is influencing positive changes in the mindset of readers, along with monetary wealth.

Romelia: WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO MARKET YOUR BOOKS?

Camille Frazer: I am still learning. I have published two books so far: a collection of poems “The Unveiling” and my children’s book, “Oscar Owl Gives a Hoot about Color.” I have done a book launch, book fairs, author interviews, and social media. They are all effective, but I would like to do more, such as YouTube, radio and TV interviews and my own author website.

Romelia: WHAT KIND OF RESEARCH DO YOU DO, AND HOW LONG DO YOU SPEND RESEARCHING BEFORE BEGINNING A BOOK?

Camille Frazer: The books I have published thus far haven’t required significant research. If I were to do a novel that touches on historical events, then significant research such as months or even a year (or more) would be necessary.

Romelia: DO YOU VIEW WRITING AS A KING OF SPIRITUAL PRACTICE?

Camille Frazer: In a way, yes. I definitely see it as a responsibility to share my talent and views with others and hopefully positively influence their minds.

Romelia: WHAT’S THE MOST DIFFICULT THING ABOUT WRITING CHARACTERS FROM THE OPPOSITE SEX?

Camille Frazer: I wrote romance novels before my 20s, but never published them as I lost them when moving. The difficulty sometimes is seeing a male perspective as a woman. But, that can be overcome with help from a writer’s group, friends and editors.

Romelia: HOW LONG WERE YOU A PART-TIME WRITER BEFORE YOU BECAME A FULL-TIME ONE?

Camille Frazer: I am still a part-time writer and have been for years. 

Romelia: HOW MANY HOURS A DAY DO YOU WRITE?

Camille Frazer: I am not a writer that writes every day, though it is a practice I aspire to adopt. I write poems when inspired and when I see an issue I feel should be addressed. As I move into novels, writing daily will help me develop discipline in my craft.

Romelia:  WHAT PERIOD OF YOUR LIFE DO YOU FIND YOU WRITE ABOUT MOST OFTEN? (CHILD, TEENAGER, YOUNG ADULT).

Camille Frazer: I write more now. There was a long period between writing in my teens and publishing my collection of poems in 2017. During the break, I was busy with my legal career and primarily wrote motions. My legal career still keeps me busy, but I am finding the balance with my writing aspirations.

Romelia: HAVE YOU READ ANYTHING THAT MADE YOU THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT FICTION?

Camille Frazer: I recently read Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead. Excellent book. I appreciated how he artfully balanced fictional characters based on historical events.

Romelia: WHAT ARE THE ETHICS OF WRITING ABOUT HISTORICAL FIGURES?

Camille Frazer: It is important to remain as true to the facts about the person as possible.

Romelia: HOW DO YOU SELECT THE NAMES OF YOUR CHARACTERS?

Camille Frazer: I think of their characteristics and create a name that suits their personality and/or outlook.

Romelia: DO YOU READ YOUR BOOK REVIEWS? HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH BAD OR GOOD ONES?

Camille Frazer: I do! I take them all constructively.

Romelia: DO YOU HIDE ANY SECRETS IN YOUR BOOKS THAT ONLY A FEW PEOPLE WILL FIND?

Camille Frazer: Not yet.

Romelia: WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE LITERARY JOURNALS?

Camille Frazer: Poets and Writers.

Romelia: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD BOOK?

Camille Frazer: Nancy Drew!

Romelia: TELL US SOMETHING FUNNY FROM YOUR ADULT LIFE.

Camille Frazer: I once broke down in the middle of the road, sat in my car in amazement then felt it being pushed to the side of the road, walked to a nearby police sub-station only to find it closed and then be frightened by a raccoon while waiting for the tow truck. It wasn’t funny at the time, but I can laugh now.

Romelia: describe yourself in a few sentences. Tell us something we do not know about you and something you hate about the world.

Camille Frazer: I am a passionate Child Advocate Attorney born in Jamaica, now residing in Florida. I lived for three years in Massachusetts while attending law school, and promptly left for Florida thereafter. When I am not working or writing, I love to travel and chase tennis balls.